Having a Good Clean!
Looking on the inside
by Claire Law
Suitable for Key Stage 2
Aims
To consider why February is a good time for an inner spring-clean.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Having a Good Clean!) and the means to display them.
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Welcome the children to the assembly and ask them if they have heard of the term ‘spring-cleaning’.
Listen to a range of responses. - Ask the children if they have ever had a messy bedroom and been asked to tidy up. Or perhaps they’ve heard their teachers asking them to tidy the classroom.
- Show Slide 2.
Explain that traditionally, February is the month when people might start some spring-cleaning. - The origins of the word ‘February’ give us a clue that a spring-clean at this time of year is not a new thing. The word is connected to an ancient Roman festival called Februa, which was celebrated annually at this time of year.
During the festival, ancient Romans would offer sacrifices and take part in ritual bathing. The aim was to bring about a deep inner cleansing for themselves and for the city as a whole. - The idea of doing a spiritual clean is something that we find in various world religions.
Show Slide 3.
In the Christian tradition, baptism symbolizes the washing away of sin. Whether Christians are baptized as a baby or an adult, the ceremony symbolizes the belief that God cleanses us of sin. - Show Slide 4.
For Catholic Christians, there is another type of spiritual spring-clean called confession. This is when Catholics confess their sins to a priest, who then grants them God’s forgiveness. - Show Slide 5.
Jewish people celebrate Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement – by fasting and seeking forgiveness for sins. - Show Slide 6.
In Hinduism, bathing in the River Ganges is believed to be a way to achieve spiritual purification.
Time for reflection
Encourage the children to be quiet and think about their lives and the way that they feel right now.
Ask the children, ‘Are you worried about something? Do you need to talk to someone about it?’
Pause to allow time for thought.
Ask the children, ‘Are you struggling to sleep because there are so many things on your mind?’
Pause to allow time for thought.
Ask the children, ‘Are you struggling with your friends? Do you feel like you need to make some changes to how you are behaving?’
Pause to allow time for thought.
Encourage the children to talk to someone if they are struggling in any way. Remind them of the support that is available to help them.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that each of us is different.
Thank you that you made each of us special and individual.
Please help us to pause at the start of this year to think about the things in our lives that we might want to change.
Please help us to ask for help when we need to.
Please help us to have the courage and wisdom to make changes when we need to and to find a greater sense of inner peace as a result.
Amen.
