Decorating the Tree
The Light of the World
by Janice Ross
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To consider how the Christmas tree brings the light of Jesus’ birth into our homes.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Decorating the Tree) and the means to display them.
- Have available a box that contains some Christmas tree decorations such as fairy lights, tinsel, shiny baubles, paper lanterns, a star and a few ornaments. Alternatively, you can show Slide 5.
- Optional: you may wish to light four candles during the ‘Time for reflection’ part of the assembly.
Assembly
- Suggest that for many people, an important part of Christmas preparation is putting up the Christmas tree. This has been a tradition in many countries for a long time.
The trees are usually evergreen conifers such as spruce, fir and pine trees.
Many families will buy one of these small evergreen trees, which are specially grown and cut for Christmas.
Show Slide 1. - Explain that evergreen conifers are in high demand at Christmastime, so nowadays, they are grown commercially in forests.
Show Slide 2.
One of the benefits of a real Christmas tree is its lovely smell. - Some cities put up giant Christmas trees that everyone can enjoy.
Show Slide 3.
Explain that every year, the people of the Norwegian capital Oslo kindly give the people of London an enormous Christmas tree, which stands in Trafalgar Square.
The Norwegians have been donating a Christmas tree to London every year for over 75 years. They do this to thank the UK for its support of their country during the Second World War. - Show Slide 4.
Some people prefer to have an artificial tree. Ask the children why this might be.
Listen to a range of responses.
Suggestions might include that artificial trees are cheaper, they don’t contain any needles that drop and need cleaning up, and it’s better if we don’t cut down trees. - Show your box full of Christmas tree decorations to the children, or show Slide 5.
Identify that many of the items are lights, or bright, shiny decorations that reflect light. - Tell the children that a famous preacher called Martin Luther is thought to have been one of the first people to bring a Christmas tree into his home and add lights to it.
The story goes that, one night before Christmas, nearly 500 years ago, Martin was out walking through the forest. He enjoyed this quiet time alone, thinking about God and praying. On this clear and frosty night, he looked up to see the stars twinkling through the tree branches. It was such a beautiful sight that it stopped him in his tracks. He really wanted to share this beauty with his family, but they were all in bed asleep. To recapture the scene for them, Martin placed a tree in his living room and added candles to give it light.
Time for reflection
Christmas is all about light.
If available, light a candle for each of the following statements. Alternatively, show Slide 6.
- A bright angel appeared to Mary and to Joseph.
- A host of glittering angels appeared to the shepherds.
- A bright star appeared in the sky for the wise men to follow.
- When baby Jesus grew up, he claimed to be the Light of the World.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that Christmas is a season of light.
Help us to understand how Jesus came to bring light to our world.
Please help us to be lights in the situations in which we find ourselves.
May our lives be full of light this Christmastime.
Amen.
Song/music
Any appropriate Christmas song.
