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Never too busy!

To explore the Christian belief that God is never too busy to listen to us.

by Rebecca Parkinson

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To explore the Christian belief that God is never too busy to listen to us.

Preparation and materials

  • You will need a mobile phone for you to answer during the assembly.
  • Someone needs to sit at the back of the assembly space, where they can hear your assembly but cannot be seen by the children. This person rings you up three times during the assembly – you’ll need to set up a signal for this or have plenty of rehearsal.
  • If appropriate you could add something about the school’s mobile phone policy.

Assembly

  1. Ask the children how they would keep in touch with someone who lived a long way away from them. Discuss writing letters, sending cards, telephoning, etc. You could refer to the ‘Postcards’ assembly if you have used it.
  2. Lead the conversation into showing the children your mobile phone. Be prepared for some interest in this – possibly negative if it’s not considered a cool enough model! As you talk, use your prearranged signal, at which point your accomplice will ring you.

    Apologize to the children and answer the call. Pretend that it is someone telling you that you have won a holiday and have a quick one-sided conversation ending with a sharp ‘no thank you’ and cut them off!
  3. While you are explaining to the children that you find ‘nuisance calls’ rather annoying, arrange for your phone to ring again. This time don’t answer it, but pretend to look at the number and tell the children that you are not going to answer this call as it is from someone you have been trying to avoid because you were meant to have done something for them and you haven’t got round to it yet!
  4. Again apologize to the children and explain that you are sure you won’t get any other unwanted phone calls during the assembly. When your phone rings for the third time look at the screen and pretend that you are delighted that this person has rung – maybe your mum, best friend, etc. Answer the call and say how pleased you are to hear from them but that as you are taking a school assembly you will ring them back the minute you have finished.
  5. Ask the children what was different in your reactions to each phone call.
  6. Explain that Christians believe that when we pray we are talking to God and that we can talk to him at any time. Psalm 121.3-4 tells us that God never dozes off or goes to sleep. God is never too busy and never tries to avoid us, but always looks forward to hearing from us

Time for reflection

Reflection

How can you be a good friend to other people?

Can you find more time to listen to others?

How do you know when it’s a good time to talk and when it’s a good time to remain quiet?

 

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you that you always listen.

Thank you that you are never asleep

but that we can talk to you at any time of the day or night.

Amen.

Song/music

‘I listen’ (Come and Praise, 60)

Publication date: October 2006   (Vol.8 No.10)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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