Enjoy!
An assembly from the Culham St Gabriel archive
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To consider the importance of enjoyment.
Preparation and materials
- You will need a leader and four readers.
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Have available a selection of images of activities that the students may enjoy and the means to display them during the assembly. Examples could include going to:
- a funfair, available at: http://tinyurl.com/zt43vp9
- a waterpark, available at: https://tinyurl.com/y4m8vm3a
- the beach, available at: http://tinyurl.com/js4rhcc
Assembly
Leader: Explain that you are going to display three images of activities. You want the students to look at the images and decide which one of the three they enjoy the most.
Show each image and then ask the students to vote to see which of the three activities is the most popular.
Point out that, at school, the students are expected to work hard and at home, they are expected to act responsibly and help around the house. However, life is not only about work! Life is also full of enjoyment. School, home and work can all be fun even though sometimes, we might prefer to be somewhere else.
Many years ago, there were not the same opportunities that we have today to travel abroad, visit amusement parks or even visit the beach. A lack of transport meant that people often didn’t travel more than a few miles from their homes. The arrival of a fair in a local village would be a source of great excitement and people’s first view of the sea would be etched on their memories.
Today, we have many opportunities to try new things and enjoy the world in which we live. However, despite the restrictions, people living thousands of years ago still knew the importance of enjoying life, celebrating and having fun!
Reader 1: In the Bible, we can read about Jesus and his disciples enjoying a wedding celebration in Cana (John 2.1).
Reader 2: In the Bible, we can read of many times when Jesus celebrated with his friends. For example, in Luke 5.29, Matthew prepares a great feast for Jesus and his friends.
Reader 3: In Proverbs 17.22, it says, ‘A cheerful heart is good medicine.’
Reader 4: In Proverbs 15.13, it says ‘A joyful heart makes a cheerful face.’
Leader: It is important that we work hard, revise for exams, practise our hobbies and try our best in everything we do. However, it is also important to take time to enjoy life, spend time with our family and friends and take the time to laugh.
Reader 1: To have fun is to feel GOOD. To feel good is to feel HAPPY. To be happy is to be your TRUE SELF - the self that God created and planned.
Time for reflection
In the Bible, God made the world in six days, but on the seventh day, he rested. We need to work hard, but also see the importance of rest and relaxation.
Prayer
Dear God,
Help us to see the importance of laughing and having fun with others.
Help us to appreciate the feelings of joy, excitement and happiness.
Help our happiness to be infectious.
Help us to spot those who are sad and to do our best to cheer them up.
Amen.