Will It Snow?
Snow: a fresh start
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To use the theme of snow at Christmas to consider the simplicity and beauty of the Christmas story.
Preparation and materials
- Have available some images featuring snow and the means to display them during the assembly. Examples could include:
- a snowy scene of a bridge over a pond, available at: https://tinyurl.com/ycpze8eg
- a river running through a snow-covered valley, available at: https://tinyurl.com/ybebh8ug
- a snowman in a field at sunset, available at: https://tinyurl.com/yufhpl - Alternatively, you could use some Christmas cards that depict snowy scenes.
- You may wish to ask a student to read the Christmas story in Luke 2.8-18 during the ‘Time for reflection’ part of the assembly.
- Optional: you may wish to play the song ‘White Christmas’ during the assembly, in which case you will also need the means to do so.
Assembly
- Ask the students what their favourite kind of weather is. When someone mentions snow, ask the following questions.
- What is it that seems so magical about snow?
- What effect does snow have?
- Why does snow sometimes mean that everything grinds to a halt?
- Who enjoys snowball fights and sledging?
- Why is snow particularly special when it occurs at Christmas? - As we move into winter, many people hope that snow will fall. There is something special about the idea of having snow at Christmas.
- Show the images of snowy scenes.
Use the images to focus on the aspects of stillness and peace that snowfall brings. Talk about the beauty of a white, undisturbed blanket of snow on the ground.
Explain that Christians speak about peace at Christmas. They believe that God sent Jesus into the world to bring peace. - Ask the students to imagine the peace in the stable on the night that Jesus was born. Outside in the streets of Bethlehem, there must have been a fair amount of hustle and bustle, with all the visitors arriving for the census and looking for places to stay. However, in the stable, Mary and Joseph would have been at peace with their tiny newborn son. A tiny baby, a new life, simple beauty – like the snow.
- Ask the students to look again at the images of snowy scenes. Ask them to imagine that the undisturbed blanket of snow is a blank canvas. People can run on it, jump on it and even make snow-angels in it. This is similar to the birth of a baby – it is a new beginning. The child has its whole life ahead of it. The snow reminds us of the honesty and purity of a newborn child.
- Snow can also make us think of second chances and new beginnings, reminding us that mistakes can be forgiven and covered. Don’t forget that Christmas is closely followed by New Year: the perfect time for fresh starts.
Time for reflection
Encourage the students to consider the simplicity and honesty of the first Christmas and the birth of baby Jesus. In picturing the purity and clarity of freshly fallen snow, encourage them to think about their lives, their hopes for the coming year and the opportunity for fresh beginnings.
Read (or ask a student to read) the Christmas story in Luke 2.8-18.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for the gift that was given to the world on the first Christmas night.
Thank you for Jesus – for his simple birth and the example of his life.
May we all learn the importance of stillness and peace.
May we all find inner peace this Christmastime.
Amen.
Song/music
‘White Christmas’ by various artists
