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Please Call My Name

Having a unique purpose

by Paul Hess (revised, originally published in 2011)

Suitable for Whole School (Sec)

Aims

To consider that God sees each one of us as special and unique.

Preparation and materials

  • You may wish to replace the story of the football team in the ‘Assembly’, Step 1, with one of your own. Any story that involves the disappointment of a name not being called, such as not being successful in an audition, a try-out or a job interview, would be suitable.

Assembly

  1. Like so many children of his age, Joe’s great dream was to become a professional footballer and play for his favourite team. He tried really hard at every training session until, one day, he got his big break. Joe was invited to the Under-14 county trials.

    However, when the big day arrived, Joe was so nervous that he couldn’t play his best football. The ball got stuck under his feet and the opposing defenders easily pushed him off the ball.

    At the end of the session, the coach read out the names of the boys who were to be invited back. Joe feared the worst, but was hoping against hope . . . ‘Please call my name, please call my name,’ he said to himself. The coach began reading out the names: ‘Kwame, Ed, Mohammed . . .’ (for comic effect, you may wish to use the names of some students).

    As the coach was folding up his piece of paper, he announced the last name. Joe held his breath.

    ‘And the final person we’d like to invite back for the second trial is . . . Tom!’

    Joe was devastated. On the journey home, his parents’ consoling words had no effect on him as the tears welled up. His dreams seemed to be shattered.

  2. Each one of us may find it hugely important for our name to be called, for us to be recognized and acknowledged, to feel that we are somebody. We want to feel part of the team. This can be true for many things other than sports teams. It could be that we long to be invited to someone’s house or party, or we want to be included in a group for work or PE.

    When we are called by name (‘Joe, Kate, Ollie – come and be part of our group’), it feels good. It makes us feel that we belong. In the same way, when our name isn’t called and we are left out, we can feel lonely and alienated. It can feel as if we don’t fit in, as if no one really cares.

    Sometimes, if we feel like that for long enough, we might even resort to being disruptive - at the back of the classroom or at home - just so that our names will be called. Poor behaviour is a pretty certain way to get noticed!

  3. The Bible talks a lot about people being called by name. Three examples are God’s call to Abraham to establish his people, God’s call to Moses to set his people free and God calling Samuel by name. In the New Testament, Jesus calls his disciples and Paul is called by God to spread the message of Jesus around the world. God calls each of these people by name.

  4. Not many of us (sadly) have a calling to become a professional footballer. But we each have some special task to do, something that will make the world a better place.

Time for reflection

We might not hear God calling us dramatically, as we read in the Bible. We might even struggle to decide what we should be doing with our lives and our future. Let’s remember that God speaks through other people, through circumstances, through gifts and talents that he has given us and in silence, when we take the time to listen.

Prayer
Dear God,
Please open our ears, that we may hear your voice,
And open our hearts, that we may respond to your call.
Please guide us in our lives today and in our futures,
Amen.

Song/music

‘I am amazing’ by Philippa Hanna, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNKj0fbMiU (4.21 minutes long)

Publication date: March 2022   (Vol.24 No.3)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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