NEW IDEA FOR YOUR ADVENT ASSEMBLY

IDEA FOR YOUR ADVENT 2014 ASSEMBLY

First make a small ‘Strictly Come Dancing Glitterball trophy’, it’s easy to do using a cardboard box, a straw and a silver Christmas bauble. Simply remove the pin and thread from the plastic bauble, (don’t use glass) and insert a straw. If it’s a tight fit, make a split in the end of the straw, and insert into a hole in the base lid. Once it is fixed, cover the cardboard parts with black or silver tape.

Holding the ‘Glitterball’ trophy in your hands ask the children what exciting event can they think of in the lead up to Christmas?

Explain that you thought their answer just might be the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ competition because of the trophy in your hands; but tell the children you’ll be using it in a few moments for a ‘dance’ competition.

The answer is in fact Advent.

Advent is a period of four weeks in the Christian Church, from November 30th until Christmas Eve.

Explain why Advent is exciting for you as Christian, and the meaning of :-  the colour purple, the Advent wrath, calendars, hymns, the themes of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy.

Advent means ‘arrival’ or ‘coming’ when Christians celebrate

1.  The coming of the Christ child, the King of love, to the world

2.   The ‘second’ coming of Jesus as judge at the end of time, when he will judge HOW his people have loved.

But what does a judge do?

Let’s find out by holding a Strictly Come Dancing competition.

Ask for four volunteers to come out and dance to a piece of music, (I used Gangnam Style by Psy a very lively piece). 

The volunteers each take it in turn to do their dance, so keep pressing pause, and they’re not allowed to see what the others are doing, so they must not turn around until it is their turn.

Give your opinion after each short dance, using famous Strictly catchphrases, i.e. delightful armography, extend your lines, etc and hold up a number scorecard.

Award the trophy to the winner.

Then explain what your role was as a judge from the following

A judge is someone who

·     Makes decisions based on what is true

·     Makes decisions on what is right and wrong

·     Decides what is good and what is bad

·     Listens and watches and makes notes

·     Then tells it as it is

·     Makes wise decisions

·     is absolutely fair and isn't influenced by anyone else

·     Doesn’t take sides

·     Decides on results, rewards penalties and punishments

Famous leaders in the Bible, umpires, referees in sport, the Strictly Come Dancing or X Factor panel, are all judges, and they give their opinions and act like this.

We all know the story of Jesus coming as a baby, but I wonder how much we know about what the bible says about Jesus coming as a JUDGE: 

This song will tell us more about Jesus judging how we have loved one another. It is a story that Jesus himself told.

Play the downloaded video:-

The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

 https://sites.google.com/site/sheilahamilmusic/music/creative-parables/parable-of-the-sheep-and-the-goats

HOWEVER WE TREAT OTHER PEOPLE WE DO THE SAME TO JESUS

Finish with a blessing prayer upon their Christmas preparations, Nativity plays etc.