Assemblies Online Primary

This assembly is the first in a series of 5 based on the story of Daniel. Each assembly can be used on its own so long as you omit any references to previous or subsequent assemblies.

Some of the language in the passage is quite complicated for a younger group  so our suggestion is to use a modern translation of the bible such as the New Living Translation or Contemporary English Version, both of which can be found by following the link to Biblegateway.com.
Alternatively, make sure you are familiar with the story and tell it directly using the downloadable pictures.

Bible base: Daniel 1:1-7
Film clip: Finding Nemo (Disney Pixar, 2003): Nemo's first day at school
Chapter 3 (08:29 Nemo's friends swim up to meet him - 12:17 'Nemo - NO!')

Welcome to our assembly.  Today we are going to find out about a boy who suddenly found himself in the middle of a huge adventure. 

I want you to imagine for a minute that you were suddenly told that you have to leave [the place where you live]. You and some of your friends have been chosen to go and live in a country far away from home. When you arrive in the country you're told that you have to learn to speak a new language, find out all about its books and history, eat new kinds of food. You are even told that you are going to be given a new name!

How do you think you would feel?
Lonely. Sad. You'd miss your family and friends. Scared.
Do you think there would be anything good about it?
Opportunity to try new things. Possibility of exciting adventures.

Everyone has to try new, strange things sometimes. Do you remember your first day at school? Maybe you've moved to this school from another one. Starting a new school can be scary and lonely and worrying, but it's also exciting and an opportunity for adventure.

We're going to watch a clip from Finding Nemo. It's Nemo's first day at school and he has just met some new friends.

Show the clip
Finding Nemo (Disney Pixar, 2003): Nemo's first day at school
Chapter 3 (08:29 Nemo's friends swim up to meet him - 12:17 'Nemo - NO!')

It's Nemo's first day at school. He meets three new friends and is embarrassed by his dad who is fussing over him. The teacher (Mr Ray) arrives and invites the class to climb aboard his back (he's a flat fish) and go exploring. Nemo's dad is anxious about letting Nemo go with the class but Nemo jumps aboard and the class swims off. The other parents tell Nemo's dad he's doing well for a first-timer and he says that you can't hold onto your children forever. However, when he hears that Mr Ray has taken the class to "the drop-off point", he is frantic with worry and swims off to meet them. Meanwhile, Nemo's new friends have spotted a boat in the distance and are daring one another to swim out over the deep water towards it. Nemo tells the others that he is not going to swim in to the deep water but as he does so his dad swims up and accuses him of disobeying him.

Nemo and his dad felt differently about Nemo's first day at school.  Nemo's dad felt very worried about all the bad and dangerous things that might happen to Nemo. Nemo, on the other hand, was excited about all the new experiences that lay ahead of him. I wonder whether you are a worrier like Nemo's dad, or adventurous like Nemo.

Nemo's dad was worried because he loved Nemo but he forgot that Nemo was sensible and knew that there were some things he shouldn't do. His dad had taught him well and he knew that he shouldn't go over the drop-off point. Although Nemo was adventurous and wanted to try new things, he also understood that his dad's advice was wise and that he should stick to it.

There was a boy in the Bible who faced a big, scary adventure. His name was Daniel and he lived thousands of years ago in Judah. [Show the first picture - Daniel at home with his friends]. Judah is in the country we now know as Israel. When Daniel was growing up Judah was invaded by the king of Babylon, a country which was where Iraq is now. The king of Babylon decided that all the strong, clever young men like Daniel should be taken to Babylon to be trained in his palace. Here's what happened to Daniel and his friends. Listen carefully and see if you can spot the new things that Daniel faced.

Read Daniel 1:1-7 or retell the story [using the downloadable PowerPoint presentation]

What sort of changes did Daniel face when he went to Babylon?
New language
Literature (books and history)
Different food
Training in serving a new king
Change of name

It must have been frightening for Daniel and his friends to go to a new place but they knew that it was also an exciting adventure. Just like Nemo on his first day at school Daniel and his friends were going to learn new things and face adventures together. Daniel believed in God and he knew that wherever he went and whatever situations he faced God was with him.

[The following applies if you are going to use the series of assemblies on Daniel]
And like Nemo, there were some things that Daniel knew he shouldn't do. At our next assembly we'll think about the choices Daniel made about what he should and shouldn't do.

Reflection/Prayer
Think about Nemo and his dad. Are you an adventurous person like Nemo or a worrier like his dad?
Remember how you felt on your first day at school. Were you excited? Scared? A mixture of the two?
Christians believe that whatever situation you face and wherever you are, God is with you and will help you if you ask him.
Let's pray together.

Lord God
Thank you that when life is scary and we face new things you are with us.
Please help us when we are worried to remember  that you are always with us.
Help us to be adventurous but also to remember to make good choices.
In Jesus' name
Amen

Song suggestions:

It's An Adventure Following Jesus (174 Kidsource Combined)
Be Bold, Be Strong (17 Kidsource Combined )
 

Create the atmosphere of another country through music, language  and, if you have time, décor! For example, if you choose France, play some French café style music as the pupils are entering the room, greet them in French and perhaps display a photo of a French flag on OHP or PowerPoint slide.
Once everyone has arrived, ask them what they think has happened. Tell them that you want them to imagine what it would be like to suddenly find yourself living in a foreign country. Take suggestions from one or two children.

Ask the class to imagine that they are living in a foreign country. You can be as imaginative as you like with this - try food tasting, speaking  in a foreign language, wearing hats or other items of clothing that are 'foreign'. Discuss what it would be like to suddenly be moved to a strange country where you don't know anyone. What would the children miss most? What would they enjoy about the experience? Can they think of a time when they felt strange (e.g. first day at a new school, moving house)

This is a version of 'The Minister's Cat'. Sit in a circle. Begin the story by saying 'I went to Babylon and in my suitcase I packed…' and adding an item beginning with the letter 'a'. The child to your left must repeat the phrase and add another item beginning with the letter 'b'. The next child adds an item beginning with 'c' and so on. The challenge is to get find an object for all 26 letters of the alphabet and to remember them.

[NB If there are pupils in the group who are unable to stand or you are in a small space, play 'hands down' rather than 'sit down']

Ask everyone to stand up. Tell the group that you are going to read out a series of statements. If the statement applies to them they must sit down. Read out the following list, checking to make sure nobody cheats:

• Sit down if you have brown eyes
• Sit down if you have a letter 'M' in your name
• Sit down if you have long hair
• Sit down if you are older than 8
• Sit down if you are younger than 8
  Etc.

Eventually you will be left with one or two children. Invite these children to the front of the hall and explain to the group that today's assembly is about some boys who were chosen to go to a faraway country to be trained to serve the king. If you want, you could choose this group to be class helpers or to have some responsibility in school for the day. However, you may simply want to explain to the 'chosen' group that they don't have to serve anyone - they just have to make the long journey back to their places!

Finding Nemo (Disney Pixar, 2003) Cert U
Chapter 3 (08:29 Nemo's friends swim up to meet him - 12:17 'Nemo - NO!')
[3 minutes 48 seconds]

It's Nemo's first day at school. He meets three new friends and is embarrassed by his dad who is fussing over him. The teacher (Mr Ray) arrives and invites the class to climb aboard his back (he's a flat fish) and go exploring. Nemo's dad is anxious about letting Nemo go with the class but Nemo jumps aboard and the class swims off. The other parents tell Nemo's dad he's doing well for a first-timer and he says that you can't hold onto your children forever. However, when he hears that Mr Ray has taken the class to "the drop-off point", he is frantic with worry and swims off to meet them. Meanwhile, Nemo's new friends have spotted a boat in the distance and are daring one another to swim out over the deep water towards it. Nemo tells the others that he is not going to swim in to the deep water but as he does so his dad swims up and accuses him of disobeying him.

Today we are going to find out about a boy who suddenly found himself in the middle of a huge adventure. 

I want you to imagine for a minute that you were suddenly told that you have to leave [the place where you live]. You and some of your friends have been chosen to go and live in a country far away from home. When you arrive in the country you're told that you have to learn to speak a new language, find out all about its books and history, eat new kinds of food. You are even told that you are going to be given a new name!

How do you think you would feel?
Lonely. Sad. You'd miss your family and friends. Scared.
Do you think there would be anything good about it?
Opportunity to try new things. Possibility of exciting adventures.

Everyone has to try new, strange things sometimes. Do you remember your first day at school? Maybe you've moved to this school from another one. Starting a new school can be scary and lonely and worrying, but it's also exciting and an opportunity for adventure.

We're going to watch a clip from Finding Nemo. It's Nemo's first day at school and he has just met some new friends.

Finding Nemo (Disney Pixar, 2003): Nemo's first day at school
Chapter 3 (08:29 Nemo's friends swim up to meet him - 12:17 'Nemo - NO!')

Nemo and his dad felt differently about Nemo's first day at school.  Nemo's dad felt very worried about all the bad and dangerous things that might happen to Nemo. Nemo, on the other hand, was excited about all the new experiences that lay ahead of him. I wonder whether you are a worrier like Nemo's dad, or adventurous like Nemo.

Nemo's dad was worried because he loved Nemo but he forgot that Nemo was sensible and knew that there were some things he shouldn't do. His dad had taught him well and he knew that he shouldn't go over the drop-off point. Although Nemo was adventurous and wanted to try new things, he also understood that his dad's advice was wise and that he should stick to it.

There was a boy in the Bible who faced a big, scary adventure. His name was Daniel and he lived thousands of years ago in Judah. [Show the first picture - Daniel at home with his friends]. Judah is in the country we now know as Israel. When Daniel was growing up Judah was invaded by the king of Babylon, a country which was where Iraq is now. The king of Babylon decided that all the strong, clever young men like Daniel should be taken to Babylon to be trained in his palace. Here's what happened to Daniel and his friends. Listen carefully and see if you can spot the new things that Daniel faced.

Read Daniel 1:1-7 or retell the story [using the downloadable PowerPoint presentation]

What sort of changes did Daniel face when he went to Babylon?
New language
Literature (books and history)
Different food
Training in serving a new king
Change of name

It must have been frightening for Daniel and his friends to go to a new place but they knew that it was also an exciting adventure. Just like Nemo on his first day at school Daniel and his friends were going to learn new things and face adventures together. Daniel believed in God and he knew that wherever he went and whatever situations he faced God was with him.

[The following applies if you are going to use the series of assemblies on Daniel]
Just like Nemo, there were some things that Daniel knew he shouldn't do. At our next assembly we'll think about the choices Daniel made about what he should and shouldn't do.

Imagine you were suddenly told that you have to leave [the place where you live] to live in a foreign country.

• Frightening but also chance for adventure.
• Have you ever faced a new situation?
• First day at school? Moving to this school from another one?

Introduce film clip

• Nemo's first day at school - meets new friends.

Finding Nemo (Disney Pixar, 2003): Nemo's first day at school
Chapter 3 (08:29 Nemo's friends swim up to meet him - 12:17 'Nemo - NO!')

Point out the difference between Nemo and his dad

• Dad worried about all the bad and dangerous things.
• Nemo excited about  new experiences.

Are you a worrier like Nemo's dad, or adventurous like Nemo?

• Nemo's dad loved Nemo but forgot he was sensible and knew that there were some things he shouldn't do.
• Although Nemo was adventurous but also understood that his dad's advice was wise.

Introduce Daniel

• Story from the Bible about a boy who lived thousands of years ago in Judah. [Show the first picture - Daniel at home with his friends].
• Judah invaded by Babylon.
• All the strong, clever young men like Daniel taken to Babylon to be trained in king's palace.

Read Daniel 1:1-7 and show pictures

Daniel and friends taken away.
Daniel looking worried.
Daniel studying hard.

Daniel faced changes in Babylon

• New language.
• Literature (books and history).
• Different food.
• Training in serving a new king.
• Change of name.

How do you think Daniel felt?

• Frightening for Daniel and his friends to go to a new place.
• But they knew that it was also an exciting adventure.
• Daniel believed in God and he knew that wherever he went and whatever situations he faced God was with him.

Think about Nemo and his dad. Are you an adventurous person like Nemo or a worrier like his dad?
Remember how you felt on your first day at school. Were you excited? Scared? A mixture of the two?
Wherever you go and whatever situation you face, God is there and he will help you if you ask him.
Let's pray together.

Lord God
Thank you that when life is scary and we face new things you are with us.
Please help us when we are worried to remember  that you are always with us.
Help us to be adventurous but also to remember to make good choices.
In Jesus' name
Amen

It's An Adventure Following Jesus (174 Kidsource Combined, Kevin Mayhew, 2002) 

Be Bold, Be Strong (17 Kidsource Combined, Kevin Mayhew, 2002)

Invite the class to design and write a postcard home from Daniel or one of his friends in Babylon. Ask them to include information about the new country and about how they feel about being there. To do this they will have to research the Babylonian culture by reading Daniel 1.