Collecting for worship

What is worship?

When we think about primary school ‘assemblies’ and defining ‘collective worship’ we may struggle to find a context for what we do and run the risk of ending up in a limbo where neither the church nor the school community fully understand the opportunity afforded by 15 minutes in a school hall.

This series looks at enthusiasts who focus on collecting things like butterflies, and then looks at different ways that Christians focus on God in worship. Worship can involve songs, silence, actions, language, and can include celebrating, receiving, honouring and sacrifice.

Do we believe that God will make full use of every opportunity we prayerfully present to him? Let’s assume that the worship that God wants is a time and place where children are happy, relaxed and engaged in his presence, as we see when Jesus takes a child in his arms.

Techniques and visual aids do not necessarily draw children into worship. They may hinder and deflect if the child remembers the ‘fun’ bit and loses sight of the purpose of worship. For children, as for us, it is all too easy to be taken up with issues of posture, correctness or propriety. With Jesus, the priority was access when he indignantly said “Don’t stop children coming to me!”

An important aspect of this series is to make the concept of ‘God’ accessible. The task of worship in school is to connect children with God, not only to deliver a provoking thought for the day. Our job is to teach and lead the school through various activities that encourage ‘reflection’ - to be invited into worship that embraces need, character and experience.

What can I put in the box?

A look at what it means to worship. How do we worship? What do we do when we worship?

Key words/themes: Worship, giving, heart, gift

Collecting things

The special-ness of gathering together. The pearl merchant.

Key words/themes: Collective worship, collections

The butterfly collector

Worship of God is not a waste of time. Christians believe that God is creative, responsive and omni-present (everywhere - and here!).

Key words/themes: Collective worship, collections

Worshipping someone bigger than us

God is worthy of our worship. Moses and the burning bush.

Key words/themes: Worship, God, powerful, awesome, big

You are what you worship

What you worship defines what and who you are. If a person truly worships God it will afect the way they conduct their day to day life. Parable of the sheep and goats.

Key words/themes: Worship, lifestyle

Things that are useless "Worship without sacrifice"

"Worship without sacrifice": Giving to God. The cost of worship. Ghandi's list of social sins. The widow's mite.

Key words/themes: Worship, giving, sacrifice, determination

Harvest Assembly

Jesus said "I am the bread of life". What can this mean to people today?

SEAL: Making someone feel welcome.

Key words/themes: Harvest, bread, sharing, Last Supper.

Seeing the world in a different way

Worship of God must ultimately change our world view.

Key words/themes: Seeing is believing

What if we were somewhere else?

Experiences change our world view - understanding the experience of others helps us grasp the 'bigger picture'.

Key words/themes: World culture, education, thanksgiving

What is real?

To worship God it is necessary to believe that He is there. Understanding what is real and unreal - and knowing the difference?

Key words/themes: Real, belief, Christmas

Christmas worship

The Christmas story has a lot of angels. What are angels and what do they do?

SEAL: Doing something brave.

Key words/themes: Christmas, angels, worship

Collecting for worship - complete pack

Complete Collecting for worship pack.
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