Feast of the Epiphany

assembly
This
Thisassembly
assemblyisisto
tohelp
helpthe
thechildren
childrenreflect
reflecton
onthe
theFeast
Feastof
ofthe
theEpiphany.
Epiphany.

Themes:
Themes:Epiphany
Epiphany
Country
Countryof offocus:
focus:Cambodia
Cambodia
Materials
Materials Required:The
Required: Theaccompanying
accompanyingPowerPoint,
PowerPoint,copies
copiesofofthe
thereadings
readingsand
andprayers
prayersfor
forthe
the
readers, the words of the hymns “The light of Christ” and “One bread, one body” (optional).
readers, the words of the hymns “The light of Christ” and “One bread, one body” (optional).
Time
Timeallocation:
allocation:Assembly
Assemblyformat,
format,10-20
10-20minutes
minutes

Slide 1: Welcome
Leader: We gather as a community to
continue our celebration of the birth of Jesus,
the Light of the world, God’s gift of love to all.
The name Jesus means ‘Saviour’.

Slide 2: The light has come

EITHER Reader 1 OR a group of children

announce: The light has come to shine on all
people throughout the world, to guide them to
the new life offered by Jesus.

All: sing the chorus (x2)…

“The light of Christ has come into the world,

The light of Christ has come into the world.”

1
Slide 3: The visit of the wise men

Reader 2: In the gospel of Matthew, we hear

the story of how some wise men from
another part of the world were led by a star
and travelled the long journey to Bethlehem,
looking for Jesus. They found him in a stable.

Reader 3: “After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the
reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east... And
suddenly the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over the
place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and
going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to
their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they
offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:1, 9-12)

Slide 4: This is a day of real celebration

Reader 4:
This day is an important one
for people of every race and nationality,
because the wise men represent God’s people
throughout the world.
The Son of God, Jesus,
came into the world as a Jew,
to give life to every member of the human race.
No matter what our race, nationality, colour or religion,
each of us is made in the image and likeness of God.
For all of us, this is a day of real celebration –
we, too, are chosen.

All: sing ‘One bread, one body…’ (Laudate 832)

Slide 5: Story
Reader 5: CAFOD works alongside people of
all faiths and none, recognising all people as
our sisters and brothers, equal members of
our global community. CAFOD works with

2
Buddhist monks in Cambodia who run a club for children called The Happy
Happy Club.

Slide 6: Most of these children...

Reader 6: One of the monks explains, ‘Most
of these children live in slums; some don’t go
to school because they have to work to
support their family. This club lets them be
happy and helps them to make friends and
play games.’

Reader 7: Now we are going to meet some of the children in the club.

Slide 7: Meet Munny

Reader 7: Meet Munny. He is dancing in his
pink shoes with a friend.“I like the Happy
Happy programme because it makes me
laugh! My Mum died two years ago and I have
felt very sad for a long time. But here, with
my friends we can have fun and be happy.”

Slide 8: Meet Champey

Reader 8: Meet Champey. “When I get older
I’d like to work with computers. The monks
encourage us children to achieve our dreams.
They make me feel I should aim for good
things.”

Slide 9: Meet Phirun

Reader 9: Meet Phirun. “I would like to thank
CAFOD for supporting this club. It is a chance
for us to learn about what’s right and wrong.

3
My life has been difficult but when I’m here, I just concentrate on being
happy – like the name of the club!”

Slide 10: CAFOD’s work ...

Reader 10: Munny, Champey and Phirun are just
three of the children CAFOD and its partners work
with in many countries of the world. Following the
teaching of Jesus, CAFOD believes everyone is
chosen and special.
Let us now pray....

Slide 11: Prayer response

Reader 11: Light of the world, let us see with your eyes, so that we may
recognise you in every person of every race,
nationality and colour.

All: May we show our thanks to you, by

serving our sisters and brothers throughout the
world.

Reader 12: Jesus, Guide on our journey, help

us to understand that when we act justly and
love tenderly, we are walking humbly with you.

All: May we show our thanks to you, by serving our sisters and brothers
throughout the world.

Reader 13: Light in our darkness, help us to realise that we have gifts to
offer to you through your people every day, and these gifts are precious to
you.

All: May we show our thanks to you, by serving our sisters and
brothersthroughout the world.

Reader 14: Bringer of comfort, may we be a light for those whose lives we
share; may our kindness and care bring courage and hope to those who are
sad.

4
All: May we show our thanks to you, by serving our sisters and brothers
throughout the world.

Slide 12: Guiding star

Leader:
Lord, the sight of the guiding star
brought hope, courage and joy
to those who had journeyed to find you.
When our journey seems long,
when hope seems far away,
when our courage is failing,
fill us with faith and trust;
shine your light on our fears,
lift our hearts with your joy.
Help us to recognise you
in our brothers and sisters throughout the world;
show us how we can work together,
so that we may all come to share in the life
promised to us by Jesus,
the Saviour of us all.
Amen.

Photo credits: CHECK CREDITS

CAFOD/Adrian White, Georgina Cranston, Simon Rawles, Claudia Torres,
Tory Jones, Marcella Haddad, Staff Photographer, Annie Bungeroth