NORES Supporting Catholic Education and Formation This PowerPoint is designed to explore the Beatitudes in a whole school assembly. Top and tail this PowerPoint with your own way of introducing / closing an assembly Eg. Sign of the Cross Song Prayer School Prayer Sending forth Take as much or as little detail, from the slides and notes, appropriate to your setting MAKE IT YOUR OWN! NORES Supporting Catholic Education and Formation NORES is the Office for Religious Education, Evangelisation, Catechesis and Schools in the Diocese of Northampton. Registered Charity: 234091

2 children come out – one with a net and the other with a butterfly on a finger. The child with the net tries to catch the butterfly but the butterfly keeps flying away. The child gets fed up and stops trying and the butterfly comes gently and sits on the child’s shoulder.

Happiness is like a butterfly…… ……the more you chase it the more it flies away, Somebody once said - Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it the more it flies away, but if you sit still it may just come and sit gently on your shoulder.   but if you sit still it may just come and sit gently on your shoulder.

What is happiness? Are you happy? How do you know? Everybody wants to be happy. But what is it that makes us happy?   If you believed everything you saw on the television you would think if you bought this and that it would make you happy. Money…… being famous…… Happiness is one of those strange things the more you reach for it the further away it seems to be.

The Ladder of Happiness On a scale of 1 – 10 how happy are you today? Where are you on the ladder today?

Happiness is when my baby brother was born. Happiness is when you love someone. Happiness is my family going on holiday to the seaside. Happiness is Manchester United winning the cup. Happiness is my birthday party. Happiness is eating roast chicken. Happiness new job. is my dad’s By Alan (Age 9) Some children’s thoughts on happiness

Happiness is…… Happiness is eating ice cream on a hot day. Happiness is swimming in the sea. Happiness is my dad’s new car. Happiness is a new CD. Happiness is winning a race on sports day. Happiness is my new red dress. By Tess (Age 7)

The Bible tells us that happiness is not found in having lots of possessions but that happiness comes from relationships – with people: our friends and family and with God. This doesn’t mean our things / possessions don’t make us happy – they do for a while. But real lasting, true inner happiness is found in our relationships.

Matt. 6.24 A Reading from the gospel according to St Matthew We listen to the words of Jesus Matt. 6.24

The Beautiful Attitudes If Jesus were talking to us today, this is what he might say: You will be happy if you share your things, or even give them away. You will be happy if you are gentle and let others go first. You will be happy if you cheer up those who are sad or lonely. You will be happy if you stand up for what is right. If Jesus were talking to us today

You will be happy if you forgive people when they hurt you. You will be happy if you are the first to say sorry after a quarrel – even when you were right! You will be happy if you don’t try to get your own back if people laugh at you and make fun of you. You will be happy if you think about my Father in heaven and talk to him often. You see, happiness is not a feeling that is brought about by the things that happen to us. It is an attitude that we have because of what we have in our heart. When we focus on making other people happy we find that the butterfly of happiness has landed on us.

Let us pray Insert prayers of intercession with a response

help us to experience real, true happiness. Help us to follow your way God Our Father, help us to experience real, true happiness. Help us to follow your way and in doing so find joy in all that we do. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen Closing prayer to say together

What can I do today to bring happiness to those I meet? Sending Forth What did Jesus say about happiness?