Day 1 Opening Assembly
The Director can be the M.C. for the Opening and Closing Assembly each day. Be fun and energetic and your enthusiasm will engage the children!
DAY 1 "KICK-OFF"
Boys and girls! Athletes of all ages! Welcome to CAT.CHAT’S CATHLETICS VBS! Cathletics rhymes with athletics.
(Opt.) At this time, light a large candle or torch.
I officially declare our CATHLETICS VBS now open!
(Name of parish) is excited to host this exciting event! We are all on God’s Team! When I call out your team name, everyone on that team, cheer really loud! (one by one, name each of the teams and have them cheer. For example, Team Soccer, Team Hockey, etc.)
You have come to train to become Champions for Christ! Our Head Coach is Jesus, the greatest of all Champions!
My name is Coach __________ and I’ll also be your coach for the week.
The station leaders will be your assistant coaches. Introduce the main station leaders. For example, the games leader will be Coach Smith, the music leader will be Coach Anderson, etc.
The group leaders will be your personal trainers. Have all the trainers stand up and wave.
Did you know that in every sport, the coach has a game plan for players to follow if they want to become champions? Every player needs to learn the rules and follow them. It’s important for athletes to train hard and play every game with their best effort, with EXCELLENCE!
The same is true about being an athlete for Christ. We need to train hard to become the best Christians we can be! Jesus wants us to live out His game plan, so that we can win the ultimate victory prize, which is eternal life in Heaven.
Each day, you’ll be learning some exciting play-by-plays of our faith in each of the five stations: games, music, crafts, faith and snacks.
Let’s begin with an opening prayer:
OPENING PRAYER
Ask your parish priest if he can lead the opening prayer. It’s great to have the presence of a priest at different times throughout the VBS week.
Jesus, we thank You for bringing us together to grow in our faith. This week at our Cat.Chat VBS, help us to learn more about the Bible and experience a deeper love for You. Bless our week and keep everyone safe. Amen.
Our VBS Saint of the Day, also known as our champion player, is St. John Paul II. Point to the saint poster. You’ll be learning about him in the faith station today. Let’s ask him to pray for us. St. John Paul II ...pray for us.
MUSIC
Introduce the theme song Champion for Christ. Play the Action Song video. Ask all the leaders to participate, too.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Go over any rules and make important announcements. Explain the fire evacuation plan and point out fire exits and washrooms.
THEME OF THE DAY
Today’s theme is: The Game Plan! (Watch Day 1 Theme Intro.)
Let’s see what I have in my sports bag. (Show a clipboard attached with a VBS program overview, along with a list of everyone participating in VBS, including the leaders.) I’m holding the Game Plan for the week, along with a list of all the names of everyone here at Cathletics VBS. We need to remember that we are all part of a team: God’s Team. We all have the same Game Plan: our game plan is learning to love. Our focus today will be on the two greatest commandments.
Does anyone know what the greatest commandments are?
To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
VIRTUE DEMONSTRATION
Click here for the Virtue Demo on Excellence.
SKIT
Click here to view the script for Day 1 skit.
DISMISSAL TO STATIONS
Dismiss the children to their groups. The group leaders will lead the children to their appropriate station. Play the VBS music as kids are leaving.
