1. Ask about Harry Potter and the sorting hat.
Further information you might like to glean includes the names of the four
houses and which house Harry is put into.
2. Show own sorting hat. Explain that it tells the truth about people
inside.
Choose
a volunteer (a child you know) and sit them on a chair at the front. Explain
that the sorting hat in the books knows all about you as soon as it sits on
your head - what would this hat say about you if it could speak? Then run
through some of the positive aspects of this child, such as lively, funny, good
at games, etc.
3. Say what the hat sees is a bit like what God
sees. When we make resolutions we try
and show everyone good things on the outside, but it is what is inside that is
important.
4. Tell story of rich young ruler. Did all the right things, but there were
still things inside him that needed to change.
5. Quiet reflection: What needs to change inside us?
Hatred? Fear? Selfishness? What
would the sorting hat find that wasn’t so great?
6. Dear God, you see what we are really
like. This New Year please change us to
be good outside and in.