In short...
Themes: The Jewish festival of Shavuot; the Bible story of Ruth and Naomi; loyalty; welcoming others.
Summary: This assembly, suitable for an act of collective worship, is particularly relevant at or around the time of the Jewish festival of Shavuot. It can be used at other times of year to explore the well-known Bible story of Ruth and Naomi. Shavuot is a two-day celebration that falls 50 days after over (Pesach) and commemorates Moses receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai. See 'Related links' below for our assembly content on Moses and the 10 Commandments. During Shavuot it is traditional to read the Book of Ruth - including the story of Ruth and Naomi - the focus of this assembly. This year Shavuot begins on 1 June 2025.
Resources: the assembly framework to / print; a poster of characters in the story and a transcript of the story to / print.
The video
[A market in Bethlehem. Ruth carries her baby boy, Obed. A woman approaches.]
Woman: Oh, he’s adorable!
Ruth: Isn’t he!
Woman: I haven’t seen you around here before. You’re not from Bethlehem, are you?
Ruth: No. I’m from Moab.
Woman: Moab! You’re a long way from home!
Ruth: Yes, my first husband was Jewish and from here - in Bethlehem. He moved to Moab with his family to escape the famine here. His name was Mahlon and his parents were called Elimelech and Naomi, and he had a brother, Chilion.
[We see the family arriving in Moab.]
Naomi: Here we are at last! It’s not Judea but at least it will be safe and there will be enough to eat.
[Ruth is nearby and spots Mahlon and smiles. He smiles back.]
Ruth: Even though my husband, Mahlon and I were from different countries and religions we fell in love and married. We weren’t the only ones. Chilion also got married - to Orpah.
Woman: What are you doing back here in Judea? Why didn’t you stay in Moab?
[Naomi steps into the scene.]
Naomi: That’s what I said! To Ruth, I mean.
Ruth: This is my mother-in-law, Naomi - the mother of Mahlon.
Naomi: We lost everything you see. Both my boys, Mahlon and Chilion died, and their father had ed away ten years before.
Woman: How awful!
[We see Naomi, Ruth and Orpah on the road out of Moab.]
Naomi: I decided I had to leave Moab and return to Judea. I have family here and the famine that drove us away was over. But I said to Ruth and Orpah… [In the scene.] Go back! I am old, but you can find new husbands and start again! [To Ruth] Look your sister-in-law is going back! You should too! You’d be with your family, your people, and you can pray to your own God.Ruth: No! Naomi, wherever you go, I will go and your God will be my God!
[The story returns to the market.]
Naomi: So even though dear Ruth here isn’t from Judea, she left Moab and travelled with me to make sure I was alright!
Woman: That’s so good of you!
Naomi: Not only that! When we arrived here, we had nothing. But Ruth went out and worked in the fields all day long to make sure we had a little to eat! She was in a foreign land and didn’t know anyone, but she set to work anyway and helped with the barley harvest.
Ruth: I just picked up the left-over grain from the harvest. I was thankful that they let me.
Naomi: She worked so hard, she caught the eye of one of my late husband’s relatives - Boaz!
Woman: Boaz! A very noble gentleman indeed, and quite a wealthy one I’ve heard.
Ruth: He was very kind to me. He didn’t care that I came from another country, or that I had no money.
Naomi: You’re too modest, dear! Boaz had heard all about Ruth refusing to leave mother-in-law, and he was very impressed!
[Boaz approaches Ruth in flashback.]
Boaz: I have been told of all that you did for Naomi after the death of your husband - how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and came here to Judea, to a people you did not know.
[The story returns to the market.]
Naomi: Well one thing led to another and they got married!
Woman: And were blessed with a little boy.
Ruth: Yes, little Obed!
Woman: Well, if he’s as generous and determined as you are Ruth, he’ll grow up to be a very fine young man!
Narration: The end of Ruth’s story is just the beginning of another, for little Obed there will have a son, named Jesse, and he will have son named Davd. King David no less. But that’s a whole other story!
Shavuot: Ruth and Naomi
The story opens in a marketplace in Bethlehem. We meet Ruth and learn that she is not from Judea but in fact comes from the nearby country of Moab. Many years before Ruth met her first husband - Mahlon - when he travelled to Moab from Bethlehem with his family in order to escape famine in Judea.
We learn that Mahlon and other of the family died, leaving Ruth's mother-in-law - Naomi - determined to return to Bethlehem. Naomi tells Ruth and her sister-in-law - Orpah - to remain in their country of Moab. But Ruth refuses, telling Naomi 'wherever you go, I will go and your God will be my God!'
Naomi s Ruth in the marketplace in the present time and expresses her gratitude to Ruth for her loyalty. We learn that despite being a stranger in Bethlehem Ruth set to work in the fields on her arrival to ensure that she and Naomi had enough to eat. Ruth's selfless dedication to Naomi earns her the iration of Boaz, a local landowner, and eventually the two are married. Their son - Obed - will be the grandfather of King David.
Duration: 3' 44"
Final speech: '…but that's a whole other story!'
Video questions
- What country is Ruth from? (Moab)
- How did Ruth meet her first husband, Mahlon? (He moved from Bethlehem to Moab with his family to escape a famine)
- What is the name of Ruth's mother-in-law? (Naomi)
- Why did Naomi wish to return to Bethlehem? (Her husband - Emilemech - and sons - Mahlon and Chilion - had died, and she had relatives in Bethlehem)
- How does Ruth react when Naomi tells her to stay in Moab? (She refuses, saying she will stay with Naomi)
- What does Ruth do for work when they arrive in Bethlehem? (She helps with the harvest)
- What is the name of Ruth's second husband? (Boaz - a local landowner)
- Who is Ruth's son? (Obed - he will become the father of Jesse and the grandfather of King David)
Key links
Assembly framework (pdf) document
/ print the assembly framework ready for use
Poster - The characters in the story. image
Click to display image full size
Transcript - Ruth and Naomi
Click to / print the video transcript
Suggested assembly framework
1. Entry
An online search will yield many songs associated with Shavuot. The story of Ruth and Naomi has many characters and names, so be sure to display the poster of characters in the story.
2. Introduction
Tell the assembly: At this time of year (you could give a specific date) Jewish people all over the world celebrate the festival of 'Shavuot' (pronounced 'sha-VOT'). Shavuot is a two-day holiday and celebrates a successful harvest. The festival also commemorates a key event from Jewish - and Christian - religious texts: Moses receiving the 10 Commandments from God. During Shavuot it is traditional to spend time studying the Torah - the Jewish Bible - and one of the stories that is read at Shavuot is the one we're going to watch now. It's the story of Ruth and Naomi and tells of the steadfast loyalty of one person to another.
3. The video
Play the video. The duration is 3' 44" and the final words are: '…a whole other story!'
4. After the video - Time to talk
The story of Ruth and Naomi has many names, so begin by asking the Video questions to aid pupils' recall of the story:
- What country is Ruth from? (Moab)
- How did Ruth meet her first husband, Mahlon? (He moved from Bethlehem to Moab with his family to escape a famine)
- What is the name of Ruth's mother-in-law? (Naomi)
- Why did Naomi wish to return to Bethlehem? (Her husband - Elimelech - and sons - Mahlon and Chilion - had died, and she had relatives in Bethlehem)
- How does Ruth react when Naomi tells her to stay in Moab? (She refuses, saying she will stay with Naomi)
- What does Ruth do for work when they arrive in Bethlehem? (She helps with the harvest)
- What is the name of Ruth's second husband? (Boaz - a local landowner)
- Who is Ruth's son? (Obed - he will become the father of Jesse and the grandfather of King David)
Then lead a discussion of the story by asking the following:
- Why do you think Ruth stayed with Naomi, but Orpah did not? (Gather responses)
- We can describe Ruth as being very 'loyal' to Naomi. What does it mean to be 'loyal'? (Gather responses)
- Can you think of a time when you've been loyal to someone else, or someone has shown loyalty to you? (Gather responses)
5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from BBC collections below.
6. Opportunity for reflection
Focus the reflection on the festival of Shavuot and the story of Ruth and Naomi:
Festivals are an opportunity for us all to celebrate - to share happy times with family and friends and enjoy a holiday…
Think to yourself about what your favourite festival times are…
During Shavuot it is a tradition to the story of Ruth and Naomi…
A story about Ruth's loyalty to Naomi and how she looked after Naomi…
But also a story about Ruth being made welcome in a new land where she was a stranger…
Spend a moment thinking what it's like to not feel welcome…and why it's important to show welcome to others…
7. Opportunity for prayer
Use your usual form of address ('Dear God', 'Let us pray', etc) and:
Thank you for festivals and holidays for us to share and enjoy with family and friends.
Help us to be loyal and true - just as Ruth was to Naomi.
And help us always to make others feel welcome - whether at home, at school, or anywhere else.
Amen.
Suggested songs
Song: 'Being a friend' (All about our school, no 8. Vocal version)
Being a friend is the best thing you can be,
‘Cos in the end friends are something we all need.
You could score a goal for England,
Be a pop star on TV,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend is the best thing you can do,
Time and again it’s our friends that help us through.
You could be a millionaire,
Or fly a rocket to the moon,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever do.
Whatever we grow up to be,
And live in harmony,
Together we all need to see
That friendship is the key!
Being a friend is the best thing you can be,
‘Cos in the end friends are something we all need.
You could score a goal for England,
Be a pop star on TV,
But being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
Being a friend
Is still the best thing you can ever be.
'Build up' (All about our school, no 12)
Verse 1:
Every word you say, (wo-oh)
Every game you play, (wo-oh)
Every silly face, (wo-oh)
Every single place, (wo-oh)
You can build up,
spoken 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
Or you can tear down.
Chorus:
Build up one another,
Build up your sisters and brothers,
Build up one another,
Build up!
Verse 2:
Every joke you tell, (wo-oh)
Every name you spell, (wo-oh)
Everywhere you go, (wo-oh)
Everyone you know, (wo-oh)
You can build up,
spoken 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
Or you can tear down.
Chorus:
Build up one another,
Build up your sisters and brothers,
Build up one another,
Build up!
Build up!
Build up!
'Celebration rap' (Come and Praise Beginning, no 7).
(1) Come and shout for joy!
(2) Come and shout for joy!
(1) Come and shout for joy
and clap your hands!
(2) Come and shout for joy
and clap your hands!
(1) Come and shout for joy
and clap your hands
and stamp your feet!
(2) Come and shout for joy
and clap your hands
and stamp your feet!
(1) Come and shout for joy
and clap your hands
and stamp your feet
and turn around!
(2) Come and shout for joy
and clap your hands
and stamp your feet
and turn around!