Experience Easter with year 2 Ulverston Infants

I have been involved again this afternoon with Experience Easter and this time it was year 2 of Ulverston Infants who came round.  I was in the garden again talking to the children about times when they might have felt alone or afraid.  I got some interesting answers from the children.  I read the part of the story that went with the garden and talked about Jesus being alone and maybe frightened.  I read three verses about God knowing our names, loving us and Jesus telling us not to be afraid. 

I have called you by name---you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
I have loved you with an everlasting love ... Jeremiah 31:3a

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid John 14:27

I was good to see the children talk about what makes them feel alone and hear about what makes them frightened.  They make a model out of play dough to show what it was and we held them in our hands and prayed about them.

Each child that has been through the Experience Easter this week will have taken something away with them from it.  Pray for them as they explore and learn what Jesus has done for them.
 



 

Crosthwaite School - Easter assembly

This afternoon we went across to Crosthwaite School to do our Easter assembly.  We started the assembly with Shine before Sarah talked about the Easter eggs we had taken in.  This led into the bit about the crosses and the gospel illusion.  The children responded well to the assembly as they had been to church that morning and had an Easter service.  To end we sang Inright Outright then I said a prayer but we got asked to sing Inright Outright again as the children enjoyed it so much.

St Peters - finishing the Easter story from last week

Sarah and I went again today to St Peters School.  Sarah was also there last week and told the Palm Sunday Story to the children and so today we continued the story as we did our Easter Assembly.  We had the eggs that we have used in so many schools and Sarah explained to the children what they could represent to us.  Which led into the illustration with the three crosses which I held up showing the one in the middle (which was red) to be like the one Jesus died on.  But when they all went into the tomb (envelope) two crosses came out to show the other two had really died but Jesus had no cross because the card said He is Not Here and the back read He is Risen and the tomb envelope was empty.  Sarah summed up the assembly and led us into singing Inright Outright before I prayed and ended with the Lord's Prayer.

Croftlands Infants School - Easter assembly

On Tuesday afternoon Sarah and I went along to Croftlands infant school to do our Easter assembly.  We started with Great Big God before Sarah asked the children what special day was coming up - Easter.  She went on to talk about the Easter Eggs we had taken in and about the plastic one - that had a cross inside it.  This led into the illusion of the three crosses which I did for the children.  We talked about how the egg could be the stone, could represent the empty tomb as well as being a symbol of New Life.  We concluded by singing Inright Outright then I said a prayer.

Low Furness School - Easter Assembly - Jesus is alive and it was no trick!!

Today I went to Low Furness School and did our Easter Assembly.  Sarah had stayed at home to catch up with some work towards Good Friday's service by the cross.  So I had to do the assembly alone which was a bit strange as we have been doing this one together and Sarah would speak and I would hold things up and then go on to do the gospel illusion.  As we have a slightly longer time at Low Furness I started with So Many Ways reflecting back to Palm Sunday.  Then talked briefly about the week leading up to Good Friday.  I then focused on the collection of eggs and explained about each one.  When I came to the plastic egg and took out the cross I explained that it was made up of 3 nails.  I talked about how it hurts if or when we prick our fingers and asked the children to imagine what a nail would feel like.  I then took out the three crosses and displayed them to the children telling them that Jesus was placed in the middle and that he died and like the other two men was buried.  Now the other two men did die and I remove their crosses from the tomb envelope and show both sides of the card but Jesus - well he was gone I say this as I hold up the card that reads He is not Here - before the children can say anything I turn the card over to show He is Risen and the tomb envelope is empty.  I explain about the Easter eggs being a symbol of New Life and that new life is with Jesus, they are empty and we could use that to remember that the tomb was empty also the shape could be a reminder that the stone was rolled away.  Following the talk we sang Inright Outright then I closed with a prayer.

Ulverston Parish Church - Experience Easter

This afternoon I had been asked by Ulverston Parish Church and Church Walk School to get involved with their Experience Easter.  I had a great time sharing the story of Jesus in the garden and talking about our feelings when we are afraid particularly at night.  The children shared their ideas as well.  They made a play dough figure to express what their fears had been.  I read out a few verses from the Bible about how God loves us so much and how he even knows us by name, and then the verse that says we shouldn't be afraid (Jeremiah 31:3a, Isaiah 43:1 and John 14:27).  We had two year groups from Ulverston Infants (Church Walk) come through today.  I also had been asked to conclude the sessions at the empty tomb were we reminded the children what they had seen and heard and talked a little bit about how the women felt on that first Easter Day when they found the tomb was empty.  I also reminded the children about Easter Eggs which served to remind them about last weeks assembly.  The children left with a small Easter Egg to help them remember what they had experienced.

Pennington School - One, Two where is the third cross?

This morning Sarah and I went to Pennington School and did our Easter Assembly.  As usual with this assembly we didn't start with a song instead Sarah went straight in to talk about the collection of Easter Eggs we had taken into school.  The children at the front got rather excited by them (perhaps they thought we might give them away) She told the children about the eggs but focused on the plastic egg that had the little metal cross in it.  This was made from nails and reminded us about the cross of Jesus.  She then told the story of Good Friday and how Jesus was crucified between two criminals, meanwhile I held up three crosses, at the point when they die I placed them into a tomb.  As the story moved on two of the crosses came out of the tomb but the red one that was for Jesus didn't instead a card read He is not here and the back said He is risen, the tomb was then shown empty.  Sarah reminded the children that eggs are given to represent New Life, the eggs are empty reminding us of the empty tomb.  We then sang Inright Outright before finishing with a prayer.

Leven Valley - the empty egg and the missing cross

This morning Sarah and I went to Leven Valley School to do our Easter assembly. So after singing So Many Ways to Praise the Lord and reminding the children that on Sunday it is Palm Sunday.  Sarah told the Easter story but started by talking about the Easter Egg and about why we have them and what they should remind us of - New Life and the empty egg is like the empty tomb on Easter Day.  However she had a plastic egg inside was a cross made from nails which reminds us of the cross Jesus was crucified on.  As Sarah told the story I illustrated what she was saying with a gospel illusion.  Three crosses were seen and place in a tomb (envelope) and two came out but the third was missing instead a card read He is Not Here and the reverse said He is Risen.  We concluded the assembly with singing Inright Outright before saying a prayer.

Our Lady's - a cross in an egg

This morning Sarah and I were at Our Lady's School in Dalton.  After singing So Many Ways to Praise the Lord and reminding the children that on Sunday it is Palm Sunday.  Sarah told the Easter story but started by talking about the Easter Egg and about why we have them and what they should remind us of - New Life and the empty egg is like the empty tomb on Easter Day.  However she had a plastic egg inside was a cross made from nails which reminds us of the cross Jesus was crucified on.  As Sarah told the story I illustrated what she was saying with a gospel illusion.  Three crosses were seen and place in a tomb (envelope) and two came out but the third was missing instead a card read He is Not Here and the reverse said He is Risen.  We concluded the assembly with singing Inright Outright before saying a prayer.

St Peters - Palm Sunday assembly

On Wednesday 20th March Mark went on a school trip with our daughters school so that left me all alone to do an assembly.  A bit daunting!  I asked my dad if he'd care to accompany me and he jumped at the chance (phew!!).  As this was the Wednesday before Palm Sunday that was to be our theme.  I declared we were going to crown a child king or queen of St Peters.  After picking two volunteers I asked them general questions about todays monarchy.  The winner was crowned King of St Peters with a crown, royal robes and a plush throne.  I then went on to tell the story of Jesus' triumphant entry to Jerusalem.  An ordinary, servant hearted man of the people who didn't need a crown (took crown off childs head) who didn't need fine robes (took robe off) and didn't have a plush throne (child stood up and we removed throne).  The peopled shouted and cheered 'Hosanna, Hosanna' declaring Jesus as King of Kings!  I went on to explain this was because of all the wonderful things Jesus had done. We sang 'So many ways' as it talks about praising Jesus King of Kings.  Dad then prayed a blessing on the school and its staff and children and we finished with The Lords Prayer.

Croftlands Juniors - Easter assembly

Following our assembly at Ulverston Infants this morning we went up to Croftlands Juniors and did the same assembly.  As we had a little more time we sang So Many Ways before Sarah started on the talk about Easter.  At the end we sang Inright Outright with the children and Sarah finished our time with them with a prayer.

Easter Eggs and tricks at Ulverston Infants

This morning we went to see the children of Ulverston Infants - Church Walk.  We decided to do our Easter assembly again so as the children walked in they could feast their eyes on the Easter Eggs we had taken in.  Sarah started by talking about the display of eggs - size, type, made what might be inside, the package final she talked about the plastic egg.  You can't eat it she said however inside was something special - a cross made from nails.  This led to her talking about Jesus and about how he was put on a cross next to two other people.  At this point I display the three crosses and as the story unfolds I put the crosses into a sleeve and went prompted to do so lift them out again only this time I only have two and a message that says He's not here and on the back says He is risen.  Sarah concluded the assembly with a reminder of what Easter really is about.  We then sang Inright Outright before Sarah prayed with the children.

Penny Bridge - Easter Eggs and a trick

This afternoon we went along to Penny Bridge School to do our Easter assembly.  As we arrived the children were very excited to see us which was a great feeling to be welcomed into the school in such a lovely way.  Sarah started to talk about Easter Eggs and what sorts and types we have.  But she had one egg that wasn't chocolate but plastic and inside it was a small metal cross made of nails.  She went on to tell the story of Easter as I held up crosses printed on to cards with the middle one being the cross of Jesus in red.  They all got put into a card sleeve which was like a tomb but as I lifted each one out again the red one that was Jesus' cross had disappeared and instead the card read 'He's not Here' and on the back it said 'He is Risen'  the card sleeve was opened and showed to be empty.  Sarah continued and reminded the children why we have Easter and Easter Eggs - they are a symbol of New Life and we can have that New Life with Jesus.  We finished by singing Inright Outright and So Many Ways and I prayed with the children.

Broughton School - Easter assembly

This morning Sarah and I went trough the snow! Yes it was snowing on the tops, to Broughton School.  We did the first of our Easter Themed assemblies.  Sarah had bought a load of different Easter Eggs and she started to talk about the size of each one and what might be inside each one.  The egg that she liked the best wasn't made of chocolate but plastic and inside it was a small metal cross.  We showed the cross to the children and asked them if they could see what it was made from - we got a number of answers most of them different metals - however the real answer was nails.  Sarah then told how Jesus was nailed onto a cross between two criminals, as she told the story I held up three cards with pictures of crosses on, two black crosses and a red one in the middle.  As she talked about Jesus dying I put the crosses into a card sleeve that looked like a grave.  She continue by saying that the two other people were dead as I lifted out the two black crosses then as I reached into lift out the red cross the card sleeve is opened to show it empty and the cross is gone and the words on the card read 'He's not here' and when it is turned over it says 'He is risen'.  Sarah continue to tell the children that the real meaning of Easter is about Jesus' death on the cross for our sins and that he is risen to eternal life - to new life and that is why we have Easter Eggs to remind us of New Life, also Easter Eggs are empty and that can remind us of the empty tomb.  We finished by singing Inright Outright and I prayed for the children