Pennington School

On Monday afternoon I went to do the assembly at Pennington School.  It was our first visit this term, so I started by asking if the children had had a good Easter holidays and if they had had a good Easter weekend.  As a reminder of what Easter is about we sang Inright Outright.  I then explained what happened after the Friday and led into the story of The Sunday morning and the empty tomb  - this linked to asking about Easter eggs and chocolate and who had chocolate for breakfast etc on Easter Sunday.  I then told what happened later that day when Jesus was talking with the two followers on the road to Emmaus.  When Jesus met up with them they didn't see that it was him, to demonstrate this I had a few famous people who's face's I had made blurry and asked if the children knew who they were.  The followers only realised it was Jesus when he broke the bread.  I told the children that this was the next part of the Easter story which it is but I asked them how they could show Jesus or how could other people see Jesus in them by what they do - I had a number of great suggestions such as being kind, showing love, sharing things etc.  This linked to our final song Shine from the inside out.  After this I finished with a prayer.

Newton Primary School

On Monday morning Sarah and I went to do the assembly at Newton Primary School.  It was our first visit this term, so Sarah started by asking if the children had had a good Easter holidays and if they had had a good Easter weekend - this linked to asking about Easter eggs and chocolate.  As a reminder of what Easter is about we sang Inright Outright.  I then explained what happened after the Friday and led into the story of Jesus talking with the two followers on the road to Emmaus.  When Jesus met up with them they didn't see that it was him, to demonstrate this I had a few famous people who's face's I had made blurry and asked if the children knew who they were.  The followers only realised it was Jesus when he broke the bread.  I told the children that this was the next part of the Easter story which it is but I asked them how they could show Jesus or how could other people see Jesus in them by what they do - I had a number of great suggestions.  This linked to our final song Shine from the inside out.  After this Sarah finished with a prayer.

Leven Valley School

This morning I went along to Leven Valley School to do the assembly.  I asked if they were sick of eating chocolate and if they had had chocolate for breakfast on Sunday.  We sang Inright Outright as a reminder of what Jesus did for us at Easter time I then retold the Sunday morning part of the story with the empty tomb then moving forward to 'teatime' early evening I talked about the two followers on the road to Emmaus. It says that the followers were prevented from seeing it was Jesus, to explain this bit I had earlier displayed three pictures of celebs with their faces pixelated - when the followers couldn't see it was Jesus I did explain that his face wasn't pixelated.  As Jesus recalled why the events had happened in Jerusalem that weekend he went to leave them at the house they were going to but being invited in as he sat and took the bread, lifted it up and broke it the followers realise it was Jesus.  They hot footed it back to Jerusalem and Jesus went away again.  I brought out the point that it was when Jesus did what he did they realised who he was.  So I asked the children what they could do to show Jesus to others - I got loads of very good answers from the children like showing love and kindness, helping people out, opening doors for people.  I said that when we do that we can Shine out Jesus from our insides out - cue for a song.  After the song I finished with a prayer.  

Our Lady's School

This morning I went along to Our Lady's School to do the assembly.  I asked if they were sick of eating chocolate and if they had had chocolate for breakfast on Sunday.  We sang Inright Outright as a reminder of what Jesus did for us at Easter time I then retold the Sunday morning part of the story with the empty tomb then moving forward to 'teatime' early evening I talked about the two followers on the road to Emmaus. It says that the followers were prevented from seeing it was Jesus, to explain this bit I had earlier displayed three pictures of celebs with their faces pixelated - when the followers couldn't see it was Jesus I did explain that his face wasn't pixelated.  As Jesus recalled why the events had happened in Jerusalem that weekend he went to leave them at the house they were going to but being invited in as he sat and took the bread, lifted it up and broke it the followers realise it was Jesus.  They hot footed it back to Jerusalem and Jesus went away again.  I brought out the point that it was when Jesus did what he did they realised who he was.  So I asked the children what they could do to show Jesus to others - I got loads of very good answers from the children like praying for someone, showing love and kindness, helping people out, being selfless rather than selfish.  I said that when we do that we can Shine out Jesus from our insides out - cue for a song.  After the song I finished with a prayer.  

St Marys RC Ulverston

This morning I was at St Mary's RC School in Ulverston for the assembly.  It was good to see all the children again after the Easter break.  I commented on how I liked the Easter themed pictures that were displayed in the hall. I also asked if they were sick of eating chocolate and if they had had chocolate for breakfast on Sunday.  To finish off the Easter theme we sang Inright Outright as a reminder of what Jesus did for us before I retold the Sunday morning part of the story with the empty tomb then moving forward to 'teatime' early evening I talked about the two followers on the road to Emmaus. It says that the followers were prevented from seeing it was Jesus, to explain this bit I had earlier displayed three pictures of celebs with their faces pixelated - when the followers couldn't see it was Jesus I did explain that his face wasn't pixelated.  As Jesus recalled why the events had happened in Jerusalem that weekend he went to leave them at the house they were going to but being invited in as he sat and took the bread, lifted it up and broke it the followers realise it was Jesus.  They hot footed it back to Jerusalem and Jesus went away again.  I brought out the point that it was when Jesus did what he did they realised who he was.  So I asked the children what they could do to show Jesus to others - I got loads of very good answers from the children like praying for someone, showing love and kindness, helping people out, being selfless rather than selfish.  I said that when we do that we can Shine out Jesus from our insides out - cue for a song.  After the song I finished with a prayer.  

St Peters

This morning Sarah and I went to do the assembly at St Peters.  Sarah started by asking who had had chocolate for breakfast on Easter Sunday morning.  As a reminder of what Jesus did for us we sang to start off Inright Outright.  Sarah then explained that on the Sunday morning Jesus had risen from the dead and the tomb was empty.  I then told what happened after the women told the disciples who also saw the empty tomb.  I then displayed a few pictures of celebrities but I had disguised their faces a bit, this was to link in with what happened next as later that day two of the followers of Jesus were travelling home and feeling very sad at the events of the weekend - when Jesus joined them except they didn't realise it was him.  He talked with them as they walked slowly along the road asking why they were so sad. Their response was where have you been the past few days didn't you see and hear about the man Jesus who was crucified and today the body has gone missing.  Jesus responded by saying wasn't that supposed to have happened?  Then he talked with them and retold all the things that had been spoken about him in the Old Testament and the prophets.  When they arrive home Jesus went as if to go on they asked him to stay.  Now as Jesus took bread and breaking it apart they realise who it was. Jesus went away again and the followers hot footed back to Jerusalem.  Sarah then talked about how we show Jesus in our lives, by doing things - like Jesus breaking the bread.  So she asked how we can show Jesus to other people by what we do - loads of different answers came out, showing love, being kind, being respectful, helping people out, playing with people when no-one else will.  By doing those things she said we Shine Jesus out from inside - cue song. After the song we finished with a prayer.

Burlington School

This morning I went over to Burlington School to do the assembly. I started by asking what this week is called - someone said Easter week which it is however I was looking for Holy Week which someone else said.  Next I asked what Sunday just gone was called - Palm Sunday came the answer.  I explained that on Palm Sunday we think about Jesus going into Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowds shouted praise's and waved palm branches and other things to welcome him.  I pointed out that there are many ways to praise God/Jesus which was a cue for our first song So Many Ways to Praise the Lord.  After the song and following on from the intro I told the children that I had a sad story to tell them, one that had violence in it, betrayal, lies and much more - and it all started out in a garden.  I read/dramatized the Way of the Cross story from Lost Sheep while displaying the pictures on the screen of the final days of Jesus' life up to the point he was placed in n empty tomb.  It finishes with this might seem to be the end of the story but in fact it is just the beginning.  I then explained why it was just the beginning in that on Sunday coming up we have Easter eggs.  I asked the children what they were expecting to get on Sunday and they gave me the answer, I also asked who was going to eat chocolate before breakfast - loads of hands went up.  Thinking about the egg which is hollow and empty I told the children that it reminds us about the empty tomb, then the shape slightly rounded is like the stone that had been rolled away and an egg itself is life new life.  I asked the children to think about that as they opened their Easter eggs on Sunday and why it is we celebrate Easter - Jesus' death on the cross and then rose from the dead on the Sunday.  We then sang Inright Outright as it talks about Jesus cared for me when he died on Calvary.  After the song I finished with a short prayer.

JFJ Video Project

This afternoon I posted the first of many videos to Youtube as part of our new venture which at the moment I am calling the JFJ Video Project.  Some time ago I had the idea/vision of recording onto video Bible stories and stories related to the good news of Jesus.  It is hoped that many more videos will follow and that the quality of both sound and picture will get better.  We started back in October clearing out and levelling the ground to build a new shed to free up space from our existing one to use that as a store room.

The new shed was up and filled with our stuff 

and the next phase of work could begin the removal of the roof from the old shed ready for a new one to be fitted - sadly this hasn't yet been completed as we have been so badly let down by a builder so this is the state of play still today

However not to be put off we continued to press on and produce something in the limited space we have 

The result of which is here  https://youtu.be/FlLs13iYEAE on Youtube for you to watch.

We would ask that you continue to pray for this venture as I have loads of ideas of ways to get stories across to children and a number of characters to develop too.

Enjoy the video.

Low Furness School

This morning I went to do our Easter assembly at Low Furness School.  I started by asking if the children had had a good Easter holidays - except Easter is only next week!!  I then asked if anyone knew what was special about last Sunday - Palm Sunday came the response, next I asked what this week is called - Holy week.  Referring back to Palm Sunday I explained that loads of people stood and cheered Jesus as he came in to Jerusalem.  They sang and shouted praise and worship to him - I said there are so many ways to praise the Lord - cue for a song.  After the song I said I had a sad story to tell, one that has violence in it, betrayal, lies - and yet it all started in a garden.  I used the latest story from Lost Sheep - The Way of the Cross to tell the Easter Story and it ended with Jesus in the tomb which is really the beginning of the greatest story.  After the story I explained what happened next and talked about Easter Sunday by asking what the children get on that day and who eats chocolate before breakfast... talking about the eggs we get a Easter I pointed out that most of them are hollow and empty which helps us to remember that the tomb was empty, they are a kind of roundish shape which reminds us of the stone rolled away and eggs help us to think bout new life.  To finish off we sang Inright Outright before I closed with a prayer. 

Penny Bridge Academy

This afternoon Sarah and I went to do the assembly at Penny Bridge Academy.  As we are in Holy Week Sarah started by asking what special day yesterday was - Palm Sunday.  She explained that we are in Holy week and that I was going to tell a rather sad story about an event from the week.  I told the children the Easter story starting with Jesus in the garden and ending when Jesus was put in the tomb - however I did say that this might be seem the end of the story but really it is just the start.  To help tell the story we used one of the stories from the Lost Sheep series called the Way of the Cross.  Sarah then talked to the children about Easter and why it is we have eggs - well not just eggs but chocolate eggs.  She pointed out that the eggs are normally empty - the empty tomb, they are rounded kind of shape - the rolling stone and they symbolise new life.  After this we sang Inright Outright before I closed with a prayer.

Church Walk Primary School

This morning Sarah and I went to Church Walk Primary School to do an assembly.  As we are in Holy Week Sarah started by asking what special day yesterday was - Palm Sunday.  She explained what that was before we sang So Many Ways to Praise the Lord.  I then went on to tell the Easter story starting with Jesus in the garden and ending when Jesus was put in the tomb - however I did say that this might be seem the end of the story but really it is just the start.  To help tell the story we used one of the stories from the Lost Sheep series called the Way of the Cross.  Sarah then talked to the children about Easter and why it is we have eggs - well not just eggs but chocolate eggs.  She pointed out that the eggs are normally empty - the empty tomb, they are rounded kind of shape - the rolling stone and they symbolise new life.  After this we sang Inright Outright before I closed with a prayer.