St Peters Ireleth

This morning Sarah and I went over to St Peters for the last assembly of the year.  We started the assembly by singing Shine but the hall was set out for their nativity we couldn't project the words for our songs or show the short shepherds video we had taken however we read the story for the children out of the children's bible.  We focused on the shepherds because they were the first people to hear the good news after Jesus was born.  Also Jesus during his adult life and ministry was called the Good Shepherd and sheep follow good shepherds as they look after them.  Sarah talked (while I demonstrated) about the shepherds crook, it was used to identify the shepherds, to control the sheep, support the shepherd and also protect the sheep.  And Jesus does that for us like this - Support - Jesus is always there to support us and help us as we journey through life.  Identity - Through his love for us, Jesus helps us to know that we belong to him.  Control - Jesus is in control and as his followers we need to trust in him.  Protection - Jesus helps us through good and difficult times. We often need to call out to him to save and protect us.  We then sang a Christmas song Rejoice with us this Christmas and then I concluded the assembly with a prayer followed by the Lord's Prayer.