Guardians of Ancora Final Day

We had a great time today at holiday club,  the children responded to the take home competition which had been to design a bible place/scene or a building from Ancora on a paper plate.  Then there was the singing, the story, the craft, the intro drama and not forgetting Stacey and Lacey the stars of the first session in the morning.  They brought the added humour and laughter to the morning.  We started on a high on Monday as we started off and finished on an equally high point - with I have to add no low points in between.  Our continued prayer is that the children who have been with us this week and have had an encounter of some sort or another with God, that they would over time revisit this week in their minds and re-encounter God as they do so and want to know more about him, so that he becomes like bread to them and they can feed on him and grow.  May God Bless everyone who has been involved this week.

Guardians of Ancora Holiday Club Day 4

Today at holiday club it was our fancy dress day, the children had been asked if they could come in a costume that was a bible character.  We had a number of different ones which was great one set of winners was for Samuel and Naomi - these two children just happened to be called Samuel and Naomi!  As it rained today the games had to go on inside, which was fine but by the end of the morning the hall was rather warm!  We also did a giant game of rock paper scissors in which the children played against each other the loser then had to stand behind the winner while they found someone else to play with - the result was two rather long lines and the ultimate play off.  The children had a great time.   Our story today was the healing of the man that was lowered through the roof.

Guardians of Ancora Holiday Club Day 3

I should have blogged this yesterday but I forgot.  We had a great day at holiday club yesterday.  It was our wacky hat day when children were encouraged to come with a hat that told a story.  We had all kinds of hats and many different stories from creation to Jesus ascending up into heaven to Noah's Ark.  It was a task and a half for our judge to make a decision who was the winner.  The story was the healing of the Roman Centurion's servant, which we introduced by using a drama then watched the story.  There was the usual round of singing, Stacey and Lacey came back again bringing with them the memory verse.

Guardians of Ancora Holiday Club Day 2

Today we had another great day at Holiday Club.  Most of the children came back and a few new ones came too.  Our two special guests came back as well all the way from New York - Stacey and Lacey helped us to remember the bible verse for the day.  We hear the story of Jesus bringing Jairus's daughter back to life and in the reflection zone time the children also heard the story of the lady that touched his cloak.  More stories, songs, crafts, games planned for tomorrow.

Guardians of Ancora Holiday Club Day 1

Had a fantastic time this morning at Croftlands with over 60 children as part of the Guardians of Ancora holiday club.  We did lots of singing, heard a bible story, had a memory verse, did games, had a craft session.  We never seemed to have stopped all morning it was so busy but then towards the end we went into groups and discussed what the story was about and the children reflected on what they had learnt during the morning.  These times are so special with children and all our group leaders and junior leaders worked with the children as they filled in a booklet.  Our prayer for the whole of this week is that children will have an encounter with God maybe for the first time.  So please pray for these youngsters and their group leaders too, as well as all the other adults that work in a supportive role at holiday club.

Broughton School

For our last assembly of this school year we went to Broughton School.  We started the assembly with God's Love is Bigger than a Burger then Sarah introduced the theme of the assembly by asking who could remember the previous assembly which was the transition one when we told the story of Daniel.  She asked what the other peoples names were.  The children almost got the names right - Sarah reminded them that it was Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  I then told their story using pictures to help me.  As I told the story though I did stop and ask the children a few questions.  Sarah then explained that God was with the three men as they stood in the furnace he looked after them and protected them - just as he continues to do today.  We displayed once again the Joshua verse 1:8 Be strong and courageous do not be afraid for God is with you wherever you go.  Then we sang the Chicken Dance before Sarah closed the assembly with a prayer.

St Peters School

This morning we went to St Peters School for the assembly.  It was our last assembly of the school year with them we decided to follow up from the assembly we did previously and talk about the three friends of Daniel - that is Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  I told the story using some pictures and as I went along I asked the children some questions too.  Then I reminded them of the verse we had given them from Joshua 1:8 Be strong and courageous do not be afraid for God is with you wherever you go.  I explained that God would be with them as they went on up the school and off to a new school in the case of the year 6 children.  To start the assembly we sang God's Love is Bigger than a Burger and to close it we sang the Chicken Dance as a special treat to the year 6 children.  Sarah then said a prayer to finish. 

Then at 12:00 we had been invited by the year 6 children to their leavers lunch - it was a Star Wars themed lunch with picture displayed around the room, the theme tunes playing in the back ground.  The children had decided what they wanted to have and we finished it off with Star Wars themed ginger bread people and rice cake.  Sarah and I had a great time, it was lovely to be invited and feel a part of their end of year celebrations.

Low Furness School

Yesterday  we did our last assembly of the year at Low Furness School.  We started with God's Love is Bigger Than a Burger.  after that we told the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego which followed on from the transition assembly we had done.  To help tell the story I had some pictures to display.  I made the point that God's love was so big that he protected them from the fire and the fact that they stood up for what they believed in as well.  Sarah continued this theme as she reminded the children of the verse in Joshua which we had used for the transition assembly - Be strong and courageous do not be afraid for God is with you wherever you go.  After this we sang as a special treat for the year 6 children the chicken Dance.  I then closed the assembly with a prayer.

Penny Bridge Academy

This morning I went to do the last assembly of the school year at Penny Bridge.  To start off we sang God's Love is Bigger than a Burger then I reminded the children about the last assembly which was the transition one about Daniel.  I wanted to tell the children about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they were mentioned in the previous assembly.  I talked about how they stood up to the king by not bowing down to his statue and that they were protected by God when they got thrown into the furnace.  I reminded the children of the verse from Joshua 1:8 Be strong and courageous do not be afraid for God is with you wherever you go.  Then as a special treat as it was the last time for year 6 we sang Chicken Dance.  I then closed with a prayer.

Flookburgh School

This morning Sarah and I made our last visit of this school year to Flookburgh School.  We decided to do our Daniel assembly so in advance of the assembly we asked for 4 children to help us out and wear a costume, then Sarah read the script and I play my usual part as the Babylonian.  After the drama Sarah talked about the move that year 6 will be making and everyone else in the school as they change year group.  The children were encouraged that God wold be with them as they moved up the years and in the case of year 6 moved school.  We displayed the Joshua 1:8 verse Be strong and courageous do not be afraid for I am with you wherever you go.  After this we sang Great Big God I then closed the assembly with a prayer.

Lindale School

This morning Sarah and I travelled down to Lindale School for the final assembly of the year with them.  We decided to continue the theme we have done recently about Daniel moving to Babylon so using some year 6 children to play the parts of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego we retold the Daniel story.  Sarah narrated the story and spoke Daniel's words using the drama we wrote and I played my usual part as the Babylonian.  Sarah then spoke to the children about the moves they will be making in September either up the school or to secondary school.  She finished with the verse from Joshua 1:8 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid for God is with you wherever you go.  She then linked into the song Great Big God by saying that God is with us holding us in his hands if we are up high or down below - he is everywhere.  After the song I closed the assembly with a prayer.

Croftlands Infant School

This morning Sarah and I went to Croftlands Infant School for our final assembly with them for this school year.  We didn't start with a song as we decided to tell the Daniel story like we have do in our transition assemblies.  So we used 4 children to play the parts of Daniel and his friends and I dressed up too as the Babylonian, Sarah told the story while I added in my parts too.  The children seemed to enjoy it and laughed in all the right places - so I repeated a few of the lines again just for the laugh.  After the drama Sarah talked to the children about the moves they will be making as one year moved to the next and as year 2 move to Croftlands Junior School.  She encouraged them by reminding them that God will be with them and used Joshua 1:8 verse - Be strong and courageous do not be afraid for God is with you wherever you go.  Then we sang Great big God and as Sarah introduced it she explained that up high God is there and down low he is there too.  After the song I closed the assembly with a prayer.

Croftlands Junior School

This morning I went to do the assembly at Croftlands Juniors on my own.  I had decided to do a follow on from the transition assembly we did last time.  So to start off we sang God's Love is Bigger than a Burger I then explained that I was going to tell them who Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were as they had been featured in the assembly about Daniel last time.  I had some pictures to help tell the story.  As I displayed the picture of the three friends in the Fiery Furnace I asked someone to count the people they could see - 4 was the answer.  I then went onto explain that God was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and he was protecting them and looking out for them.  The song we had sung talks about God's love being big enough to handle all our doubts and fears. To close off the talk I displayed again the verse from Joshua 1:8 - Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid for God is with you wherever you go.  To finish the assembly we sang as a special treat for the year 6 children the Chicken Dance.  I then finished with a prayer.

Leven Valley School

On Thursday morning we went to do our final assembly of the year at Leven Valley School.  To start off we sang So Many Ways to Praise the Lord.  We then retold the Daniel story and used 4 children to play the parts of Daniel and friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  I told the story and played the part of a Babylonian too.  We basically did the drama we have done in several schools over the last few weeks and Sarah fed the lines to Daniel as I retold the story.  Sarah then at the end explained that year 6 children will be moving on to a big new school and they too will be a bit like Daniel as he had to get use to a new place - maybe got lost a few times, had new things to learn like the language, experienced new sounds and smells too.  She encouraged the children by explaining that God would be with them as he was with Daniel.  She also said that no matter if you are up high in a tall building or deep deep in the sea God is there looking after us as he holds us in his hands - cue song Great Big God.  After the song Sarah closed with a prayer.

Our Lady's School

On Thursday Sarah and I went to do our last assembly of the school year at Our Lady's School.  We started with a story - I retold the story of Peter - well not all of it we didn't have time, I picked out the highlights - but Peter didn't start off well so are they really highlights?  I covered his calling by Jesus, and his walking on the water.  I did explain that Peter was one who kept on opening his mouth and saying the wrong things.  Next his transfiguration gaff when I asked Jesus if they should build a  couple or three shelters.  Then the biggy - Peter saying he never knew Jesus after his arrest, despite Jesus saying he would do it and Peter saying he won't - he did!  Next the Sunday morning and seeing the empty tomb - then the breakfast on the beach when the now risen Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him.  Then Peter was to open his mouth again - not for the last time - Pentecost when 3000 people joined them.  Sarah explained that Peter was just like us - he was an ordinary person nothing special, a person who like us made mistakes but Jesus forgave him those mistakes and used him in a might way lie on the day of Pentecost when 3000 became followers.  We sang Great Great Brill Brill as it has the line that says 'to have a friend like Jesus'  then as a special treat as it was the last assembly of the year we sang the Chicken Dance.  Sarah then closed with a prayer.

Broughton School

On Wednesday afternoon we went to do our transition assembly and lesson at Broughton School, we were joined by Vic and Emily.  The assembly was first and we did a little drama about Daniel and his move to Babylon.  In the drama we covered a number of issues that face Daniel in his new life in a new country, some of those issues will be similar to the things year 6 children will be facing as they move to their secondary school - like people getting lost, getting your name wrong, learning new lessons etc.  Daniel knew that God was with him and was protecting him. After the drama Vic explained to the children that God would be with them wherever they went as he was with Daniel.  There is a verse in Joshua 1:8 Be strong and courageous do not be afraid for I am with you wherever you go.  Sarah then introduced the song saying that if we climb a high building God is their if we go down in a submarine to the deep sea he is there and he holds us in his hands - we sang Great Big God.  After the assembly we worked with the year 6 children were we looked at some of the big issues they might be facing as they go from a small school to a big secondary school.

Burlington School

On Wednesday this week we went to Burlington School with Vic and Tommy to do our transition assembly and lesson with the year 6 children.  The assembly was all about Daniel and his move to Babylon, we acted out a short drama to illustrate this.  A lot of the issues that faced Daniel and his friends the year 6 children would be facing as they went to secondary school, like Babylon was bigger than Jerusalem, they spoke differently, they needed to learn new things, there would have been new sounds and smells as well as people possibly getting their names wrong.  Daniel trusted God and was obedient to him and God protected him and look after him.  It was explained to the children that God is with us where ever we go as he was with Daniel so he is with us.  We displayed a verse from Joshua 1:8 Be strong and courageous do not be afraid for I am with you wherever you go.  Sarah introduced our song Great Big God as it says he holds us in his hands.  After the song we closed with a prayer.  We then worked with the year 6 children for an hour helping them to think about their move to secondary school and giving them some tips and advice on what to do in certain situations.

St Peter's School

On Wednesday this week Sarah and I went along to St Peter's school to do our assembly.  We decided to talk about Daniel so before I did the talk we sang God's Love is Bigger than a Burger.  I then retold the Daniel story about how he was taken as a teenager to Babylon and how he would have found it strange at first being in a new place.  I also talked about the different language as well as the different sounds and smells.  I also explained that he worked hard at his studies and was rewarded by bring told he could eat the kings food.  Daniel didn't want that as he was obedient to God as a Jew and ate only certain foods.  Then because of this he was given a high position in the palace.  Daniel went on to do even greater things because God was with him.  Sarah then linked that story to the year 6 children who will be moving on to a new school soon, she explained that their new school would be bigger, there would be new things to learn, that there will be different things to eat as well as new smells.  She linked back to Daniel and the fact that God was with him throughout all this time and God will be with all the children as they move on either to a new school or up a year in school.  God holds us in his hands.  Cue song, after the song Sarah closed with a prayer.

Coniston Primary School

This afternoon Sarah and I with Vic and Tommy have been to Coniston Primary School to do our transition assembly and then our lesson for the year 6 children.  Our assembly is all about Daniel and him moving to Babylon where he sees new things, hears new things is faced with new places to go and has to find his way around (a bit like going to a new school)but he knew that God was with him and looking out for him and protecting him.  Daniel obeyed God and as a result rose to a high place within the palace.  We told the story with a short drama and then Vic summed up some of the things that were said in the drama to link them to moving on into secondary school.  Sarah then linked it even more by introducing our song Great Big God - he holds us in his hands.  After the song Sarah closed the assemble with a prayer.  After the assembly we worked with the 8 year 6 children and talked to them about some of the BIG issues they might face at their new schools.  We gave them all a book to read which should help them to make the move.

Low Furness School

This morning Sarah and I went to Low Furness School for the assembly.  We started the assembly by singing So Many Ways to Praise the Lord.  Our theme was St Peter so I got together a number of pictures from the life of Peter starting with him being called by Jesus then through walking or should that be sinking on the water to his denial then reinstatement by Jesus following his resurrection through to Pentecost and him standing up tall proclaiming the gospel. Sarah explained that Peter was just an ordinary person much like ourselves who did make many mistakes, who also opened his mouth and said the wrong things at times but Jesus used him in a massive way as he started the church.  So to finish the assembly we sang Great Great Brill Brill as it says to have a friend like Jesus.  Sarah then closed with a prayer.

Church Walk Primary School

This morning I went to Church Walk Primary School for the last assembly of this School year.  It was great to see all the children again.  I decided to tell the story of Daniel and talk about the idea of moving on, so to start of we sang God's Love is Bigger than a Burger.  I then displayed pictures as I retold the Daniel story how he was a teenager who lived in Jerusalem and than the Babylonians took over and took Daniel and some of his friends off to Babylon.  I explained about being given the Kings food to eat and Daniel saying he only wanted water and vegetables - and how this action and him being obedient to God resulted in him being blessed and gaining a high position in the palace.  I explained that God showed his love to Daniel and his friends and protected them too and he shows that love and protection to us too.  I encouraged the children in that when they move up a year in September and perhaps move to a different class with a new teacher that God will be with them as he was with Daniel and like Daniel in Babylon they may find the place is different, that the work is different they may need to learn new things and find their way round in a new room.  To finish off we sang Great Big God as it talks about God holding us in his hands.  I then closed with a prayer.