Lindale School

This morning Sarah and I went down to Lindale School for the assembly.  Sarah started by talking about new things such as new school shoes and uniform, new books new classroom etc.  This was linked to the story I was going to tell about a man who made a new start.  I started by saying he was a liar, a thief and a cheat and he also worked for the Romans -although I did explain that was because at the time of Jesus they were in the country, as well as all those things he was also a tax collector - again I explained about tax's and that they pay for our education, healthcare and things so paying them is good.  But this man was a liar, a thief and a cheat and he collected too much tax therefore he was a liar, a thief and a cheat (this phase came up several times).  One day Jesus was on his way into the town where Zacchaeus lived (that was his name by the way) and he wanted to see Jesus but couldn't as he was pushed away as he tried to get to the front of the crowd -oh didn't tell you he was a short man.  But Zacchaeus ran on ahead and climbed a tree thinking no-one would see him and he could see everything including Jesus but he was wrong Jesus stopped at the very tree and asked him to come down as he wanted to go to his house for some food.  This did not go down very well at all with the crowd as they didn't think that a liar, a thief and a cheat should share food with Jesus.  They all crowded round the house in hope they could hear what was being said.  Then the doors flew open there stood Jesus with Zacchaeus who announced to the waiting crowd that he was sorry and as a result was giving half his wealth away and giving back 7 times the amount of money he had stolen.  Jesus told the crowd that Zacchaeus had made a new start.  Sarah then talked to the children about how they can make a new start each day as what happened yesterday is over and we can move on.  To finish off we sang So Many Ways to Praise the Lord then Sarah finished with a prayer.