Windermere Juniors

This morning we made our way up the lake to Windermere Juniors. At times we could have been in the lake as there was so much water about, with the road flooded in several places. Today was a special Christmas assembly for the children. We took Gary with us, although Gary has been before the new year 3 children had never seen him. We also sang 'So many ways to Praise the Lord' which was new to them. Gary came out and said hello to everyone and I mean everyone (as Gary does from time to time) however he was far too busy to talk as he was doing his Christmas list, but he was also doing one to help out his mum as well. His list mainly had toys on it, his mums list did have food on it which included chocolate x 100. Being too busy as he was Gary didn't want to talk to Sarah or the children - he had too much to do. Sarah pointed out that it was not really what Christmas was about and showed him and the children a short video. The video started off with a nativity and then that picture was blotted out by other things can are to do with Christmas but are not really that important. Finally the video ended with the nativity scene again. Sarah explained to Gary about Christmas, he got so excited about it that he threw his list away and went off to tell Mark all about it. Mark came back and talked to the children about Christmas then we sang 'Great Big God' said a prayer with them and finished with 'Shine'

Our Lady's School Dalton

This morning we took Gary to Our Lady's (for the first time) However he was rather too busy to talk to the children. He had his Christmas list to write which had toys, toys, toys and more toys on it. He was also doing a list for his mum to help her with getting ready for Christmas and that had mince pies, chocolate x 100 (Gary added that bit), mince pies, sprouts, turkey and sellotape. Sarah pointed out to Gary that Christmas was not all about what we get as presents or what we eat it was about a baby born in a stable called Jesus. To make her point clear to Gary she showed him and the rest of the school a video. The video showed a nativity scene with Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the stable - but other things got in the way of the scene and slowly the nativity scene got blotted out until that is a baby cried and the nativity scene faded back into view. Now Gary understood what Christmas was all about and ran off to tell Mark all about it.

Penny Bridge School

This afternoon we took Gary along to Penny Bridge School. However he was really too busy to talk to the children and Sarah as he was putting his Christmas list together, he was also putting things down to remind his mum. Sarah tried to get him to talk but he would not. So Sarah decided to show him and the rest of the children a video about Christmas. The video showed the nativity scene with Mary, Joseph and Jesus then it was blotted out by other pictures that are to do with Christmas but really not that important. Final a baby cries and the nativity pictures fades into view. Sarah pointed out that this is the reason for Christmas, Gary was so excited he went off to find Mark to tell him. We also sang Inright Outright and Great Big God.

Croftlands Infant School

This afternoon we took Gary along to Croftlands Infant School but he
was too busy to talk to the children as he was writing a list for Christmas. He
was busy with a list for himself and one for his mum. On his list there were
lots of toys, however on his mums list there were things like sprouts,
sellotape, mince pies, chocolate, wrapping paper etc. Gary couldn't talk to the
children as he had to complete the lists in order to make Christmas really
special. Sarah pointed out to Gary and everyone else that you didn't need all
those things to make Christmas special Sarah told everyone what Christmas is really
all about. So Gary throw his list away and went off to tell Mark all about
Christmas

Low Furness School

This morning we took Gary along to Low Furness School but he was too busy to talk to the children as he was writing a list for Christmas. He was busy with a list for himself and one for his mum. On his list there were lots of toys, however on his mums list there were things like sprouts, sellotape, mince pies, chocolate, wrapping paper etc. Gary couldn't talk to the children as he had to complete the lists in order to make Christmas really special. Sarah pointed out to Gary and everyone else that you didn't need all those things to make Christmas special and showed him and everyone else a video about Christmas. The video started with Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus then lots of other things covered over the picture and the music changed too and the baby Jesus picture got completely covered over then a baby cried - it was Jesus and he slowly faded back into shot. Sarah told everyone what Christmas is really all about. So Gary throw his list away and went off to tell Mark all about Christmas.

Croftlands Junior School

This morning we did an assembly for some of the children at Croftlands Juniors. Part of the school go off on Tuesday for swimming lessons so we only have about half the school. I had taken in some pieces of safety equipment, hard hat, cycle helmet, riding hat etc. The children explained to me that they are needed to protect us and keep us safe. I then read the account of Jesus calming the storm. And went on to explain that Jesus had the power and authority to tell the wind to stop, the rain to go away and the waves to be calm - and there by protecting his friends. And Jesus can still do that today, the disciples were afraid but Jesus spoke softly to calm them down. I asked if any of them get frightened and mentioned some things that have frightened me in the past but I said Jesus does protect us and looks after us. We concluded with 'Wonderful Lord'

Low Furness School

Today we took along Harry to help us do the assembly. The children have never seen him before so it was a bit of a surprise. He was very sad though as he had changed school and some of the children didn't really like him that much because he talked funny, and wore glasses and they laughed at his clothes which his mummy had bought for him from George. Sarah told him that it was not very nice what the children had said about him, and that they didn't really understand him, someone said it was because they were jealous of him because he was a bit different. Sarah concluded her talk with Harry by telling the children about the fruit of the Spirit and that how we should try to be as Jesus would want us to be. We sang 'So many ways' to start and finished with 'Shine'