Pennington School

This morning we were at Pennington School and following our first song of Inright Outright we started to talk about team work.  To demonstrate this we asked two brothers to come out and start to add cards to a previously started card tower.  The boys did well until it fell down then needed help to build it again.  There was the odd 'you made it fall down....' etc.  Next Sarah asked two other children to come out and read a little play between themselves.  It was Jesus' disciples falling out and discussing who was the greatest and best and both had arguments for and against.  Sarah went on to talk about our relationships with each other and that in school, home, outside of school we should work as a team to help each other to get on.  She likened it to a sports team who need to work and play together using each others strengths.  She also covered the Christ like qualities that we all should show - fruit of the Spirit.  Then I said that when we do that we can truly shine out for Jesus and that was a cue to another song 'Shine'  The assembly finished with a prayer.

Leven Valley School

Scruff the Dog came with us today as we did the assembly at Leven Valley.  We started with Giant of Faith as we haven't done that one before with the children.  Then Scruff came out and was a bit sad as he had lost his I'm Special badge which someone special had given him.  I asked him if it was for being in a dog show and he said no it was just because he was special.  I asked if anyone else was special and Scruff said no but lots of children put their hands up.  So I asked Scruff if I could give his badge away and he started to become really sad and that idea.  So I asked the children if they were special and lots told me why they thought they were special some even said that we are unique and that God made us all special.  So I told Scruff that God even knows how many hairs we have on our heads and he said that in my case that wasn't hard to count.  I also told everyone that God knew us and loved us even before we were born.  Scruff was now getting the idea about what it means to be special to God.  So I asked him again if I could give his badge away and again he said no but this time he said it was because it had a picture of a dog on it and was really only for dogs.  I then told the children that we don't really need a badge to show we are special.  Scruff reminded us about a song which talks about being special to God - Touch a Finger so we sang that before finishing with a prayer.  But as we had some time left we also sang Shine and then by request the Chicken Dance.

Bible Explorer Lesson 1 Pennington School

This afternoon I started Bible Explorer at Pennington School with the year 5 class.  As it is the first one the children didn't quite know what to expect.  So as I explained about what a bible is and how it has lots of different books and each book has chapters etc the children listened ready to learn the main stories of the Old Testament.  The focus of the first lesson is to tell the stories in Genesis from creation through to Joseph taking a look at Adam and Eve, the flood and Noah, the building of the tower of Babel and the mixing of language, the story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  On the way the children also learn where the events take place as they sit inside the map of the area.  They also get the chance to play some of the parts to.  It is a great encouragement when children put their hands up and want to be involved with the story.  The whole thing is held together with the hand signs which help the children to remember the main story points.  Looking forward to next week and Moses.

St Peters

Scruff the Dog came with me today when I visited St Peters School.  To start the assembly we sang Giants of Faith as the children requested it.  I then sat down and introduced Scruff the Dog, but he was a little sad.  He whispered in my ear that he had lost his special badge.  I asked if he had looked for it properly which he said he had but then I found it in his bag (like some many things that go missing)  The badge said I'm Special on it so I asked Scruff where it had come from he told me that someone special thought he was special and gave it to him.  I then asked if anyone else was special and Scruff shook his head and said no only him.  So what about the boys and girls in the assembly then I asked could I give his badge to one of them.  Scruff went very sad at the thought of this idea, so I reminded Scruff that everyone is special and I asked the children why.  The children responded with answer like we all look different, we have different talents, we are unique was one answer.  So I confirmed all of these answers and told everyone that God made us all to be special because he loves us so much.  And even knows how many hairs are on our heads - to which Scruff replied that in my case that wouldn't be hard to count as I don't have much hair left.  I also told everyone that God knew all about us even before we were born.  Scruff sad that if Gary had been in the assembly he would have said WOW so Scruff did a silent WOW.  He couldn't believe at first that everyone is special but by the end he understood why we are so special to God.  He was now quite happy to give away his I'm Special badge to anyone that wanted it except it had a picture of a dog on it and a paw print.  So I said that we don't really need a badge anyway.  He went away felling very pleased.  To end the assembly Scruff reminded me that we have a song called Touch a Finger which is about being special to God so we sang that once Scruff had left.  I then ended the assembly with a prayer.

Crosthwaite School

We had a great time over at Crosthwaite School this afternoon.  Part of the school was out so we only had the KS1 children.  We also had to meet in one of the classrooms.  It was a great opportunity for us to take Scruff the Dog.  Scruff came out and he was looking for his 'I'm Special' badge that someone gave him at the weekend.  So I asked him why he needed it and Scruff said because he was special.  So I asked him if anyone else was special but he didn't seem to think they were.  Scruff and I continued to talk about being special and I asked the children if they felt they were special and hands went up and the children said that they were special to God.  So I asked Scruff if I could give his 'I'm Special' badge away but he got a bit upset by that but he eventually understood that everyone is special in God's eyes.  We had started the assembly with Great Big God and then after the talk we sang Touch a finger and then one of the children asked if we could sing Shine.  We then finished with a prayer.

Low Furness School

At Low Furness this morning we took Gary with us who had lost his 'I Go to Church' badge.  Sarah asked him why he needed it and Gary said so that he needed people to know that he went to church.  He went onto say that people like policemen, brownies and rainbows, beavers and the England Euro team all have uniforms and everyone can see who they belong to.  He even said that the school children have a uniform and everyone can see who the staff are as they have a name badge.  But Gary still thought that he needed a badge however Sarah said that we are all part of God's family and God knows all about us too he even knows how much hair we have.  He even knew about us before we were born and Sarah showed a verse from Jeremiah 1:5.  Gary then said how will people know though and Sarah said it is by what we do, by what we say that people will know.  Gary got rather excited by this and went off to tell Mark all about it.  We started the assembly with So Many Ways to Praise the Lord and finished with Shine.  I then closed with a prayer.

St Pauls Jubilee Fun Day

Yesterday Sarah and I had the chance to take part in St Pauls Diamond Jubilee fun day at St Pauls School.  However the weather was not that great so an alternative venue of the church hall was used.  We set up and started to perform.  We were able to do two magic shows each one with a short gospel message.  We had planned to do more but as the hall was being used later we had to leave earlier than we had hoped for.  Also while we were there a teacher from a Barrow school asked us about doing assemblies which is great.