St Peters

It was our last journey of the year over to St Peters today.  We decided to allow the year 6 class that would be leaving to pick the songs and they said Shine and asked what the Chicken Dance was.  So as a special treat we said we would sing it at the end.  So following our first song I started to tell our Move On story.  As at other schools the children listened as I very quickly went through a little bit of history from Abraham to Joseph and then into Moses.  I used pictures that I had added words to and use the words Move On a number of times during the story.  As we read in the Bible the Israelites out in the desert did get stopped from time to time and felt that they couldn't Move On particularly by the banks of the Red Sea, and when the found they had no water to drink our food to eat.  Yet each time God provided the answer, which enabled them to Move On into the land God had promised to Abraham.  Sarah then talked to the children about their moving on - some to a new school like the year 6 and others moving on up the school to new classrooms and even new teachers.  She encouraged them to ask and seek help whenever they felt they needed to and told them that when they came across a new situation that they really were unsure about they could ask God for help.  At the end the children found a space on the floor as we sang the Chicken Dance song followed by a prayer from me and the Lord's Prayer from Sarah.

Croftlands Infants

We went to Croftlands Infants today, it was the last time for this year. We started by singing Be Happy I then told a story with pictures about Moving On.  As it was a story that needed pictures we took the projector along with us so the children could see the pictures better.  I used Abraham, Joseph and Moses to explain that sometimes in life we Stay Still but at other times we need to Move On.  The Israelites had for example Stayed Still in Egypt for 400 years and were then slaves but God through Moses told them to Move On.  But as they did they found things in the way so they couldn't Move On like the Red Sea, or the lack of water and food.  They could have Stayed Still but God needed them to Move On and so found a way round the problems or through them in the case of the Red Sea.  Sarah then encouraged the children as they Move On to ask and seek answers as they Move On into new classes even new classrooms with new teachers and I also encouraged them to pray to God for help if ever they felt things were getting a bit too much. We finished with Shine before saying a prayer.

Croftlands Juniors

I went to Croftlands Juniors today.  It was the last time for this year so it would be the last chance to see year 6.  After singing Be Happy I then told a story with pictures about Moving On.  I used Abraham, Joseph and Moses to explain that sometimes in life we Stay Still but at other times we need to Move On.  The Israelites had for example Stayed Still in Egypt for 400 years and were then slaves but God through Moses told them to Move On.  But as they did they found things in the way so they couldn't Move On like the Red Sea, or the lack of water and food.  They could have Stayed Still but God needed them to Move On and so found a way round the problems or through them in the case of the Red Sea.  I then encouraged the children as they Move On to ask and seek answers as they Move On into new classes even new classrooms with new teachers and I also encouraged them to pray to God for help if ever they felt things were getting a bit too much.  I finished with Shine before saying a prayer.

Messy Church Picnic

This afternoon Sarah and I along with the family went over to Heversham at the invitation of Colin Honour to help celebrate their Church's Messy Church first birthday.  We had a great time.  It started with a wonderful welcome from the events host Linda, it felt as if we were old friends had come round for the afternoon.  We set up in the garden looking out across the bay and then people started to arrive at around 4pm.  At about half past I did a short magic show with a mix of secular type tricks for the children moving towards some gospel routines which I involved the adults with.  This was followed by tea then it did start to rain a bit so plastic sheets came out to cover the electric equipment then at around 5:20 we did a sketch with Gary which the children thought was funny.  We did the one about what is in the Bible and Sarah explains to Gary that he should read it and not stand on it as he was at the time.  I followed this up with a very quick gospel routine about our sins being taken away and finished with the 4 points.  All in all it was a good day and very enjoyable too.

Our Lady's Dalton

This morning Sarah and I went to Our Lady's in Dalton to take our final assembly of this year.  We decided to do the assembly that I did on Tuesday at Low Furness.  I started with a picture of Abraham and told a little of his story before moving through to Moses and God calling him to Move On.  Despite the fact that the Israelites had Stayed Still for a very long time it was now time for their next stage.  The people Move On into the desert but face hard times and they feel they have to Stay Still but God always has a way for us to Move On and he provided them with safe passage through the Red Sea, fed them in the desert both morning and night as well as watered them.  He was their guide through all the hard times they faced.  Until at last they got to that promised land.  Sarah then related this to the children who each year Move On some to a new class, with a new teacher, in a new room and some to a new school altogether.  She encouraged the children when they do move to ask for help when they meet a difficult situation and even to pray to God when they feel a little worried.  We sang Be Happy to start then finished with Shine before a prayer.

Lesson 4 BX Pennington School

This afternoon I was at Pennington School again with the year 5 class.  It was lesson 4 of Bible Explorer.  The story focused on Samuel, Saul, David and Solomon.  The children as always were keen to help in what every way they could.  Again as the lesson drew to a close and we did the final 8 hand signs of North - South , Israel - Judah, 19 - 20, 0 - 8 The children's faces dropped as I told them that I finish the story next week.  This week too I had lots of children helping me to set up the props and as they did they asked questions too which was great to see and I was only too glad to answer them.  One boy fell off his chair right at the start of the lesson - I told him that someone in today's lesson did just that very thing.  Great lesson, great children to God be the Praise for the freedom we have to share his Word.

Low Furness School

I took the assembly on my own today at Low Furness.  The theme we had been given was Move On.  There are lots of things that I could have talked about but I decided to talk about the Israelite people.  First I mentioned Abraham and how he had been promised lots of children and a land.  Then I said a little about Joseph and then how 400 years later they were slaves.  Then came Moses and God spoke to him and told him it was time to Move On.  I focused on a few bits of the story like when they got stopped by the Red See but God wanted them to Move On so he opened the sea up for them.  I Talked about the lack of food and water which could have stopped them but because God wanted them to Move On be provided for them.  Then they came into the land after 40 years of moving and getting ready.  Once they were there they had Moved On.  I used some pictures from a children's bible to illustrate the story.  I linked it to the children by saying that in school we need to Move On.  Each year moves on to the next, and like Moses and the people we too face new challenges as well as seeing new opportunities.  So I encouraged the children as they Move On this summer to not be afraid of a new classroom or teacher but to seek help from others around them and to also pray to Jesus too whenever they feel in need of a little more help.  Before we started we sang Giants of Faith then at the end Be Happy.  I concluded with a prayer.