Leven Valley School

This morning I travelled down to Leven Valley School for their assembly.  To start off we sang So Many Ways to Praise the Lord.  Then I showed a number of very clever optical illusions and asked the children and staff if they could tell what they were.  Some were two pictures others move there was even a multi legged elephant - 7 legs!- someone said.  This linked to the idea that sometimes we see something different when we look at things which is what happened when God and Samuel looked for a new king, Samuel saw the tall, handsome type people were as God looked at the heart and could see the loving, trusting person which was David of course.  To help tell the story I took some of the words from the Lion Storyteller Bible and one line in particular God said I look on the inside were you (Samuel) look on the outside.  It was this point I wanted to focus on.  We might be the tallest, strongest, best looking person but if inside in our heart we are mean, nasty and not very nice then God sees that in us.  We should be the same person on the outside as we are on the inside.  This means that we can then Shine from the inside out which was a cue for a song.  Following the song I said a prayer.

Our Lady's School

This morning I was at Our Lady's School doing the assembly.  I decided to sing So many ways to start with as we haven't sung that one for a while.  I then displayed a number of pictures that were optical illusions and asked the children what they saw.  It was amazing to see how many people saw different things.  This linked with what I was going to talk about which was Samuel looking at Jesse's sons to pick one as king.  I read part the story from the Loin Storyteller Bible and adlibbed the rest.  There was a line I did read however which said Man looks on the outside but God looks on the inside.  After telling the story I explained that it isn't what we look like that makes us who we are it is what we are like inside.  We could be the best looking person but if inside we think horrible things and say nasty things then we really are not a nice person.  Following this we sang Shine and I closed with a prayer.

Lindale School

This morning Sarah and I went down to Lindale Primary School.  It was our first visit to the school so we were both excited as this is our 15th school.  We had been asked to do the assembly on David and in particular him being anointed as King.  So after the introductions we sang Great Big God then we showed a few optical illusions and asked the children what they saw, was there a five legged elephant, or was the picture an old lady or a young women, was the picture moving or still etc.  This led Sarah into talking about what we see is not always was is there which moved us nicely into the appointment of David by Samuel to be King of Israel.  I then read the story using the Lion Storyteller bible as a guide - I added my own bits in as I told the story.  The point was made that we look on the outside of a person to see what they are like but God looks on the inside.  That is what he did with David's brothers all 7 of them before he had David brought out to meet Samuel, because God could see into David's heart He knew that this was the right man for the job.  We brought the talk round to being able to Shine from the inside out which was a cue for a second song.  After the song Sarah closed the assembly with a prayer.

Pennington School

This afternoon I went along to Pennington School for the assembly.  I wanted to do the assembly on miracles so to start the assembly we sang Great Big God then after the song I displayed some key words that had actions to them in the story I was about to tell.  It was the account of Jesus walking on the water and calming the storm.  It was a Bob Hartman story which repeats each line three times which helps to build up tension as the story is told.  After the story and the laughing of the children had died down I explained that two miracles took place in the story - the first was Jesus walking on the water the second Jesus calming the story.  It was the second part that I wanted to focus on.  I talked about the ups and downs of life and how some people refer to them as the storms of life but if like the real storm the disciples found themselves in we have Jesus close by us then the storm can be stilled and we can feel safe again.  I linked this to the year 6 children soon to be doing SATS and how they might get a little down but if they allow Jesus to come close to them and ask him for help then he will.  Why because God can do Anything and nothing is to big for him and nothing is to small - cue for a song I think.  After singing God Can Do Anything I prayed for the children and in particular the year 6 children.

Penny Bridge School

This morning I went along to Penny Bridge School for the assembly.  It felt a little strange as today is Tuesday and we normally go on a Monday but yesterday was a bank holiday.  I started the assembly with Great Big God then after the song I displayed some key words that had actions to them in the story I was about to tell.  It was the account of Jesus walking on the water and calming the storm.  It was a Bob Hartman story which repeats each line three times which helps to build up tension as the story is told.  After the story and the laughing of the children had died down I explained that two miracles took place in the story - the first was Jesus walking on the water the second Jesus calming the story.  It was the second part that I wanted to focus on.  I talked about the ups and downs of life and how some people refer to them as the storms of life but if like the real storm the disciples found themselves in we have Jesus close by us then the storm can be stilled and we can feel safe again.  I linked this to the year 6 children soon to be doing SATS and how they might get a little down but if they allow Jesus to come close to them and ask him for help then he will.  Why because God can do Anything and nothing is to big for him and nothing is to small - cue for a song I think.  After singing God Can Do Anything I prayed for the children and in particular the year 6 children.

Millom Churches Funday

Had a great time over at Millom this afternoon as part of the Churches Together in Millom Funday at the Network Centre.  I was able to do 3 different magic shows each one with a gospel message for the children as well as the adults.  Despite the rain the turn out was great loads of people came along and had a fantastic time.

BX3 OT Croftlands Juniors

This afternoon I was once again with the year 5 children at Croftlands Juniors for Bible Explorer.  We had a great time looking at the story of Joshua and then the Judges of Israel finishing with the story of Ruth.  Next week we shall be looking at the first kings of Israel.