Croftlands Junior School

This morning I went to do the assembly at Croftlands Junior School.  I started by asking if they had had a good Easter Holidays and if anyone had been away.  This linked into me talking about when we go away and how we sometimes stay over at either a Travel Lodge or a Premier Inn.  I explained that our girls love Premier Inn as you get eat as much as you like breakfast.  This was all a link to asking the children if they have ever had breakfast in an unusual place, I gave some examples from other schools - like in a tree, the milking shed...The children gave me some different places they had eaten breakfast.  I then asked if they had ever had breakfast on the beach - hands went up - with an open fire - some hands went down - and cooked fish - a few hands stayed up.  I then explained why I had said this and gave a quick recap of the events of Easter and talked about Peter letting Jesus down three times by saying he didn't know him.  Our story started with Peter feeling bad on the beach and ended with a huge catch of fish, breakfast on the beach cooked by Jesus and Peter being forgiven by Jesus.  I explained that Peter was sorry for what he had done and Jesus was able to forgive him like he will forgive us when we do things wrong - we just need to say sorry.  Peter was asked by Jesus to take care of the other disciples as well which he did as he became the leader of the church.  After this we sang Shine because I pointed out that on the day of Pentecost Peter told thousands of people about Jesus and they came to follow him too - Peter was shining from the inside out that day.  After the song I said a short prayer.

St Georges Day Celebration

We have had a very busy but very worth while day down at MediaCityUK in Manchester, helping the Scouts celebrate St Georges Day.  Seven different groups have been on a rota doing a number of different activities throughout the day.  We were running the faith activity, the theme I decided to go with was trusting God and I told them stories from the Old Testament about people who trusted God like Noah and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  I also talked about the Bible and showed them the Action Bible, Minecraft Bible as well as the Lego Bible.  Susie the puppet (Martha) also helped out by asking what was in the Bible which led me into talking about it and telling the Adam and Eve story.  With some of the groups we also managed to sing Great Big God (time ran out on some).  Our prayer is that some seeds have been sown today into the lives of the youngsters we have seen.

Burlington School

This morning Sarah and I went to do the assembly at Burlington School.  It was great to see the children again.  We started with Be Happy before Sarah started to talk about holidays.  She mentioned that when we go away on a long journey we stay over in a Travel Lodge or a Premier Inn - the children prefer the Premier Inn as we get all you can eat breakfast.  Sarah then asked the children if they had ever had breakfast in an unusual place - we got a few interesting replies.  Then she asked about having breakfast on the beach - as this linked into the story today.  Before I read the story I explained that Peter one of Jesus' closest followers had before Jesus was crucified said he didn't know Jesus three times, then fast forward past the events of Easter and Peter is on the beach.  I told the breakfast on the beach story using visuals from the Lost Sheep company.  Afterwards I explained what was happening in the story, Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him which was his way of forgiving Peter for what he had done.  Jesus also was asking Peter to take care of the rest of the followers which he did as the church was form following the events of Pentecost.  Sarah pointed out that Jesus will forgive us what we do wrong if we say sorry to him.  We then sang Shine and Sarah finished off with a prayer followed by the Lord's Prayer.

St Peters School

This morning Sarah and I went to do the assembly at St Peters School.  It was lovely to see all the children and staff again after the Easter holidays.  We started with singing Be Happy.  Sarah talked to the children about holidays and how if we go on a long journey we will stop half way at a Premier Inn as the children love the eat as much as you like breakfast.  Sarah then asked the children if they had every had breakfast in an unusual place - we got a number of different answers.  She then asked if anyone had ever had breakfast on the beach this linked with our story today - breakfast on the beach.  Before I told the story I reminded the children that Peter had said three times that he didn't know Jesus before Jesus was crucified.  I told the story of Jesus and the disciples eating breakfast together and three times Jesus asking Peter if he loved him.  Each time Peter said yes.  I explained that Jesus was forgiving Peter for saying that he didn't know him, Jesus was also asking Peter to look after the other disciples (feed my sheep).  I pointed out to the children that we all do things wrong some big things some small but if we say sorry to God/Jesus then he will forgive is lie he did with Peter.  Sarah add a little more before introducing our song Shine.  After the song she finished with a prayer followed by the Lord's Prayer.

Crosthwaite School

This afternoon Sarah and I went over to Crosthwaite School.  It was great to see all the children again following the Easter holidays.  To start off our assembly we sang Be Happy.  Sarah then talked about going away and how when we sometimes go away we stop off half way at a Premier Inn and our children love the eat as much as you like breakfast.  She then asked the children where was the most unusual place they had eaten breakfast - we got a number of different answers.  She then asked if anyone had eaten it on the beach - a few had.  This linked into the story for today.  I explained that Peter had let Jesus down just before Jesus died - the thing is Jesus told him he would too!  Peter was feeling sad - I then told the breakfast on the beach story using some fun visual aids.  I explained at the end of the story what Jesus was doing with Peter.  Peter said three times he didn't know Jesus, but now Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him - Peter said yes each time - Jesus was forgiving Peter.  I also explained that Jesus wanted Peter to take over and lead the disciples that is what the feed my sheep bit is about.  Peter did lead and after Pentecost started the church.  Back to today Jesus forgave Peter and he is able to do that for us too I explained to the children if we say sorry.  Sarah finish off by talking about the Lords Prayer line that says forgive us our sin as we forgive others.  After we sang Shine and Sarah finished with a prayer and then the Lord's Prayer.

Low Furness School

This morning Sarah and I went to Low Furness School for the assembly.  The theme was on forgiveness.  We started by singing Be Happy.  The last time we went to do an assembly we told the story of Peter saying he didn't know Jesus so today we told the children about the breakfast on the beach.  To start with Sarah talked about going on holidays and how when we go on a long journey we stop half way in a Travel Lodge or Premier Inn.  Our girls love the Premier Inn as we get breakfast - all you can eat!!!  Sarah then asked if anyone had had breakfast in an unusual place - we got a few different answers.  Sarah then asked if anyone had ever had breakfast on the beach - loads had. This linked then to the story of the breakfast on the beach - before I started I gave a quick recap of what Peter did.  The children listened and looked at the visuals as I told the story and laughed as well.  Afterwards I explained what Jesus had done, Peter had said three times he didn't know Jesus and then three times asked if Peter loved him.  Each time Peter said yes - this was Jesus forgiving Peter for the mistakes he had made.  I reminded the children why Jesus came and why he died on a cross and that if we say sorry to him for the things we do wrong then like Peter, Jesus will forgive us.  I also briefly explained what Jesus meant when he said feed my lambs etc Jesus wanted Peter to lead the disciples after he had gone and Peter did.  Then after Pentecost he started the church.  Sarah add a little to what I had said before we sang Shine.  She then finished with a prayer.

Church Walk Primary School

This morning I went to do the assembly at Church Walk Primary School.  It was lovely to see all the children again after the Easter break to link in with the first song I asked if the children were happy to be back at school (they said yes) We started with Be Happy.  After the song I asked the children if they had been away on holiday and I explained that we as a family had been away and that whenever we do go away our children ask if we are stopping on the way overnight.  The reason is they like Premier Inn breakfasts - eat as much as you like.  I then asked the children were the most unusual place as that they had had breakfast - I got some great answers, in bed, in a car, on a train and up a tree!  I asked if anyone had had breakfast on the beach - hands went up, with an open fire - few hands went up and had fish - no hands went up.  This linked in to the story for today Breakfast on the Beach.  I reminded the children that Peter had said three times he didn't know Jesus before Jesus was crucified on the cross and Peter was now feeling a little sad - the story was another one from the Lost Sheep series, so we had a number of funny visuals to look at.  I pointed out that even though Peter had let Jesus down more than once Jesus was able to forgive him - and Peter went on to start the church (a story we will hear next time).  Jesus gave Peter a second chance and he does the same for us but not just a second but a third and a fourth and a fifth and so on.  Peter was able to Shine from the inside out because of what Jesus had done - cue for a song.  After the song I finished off with a prayer.