Millom Community Funday

This afternoon I have been out and about as the Jester for Jesus entertaining the good people of Millom at the Network Centre for the Churches Community Funday.  I did two shows based on trust and faith using gospel illusions to draw out various aspects of trusting in an unseen yet ever present God, Using stories such as Noah, and David and along the way having fun to finally explaining the gospel message of Jesus Christ and how He died to take our sin away.  Had a great time hope everyone else did too. 

Coniston Primary School

This morning we have been up to Coniston Primary School to do the assembly.  To start off Sarah asked if they had had a good Easter holidays and if they had eaten chocolate for breakfast on Easter Sunday - this was to link in with the theme of our assembly. As a reminder of the events from Easter we sang Inright Outright before I did a quick recap of the story.  When I got to the Sunday and the empty tomb I carried on to say what happened later on that day when two of the followers of Jesus were on their way home to Emmaus and Jesus joined them - except they didn't realise it was him - to demonstrate this point I had three pictures of celebs with their faces a bit blurred out and asked if they could tell me who they were. Continuing with the story I told them how Jesus explained why what happened had happened and then later when they arrived at their village they asked Jesus in to eat with them. It was when Jesus broke the break in front of them that they realised it was him, they hot footed back to tell the others in Jerusalem.  I made the point that when Jesus did something they saw him and asked what we could do that would show Jesus. Sarah then took over and drew out some suggestions from the children as to what things they might do to show love, kindness etc. This, Sarah continued is Shinning Jesus out from the inside - cue song.  After the song Sarah finished with a prayer.

Lindale School

This morning Sarah and I travelled down to Lindale School for the assembly.  It was lovely to see all the children again as it seems likes ages since our last visit.  They still had an Easter display out which was great for us as our assembly was about what happened after Easter.  Sarah started by asking if the children had enjoyed the holidays and enjoyed Easter weekend asking how many of them had chocolate for breakfast on Easter Sunday.  As a reminder of Easter we sang Inright Outright - I then quickly did a recap of the events using the items on display in the school, the bowl to wash the feet, the bread and wine, the money purse of Judas, the cross and finally the words He is Risen.  Continuing the story of the events of the morning when the tomb was found to be open and Jesus' body not there I moved on to the afternoon and the two followers on the road to Emmaus.  As they went home Jesus joined them but they didn't realise it was him.  To demonstrate this I had three blurry images of celebs and the children had to guess who they were.  On with the story - as they moved along the road feeling sad Jesus asked why they were sad so they explained about what had happened - Jesus spoke saying wasn't that all meant to be then using scripture explained it all to them - they still didn't see who it was.  When they got to the house Jesus was going to continue on but as it was late they asked him to stay and eat and it was only when Jesus broke the bread did they see who he was.  The two followers hot footed it back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples they had seen Jesus.  I drew out the idea that they saw Jesus by what he did - in this case break the bread and asked how do people see Jesus in us, what can we do to show Jesus.  Sarah then encouraged the children to suggest ways they could be like Jesus so we had showing kindness, loving, helping people etc.  his linked in to singing Shine.  After the song Sarah related a story about someone who had been having a tough time with someone and they did something for that person which firstly took courage (which is the schools Christian value for this half term) but also shone out Jesus's love to that person.  She then finished with a prayer.

Pennington School

On Monday afternoon I went to do the assembly at Pennington School.  It was our first visit this term, so I started by asking if the children had had a good Easter holidays and if they had had a good Easter weekend.  As a reminder of what Easter is about we sang Inright Outright.  I then explained what happened after the Friday and led into the story of The Sunday morning and the empty tomb  - this linked to asking about Easter eggs and chocolate and who had chocolate for breakfast etc on Easter Sunday.  I then told what happened later that day when Jesus was talking with the two followers on the road to Emmaus.  When Jesus met up with them they didn't see that it was him, to demonstrate this I had a few famous people who's face's I had made blurry and asked if the children knew who they were.  The followers only realised it was Jesus when he broke the bread.  I told the children that this was the next part of the Easter story which it is but I asked them how they could show Jesus or how could other people see Jesus in them by what they do - I had a number of great suggestions such as being kind, showing love, sharing things etc.  This linked to our final song Shine from the inside out.  After this I finished with a prayer.

Newton Primary School

On Monday morning Sarah and I went to do the assembly at Newton Primary School.  It was our first visit this term, so Sarah started by asking if the children had had a good Easter holidays and if they had had a good Easter weekend - this linked to asking about Easter eggs and chocolate.  As a reminder of what Easter is about we sang Inright Outright.  I then explained what happened after the Friday and led into the story of Jesus talking with the two followers on the road to Emmaus.  When Jesus met up with them they didn't see that it was him, to demonstrate this I had a few famous people who's face's I had made blurry and asked if the children knew who they were.  The followers only realised it was Jesus when he broke the bread.  I told the children that this was the next part of the Easter story which it is but I asked them how they could show Jesus or how could other people see Jesus in them by what they do - I had a number of great suggestions.  This linked to our final song Shine from the inside out.  After this Sarah finished with a prayer.

Leven Valley School

This morning I went along to Leven Valley School to do the assembly.  I asked if they were sick of eating chocolate and if they had had chocolate for breakfast on Sunday.  We sang Inright Outright as a reminder of what Jesus did for us at Easter time I then retold the Sunday morning part of the story with the empty tomb then moving forward to 'teatime' early evening I talked about the two followers on the road to Emmaus. It says that the followers were prevented from seeing it was Jesus, to explain this bit I had earlier displayed three pictures of celebs with their faces pixelated - when the followers couldn't see it was Jesus I did explain that his face wasn't pixelated.  As Jesus recalled why the events had happened in Jerusalem that weekend he went to leave them at the house they were going to but being invited in as he sat and took the bread, lifted it up and broke it the followers realise it was Jesus.  They hot footed it back to Jerusalem and Jesus went away again.  I brought out the point that it was when Jesus did what he did they realised who he was.  So I asked the children what they could do to show Jesus to others - I got loads of very good answers from the children like showing love and kindness, helping people out, opening doors for people.  I said that when we do that we can Shine out Jesus from our insides out - cue for a song.  After the song I finished with a prayer.  

Our Lady's School

This morning I went along to Our Lady's School to do the assembly.  I asked if they were sick of eating chocolate and if they had had chocolate for breakfast on Sunday.  We sang Inright Outright as a reminder of what Jesus did for us at Easter time I then retold the Sunday morning part of the story with the empty tomb then moving forward to 'teatime' early evening I talked about the two followers on the road to Emmaus. It says that the followers were prevented from seeing it was Jesus, to explain this bit I had earlier displayed three pictures of celebs with their faces pixelated - when the followers couldn't see it was Jesus I did explain that his face wasn't pixelated.  As Jesus recalled why the events had happened in Jerusalem that weekend he went to leave them at the house they were going to but being invited in as he sat and took the bread, lifted it up and broke it the followers realise it was Jesus.  They hot footed it back to Jerusalem and Jesus went away again.  I brought out the point that it was when Jesus did what he did they realised who he was.  So I asked the children what they could do to show Jesus to others - I got loads of very good answers from the children like praying for someone, showing love and kindness, helping people out, being selfless rather than selfish.  I said that when we do that we can Shine out Jesus from our insides out - cue for a song.  After the song I finished with a prayer.