Crosthwaite Primary School

This afternoon Sarah and I travelled over to Crosthwaite Primary School for the assembly.  It seems ages since we last saw the children, so to start off Sarah asked if they had had a good Christmas and New Year and if they had been to many parties (this was a link to something later).  We started with Be Happy and afterwards I told the story of the lost son using some visual images on the screen when the son partied the money away I talked about the high and buzz you get at a party then the low and sometimes empty feeling afterwards.  I linked this to parties at Christmas and New Year celebrations.  Well the young son had a big low as all the money was gone and he was left with nothing except a job feeding pigs.  Deciding to go home his dad was waiting for him and welcomed him with open arms, the little speech he had prepared didn't matter his father forgave him.  Talking more on forgiveness I reminded the children that is what Jesus came to earth to do and through his teaching he taught us what God is like, what heaven is like and how we can get there and  it starts by saying sorry for  the wrong we have done and God forgiving us.  However we need to also forgive those that have wronged us.  To lead into the song God can Do anything Sarah said a bit more about forgiveness.  After the song Sarah said a short prayer before we all said the Lord's prayer.

Low Furness School

This morning Sarah and I went to do the first assembly of the new year at Low Furness School, it was great to see all the children again after the Christmas break.  Sarah started by asking if the children had had a good Christmas and if they had been to many parties (this was a link to part of the story of today).  We then sang Be Happy and afterwards I told the story of the lost son or as the visuals said the wild son that returned.  Using various visual aids on the screen I went through the story and when the young son wasted the dad's money on parties and things I paused and talked about the high and the buzz we get whenever we party or celebrate but then comes the low as everyone leaves.  The young son felt this and some as now all his money was gone.  While feeding the pigs to earn a few pennies he came to a decision that he would go home and ask his dad for a job.  Well all the time the boy had been away the dad was waiting for him and the son couldn't get his words out as his dad hugged him and welcomed him home and forgave him for what he had done.  I reminded the children that Jesus came to earth as a baby and grew to a man and taught us great things mainly about God and how we can get back to God by saying sorry and forgiven for what we have done, what we are doing and what we will do - like the dad in the story.  But it works both ways we also need to forgive anyone that has done wrong to us.  Sarah drew the assembly to a close before introducing the song God can do Anything as it says nothing is too big or too small just like the things we do wrong.  After the song we said the Lords Prayer together and Sarah finished off with a prayer.

Penny Bridge Academy

This afternoon I went to do the assembly at Penny Bridge.  It was my first visit of 2020 so after saying that I hoped they had had a good Christmas and New Year and if they had been to any parties (link to story later) over Christmas and things I told the story of the lost son.  I used some pictures to help with the story and pretended to party when the younger son went off and spent his fathers money.  When he was considering eating the pig food I said it would be like eating the school dinner leftovers - the baked beans, mixed in with cake and custard.  Back home the father was waiting and welcomed his son back who was forgiven by the father and the son said sorry.  I reminded the children why we have Christmas and that Jesus came to tell us more about God and how we can go to heaven.  I also reminded them that Jesus died for us too which is something that they will be looking at later on this term as we get near to Easter.  God forgives us the things we do wrong, have done wrong and will do wrong we just have to say sorry but in turn we should also forgive anyone who does wrong to us - I gave a few examples.  To round it all off we sang God can do Anything as nothing is too big for him and nothing is to small so when we think about stuff we have done he is able to forgive us those wrong things.  After the song I said a prayer.

Church Walk Primary School

This morning I was at Church Walk Primary School for our first assembly of 2020.  It was great to see the children and staff again after the Christmas holidays although it does seem so far away now.  I started with Be Happy then I told the story of the lost son, as I told the story I displayed pictures of the various parts of it.  I stopped the story when the young son came home and was forgiven by his father for what he had done - forgiveness was the theme for the assembly.  I explained that at Christmas time we celebrate the birth of Jesus and as he grew up and started to tell stories and teach people he was showing us how we can get to heaven and about how we can be forgiven for the wrong things we have done or do or continue doing.  To finish off we sang God can do Anything and I linked this to forgiving us the wrongs we have done but we too must forgive those that wrong us as well.  I then closed with a prayer. 

OT Mini 1 St Paul's School

This afternoon I was at St Paul's School Barrow working firstly with the year 5 children then the year 6 doing OT Mini. We covered the story of creation, Adam and Eve covering the fall. Then on to Noah and the flood. Then onto the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and finally finishing off with Joseph. Hundreds of years of history, covering the beginnings of the Jewish people - God's chosen people. The children in both classes were great they got involved with the hand signs as well as the play acting of key characters within the stories. Next week on into Exodus and Moses. 

Our Lady's School

This morning Sarah and I went to Our Lady's School for the assembly - it was our last assembly of 2019.  We of course did our Christmas assembly.  Sarah started  by asking who had had chocolate for breakfast then she asked why - the answer was because it is the season of Advent.  Someone did answer Sarah's next question before she even asked it which was what Advent is.  So Sarah said as we wait for Christmas what really is it - she handed over to me to do my Christmas torn and restore illusion.  As each letter was removed from the word Christmas I asked if the children could give me a word about Christmas that started with that letter.  We had Santa, snow, stocking, Advent and angels, Mince pies, Mary and manger, tree, turkey and tinsel.  Which just left us with Chris - but who is that I asked.  So I gathered all the pieces together and started to fold them back into Christmas dropping a large piece on the floor as I did so which generated a laugh.  Then after making Christmas whole again I looked at the bit on the floor and got a child to pick it up and unfold it - it said Happy Birthday Jesus.  I got a great reaction from the children following this.  Sarah then pointed out that all the things the children had said are part of Christmas but the real reason for the season is the birth of Jesus and without him there would be no Christmas to celebrate.  Sarah asked the children on Christmas day when the open up their presents to not only say thank you to the person giving the present to them but to say thank you to God for sending Jesus into the world.  We then sang Rejoice with Us before Sarah finished with a prayer.

Lindal School

This morning I went to Lindal School to do our Christmas assembly.  It was great to see all the children and staff again.  To start with we sang God's Love is Bigger than a Burger afterwards I asked the children if they had had any chocolate today - hands went up so I asked if they had had it before breakfast - hands stayed up.  Next I asked them why, a few didn't know they just did they said, others said because it was from their Advent calendar.  I explained that Advent is a time of waiting - waiting for what though - Christmas.  I then did my Christmas torn and restored gospel illusion for the children were I remove letters from the word Christmas until we are left with just Chr.  Each time a letter is removed I ask the children to think of something to do with Christmas that starts with that letter.  I then restore Christmas and drop some paper on the floor as I do so - the children laughed thinking it was the removed letters but when the word Christmas is finally restored and the paper on the floor picked up and opened out it says Happy Birthday Jesus.  I went on to explain that without Jesus there would be no Christmas.  All the things the children said about Christmas do make it but without Jesus it would never have happened.  To finish we sang Rejoice with us then I finished the assembly with a prayer.