OT Mini 2 St Paul's School

This afternoon I had the great pleasure of being with the year 5 then year 6 children from St Paul's School in Barrow doing OT Mini.  It was lesson 2 therefore we were looking at some of the stories connected with Moses.  We heard about his birth and upbringing then on into adult life and forty years as a shepherd before his major encounter with God.  We then looked at the children of Israel's release from Egyptian slavery and the journey into the promise land except they didn't quiet make it thanks to the 10 spies that told false accounts of what the land was like.  Then we heard forty years later they return and we left them on the border ready for their first entry into the promised land.  Along our journey today we also heard about the giving of the law, the creation of the Tabernacle and the role of the priests, as well as the counting of the people, the forty years of wilderness wandering and the second counting and giving of the law.  Next week we look at the exploits of Joshua as he takes the lead into the land promised to them. 

Burlington School

This morning Sarah and I went over to Burlington School for the assembly.  It was great to see the children again after what seems such a long time.  Sarah open the assembly up by asking if the children had had a good Christmas and New Year and asking if anyone had been to a party during the Christmas holidays - hands went up - this was to link in with our story today.  We started by singing Be Happy before I told the story of the Wild Son who Returned Home - or the Lost Son.  I used various pictures to help me as I told the story and explained that when all the young sons money was gone so did his friends.  I linked it back to Christmas or whenever we have a party there is great excitement and you are on a real high but once it is finish we can sometimes sink down low.  As the story goes on the son started to feed some pigs and even considered eating their food - but he decided to go home.  Meanwhile back at home his dad is waiting for him and the speech the son had prepared didn't matter as his dad forgave him for what he had done.  I reminded the children why Jesus came in the first place - to tell us more about God and Heaven and about how we should live our lives so that we might also go to Heaven one day.  As the dad forgave the son so God forgives us for the wrongs we do, we just need to say sorry but also we need to forgive those who have done wrong to us.  Sarah summed up what I was saying and pointed out the words in the Lords Prayer about forgiveness.  We then sang God Can Do Anything as it says nothing is too big or too small like the things we do wrong being forgiven.  After the song she finished with a prayer followed by the Lords Prayer.

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.