BX OT3 Croftlands Juniors

This morning I was at Croftlands Juniors for the third lesson of Old Testament Bible Explorer.  Todays lesson included the fall of Jericho under Joshua's leadership, the taking over the land and dividing it between the 12 tribes.  Looking at the 400 years of the judges and focusing in on Deborah, Gideon and Samson.  Then ending with the love story of Ruth and explaining the importance of the story in relation to the birth of Jesus.  Next week we look at the first kings.

BX OT3 St Peters

This afternoon I was at St Peters for lesson 3 of Old Testament Bible Explorer.  We started with a recap of the previous weeks and a run through of the hand signs so far.  Then I covered the story of Joshua, on then to talk about the fall of Jericho before explaining how the land got divided up.  Then into the book of Judges and Deborah, Gideon and Samson.  Ending the lesson with the story of Ruth.  So thing like 520 years of history in one hour of lesson.  The children enjoyed listening, joining in and doing the hand signs.  Next week the kings - Saul, David and Solomon.

Flookburgh School

This morning Sarah and I went down to Flookburgh School, as we arrived we were welcomed by children jumping up and down and calling out our names in excitement which was just wonderful.  It has been a good few weeks since we last visited the school (beginning of March) hence I supposed the excitement.  To start off our assembly we sang God's Love is Bigger than a Burger, then we introduced the theme of Respect - which is also one of the Christian Values within the school.  Sarah talked a little about it before showing the video clip from Finding Nemo which shows Nemo being disrespectful towards his father when he firstly says he hates him then swims out to the boat and even touches it.  Sarah talked with the children and reminded them after the clip what happened to Nemo.  I then continued by talking about the Bible and how there are many examples of people showing respect towards others as we as towards God and equally being disrespectful too.  I went on to talk about Moses and the 10 commandments and how 4 are about respecting God and 6 respecting others.  I displayed the words from Exodus 20:12 about respecting our parents and explained what the whole verse means for us today.  Then Sarah continued and mentioned the word shine - which was a cue for the next song.  After the song Sarah closed with a prayer.

Broughton School

This morning I went to Broughton School for the assembly.  I decided to continue the theme we have been doing recently which is on Respect.  So after singing God's love is Bigger than a Burger I displayed the word respect on the screen and introduced the theme to the children.  To help the children understand I showed them the Nemo clip when Nemo swims out to sea despite his father telling him not to, he then proceeds to touch the boat again going against what his father said.  Following the clip I asked the children about it saying what did Nemo not do or show - respect came the answer.  I then took my bible and explained that in it there are loads of stories of people both showing respect as well as being disrespectful both to each other and God.  I talked about Moses and the 10 commandments and how they are really all about respect for each other as well as God.  I pointed one out which was respect your father and mother - I explained what it meant to the children saying it can include everyone not just our parents.  After this we sang Shine and then I closed with a prayer.

St Peters

This morning Sarah and I went over to St Peters School for the assembly.  We decided to do a follow on assembly from what we did last time.  So to start with we sang Creator God then I reminded them about the assembly two weeks ago by asking questions about it.  I explained that we sang Creator God because he made a great world for us to live in and to live in it peacefully and respectfully - but we don't do it - in fact people started to do things wrong soon after creation.  People didn't respect what God had made, other people or even God himself, so he decided to start again and he looked around and found one good man and his wife - Noah and Mrs Noah.  I then told the story using my magic trick which has the ark on one side and animals on the other.  Then as the ark finds rest from inside comes out a rainbow.  Sarah then explained a little more about how we can show respect in our world today.  To close the assembly we sang Wonderful Lord and in the middle part Sarah said a prayer.

Low Furness School

This morning I went to Low Furness School for the assembly.  The theme today was Noah's Ark which had been linked into the half-term theme on Respect.  So after singing Creator God I then reminded the children that last time I spoke in an assembly on respect I had said that in the bible there are a number of examples of people that both respected God and other people and equally there were people that didn't.  After God had created the beautiful world in which we live they started to disrespect it, the people in in and even God.  So God decided to start again and he found a respectful man called Noah and instructed him to build a giant boat and into put all the animals - two of every type.  Noah followed God's idea and did as he said, it took him a long time and by the time the boat was ready Noah had three sons and they had wives.  On a certain day all the animals went onto the boat and Noah and his family too then it rained and rained.  It continued to rain for 40 days and nights.  The boat floated and Noah's family were saved.  Then as the rain stopped and the water went down Noah sent out birds and eventually after about half a year or so the doors flew open and every one could get off.  As I told the story I was using my Noah magic trick showing the ark and turning it round to show the animals, but as the Rainbow appeared in the story I pulled out a rainbow coloured silk from the middle of the ark turn it around once more showing the animals again.  I explained that God promised never to flood the world again, I also reminded the children that we should always show respect for the world, other people as well as God.  God had protected Noah and his family and there is only one song we can sing that talks about that - Wonderful Lord.  After the song I closed the assembly with a prayer.

Pennington School

This afternoon I went to Pennington School for the assembly.  To start off we sang God's Love is Bigger than a Burger.  I then displayed the theme for the assembly which was Respect and then showed the video clip from the film Finding Nemo the one in which Nemo swims out to sea and touches the boat despite his father telling him not to.  Following the clip I asked the children what is was that Nemo hadn't or didn't do - hands went up and the answer show respect came out.  I also asked the older ones at the back of the hall if they could hear what Nemo said to his dad - 'I hate you' was the answer.  I then went on to talk about the bible and that in it there are loads of examples of people showing respect and also being disrespectful towards each other and to God.  I talked about one old guy called Moses who was asked by God to lead the people and to help him God gave him the 10 commandments.  One of them even says respect your father and mother so that you will live a long time in the land I'm giving you.  I explained what this meant to the children and how we could apply that to us today.  Then when we do we Shine from the inside out - cue song.  After the song I closed the assembly with a prayer.