Archive for year: 2021

HOPE JOURNEY MEET THE CHARACTERS

 

We were delighted to welcome 92 Year 2 children to Meet The Characters on Thursday 9^th December, including both Greasby Infant School (morning session) and Brookdale Primary School (afternoon session)

Following our welcome and introduction, we shared the Christmas story, highlighting that we are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at Christmas

The children went to meet each of the characters in the story including

• The Angel Gabriel – God’s messenger to fulfil God’s plan.  The appearance and message ‘Do not be afraid….’ to Mary and then Joseph, also the shepherds and Magi. 

• Mary’s experience – from the message from the Angel Gabriel, the census, travelling to Bethlehem, arriving at the Inn where there was no space, the arrival of Jesus and the amazing visitors – the shepherds and three Magi – who recognised Jesus as the King of Kings
• The shepherd(s) – who were chosen to be the first to hear about the birth and hurried down to Bethlehem to see him

• The Magi – bringing their gifts and travelling back a different way to avoid Herod and why
• The Innkeeper and his donkey – who explained his job as an innkeeper, why Bethlehem was so busy due to the census, the arrival of Mary and Joseph followed by the birth of a baby.  The children engaged enthusiastically in waking the donkey up so that the donkey could tell them his story, carrying Mary to Bethlehem and all the commotion in the stable!

At the end of each workshop, the children asked lots of interesting questions including whether Mary and Joseph ever got married and asking the Angel Gabriel if s/he could fly!

The children also enjoyed a break for refreshments during which they created Fridge magnet(s) of the nativity scene

During the plenary the children shared who their favourite character was and why, before singing ‘Happy Birthday to Jesus’ and receiving a gift bag with take home gifts including the Passport/colouring sheet to explain to families the characters they had met; a candle prayer to share with the family on Christmas Day; an invite to our Christmas services; a Meet The Cast (Lifewords) story book which retells the Christmas story and a Gold biscuit representing gold, frankincense and myrrh which the wise men brought to Jesus.

Now we are looking forward to welcoming 93+ Year 1 children to our next Hope Journey is Epiphany –Journey with the Kings, which will take place on Thursday 13^th January

Sue Elliott

Hope Journey co-ordinator

HOPE JOURNEY REMEMBERING

                                                               

What a joy to welcome nearly 100 Year 6 children from Greasby Junior School (in the morning) and Brookdale Primary School (in the afternoon) to our annual Hope Journey Remembering on Thursday 11^th November. 

Following our introduction and welcome, we shared six workshops

• The Anne Frank story – we considered the traumatic experiences of Anne Frank; thought about what Christians are remembering through the sharing of bread and wine at Holy Communion and wrote beautiful prayers which were offered at worship on Remembrance Sunday.
• A Wartime Experience delivered whilst sitting in an ‘Anderson shelter’.  We thought about the different types of shelters, listened to experiences of those who survived WW2 and thought about how we would feel in such conditions
• In the craft workshop we prepared a wreath of hope – hopes and dreams for ourselves, in our community and the world around us.  We talked about the hope Christians have in our Lord Jesus Christ as we shared refreshments.  The schools will display the wreathes in their classroom
• What and Why we remember on Armistice Day 11^th November and on Remembrance Sunday.  Following a DVD clip we talked about WW1; Silent Night and a game of football on Christmas Day 1914; WW2, other conflicts which have taken place and are ongoing today; the symbolism of different coloured poppies and thought about the poem Flanders Field
• Untold Stories – following an introductory piecing together of a jigsaw, we understood the importance of piecing together stories to understand life during wartime.  Children read a number of stories written by local members who shared their experiences of living in WW2 and discussed what we can learn from them
• Rationing and Evacuation – the children learnt about rationing; food shortages; ration books; weekly shortages and the points system, before considering evacuation – why? where? how? and how children must have felt at that time

During the plenary the children shared what they had learnt from this Hope Journey.  They also received the usual take home gift bags with colouring sheets from the Royal British Legion, a word puzzle about Holy Communion, the Welcome back to Greasby Methodist Church leaflet, a Say One For Me card, a replica WW1 St Johns gospel issued to all men in active service; the Jelly Babies and Jesus story and a weekly ration of sweets (equivalent to 5 jelly babies) to share between the entire family of 7 for one week – that is if you could even get hold of some sweets!

We are looking forward to our next Hope Journey Meet The Characters which will take place on Thursday 9^th December when we will welcome 60 Year 2 children from Greasby Infant School in the morning and 30 Year 2 children from Brookdale Primary School in the afternoon.  

Sue Elliott

Hope Journey co-ordinator

TEDDY BEAR SERVICE AND PICNIC

Please come and join us at our monthly Teddy Bear Service and Picnic on second Sunday of every month, 2.30-3.30pm

We would love to see you again on Sunday 14^th November 2021, 2.30-3.30pm

We welcome all children and teddy bears, mums and dads, grandparents and carers.

Do come and join us for worship, a bible story (usually with puppets), singing with musical instruments and the Teddy bears picnic

No booking required but don’t forget to bring your teddy bear, please!

Sue Elliott

Children, Families and Schools co-ordinator

TEDDY BEAR SERVICE AND PICNIC

Please come and join us at our monthly Teddy Bear Service and Picnic on Sunday 12^th September 2021, 2.30-3.30pm

We welcome all children and teddy bears, mums and dads, grandparents and carers.

Do come and join us for worship, a bible story with puppets, singing with musical instruments and the Teddy bears picnic

No booking required but don’t forget to bring your teddy bear, please!

Sue Elliott

Children, Families and Schools co-ordinator

HOPE JOURNEY SHARING PARABLES

This week what welcomed 30 children and 3 staff from F2 (4-5 year olds) Brookdale Primary School into our sanctuary to share the Parable of the Lost Son (the Prodigal Son)

Following the welcome and introduction

1. We read the story of The Lost Son from the bible. A parable is a story Jesus told to explain his teaching to us. We talked about feelings – how the various characters felt at different times in the story and why their emotions changed.  Very  importantly we looked at how we can all make wrong choices but God always forgives us if we are truly sorry for what we have done and aim to put it right.  The children made paper plate faces – a smiling face on one side and a sad face on the other – and used the paper plate faces to retell the story to us

2. The puppets shared a modern day version of the story.  A boy wanted to go to a disco but dad had said no.  However he sneaked out and went off with his friends and had a great time.  However he woke his dad up when he got home so his dad found out what he had done.  However dad did forgive him because he loved him so much.  Just as our Father God loves us and will forgive us too.  The children made peg puppets to take home to use to retell the story to their families

Square = someone we rely on, and who supports us

3. We presented a monologue, from dad’s point of view, again exploring how sad he was when the son asked for his inheritance and left home seeking a better life.  But how he rejoiced when the son returned home.  Sometimes we can wander away from God, but He is always ready to welcome us back too.  The children then made scoobies with different shaped beads

Square = someone we rely on, and who supports us

Round = somebody it is good to be around (friend, teacher, family member)

Heart = somebody who takes care of us

Star = a superstar in our life

We all enjoyed learning about how God loves us, takes care of us and we can trust Him to be our superstar and very special friend forever.

We are looking forward to Sharing Parables with Greasby Infant School next week

Sue Elliott

Hope Journey co-ordinator