Hope Journey Cross Factor with Greasby Junior School

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Hope Journey Cross Factor with Greasby Junior School

What a joy to be able to share Cross Factor with 64 Year 5 children and 4 staff at Greasby Junior School on Monday 22nd March via Google Meet

Cross Factor aimed to complement the Ecumenical Assemblies Team videoed assembly entitled ‘Easter in a Nutshell’, which highlighted the death and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We looked at the Easter Story using a jig saw puzzle, which puts Jesus at the heart of the cross.  We discussed the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, The garden of Gethsemane, how Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priests house, before being taken to Pilate who washed his hands of the affair, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, following which children designed a storyboard about what we are really celebrating at Easter.  This work is currently displayed in the foyer at church

We also looked at some crosses from around the world (Roman, Crucifix, Palm, Celtic, Salvadorian) and why we share Palm crosses on Palm Sunday.  Some children designed their own cross depicting scenes of the resurrection of Christ.  This wonderful work is also on display at church.

Significance of the Palm Cross

We were able to share 3 gifts from Greasby Methodist Church

  1. The Journey through Holy Week as a take home leaflet so that the children could colour the images whilst they shared the story with families
  2. All about Easter – a Resurrection Rhyme, published by the Bible Society this month.  This included a special Easter blessing from us all at Greasby Methodist Church
  3. A Palm Cross – with an explanation of the significance of these crosses for Christians
Resurrection Rhyme (Bible Society)

The next Cross Factor for Year 5 children at Brookdale Primary will take place on Wednesday 14th April. 

Whilst we remain grateful for the technology which has facilitated our Hope Journeys this year, we do look forward to when we are able to welcome the children into our church again for more interactive learning sessions.

 Sue Elliott

Hope Journey co-ordinator

Hope Journey Epiphany – Journey with the Kings

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Hope Journey Epiphany – Journey with the Kings

What a joy to be able to share Epiphany – Journey with the Kings with Year 1 children at Brookdale Primary School and Greasby Infant School this week using Microsoft Teams

We continue to deliver an adapted programme so this time, we delivered Journey to School maps for the children to prepare prior to the event and we are grateful to both schools for facilitating this




Team works at a social distance – very different from our normal practice!

Following my welcome we

  • talked about all the things we come across on our journey to school, in order to create the context of journeying
  • Introduced my three ‘very special friends’ who had travelled a long, long way to share their story
  • Watched the puppet sketch of the three magi retelling their experiences of travelling and meeting the baby Jesus
  • We talked about the significance of gold, frankincense and myrrh as gifts to the future King
  • and about gifts which would be suitable to give to a baby and what we can give Jesus as our gift (being kind, looking after each other eg helping someone who falls over, sharing toys and sweets, donating to FoodBank, even helping parents by keeping our bedroom tidy!)
  • The children wrote or drew their gift on a star whilst we listened to and sang Our God is a Great Big God and Shine from the Inside out
  • And just as the kings changed their direction, we committed ourselves to being the kind of people God wants us to be
Display of work in foyer

Some of the children’s’ work is displayed in the foyer, please do call in and admire the wonderful artwork when you are passing

God Became like Me (Scripture Union)

During the plenary the children told us what they had committed to on the star.  We gave the children gifts too – a story book God Became Like Me (Scripture Union) and an Epiphany prayer card to share with the family at home. 

Our next Hope Journey is Cross Factor (Easter story) which will take place in March when we look forward to welcoming Year 5 children from Brookdale Primary School and Greasby Junior School

Sue Elliott

Hope Journey co-ordinator

Hope Journey Meet The Characters

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Hope Journey Meet The Characters

This week we shared Meet The Characters via Microsoft Teams with a class of 30 Year 2 children at Brookdale Primary School on Wednesday 2nd December and with 2 classes of 30 children at Greasby Infant School on Thursday 3rd December

The team…working at a social distance!

Following my welcome and introduction, we shared three workshops

  • Marys 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 Angel Gabriel – Gods messenger to fulfil Gods plan.  The appearance and message ‘Do not be afraid….’ to Mary and then Joseph, also the shepherds and Magi. 
  • The Innkeeper and 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 story, the children asked lots of questions including whether Mary and Joseph were married and asking the Angel Gabriel if he could fly!

God Became like Me (Scripture Union)

God Became Like Me – The Christmas message from Scripture Union

During the plenary the children shared what they had learnt from this Hope Journey.  They also received the usual take home gifts of a story book (God Became Like Me), a colouring sheet to explain to families the characters they had met today, a candle prayer to share with the family on Christmas Day, a Happy Birthday to Jesus sticker and an invite to the Christmas services. 

Our next Hope Journey is Epiphany –Journey with the Kings, which will take place on Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th January.  

Sue Elliott

Hope Journey co-ordinator

Forum Christmas Gift Bag Appeal 2020

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Every year we support the Forum gift bag appeal.

Forum offers supported accommodation to vulnerable people aged 16+in Wirral, Cheshire West and Chester, Chester East and Warrington.  This year it has been a privilege to extend our accommodation to a number of rough sleepers, now accommodating 335 vulnerable people.  Christmas can be an especially difficult time for the residents and Forum works hard to ensure that they are emotionally supported, well fed and that they at least receive one gift from someone.  This, of course, is going to be quite a challenge this year!

As always traditional gift bags would be much appreciated, we will ensure that all items are stored safely for a minimum of 72 hours and sanitised before distribution.  Much needed gifts (unwrapped please) include:

a hand towel, facecloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, shaving gel, deodorant, socks, mug, body spray, chocolate, sweets, gloves, hats, scarves, novelty gifts, picture frames, writing pen

Gift bags can be passed into the office, 9.00-11.30 Monday- Friday (except Thursday), by Friday 4th December

However, to promote the safety and wellbeing of supporters, staff and residents, you may wish to support financially instead, enabling Forum to shop directly for residents thus minimising contact.  It can be done in two ways, either by cheque, made payable to Forum Housing Association and posted to the address below, or Online Bank Transfer.  It would be helpful if financial donations could be received by Friday 4th December

Bank details are

Bank : NatWest
Account Name : Birkenhead Forum Housing Association Ltd
Sort Code : 60-23-17
Account Number : 03163296
Address
18 Hamilton Square
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 6AX

Thank you again for sharing the love of God and bringing such joy to Forum residents

Sue Elliott

Chair Forum Housing Association

Letter from Rev Yangsun Yi

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Dear sisters and brothers in Christ

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have already spent the first half of the period of lockdown and the other half should go if the lockdown is eased on the 2nd December as promised by the prime minister. 

I wonder how you are and how you have spending your time since lockdown? One of my friends retired some years ago always had answered me he is reading books whenever I rang him.  How about you?  Have you been busy for collecting the fallen leaves in your garden?  Or have you been reading more books than ever before?  If latter, what kinds of books have been reading and what are your favourite genres?   My friend who almost always answered me he is reading books related to Christianity.  Similar to my friend, I read books in relation to the Bible especially social, cultural, ritual background and systematic theology.  Whatever a genre of book we read, it gives us joy, peace, excitement and nurture our knowledge of humanity and the nature.  Sometimes, it changes our thoughts that influence to our way life.  Then, how much more the words of God in the Bible can change our thoughts and our way of life and our life.  This is for all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

I have recently heard a story of a man who’s been changed his life from reading the Gospels.  In the late twentieth century, one man from the Bible society of Zimbabwe went to a village to distribute the copies of the New Testament to the villagers.  The man from the Bible Society said to a man that he can give the copy of the New Testament for free.  The guy said, ‘If you give me the copy, I will roll the page and use them for rolling cigarettes.’   The one from the Bible Society still wanted the guy to take the Bible with him.  So the man from the Bible Society said I will give you this copy with one condition.  That was the guy promise him that he is going to read the page of the New Testament before he rolls it for cigarettes.  The guy had promised him, so the man from the Bible Society gave the copy to the guy.

A few years later, the same man from the Bible Society went to the village and was preaching people in a tent how the Bible could change their lives.  One guy among the crowds suddenly stood up and said his life has been changed for the copy of the Bible.  He said he is the one who took the copy of the Bible for rolling cigarettes.  He continued to say, ‘I promised to read each page before rolling cigarettes, which I did.   So I smoked my way through Matthew.   And I smoked the whole of Mark.   And then I smoked Luke.  I started smoking John, but when I came to John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”, a light shone in my face.  And now I believe in Jesus

The words in the Bible has power to justify and sanctify us up to the stage of perfection.  This is because no words in the Bible came by human will but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:21).

We are living in the time of winter when night is much longer than day light and of lockdown due to Covid.19.  So it is natural to feel loneliness more than any other seasons especially if we live alone.  According to C. S. Lewis, British writer and theologian ‘We read to know we are not alone’.  I fully agree with him.  I believe the more we read, meditate and contemplate the words of the Lord, the more we find God is with us.  And He provides us a great love, hope, peace, comfort, as well as proficient, equipped for every good work.

In this sense, I’d like to invite you to read the Proverbs in the Old Testament. I pray that the Word of the Lord is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path,

The Lord bless you and keep you;
 the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace

With lots of love,

Yangsun Yi

Hope Journey Remembering

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We continue to deliver a programme of Hope Journeys with children and staff at our three local schools – however we continue to work differently! This week we thoroughly enjoyed sharing a virtual Hope Journey Remembering via Microsoft Teams. On Tuesday 17th November we met with two Year 6 classes of 30 children each and staff at Greasby Junior School and on Wednesday 18th November we met with the Year 6 class and staff at Brookdale.

The team…working at a social distance!

Following my introduction and welcome, we shared three workshops

  • What and why we remember – a look at a clip from Horrible Histories and a reflection on Armistice Day, what we should be remembering, why and the symbolism of different coloured poppies
  • A Wartime Experience – delivered whilst sitting in an ‘anderson shelter’, it was such a pity the children could not join us this year.  We thought about the different types of shelters, listened to various recorded stories from those who survived WW2 and thought about how we would feel in such conditions
  • The Anne Frank story – we considered the traumatic experiences of Anne Frank, thought about what Christians are remembering through Communion, wrote prayers which will be offered at Sunday worship on Sunday and prepared a wreath of hope – hopes and dreams for ourselves and the community/world around us.  The schools will display the wreath in classrooms
The Wreath of Hope at Brookdale Primary School

During the plenary the children shared what they had learnt from this Hope Journey.  They also received the usual take home gifts of a replica WW1 St Johns gospel, issued to 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 for one week – if you could even get hold of some sweets!

Our next Meet The Characters sessions will take place week beginning 6th December for Year 2 children at Brookdale and Greasby Infant School.  This continues to complement the assemblies which are now regularly video recorded to send into school.  It is a great privilege that the schools are so willing to engage with us.  Please join with me in prayer as we continue to share the gospel with over 700 members of the Greasby community this year

Sue Elliott

Hope Journey co-ordinator and E A T

Compassion

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Compassion is a charity that helps to release children from Poverty in 25 of the poorest countries worldwide.

Here at Greasby Methodist we have supported two boys for the last six years from the generous giving of our members.  Our two boys are called Joseph who is aged 13 years from Tanzania and Amos who is 9 years old from Uganda .

Every few months we get wonderful letters from them telling us about their favourite activities, their families and their projects where they go to school, get regular medical reviews and make friends.  Over the years we have been able to support not just the children and their families but also give donations to support the work of Compassion so the money is directed to where the need is greatest.

If you want to find out more about the work of Compassion or if you are interested in sponsorship of children to release them from poverty go to their website www.compassionuk.org

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

Hope Journey Cre-8

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We continue to deliver a programme of Hope Journeys for children and staff at our three local schools.

Sadly, under current restrictions, we are unable to invite the children and staff into church, so this year we are working differently!

What a joy to share Hope Journey Cre-8 with a class of Year 4 children at Brookdale Primary School on Wednesday 14th October via Google Meet.  Following our introduction and welcome, we shared the Images of God workshop and the children drew what God is like on jigsaw pieces.  The jigsaw is now displayed in the foyer for your interest. 

We told the Parable of the Sower, then the children were able to retell the story enthusiastically with actions eg the farmer sowing his seed, the birds eating seed up, some plants withering in sun, some plants growing but choking and, most important, the plants growing tall and flourishing which Christians aspire to as followers of Jesus.

Using pre-delivered resource packs, the children made musical instruments to use during the story of Jesus Calms the Storm, one of the first signs of who Jesus really is.  The Parable of the Good Samaritan was shared using Godly Play style and the children wrote poems ‘Who Is My Neighbour’ which are also displayed for you to read.  Why not pop along and have a look?  The children also received the usual take home leaflet so they can share the stories with families at home. 

Cre-8 sessions will take place on Monday 2nd November and Wednesday 4th November for Greasby Junior School.  We are now planning virtual Hope Journey events for Remembering in November and the very popular Meet The Characters in December. 

Defibrillator

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Greasby Methodist Church have now purchased and installed a Heart Defibrillator which is sited on the outside wall to the right of the main entrance. It is fully automatic and registered with the ambulance service so if you ever need to gain access the code to open the cabinet will be given to you when you phone 999.

We would like to thank all those who use our premises for their contributions towards the cost of the defibrillator which should give us, and them, the assurance that should one be needed it is readily available. Greasby, which is a great place to live, now has three such machines sited throughout the village for the benefit of the community.