Join us on Sunday 29 January, 10am at the Chapel Street Centre for our Blessing of the Backpacks. Bring your schoolbag, kindy or preschool bag and we'll have a special blessing to mark the beginning of the school year for 2023.
Christchurch North Methodist Parish: Child, Youth and Family Ministries
The home of AWESOME KIDS, HOT CHOCOLATE CLUB, FISH and CHYPS at The CHAPEL STREET CENTRE.
Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Tuesday, 13 December 2022
Monday, 12 December 2022
Youth Christmas Service
Sunday, 11 December 2022
Christmas Movie 2022
Sunday, 4 December 2022
Christmas crafts
We've been getting Christmassy over the past couple of Sundays, making Christmas gifts for our family and friends.
Candy cane & chocolate Santa sleighs last week with Jill & Richard, and hot chocolate jars and herb & spice seasoning jars with Carol this morning.
Friday, 25 November 2022
Youth CHRISTMAS Service coming soon...
Sunday, 6 November 2022
Courage
This week, we read the wonderful story JABARI JUMPS by Gaia Cornwall.
We talked about what it means to have courage. We agreed that courage doesn't mean not being afraid... it's about stepping up and doing stuff even if we are feeling scared, anxious or nervous.
God says, have courage, for I am with you.
Livvie said, it's a bit like someone cheering you on saying, 'You've got this!' I think that's a pretty good explanation, and as Livvie said, we can help others find courage by saying, 'hey, you've got this!' and being a cheerleader for them too.
God's our biggest cheerleader. God's always with us, loving us. God's got us!
We created some pictures of scared faces to remind everyone that it's ok to feel afraid, and to just remember that God is with us, giving us courage and strength to do hard stuff.
A big thank you to Ella for leading our prayer this morning!
Chalk Artists
Saturday, 1 October 2022
Blessing of the Animals
This week, it's St Francis of Assisi Day and Rev Anne will be doing a Blessing of the Animals.
Here are some photos Awesome Kids Emelia and Lily sent in of Storm (their latest edition to the family) a 14 week Border Collie; Tiggy, who turns 1 today and Soxy (2 years old). We think they are just beautiful!
Thursday, 29 September 2022
Lucky
Please continue to pray for the safety of the children and that this life-changing work will continue for Lucky and all the children and families in Lucky's community in Uganda.
Thank you for helping to change children’s lives for good.
Kia tau te rangimārie - Peace be with you.
Sunday, 18 September 2022
Storm Sunday
This week is Storm Sunday.
The Bible describes many storms and 'stormy times' Jesus went through. We all know the story about Jesus stilling the storm (Luke 8.22-25) when he was in the boat with the disciples. Jesus calmed the stormy sea.
In the storms of life, we can know that God is with us. God's loving presence gives us comfort, strength and hope.
I read somewhere that God's love is like an umbrella... just like an umbrella can give us a little shelter and comfort as we go out and brave the weather, God's love helps us to face all the storms of life.
Jesus wants us to share God's love with others, and be a comfort and strength to people who are going through their own storms.
It reminded me of this book, "Tiny Miss Dott and her Dotty Umbrella", written by Michelle Osment and illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson. Miss Dott works at the charity store, just like our very own Dot at the Budget Boutique! When Miss Dott goes to work at the op shop, she takes her umbrella in case it might rain. She leave it outside the door, and while she's inside her umbrella provides much needed shelter to a number of people.
I hope that we can be like Dott's umbrella, and help give shelter and comfort to those who need it.
Lord, help us to remember;
God, help us too to calm storms,
Friday, 2 September 2022
We Belong
The book 'You Belong Here' by MH Clark and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault celebrates all the marvellous creatures God created… and reminds me of God’s most incredible and most loved creation - you!
Challenge
To celebrate the beginning of our Season of Creation celebrations, go for a walk somewhere. It could be your local park, school playground, or you might take a bus to the beach for a stroll along the sand.
Do something to celebrate and give thanks for that place. You might take a photo, draw a picture in the sand, do some leaf rubbings, collect pinecones or shells, or write a poem. You could even make a message in a bottle!
Prayer
Awesome God, thank You for stars and starfish, winds and waves and whales and sand. Thank You for all the magnificent and marvellous creatures in our world. Help us to remember that wherever we go, whatever we see and do, we will always belong with You and You will always be with us, loving us no matter what.
Amen.
Sunday, 28 August 2022
Everyone's invited!
Jesus tells us that God invites everyone to God’s party. God wants us to remember that God not only loves us and cares for us but cares for all people no matter who they are, what they look like, or how they act. And God wants us to be kind to those people too.
If you have a new person that doesn’t know anyone in your class or in an after school activity you’ve been going to for quite a while, it is so hard for them. But if you talk to them, show kindness, and make them feel welcome and part of the group, it will feel amazing and so good for them and also for you. It’s a great thing if we work towards including everyone and not having people feel like they’re being left out.
For an activity this week, plan a ‘Celebrate Spring’ party and play some fun games with your family and/or some friends where everyone feels included all the time. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
The Human Ball of String:
Prayer:
Thank you God for loving everyone.
It doesn’t matter to you what we look like, or what we have.
If we come first in a competition, or have a new toy, those things do not make us more important than anyone else, because everyone is important to you.
Help us to show kindness to everyone, and make everyone feel important.
Amen.
Saturday, 27 August 2022
Thursday, 18 August 2022
Sunday's service 10am
Watch Sunday's service at 10am live on Facebook.
Follow Christchurch North Methodist Parish on Facebook, or you can watch through your browser by clicking on this link:
Christchurch North Methodist Parish Facebook
This Sunday marks Youth Sunday and we want our young people to know how much we value you! Each one of you are treasured and loved. You are an important part of our church family and community and we appreciate you.
We look forward to seeing you again soon in person, but until then, know that you are loved.
Friday, 12 August 2022
The Good Samaritan
Friday, 5 August 2022
Peace Sunday
Listen to Melanie read the story, All of Us, by Carin Berger. It's a great one for Peace Sunday!
Sunday, 31 July 2022
Awesome Time Online with Sue!
Monday, 18 July 2022
Happy holidays!
Hope everyone is enjoying the school holidays!
We'll be back with another Awesome Time online at the end of the holidays, so watch this space!
In the meantime... if anyone has made one of Jillian's little origami suitcases please do send us a photo. Or, if you've been busy with any other art and craft, or up to anything else interesting, please let us know!
Keep warm, be careful, have fun, be happy and be kind!
Saturday, 2 July 2022
Go and Share the Love
This week's Awesome Time Online is brought to you by Jillian and Richard.
You can watch the video HERE.
Friday, 17 June 2022
Children of God
You can tune in to watch Carol's Awesome Time talk this Sunday by going to our Facebook page. We'll post it here after Sunday too.
Here's a prayer from Carol...
Loving God,
You care for us and love no matter what we look like,
where we are from,
or what we like or dislike.
We are ALL children of God.
Thank you for loving us for who we are.
Teach us to love and care for each other with that same unconditional love.
Amen.
Sunday, 12 June 2022
A Message from Rev Anne
Hey Awesome Kids!
Our theme for this Sunday is Trinity Sunday. God has given us pictures in the bible to help us understand who God is. Trinity is understanding God as our parent, God as Jesus and God as the Holy Spirit all at the same time. A bit tricky I know. I want you to try something at home to try and explain what this might mean. You will need a big piece of card, a small metal car and a magnet.
You might want to try this in front of your family and see if they can work it out. Hold the card vertically on a flat surface with the card on one side. On the other side hold the magnet against the car and move it along. The people on the other side won’t know how the car is moving!
If you don’t know how this is happening it might first seem like a magic trick.
Now of course it isn’t magic, magnets attract metal objects like the car. Anyone in front of the car can’t see the magnet but we know that it is there because we can see its power by what it does.
Did you know that we have something like the power of the magnet in us that will guide us just like the magnet guided this car across the card? That power comes from the Holy Spirit.
The bible says that when Jesus knew it was time for Him to leave the earth and return to Heaven, He called his friends, the disciples together. He said that he would leave his Holy Spirit to live in them. When we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us too.
We can’t see the Holy Spirit inside of us but we know that it is there because we can feel its power. Just like we could see the power of the magnet guiding the metal car, we can see the Holy Spirit guiding us each day.
Maybe when someone is being mean to someone at school and something inside of you says, ‘Hey this is wrong!’ and you tell them to stop and find a teacher to help. That might be the Holy Spirit guiding you to do the right thing. Or if you are tempted to peek at someone else’s work during a test and a little voice inside says, ‘No, Stop, you don’t want to do this’. And you are able to realise that you were about to do something wrong and you stopped, that too could be the Holy Spirit inside of you.
The car has to be close to the magnet before it feels the effects of its power. Like that, when we stay close to God, we feel the power of his Holy Spirit guiding us. Let’s pray and thank God for sending the Holy Spirit to be our guide.
God, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to guide us in the way you want us to go. Help us to stay close to you, so that we can feel the power of your Holy Spirit in our lives. Amen.
Saturday, 28 May 2022
The Ascension Story
Even though we can't see Jesus, we can know his love, know that Jesus is with us and share that love with others.
Check out her Awesome Time talk by going to the church Facebook page.
You can watch the video below for this week's story from the bible:
Jesus lives with God and continues to love the whole world. Jesus wants us to share that awesome love with everyone.
Prayer
Loving God,
On this special day we remember that you sent your Son Jesus, who died on the cross and then rose again, and on Ascension Day Jesus went up to Heaven.
We thank you that you are always with us and we are never alone, because we are surrounded by your love.
When we see the sun in the sky, we remember you are there.
When we feel the rain on our faces, we remember you are there.
When we watch the birds flying, we remember you are there,
When we sing and pray together, we remember you are there.
When it is dark and we feel alone, help us to remember you are there.
Amen.
Friday, 20 May 2022
Have Courage. Be Kind.
Check out this week's Awesome Time Online video where I read the story about Rose and Mr Wintergarten.
You can find it by clicking HERE.
This week's bible story is found in the book of Acts, chapter 16, verses 9-15. It is about Paul and Lydia. You might remember hearing about Lydia - she was a seller of purple cloth. Both Paul and Lydia had to be brave. Paul was moving to a new place and had to speak with lots of different people. Lydia listened and opened her heart to God's message, welcomed the visiting preacher and invited Paul and his friends into her home.
She showed hospitality to these strangers - even though it might have been a bit scary.
In our Awesome Time Online story today, Rose meets Mr Wintergarten - and I think in the beginning both of them are just a little bit scared of each other. But, with a little courage (and some fairy cakes!) the barriers are broken and a friendship is forged.
Rose showed courage by going through the rusty gate into the very unwelcoming garden next door. And it took a lot of courage for Mr Wintergarten to open his curtains, his front door and his heart to the neighbourhood kids too.
Sometimes, it's hard for us to show friendship to others, especially when it's people we don't know very well. We might have to cross boundaries that make us feel uncomfortable. God wants us to be brave in loving and welcoming others... this might mean inviting a new student or lonely kid to come and join your game or group, or sit with you and your friends at lunchtime.
Or, it might mean being warm and friendly to the grumpy neighbour, like in the story I read. The flowers and fairy cakes Rose takes to Mr Wintergarten I think are a bit like a 'peace offering'.
Peace is mentioned in the other bible reading this week (John 14:27). Jesus says, "I give you peace." Jesus reminds us that we have each other to help us remember that we are never alone. Even if our friends or family aren't around, Jesus is always with us!
So even when things are hard, when we don't feel especially good or brave - remember that Jesus loves us. Just the way we are.
Jesus's peace and love is with us always and we need to share that awesome love and peace with others.
You can also Watch the bible story HERE:
Challenges
Why not give one of these challenges a go?
1. Fairy Cakes
Bake some fairy cakes, cookies or muffins. Take some to a neighbour or someone you know who might need them. (Remember to wash those hands well, and mask up and social distance when making a doorstep delivery!)
2. Courageous Kindness
Show some kindness to someone at school. Maybe it's someone who is sitting by themselves - invite them to have lunch with you or join in your game.
3. Make a Kind Call
Phone someone just to say 'hi' and ask how their day is going. Listen, and let them know you care about them.
4. Unexpected Kindness
Surprise someone with kindness. Maybe you might leap up after dinner one night and do all the dishes and clearing up, even if it's not your turn!
Let us know if you complete a challenge. We'd love to hear from you!
Have a wonderful week!
Sunday, 15 May 2022
A New Commandment
This week's Awesome Time Online is brought to us by Jillian and Richard.
John 13: 31-35 A New Commandment
In today’s bible reading, Jesus gives his disciples a new rule to live by: “Love one another as I have loved you.” It is the greatest and most important rule (commandment) of all.
You see, back in those days there were a lot of rules. People had rules for what to wear, who to talk to, things they could or could not eat, places to go…rules for everything. The rules were much, much more strict than the rules we have at home or school today.
Have you heard the saying: “Actions speak louder than words”?
Jesus was reminding his disciples that they needed to love one another in the same way that he loved them. And he wants to remind us of the importance of showing love, kindness and consideration towards other people too. By doing that, others will see the love of Jesus in our actions.
Let’s pray
Thank you God for the amazing stories about Jesus,
that help us learn and understand more about his love
Thank you for the love that Jesus brings to us,
We want others to know we are Jesus friends
So help us to share that love with others everyday.
Amen.
Friday, 13 May 2022
Psalm 23 | and a Ragged Sheep Story
Here is a link to watch Heather and Dave's story from Sunday - about Shrek the Sheep, and The Ragged Sheep.
Saturday, 30 April 2022
The Friend Who Forgives
Do you ever mess up? Do you ever hurt a friend's feelings or let someone down? We all make mistakes and get things wrong sometimes. This week's story is about Peter who messed up - a lot. Who would want to be friends with someone like that? Well, someone very special... as Peter found out. You can find out too, by watching this week's Awesome, Time Online!
Watch Video HereChallenges
Morena God!Thanks for being with me this morning, through the day and the night.Thanks for loving me always, no matter what.Amen!
Tuesday, 19 April 2022
Cross Craft Challenge from Carol
Let us prayGod, you loved this world so much,That you gave your one and only Son,That we might be called your children too.May we realise today what Jesus’ death and resurrection mean to us.The risen Jesus has given us new life and renewed hope.Help us to live in the gladness and grace of Easter Sunday, everyday.Let us have hearts of thankfulness for your sacrifice.Grant us blessings of love, hope, peace, good health and happiness.Help us to walk in Your grace and share the good news of the empty tomb.In the name of Jesus, the Risen God,Amen.
Thanks, Carol! You can check out Carol's full Awesome Time message on our Parish Facebook Page.
Check out the previous blog post which has a video of the Easter story to watch. You can also read the Resurrection story for yourself in the Bible. You can find it in the book of Matthew, chapter 28, verses 1-10.
Sunday, 17 April 2022
Easter Sunday!
Monday, 11 April 2022
Easter is coming…
Blessing of the Backpacks
Join us on Sunday 29 January, 10am at the Chapel Street Centre for our Blessing of the Backpacks. Bring your schoolbag, kindy or preschool ...

-
This week's Awesome Time Online is brought to you by Jillian and Richard. Fishers of People (Luke 5:1-11) In this story we see Jesus w...
-
This week's Awesome Time Online is brought to you by Carol ! This Sunday we are learning about some 'I WILL' statements from Jes...
-
Last Sunday was Palm Sunday... we heard the start of the Easter story. It began with Jesus riding into Jerusalem town on a donkey. The cro...