On Sunday 13 December, worship at the Chapel Street Centre was led entirely by the young people. The children and youth from Christchurch North Methodist Parish and community shared the story of the nativity.
There were dazzling angels, sleepy shepherds, wise star-watchers and even a cranky donkey - (a puppet operated expertly by nine year old ventriloquist, Lily). Mary and Joseph were doting ‘parents’ to a very bonny ‘baby Jesus’ and as the photos show, Joseph was a very ‘hands-on’ Dad.
The theme was ‘Counting on Christmas’, and there was a lot of counting throughout the story. Mary counted the time until the birth of her baby. The miles to Bethlehem were counted, as were the donkey’s footsteps and the twinkling stars. The angelic narrators reminded everyone that in the countdown to Christmas we know through Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection, we know we can count on God. So we celebrated the miracle and mystery of the gift of God’s own Son, who brings us light, love, joy, hope and peace.
The service ended with an upbeat Christmas song, led by the Chapel Street Band, bubbles and balloons.
The Christmas 2020 Movie, created by the children and youth was premiered. You can watch it at the following link: https://youtu.be/CwZpFW3bTHc
A few weeks ago, our Awesome Kids enjoyed games with Dave and Heather... as they explored what it means to be a friend. We were reminded that God is our friend - how wonderful to know that God, our friend, loves us and is always with us, no matter what.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice!" | Philippians 4:4
Watch the video of this morning's Awesome Time and find out how Izak was able to blow up 24 balloons in under 2 minutes!
We also decorated cupcakes, planted little gardens, had fun with bubbles and played a silly game where we had to try not to laugh! All these things brought us joy, and we were reminded that God loves us and is with us always - even if we are not feeling very joyful. God is right there with us, helping us deal with whatever life throws at us.
The Philippians bible reading reminds us that God wants us to be calm and rest in the knowledge that Christ is in our hearts and minds. No matter what is going on in our lives, even if it’s one of those terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad days... God’s peace encourages us to not be troubled, but rather rest in the assurance that God’s peace is better than anything we will ever understand. God LOVES us. No matter what, ALL the time. Accepting the invitation to ‘God’s party’, means we will always carry a piece of Christ in our hearts and live thankfully.
Check out the video made by Izak last week, of our Blessing of the Animals service...
All is ready for tomorrow's cupcake decorating session...
and if that's not your 'cup of tea', you can plant a little garden...
Do hope you can join us tomorrow!
> Learn about God's never-ending LOVE for YOU!
> Decorate a cupcake to take home
> Plant a Little Garden
> Watch Izak blow up 24 balloons in 40 seconds!
Last week, our Awesome Kids created a collaborative artwork, based on John's vision from Revelation 22:1-5. We were reminded that God's never ending love flows through us like a river.
It was also New Zealand Sign Language Week, so we had a go at learning how to sign our names in NZSL.
Here's a link to the NZ Sign Language alphabet poster. Try and learn your own name!
You might like to try this online game, Sign Ninja, to discover some more signs!
Kia ora! This week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori | Maori Language Week. I had hoped to get out and about and record some of you singing a waiata for our Digital Awesome Time, however have not been able to manage that this week. Perhaps some of you might like to email or message me with your own recording?
You can check out a recording with lyrics to Tutira Mai Nga Iwi at this link. Give it a go!
How about learning and practicing your Maori alphabet and pronunciation? Check out this link for more.
This is a great website for learning some new words... there are 365 listed here - you could try a new one each day of the year! Click HERE for 365 Maori words.
It is Wilderness Sunday in our series of creation. In today's bible reading, Paul remembers the walk across the hot, sandy desert wilderness. He remembered going to places where people wanted to hear about God's love. The wilderness is a wild place, but it's a special place too. The animals and plants in the wilderness don't need people. Unfortunately, people can disturb the natural environment, the life cycle. This week we can remember that God is with us in every place in the world - in quiet places, busy places, wild places and beautiful places. God needs us to respect and show kindness to the awesome world God has created.
We thank God for the wild places in the world. We remember that we are part of God's giant web of creation. May we remember that God's hope is in us and all around us.
We can work with God to bring signs of God's hope to a hurting world. All around the world, children like YOU are working in and with their communities to do amazing things.
On the news this week there was a great story about a young man who saw an elderly lady mowing her lawn. He stopped, took the lawnmower from her and insisted on finishing mowing her lawn for her. When he was done, he got in his car and drove off. He did not expect to be paid or rewarded for his act of kindness. I thought this was a pretty cool story to make national TV. I hope it has inspired many others to look for ways they can show kindness in their community.
Where do you see a need? What can you do to help?
Monica was part of a Lockdown Voices | Speak Out project, through the Write On / School for Young Writers. Students were asked to write a response to the pandemic and their experience of Lockdown. Monica's piece has been published and recorded as a podcast, aired on Plains FM 96.9FM radio this morning. You can read and listen to her story here:
Lockdown Voices | Monica | Standing at Dawn
Mālō e lelei! Hello!
Tongan Language Week / Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e Lea Faka-Tonga is held every year during September. This week we have some very special helpers to celebrate this, as well as Land Sunday.
This week we think about how important the land is... and celebrate God's beautiful creation. We are part of this and are connected with God's creation. We remember that with God's help, just like the land, we can heal and grow.
Check out the video below, and enjoy the beautiful Tongan singing from Peatalisa, Tevunga and Angie... and the tour of the vegetable garden and glasshouse. We also pay a visit to the O'Keefes and meet their hens.
The second song the girls sing, is very special to the Vaea family. It was Samu's grandma's favourite hymn, which she used to sing to Angie when she was a baby. Samu's mum taught Angie and Peatalisa, and Samu is now teaching 'Emeline and Tevunga. The translation is something like this... "Lord hear my prayer, At this hour, Take my sins away, Prepare me for heaven."
CHALLENGES
1. This week you might like to take a photo or draw a picture of something awesome you have discovered in your garden.
2. Help out in the garden. You might like to do some weeding, or help with planting or watering.
3. Learn some Tongan! Do some research and learn a Tongan word or phrase. We'd love you to share it with us.
4. Try this week's Awesome Time Quiz:
This Sunday is both Forest Sunday and Spring Flower Sunday. We can find God's beauty, mystery, and majesty in the trees and flowers. We can see, hear and feel God's presence in the wind, the ferns, the flowers and in the forest.
The environment has heaps to teach us. From the forest, we can learn about the web of connection that binds all creation together with our awesome Creator God. We can rejoice in the wonder of God's creation and know that we have a special place in it.
Activities
Try the TREE QUIZ KAHOOT!
There are heaps of cool activities on the Kiwi Conservation Club website. You can check them out here: https://kcc.org.nz/activities/
Here are some of my favourite tree activites... see how many you can do!
BE WITH A TREE
1. Go on a tree hunt. Meet a type of tree you haven't met before. Take a photo with it, find out what kind of tree it is.
2. Find something living in a tree.
3. Find a tree that provides us with food.
4. Find a tree that has interesting bark. Use some paper and a crayon to make a rubbing of the bark's pattern.
5. Find a tree you think is beautiful. Draw or paint a picture of it.
6. Plant something - a tree, a flower, a vegetable... anything!
7. Find some spring flowers and draw or paint a picture of them.
8. Make up a poem, song or rap about TREES or SPRING.
9. Find some TREE JOKES (that are better than mine!)
Why do trees hate riddles? Because it's too easy to get stumped.
How do trees go on the internet? They log on.
Why don't you ever see hippos hiding in trees? Because they're really good at it!
When we are living in God's way, we bring the light and warmth of God's love to the world.
This week's story comes from the book of Exodus (Chapter 3: verses 1 to 15) and is about Moses. Remember him? He was the baby in our story last week. If you didn't catch it last week, there is a link further down this post to the video about him (and the heroines who saved his life - so that he could then go on to do awesome things for God!)
Like Moses, many people who feel quite ordinary have answered the call to do extraordinary things. Check out the Kahoot below, and see if you can match the names of the people to the incredible work they were called to do. (Thanks to Izak for putting this together!)
Click HERE to play the Call and Answer KAHOOT!
Here's another video about this week's story, where Moses has to listen for God's voice.
Let us pray that we will remember God's call to us, to share love and light in the world. Amen.
Last Sunday, our young people led a Christmas Youth Service. The focus was on peace , but there was a fair amount of joy involved too! Than...
