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 Here

Challenges

Pick one of these challenges to do with your friends and/or family.

1. Breakfast Picnic

Pack a picnic and go somewhere outdoors for a breakfast picnic. Monica did this on Anzac day - a sunrise picnic at the beach (followed by an icy swim! Although I don't recommend the swim at this time of year!)

2. Carol's Cross Challenge

See my last post with some crafty crosses... have a go at creating your own. You could make a cross craft to hang on the wall in the Chapel Street Centre, or you could take a photo of one you've found or made and send that to us to share with everyone. Maybe you could make a cross from items around your home or garden, or draw an arty cross with chalk on your driveway.

3. Breakfast Prayer

As you have your cereal or toast or porridge or whatever you eat for breakfast... say a little prayer. You could make up your own, or you could use this one:

Morena God!

Thanks for being with me this morning, through the day and the night. 

Thanks for loving me always, no matter what.

Amen!

4. Find the Story in the Bible

Read the story in the bible - you can find it in the book of JOHN, Chapter 21, verses 1 through to 19.

Cross Craft Challenge from Carol

Look at this amazing selection of crosses Carol found...

Your challenge over the holidays is to create your own cross art, either inspired by one of the options below, or come up with your own original idea. Send me a photo of your cross and we'll put them on the blog and share them with everyone at church.

Here's a message from Carol:

And the risen Christ is why we have crosses on and in our churches – to remind us that Jesus died for us, and more importantly, he rose again. 

And remember when you are eating Easter eggs – they symbolise the stone that was rolled away revealing the empty tomb.

Let us pray

God, 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. 

Easter Sunday!

Happy Easter, everyone!

The tomb is empty! Jesus is risen! 

Even though we can't see Jesus, we can know the love of Jesus, which stays with us everywhere we go. You don't have to look far to see Jesus's love.

This beautiful book, 'You'll Find Me', by Amanda Rawson-Hill and illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff reminds me of this. You can watch a video of me reading it below:

Here's a great video on the Easter story: Click HERE to watch

Often we use the symbol of a butterfly to remind us of the transforming love and power of the Easter story. A caterpillar transforms into a butterfly... new life.

We have made many butterfly themed crafts over the years, and this year Monica found a caterpillar craft we thought was pretty cute. Check out the video below and have a go yourself!

Make this moving Caterpillar!

Wordle

Try this week's Awesome Time Wordle, by clicking HERE!

Prayer

Loving Lord,

Thank You for your Easter love. 

Thank You for the JOY and mystery of Easter. 

Help us to share Your awesome LOVE with others.

Amen.

Easter is coming…

Awesome time online | Easter edition is coming this Sunday! We’ll hear the Easter story and discover a new book titled “You’ll Find Me” by Amanda Rawson Hill and illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff.

We have an Easter craft and a challenge. Check out the blog on Sunday morning!

Hosanna!

HOSANNA! Welcome to Awesome Time Online for Palm Sunday!

I love this photo of William and Harry, taken on Palm Sunday quite a few years ago! 

While we can't meet in person right now, you can still watch and listen to this week's Awesome Time Online message from Dave and Heather. Check it out on the church Facebook page. We will also add a link to it here after Sunday's service.

In the meantime, you can check out the Palm Sunday story in the video below, and also learn how to make a palm leaf cross (you could do this with flax).

WATCH the story of PALM SUNDAY

MAKE a palm leaf cross

Blessings to you all!

Be Kinder

This week's Awesome Time Online is brought to you by Carol.

Today, we learn about how we can show the love of Jesus to others by doing acts of service or acts of kindness for others.

Watch the Awesome time part of the worship service to hear about how two women show their love for Jesus in two very different ways.

With everything going on in the world today, we need to create a space where people can find harmony, and where we treat each other with compassion and kindness.

Everyone has different skills and abilities so everyone has a different way of showing love, and kindness.  One really easy thing you can do is random acts of kindness.  And a cost-free thing you can do is to send people kind thoughts – you can do this anytime – for anyone.  Putting positive kind thoughts into the world will make the world a better place.

Activity: 

Practice sending kind thoughts – watch this video below which explains how to do this.

Let us know what your random act of kindness was – you could take a photo, or send Mel an email or text.

And lastly remember everyone at church misses you and loves you!

You can listen to the bible story for this week at the link below:

Try this week's Wordles:

Carol's Wordle

Mel's Wordle

Let's Pray:

Dear God

We thank you for examples of acts of love and kindness in the Bible – the examples of Mary and Martha. 

Fill our hearts with kindness and compassion.

Inspire us to show your love through acts of kindness.

Let us create a space around us where people can find harmony, and we treat each other with compassion and kindness.

As we continue in this day and the week ahead, grant us the wisdom and strength to act kindly and let others feel loved and respected.

Bless us so we can represent your love and kindness

We ask this in Jesus’ name

Amen

That's our Awesome Time Online for this week... hope you all have a wonderful week ahead and hey - let's all be KINDER out there! :o)