Treats for feet!

Last Sunday our Awesome Kids explored the story of the special gift of washing Jesus' feet with expensive oil. 

They then made gift bags of Epsom salts for tired feet. They even tried out some foot spas!

They made bubble bottles, which were about putting things that make us sad into the bottle. Then they added all the things that make us happy. This filled the bottle with all out happy thoughts.

They also compared this to Easter where Jesus was sad because he knew what was coming, but on the third day the joy of the resurrection was bubbling over as people found out.

Harvest Festival

Last Sunday was Harvest Festival. Our Awesome Kids celebrated by making veggie people and animals from corn cobs, carrots, potatoes, cranberries, parsley, bay leaves, tangelos and much more!

Check out our Awesome Kids' amazing vegetable creations by clicking here.

The band played, and were accompanied by some enthusiastic percussionists! We also heard a modern version of the bible story, 'The Prodigal Son' - as some of the youth helped Mel perform 'The Prodigal Daughter' skit.

Congratulations Hamish

Hamish

Hamish brought a rather impressive looking trophy to church on Sunday. Hamish helped his cricket team win the Christchurch Junior Cricket Association, John Growcott Shield (year 5 section 2).

Congratulations Hamish!

Well done also to Emma, who has successfully auditioned for her school's Chorale (special choir) and orchestra! Emma has also been selected for the Kids Lit Quiz Team - an annual literature competition in which students compete against other schools in Christchurch, striving to gain a place in the national champs in Wellington. 

Congratulations and best wishes Emma!

Last week...

Last week our Awesome Kids learnt that God is a loving God and always with us, helping us through tough times... when we are worried, upset, angry, afraid, sad - God is always with us and loves us.

We made posters and bookmarks to remind us of this... and to help us keep calm if we wake up in the middle of the night scared or worried. God is with us. God loves us!

Tightrope walkers at Musikool Kids!

Our clever girls carefully walk the tightrope!

This morning at Musikool Kids we learnt a new song, from Julie Wylie's Magic Musical Play CD, Roll Up to the Circus.

We had dancing ponies, beautiful dancers, funny clowns... and some amazing tightrope walkers!

What a fantastic circus it was!

Harvest Festival

This Sunday it's Harvest Festival. Bring something from your garden, or a tin of food to donate.

In Awesome Time we'll be getting creative and making some veggie people or animals to add to the display in church!

 

Happy campers!

Last weekend we had our annual Parish Family Camp. 33 adults and 28 children came together for a fantastic couple of days. Our youngest camper was 8 months old, and our oldest was 96! Go Ruby!

Our weekend was Olympic themed. First everyone was put into teams. Each team had to create a country and come up with its name, national anthem and flag. Our games opened with a march past, singing of each team's anthem, the taking of the oath by the athletes, and of course the Olympic torch relay!

‘Fagamalama carries the Olympic torch

Dylan, Leah, Deija and James take the Olympic Oath on behalf of all the athletes.

The events ranged from Javelin (with swimming noodles), Parchery (archery with paper!), Shot Put (throwing water balloons at Dave!), Discus (gumboot toss), and a Pentathlon which included three-legged races, piggy-back races and egg and spoon races.

The grand finale was hilarious... each team presented a dry-land version of an Olympic Synchronised Swimming routine! (You'll have to wait for the video for that one!)

There was one casualty unfortunately, one of the horses was injured during the equestrian event and is now hobbling around on crutches. (Hope you're feeling better soon, Bee!)

Saturday afternoon saw a new record breaking water-slide by Kerry (Johnny came a very close second!) and the record for the doubles was taken out by Philomena and James. Wahoo!

Philomena had us all sharing our most embarrassing stories as part of our Saturday night entertainment, which was followed by a game of Spotlight for the night owls among us.

We all put together a creative church service on Sunday morning, which included some fantastic live music with guitars, ukuleles, percussion and we even learnt some Tongan children's songs (thanks Ronnie and team!) The drama team, expertly led by willing volunteer Johnny, performed the Mem Fox story, 'Koala Lou' about a koala bear who enters the Bush Olympics.

We were extremely well looked after by our Waipara Master Chefs, who made sure we were very well fed with tasty, healthy food to keep us high performance athletes fueled, and special Olympic chilled water (with orange/lime slices and mint) to keep us hydrated. There were even ice-cream cones after the water-slide rides! Delicious!

We also celebrated three birthdays over the weekend, which meant three cakes! Happy birthday to Richard, Leilani and Andrew.

Happy birthday Daniella!

 Last Sunday was very special as one of our Awesome Kids had their actual birthday on Sunday! Thank you Daniella for coming to Awesome Kids on your birthday so we could celebrate with you!

Mountaineering Awesome Kids

On Top of the Mountain - Kizoa Online Movie Maker


http://www.kizoa.com/Movie-Maker/d31955619k8739081o1l1/on-top-of-the-mountain

Last week our Awesome Kids (and unsuspecting adult members of the congregation) were called up to perform an impromptu play about Jesus and the disciples' mountaintop experience. Then we went outside and drew the scene at the mountain on the car-park with chalk.

Welcome back to Music!

Musikool Kids started back last Friday, in The Chapel Street Centre. It was wonderful to be in our own space again, with all our musical instruments and equipment at our fingertips, and lovely to see all our Musikool Kids' families again, and some new faces.

Musikool Kids 2016

Brilliant to be able to rediscover lots of great toys that had been in storage for the past five years!

Musikool Kids starts tomorrow!

Calling all Musikool Kids' families! Really looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow in the Chapel Street Centre for a fun morning of music and movement. Exciting!

Blessing of the Backpacks this Sunday!

Hi kids! Awesome Time starts back this Sunday, with our Blessing of the Backpacks. Bring your schoolbag and be prepared for some hilarious games, a fun skit, groovy music with the Chapel Street Band, and some craft.

Make an origami owl or monster corner bookmark!

Registration Form for Musikool Kids

Yipeeeee!!! Registrations are now open for Musikool Kids 2016 (Term 1 begins Friday 5 Feb). Musikool Kids will be in the kids' room at The Chapel Street Centre, corner of Harewood Road and Chapel Street. How exciting!

Unfortunately we have to limit numbers and we will be operating a waiting list once the class is full, so be in quick! Preference will be given to existing members.

Click here to access form

Blessing of the Backpacks

Bring your school-bag, uni-bag, pencil case/lunchbox or briefcase along to church on 31 January. Rev Neti will offer a special blessing to all our young people as the new school year begins.

Watch the Kids' Christmas Service

Santa's visit to Musikool Kids

Christmas Eve Carol Service 5pm

Hope to see you on Christmas Eve!

5pm All-age Family Service

or 11.30pm Candle-light Service

ALL WELCOME!

Welcome to the Chapel Street Centre!

Here are some gorgeous photos from Sundays' Children's Christmas service.

Click here to view photos

An angelic welcome to the Chapel Street Centre!

A Bizarre Christmas Story

Hi kids! What an incredibly talented bunch of young people you are! Thank you so much for all your hard work in making this morning’s service so special.

You looked amazing, you spoke beautifully, acted with flair and confidence, and sang and played musical instruments with such skill – everyone was AMAZED! You all should be so very proud of your performances this morning, you brought the joy and love of Christmas to so many people.

Sit back now and relax, and enjoy our Christmas video which has now been uploaded to YouTube:

https://youtu.be/-KDmHguevDU

A special invitation...

Rehearsal Friday!

Hi kids!

Our rehearsal is going ahead tomorrow (Friday) at 3pm in the Chapel Street Centre- HOW EXCITING!!!

Look forward to seeing you all there!


A reminder that our Kids' Christmas Service & Nativity Play starts at 10am this Sunday 20 December in the Chapel Street Centre, cnr Harewood Road and Chapel Street, Papanui.

Farewell Hector

Last Sunday we said farewell to Hector, as it was time for him to return home to his family in Panama. Hector, we will miss you so much!

We had a fun photo session with Hector after church.

Click here for photos.

Musikool Christmas

We had a lovely Christmas party on Friday, with lots of festive outfits, treats and even Christmas cake. We had a surprise visit from Father Christmas, in his Rudolph car and he brought a balloon for everyone (even those grown-ups on his 'naughty list'!)

Check out the photos by clicking HERE.

Musikool Kids' Christmas Party

Join us tomorrow Friday 4 December for our Christmas Party and last Musikool Kids session for 2015. Wear something festive!

Also, mark in your diaries Sunday 20 December 10am and join us at our kids' Christmas service & nativity play, including the premiere of our 2015 Christmas music video (starring some of our own very talented Musikool Kids' members!)

Movie shoot this afternoon!

Hi everyone!

We are hoping that this little bit of drizzle will disappear shortly – so at this stage the movie shoot is still on. We will make a definite call around 11am. If in doubt please check the blog for postponement message.

See you soon (hopefully)!

Melanie

Waiting

Last week our Awesome Kids talked about waiting and patience. Who is looking forward to Christmas? I am, and I am really excited about our Awesome Kids’ Christmas Service and Nativity Plan in our new building- and we have all had to have a lot of patience in our waiting for this special occasion and for this place to be ready! 

We made some special advent calendars, to help with the countdown and preparations for Christmas.

Giving

Do you think it’s easier to give if you have lots of lots of money, or if you only have a little? What other ways can you give? How about giving your time... your friendship... hard work... your talents and skills?

Our Awesome Kids talked about putting LOVE into action... the heroes and heroines of the bible stories do not just feel love, they DO love. 

We transformed some dish-scrubbers into puppets, which we will be able to use to help others- giving of our time and hard work.

 Our musicians gave of their time and talents, leading worship with 'The Circle Song'. 

Welcome back Zip!

Thanks to Mark for sending in this photo of Naomi, Zip and Melanie, taken at music last Friday.

The year sure has flown by... in fact, we only have FOUR more Musikool Kids' sessions this year!

Friday 6 November,
Friday 20 November,
Friday 27 November and
Friday 4 December (our Christmas party!)

We hope you will also join us on Sunday 20 December at 10am, for our kids' Christmas service & nativity play, in our new building- the Chapel Street Centre. If any Musikool Kids' children (or older siblings) are interested in taking part and dressing up as angels or shepherds, please let Melanie or Merilyn know as soon as possible.

Go well!

Best wishes to all our Awesome Kids representing their schools at zones athletics over the next couple of weeks!

We know you will all be great sports; remember to cheer on your mates, be gracious in defeat and humble in victory. And thank the officials and your teachers too... they all work hard to make this all happen!

Go well, have fun and enjoy the day! You have done so well to get this far and we are proud of you!

All Saints Day

 On Sunday, Rev Fred Baker celebrated 60 years of being a minister. The Awesome Kids decorated a cake which they presented to him during the service. It was DELICIOUS! Thanks Sue for baking it!

It was also All Saints Day, and we talked about what it means to be a saint- a special friend of God. We can all be saints, by living in God's way, sharing God's love with others.

Monica and Berith - creative photography!