Bring something you have made yourself, which will impress the Taskmaster. The item judged the most impressive will earn head-start points for your team. All items will go to silent auction at church the next day, proceeds going to the parsonage fund.
Here they are... what you've all been waiting for! The videos from this year's Parish Camp. Videos 1 and 2 are shortened versions which include clips of a variety of events. If you want the full waterslide and concert videos, check them out below. Enjoy!
Part 1: including Saturday morning activities and 'how to pitch a tent'!
Part 2: including waterslide and concert
Part 3: Interviews
Part 4: Waterslide
Part 5: Concert
Apologies, but not all concert items made it onto film, due to a malfunction with the video operator ;o(
Calling all young people in school years 7 and up. It's Youth Group this Saturday night, so join us for CHYPS at the Chapel Street Centre at 6.30pm.
We'll be playing lots of team games, and of course there will be our scrumptious supper afterwards :o) See you there! $2 donation, and all welcome - bring a friend!
This morning we went on a picnic. It took a long while to find the perfect picnic spot, and there were a few arguments along the way.
There were fights over who was going to carry the basket. Then the picnic basket was too heavy. She was always whinging, he was being mean... and so on. Sound familiar to anyone? Then... where to have the picnic? One spot was too hot. Another spot had too many mosquitoes. Another place had no wi-fi. And then, we chose a spot with too many people.
Then the worst thing... Mum said we had to share our picnic spot, and share our food! But, was there enough to go around? Well, some of the other picnickers had some food to contribute - and the two troublesome teens had a change of heart and we shared our picnic together. There was chocolate fish, and 'fairy bread' (bread with hundreds and thousands sprinkled on top!)
And guess what? There was plenty to go around. In fact, there was enough left over, to be able to share with the rest of the congregation during morning tea. The arguments stopped (for now...), and everyone put aside their differences to enjoy spending time together at our picnic.
Feeding the Five Thousand
The story from the Bible, of Jesus feeding the Five Thousand, is one we've heard a lot. I love the part where a small boy offers up his basket of five loaves of bread and two fish, which Jesus takes and shares among the hundreds and thousands of people.
What was the biggest miracle - that Jesus was able to change those few loaves of bread into an abundance of food, or for Jesus to change the hearts of the people who were there to teach them how to share? What's the greater miracle for us? For Jesus to do all the work - or for Jesus to change our hearts and enable us to do it?
I think this story teaches us that when we receive the love of Jesus, and give that love freely to others, the love ripples out farther than we could ever imagine. We see the love of Jesus, and the power of that transforming love when people 'break bread together'.
Jesus is Lord
We sang Julie Wylie's song, 'Listen to the Waves, Jesus is Lord', a very cool tune with a groovy swing rhythm (thanks Monica for the awesome bass line, and Izak and Leilani on percussion - Leilani's rain stick really did sound like the waves!)
We thought Julie's song describes some pretty awesome picnic spots, so we used this as inspiration for our artwork. We created collages of picnics, where the waves were "whispering softly, Jesus is Lord", the birds were "singing their praises", "dolphins leaping and diving", "penguins shuffling by the sea" and children "singing and dancing, Jesus is Lord".
Come in and see our finished artworks hanging in the Chapel Street Gallery, and on the pinboards in the Awesome Rooms. A few are photographed below, and you can click on this link for more photos. Enjoy!
And if you managed to get to the bottom of this VERY LONG post, then enjoy this clip of Yogi Bear and the pic-a-nic basket! And remember... "A pic-a-nic basket holds... dreams!" Maybe the next time you go on a pic-a-nic, or watch Yogi Bear, you'll think of Jesus feeding the Five Thousand, and love and compassion and sharing rippling out like waves whispering, "Jesus is Lord".
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re NOT on your own. God is with you, you know. And God will be with you, wherever you go."
Last week our Campers took the worship service. We brought the service we had at our Parish Family Camp way back in February to the whole congregation.
The theme was that no matter where we go or what we do, God is always with us, loving us always.
Our Chapel Street Band made some wonderful music for God, our team of readers and speakers led us in prayer and bible readings, and our bunch of brilliant actors brought us the Dr Seuss style skit, "Oh, the Places You'll Go".
Keep an eye on this blog, I'll upload camp videos soon!
“Dear God, help me to see that the whole world is your home.”
We heard a story about Jacob, a dream and a ladder. Jacob was feeling lost and alone. Then he had a dream and realised that God was with him, and promised to be with him everwhere.
We made licorice and pretzel ladders and dream-catchers. You can see more photos by clicking HERE.
Last month we were lucky to have Izak visit Musikool Kids (due to a teacher only day). He brought along his cajon and some of the children had a go. Thanks Izak!
This morning in Awesome Time there was a miserable bear called Bernadette, who had a little problem. She went off in search of someone to help her. As she walked about, she said, "I'm Bernadette Bear, and I have a little problem..." but before she had a chance to say anything more, she was "helped" by a variety of people who were quick to offer their solution to her problem. Hazel gave her a scarf, Bev gave her a hat, Belinda leaped up with a bottle of vitamins (sure that that would be the answer), Murray gave her a ball, Diane gave her a big jar of honey, Rosetta gave her a sword, Helen gave her a hockey stick... but none of these things made Bernadette feel better.
It wasn't until she met Rachel the Fly, who stopped to ask Bernadette what her little problem was, and actually listened. Bernadette explained to the fly that she was scared of the dark. In her dark, gloomy cave she was afraid and lonely. Rachel Fly listened, thought hard, and then came up with a solution. She would come and live with Bernadette in the cave, and keep her company. Bernadette was so relieved!
We talked about the reading from the Bible that says:
Listen for God’s voice
in everything you do, everywhere you go; God’s the one who will keep you on
track. PROVERBS 3:6
When God asks us to do something, we need to really listen. We need to listen to the people who need our help, and ask God to help us make loving choices.
God will give us jobs that match our skills and talents perfectly. God won't ask us to do anything that is too hard. Whatever we do, wherever we go, whether we are on the football or rugby field, the basketball or netball court, in the orchestra, choir, band, or in science or math class, in the library, swimming pool, biking to school, or on the playground - God is there with us, loving us always.
Even when we make mistakes, wrong choices, or don't listen - God still loves us. Isn't that amazing?!!
We created some mixed media self portraits, which will be hung in the Chapel Street Gallery when they have dried. In the meantime, enjoy these pictures depicting our young people in a variety of places around the globe, knowing that God is with them wherever they go! click HERE to view photos
Check out pics and video from this morning's Awesome Time at the Chapel Street Centre. Thanks to all our amazing young people, and of course Carol & Bee, two of our wonderfully awesome leaders!
Last week our Awesome Kids made hearts to remind us about God's love:
God's love can make us feel warm and fuzzy inside.
God's love sees right through to our hearts.
Gods love is with us when times are rough.
God's love holds us when we cry.
God's love is with us when the road gets bumpy.
God wants our love to reflect who God is.
We also read a story about David, a boy who was always getting into trouble. You can see a version of this story on YouTube.
No matter what happens in life, whether things are going great, or times are tough... God is with us and loves us HEAPS! Even when we make mistakes, or get into trouble - God loves us.
God knows everything about us and is with us loving us always.
You saw it here first! Rev Neti used a fidget spinner to illustrate the Holy Trinity. One God, three persons - God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit.
Rev Neti uses a 'fidget spinner' to explain the Holy Trinity
On Sunday night, some of our young people from Christchurch North joined others in the district at Beckenham Methodist Church for Youth Church.
Youth Church happens on the last Sunday of each month, from 5.30pm to 7pm. It's a very different kind of church service - very casual, relaxed and lots of fun.
There is great worship music - led by the band, a prayer or two, a message from the bible - brought to our young people in a way that is meaningful and relevant. Each month there is a different theme and activity. There is dinner included - usually tasty toasties, soup and lots of other yummy treats.
This month the bible verse was about not judging others, and also about being a good leader. We were split into groups and had to come up with a short skit which we presented to everyone else. There were some hilarious results!
Neti's group did a skit about a Dad who was a terrible driver, who taught his daughter to drive with all the same bad habits. That was not being a good leader.
The youngest group, led by Philomena, came up with a great skit set in a classroom. The kids were being cruel and mocking a girl who had a strange way of walking. But when the class ended and the students all got up to leave - they ALL had strange walks! This was a clever link to the verse "“Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the log in your own eye?" Luke 6:41
Join us next month, June 25 for Youth Church at the Chapel Street Centre, Christchurch North Methodist Parish.
