A Musical Storm

Last term some of our children enjoyed experimenting with the thunder drum, the wind pipe and the rain-stick.

We sang lots of rain-themed songs...

Listen to the Rain
I Hear Thunder
Incy Wincy Spider

Here are the words to the very old favourite:

It's raining, it's pouring;
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and he
Bumped his head
And he couldn't get up in the morning.

Rain, rain, go away
Little (Johnny) wants to play

We look forward to welcoming you back at Musikool Kids for term 2, beginning on Friday 4 May.

Buttons come and buttons go...

A few weeks back our Awesome Kids made some fabulous artwork based on the book 'Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons'.

Although one by one, Pete lost his groovy buttons from his favourite shirt... he was able to look on the bright side and remain positive.

Likewise, in the book and movie 'Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day', some days are just like that. But Psalm 107 reminds us all that God is always with us, at all times, both the good and the bad.

Buttons come and buttons go... but God's love lasts forever.

Secret symbols

Last Sunday our Awesome Kids learnt about the special sign early Christians used to show they were a Christian.

A SECRET CODE
During the time when Christians were being persecuted by the Roman government, the fish symbol was used like a password to find out if another person was a Christian. Someone would draw a half circle in the sand with their toe and if other Christians were nearby they would casually draw the other half of the circle to make a fish shape. The symbol could be quickly erased before any Roman authorities noticed.

Fish symbols have been found carved and painted all over the walls of the catacombs – tunnels under Rome where Christians used to meet secretly 2000 years ago. The fish symbol is still very popular today and it still means, “I am a follower of Jesus.” 

FISH NIGHT
On that note... make sure you join us for FISH (our Family Fun Night) on Saturday 28 April at the Chapel Street Centre. 5pm-7pm. Fun, friendship and fish (chocolate) guaranteed!

CAMP SERVICE Sun 8 April 10am

Join us at the Chapel Street Centre tomorrow morning, Sunday 8 April at 10am for our creative, collaborative church service, led by a bunch of us from Family Camp.

CHYPS: Chapel Street Young People's YOUTH GROUP

If you are an intermediate or high school aged youth, in years 7 to 13, then come along this Saturday night 7 April to CHYPS - our Chapel Street Young People's YOUTH GROUP!

Join the Petaia sisters for a fun evening of games and a scrummy supper! Bring a gold coin donation. Friends welcome.

For more details check out the CHYPS blog: http://chapelstreetyouth.blogspot.co.nz/

Easter Services

Good Friday (30^th March):

Service at 10am, followed by hot cross buns for morning tea.

Easter Sunday  (1^st March):

Easter Service (with Holy Communion) at 10am.

Palm Sunday crosses

Our Awesome Kids created some crosses by weaving flax. Thanks Carol and Bee for teaching them how to make them! They look stunning!

Palm Sunday - is a time to remember the day Jesus came into Jerusalem and everyone was pleased to see him. They had a parade for him, sang and waved palm branches. 

Why palm branches? In that place, in that time, there were lots of hot, dry, dusty deserts and when people had to travel through them they looked for a safe place to stop and rest. They would look for an oasis in the desert, a lake to get fresh water. At the lake there would be palm trees. No shade sails or sunhats in those days, but the palm trees gave them a shady place to take a break. Travellers would look for those tall, feathery palm trees waving - and they were kind of like a sign saying "Over here! This way! Here's a safe spot for you to rest".

So the palm trees became a symbol for welcome and safety, for rest and sanctuary and love... a symbol for home. So the people in Jerusalem waved palm branches to let Jesus know he was safe, he was loved and he was home. The story and the palm branches remind us also that here are church we have a home, a family, a place where we are loved and welcomed... and that God loves us very much. 

FISH this Saturday 17 March

Join us this Saturday night for our family fun night, FISH, at the Chapel Street Centre. We kick off at 5pm in the Awesome Kids' room (lounge) to eat together. Bring your own tea for your family. After we've eaten we'll move through to the hall for some games and challenges for the whole family. Bring a friend, all welcome!

Buttons come and buttons go...

Hi Awesome families!

Join Carol and I for Awesome Time this Sunday, where we will meet Pete the Cat. Pete the cat just loves his favourite shirt with its four groovy buttons... but what happens when one by one those buttons pop off and roll away? (Those of you who were at camp will be able to help us out with this!)

The bible tells us that some days are just like that. Sometimes things just don't go right. But, the really awesome thing is that no matter what happens, no matter where we go, God is always with us and LOVES us so much. 

Come along on Sunday to find out what Pete does, do some singing with us, and make some fabulous Pete the Cat creations to hang in the Chapel Street Gallery. We will be using permanent pens, pastel crayons and collage... so it will be messy! If you have any cool fabric or groovy buttons you'd like to bring along to use on your own art, or have some to spare and share, that would be great!

There will also be AbsolUKE the ukulele group, after church, during morning tea (in the Awesome room). All are welcome!

Leilani - Softball Superstar!

Leilani & Monica

On the weekend, we were lucky to be invited to watch Leilani play in the Under 11 Softball Tournament. Leilani plays for the RKA, Richmond Keas.

We were just in time to see Leilani hit the most awesome home run, helping her team to win the game. They came 2nd overall in tournament, and Leilani was named MVP at the end of tournament presentations. Way to go Leilani!!! You are one incredibly awesome kid!

Watch Leilani's home run here: https://youtu.be/1UW_AbjIJ3Y

Celebrating!

HeART

 Last Sunday our Awesome Kids were very excited to be invited to contribute to an international art exhibition in Hong Kong.

The HeART Exhibition is being run by a friend of Awesome Leader Carol, and it is raising funds for children in orphanages in Nepal.

Our young people made three heart-themed pieces of art; one for the exhibition, one to keep and one to give to someone.

Here is Caleb with his wonderful creations!

Hard at work, creating heart art for the HeART exhibition. We did make a bit of a mess!

Teamwork!

A few weeks ago our Awesome Kids made some delectable cookies with Jillian and Richard. We transformed a bunch of ingredients into a massive batch of caramel chocolate chip biscuits. Mmmmm... delicious!

CHURCH CAMP 16-18 Feb

The highlight of the year - CHURCH CAMP is VERY near!

16-18 February, get your registrations in NOW! You don't want to miss this!

WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/E5TpnLsoWS8

REGISTER: Click HERE to register for CHURCH CAMP!

MUSIKOOL KIDS starts 9 Feb!

Looking forward to seeing all our Musikool Kids' families back at music tomorrow! Thank you all for your online enrollments. We have a very full class, with a waiting list already! Please arrive in plenty of time to get a park, as the car park is pretty busy on a Friday.

See you soon!

Awesome Kids back in action for 2018

We've had a busy start the year, beginning with our blessing of the backpacks service a couple of weeks ago.

Last Sunday we created some new art for the Chapel Street Gallery. We talked about the difference between doing the right thing and following the rule because we felt forced to, and doing the right thing because we know in our heart it is the right thing to do, and what God wants us to do.

Our bible verse came from the book of Jeremiah, chapter 31, verse 33. It talks about knowing the way God wants us to live so well that it's as if the rules have been "written on our hearts".

For our art we wrote with black markers on white paper a heap of words to describe our lives and the positive things in them, and the ways we feel God wants us to live. We then traced around our hand and cut out a heart and added them to our word background. They look pretty awesome hanging on the wall at the Chapel Street Centre. Come along and check them out!

Blessing of the Backpacks 2018

Join us this SUNDAY for our special blessing of the backpacks. Bring your school bag, pack, kindy bag, uni bag, briefcase, laptop bag (whatever!) and join us for a great kick-off to the school year.

Church Camp

The highlight of the year - CHURCH CAMP is near! 

16-18 February, mark it on your calendars now! You don't want to miss this!

More details to come soon.

https://youtu.be/E5TpnLsoWS8

Merry Christmas Musikool Kids

Wishing all our Musikool Kids' families a very happy and musical Christmas!

Love and blessings from

Melanie, Merilyn, Amanda

and the Musikool Kids' team

Christmas Eve Carols 5.30pm

Make this a very special start to your Christmas. Join us at the Chapel Street Centre on Christmas Eve at 5.30pm for a 30 minute all-age Christmas Carol Service. Short and sweet, over in time to get the little ones to bed. Children are welcome to come dressed up, or in pyjamas.

Chapel Street Christmas Movie

Here it is... what you've all been waiting for! The 2017 Christmas Movie, brought to you by Chapel Street Productions & The Studio of Awesomeness.

A massive thank you to all our children, youth and young adults for all your hard work in making this video, and for sharing your time, talents and gifts in this morning's Nativity Play & Christmas Service. You were spectacular.

https://youtu.be/0sJnQg3OIvI

Please share the video with your family and friends, and don't forget to "Like" it on YouTube!

All Age Christmas Service & Nativity Play this SUNDAY 10AM

You won't want to miss this! 

Bring a friend, your family, a neighbour - and make this a special start to your Christmas.