A Powerful Letter from a 10 year old Awesome Kid

I wanted to share this letter to you. It was written by ten year old Awesome Kid, Bella. Bella wrote this yesterday, independently, as the tragic events unfolded.

Thank you Bella, for your powerful and heartfelt words. Let's keep the victims and their families in our prayers and reach out to our Muslim friends and neighbours, and show them our love. 

Dear Families

We hope you are all safe, after yesterday's tragic events. Our love and prayers go out to the families who have lost family and friends.

If you and your family would like to come and gather together with your church family in love and prayer, all are welcome at the Chapel Street Centre at our 10am service tomorrow. If you and your family would prefer to stay at home tomorrow, that is just fine too.

Our love and prayers surround you whatever you choose. At these times feel free to trust the decision you make is the right one for your family.

All kids are different. They need different information to feel safe, they look for a different level of detail and they are impacted by different parts of the story. Nobody knows your kids better than you do, so it’s important to manage the conversation based on who they are, what they already know, and what it means for them.  More information can be found here:

https://www.theparentingplace.com/how-to-talk-about/world-trauma

If you would like a phone call or visit from our minister, Rev Anne Preston, please let us know.

Love and Blessings to you all.

Camp was Awesome!

Last weekend a large bunch of us headed out to Waipara, for our annual Church Camp. Our theme for the weekend was 'BRAVE'. With God's help, we can have the courage to face whatever challenges we encounter in life.

Over the weekend, we sure got to put our courage to the test... with a number of challenges such as Spotlight, obstacle courses, flying fox, waterslide, jumping from rope swings into the river, DANCING IN PUBLIC, solving puzzles and 'running the gauntlet' (racing piggy back, while other teams threw wet sponges at us!)

On the Saturday night we had a camp concert, and anyone who wanted to could put their name down to perform. We had an amazing range of acts, from song and dance, to karate and who could forget 'The Invisible Bench Skit'?

If you missed camp this year, make sure you mark it on your calendar for next year. Camp 2020 will be 14-16 February. We'd love to see you there!

12 Disciples Song

Check out this cool version of the 12 Disciples Song. It starts of slow, but ends up rather rocky! I love it!

Hooked on Jesus

Last Sunday we heard the story of Jesus calling the first of the disciples to come and follow him. He told them they would be fishers of people. We talked about how sharing God's love with others is being a good fisher for Jesus. We prayed that we would be brave to follow Jesus, show love and kindness to others, even when it is hard.

We made magnetic fishing games and a net full of fish to remind us we need to work together to spread the net of love to others.

First CHYPS of 2019

CHYPS (Youth Group) started off 2019 with an awesome bunch of young people, in school years 7-13.

We played Hovering Bunnies, Protect the President, and some games where we had to 'not follow the crowd' but think about what the right thing to do was. We ended with our God Time, in two groups (intermediate and senior) and a scrumptious supper! Thank you so much to Belinda and Sue for providing such delicious treats!

Thanks also to our new minister Rev Anne Preston, who was such a great sport, joining in all the games (even 'Hovering Bunnies' - "Teeth! Teeth!") and helped with supper.

We also enjoyed the new games - table soccer, pool and air hockey!

Being Brave because of God's Super Big Love

This week's story was about Jeremiah. Jeremiah was surprised to be called to do God's work - he thought he was too young. Heather shared with us a story of a home for scaredy-cats and we coloured in some cool cat pictures.

We talked about our fears and things that made us afraid... and how God's SUPER BIG LOVE for us helps us to be brave, to try, and to know what to do and say. 

Back to school

Our children and youth gathered for the Blessing of the Backpacks at the Chapel Street Centre last week. Heather gave our young people a special blessing as they begin the school year.

We created some awesome artwork for the Chapel Street Gallery, using oil pastels and photocopies of our hands!

Our new Year 9 youth who are starting secondary school this year, were presented with bibles.

AbsolUKE!

Bring your ukulele and a smile...

AbsolUKE is back! Free ukulele lessons from this Sunday, during morning tea, with Monica.

All welcome!

Blessing of the Backpacks

Join us at the Chapel Street Centre on Sunday 27th January for the Blessing of the Backpacks.

Musikool Kids is back on 8 Feb

Musikool Kids is back on 8 February. Register online now!

click HERE to register

FISH Family Fun Nights

FISH Family Fun Nights start back in March! Mark your calendars now!

CHYPS 2019

CHYPS is back for 2019!

Check out the dates above and mark them on your calendars now. See you 9 February!

Church Camp 2019

Join us for Church Camp 2019!

Christmas Eve Service

Our Christmas Eve 5.30pm Service saw young and old celebrate together with carol singing, balloon prayers, sharing of family traditions and the telling of the Christmas story. The Chapel Street Band led the music, and Smith & Co. ended the service with the beautiful song, Mary Did You Know. Thank you to all who helped make this such a special start to Christmas!

The Chapel Street Band

Nativity Photos

Here are a few photos from the Christmas Service which was led by the young people from Christchurch North Methodist Parish. What a fabulous team!

CHYPS Celebrate Christmas in Style

On Saturday night our CHYPS team were treated to a special Christmas supper, where we celebrated Christmas and the past two years of youth group. We thanked and farewelled the Petaia sisters, Philomena, Catherine and Berith, who have been awesome youth leaders these past couple of years!

Christmas Movie!

Congratulations to all our amazing young people, who led a beautiful Christmas service this morning at the Chapel Street Centre.

Here are links to our Christmas Movie for 2018 - Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 1: https://youtu.be/45ia3mAIkcY

Part 2: https://youtu.be/P3PCprKm3xg

Please pass the link on to family and friends, and share the good news. JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON!

Getting excited...

Last week our Awesome Kids made yummy waffle cones stuffed with sweets to hang on the Christmas tree (or perhaps some were eaten on the way home from church!)

We watched the video of Buddy from the Elf movie where he hears that Santa is coming, and talked about how excited he was. We then replayed the video and every time the word Santa was used, we substituted the name Jesus in its place.

We asked the question “Why can’t we get as excited as Buddy at Christmas time, when JESUS IS COMING!”

Christmas in the Park

Some of our Awesome Kids and families braved the chilly, wet weather the other weekend to have a picnic tea in Hagley Park (instead of our regular FISH Family Games Night). Afterwards, we stayed to watch two of our very own Awesome Kids dance in the Christmas in the Park Concert. Dylan and Quinn were both spectacular! Congratulations boys!

Advent Art

Check out the beautiful advent art in the Chapel Street Gallery., created by our Awesome Artists.

Ready?

Our Awesome Kids have been busy preparing for Christmas. Merilyn has been VERY busy, making sure the costumes are ready... wings straightened, halos undented, gowns ironed and tinsel untangled.

The Christmas Service is this Sunday, 9 December at 10am. See you there!

AbsolUKE Jam

The countdown is on... only a few more sleeps until our Christmas Service on 9 December! Our ukulele group, AbsolUKE, has been rehearsing hard, preparing, getting ready... are YOU ready?!

Please join us at the Chapel Street Centre this Sunday for an absolUKEly awesome start to your Christmas.

Merry Musikool Kids

Thank you to all our awesome volunteers who have helped make Musikool Kids such a fun and happy place to be on Friday mornings. Thank you to all the wonderful children and your parents, grandparents and caregivers, for being part of our Musikool Kids' family.

May the joy, love and peace of Christmas be with you all!

Nativity Service 9 December

Join us next Sunday, 9 December at 10am for our Nativity Play and Service, led by the children and youth and young adults from our parish.

All welcome!

FISH at Christmas in the Park

Instead of our usual FISH night at the church, we will be having our picnic tea at North Hagley Park, from 5.30pm Saturday 24 November, then staying on to enjoy the entertainment at 7.30pm (featuring Dylan and Quinn!)

Bring wet weather gear! :o)

Caleb a National TV Star!

Congratulations to our very own Caleb, who starred in a recent episode of the TVNZ show, Fanimals.

If you would like to watch it, you can click on the link below. Caleb is on at about 7 mins in.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/fanimals/episodes/s2018-e175

Ark Building Competition

At our November CHYPS night, our team competed to make the best ark... which team managed to float their boat?

Christmas Movie Coming Soon...

Last Sunday a very awesome bunch of 35 were movie stars for the day. Shot on location at St James' Park, THE CHRISTMAS STORY features a bunch of hardworking shepherds, enthusiastic angels, confused wise guys, a misunderstood innkeeper, two proud parents and of course, the reason for the season, Jesus.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY will premiere at the Family Christmas Service on Sunday December 9th, 10am, at the Chapel Street Centre.

For a glimpse of what's to come, watch the trailer here:

https://youtu.be/qOMRl7GvVcU

Blind art

Last week we heard the story of Bartimaeus, who was blind. We talked about what it might be like to not have the use of our eyes. We tried some activities blindfolded, such as walking through a maze (with a helper calling out directions), and drawing a self-portrait, blind.

Monica took this literally, and first drew a picture of "herself wearing a blindfold." Then, she tried to draw "herself, wearing a blindfold". What a difference between the two pictures. It sure helps being able to see what you're doing.

The story was a reminder to us about including and welcoming everyone, no matter if they are different to us in any way.