Watch Blessing of the Animals

 Check out the video made by Izak last week, of our Blessing of the Animals service...

Click HERE to watch Blessing of the Animals video

Ready for all you Master Chefs!

 All is ready for tomorrow's cupcake decorating session... 

and if that's not your 'cup of tea', you can plant a little garden...

Do hope you can join us tomorrow!

Party time this Sunday at the Chapel Street Centre!

 Yes! We're having a PARTY this week in Awesome Time! We would love for you to join us! You are ALL invited!

> Learn about God's never-ending LOVE for YOU!
> Decorate a cupcake to take home
> Plant a Little Garden
> Watch Izak blow up 24 balloons in 40 seconds!

We look forward to seeing you TOMORROW!

God's Love flows like a River

 Last week, our Awesome Kids created a collaborative artwork, based on John's vision from Revelation 22:1-5. We were reminded that God's never ending love flows through us like a river.

It was also New Zealand Sign Language Week, so we had a go at learning how to sign our names in NZSL.

https://youtu.be/vBisV4DSpLw

Here's a link to the NZ Sign Language alphabet poster. Try and learn your own name! 

You might like to try this online game, Sign Ninja, to discover some more signs!

Blessing of the Animals | this Sunday

 

Bring a pet (or photo or stuffed toy animal) to church this week!

Wilderness Sunday | Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

 

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

Kia ora! This week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori | Maori Language Week. I had hoped to get out and about and record some of you singing a waiata for our Digital Awesome Time, however have not been able to manage that this week. Perhaps some of you might like to email or message me with your own recording?

You can check out a recording with lyrics to Tutira Mai Nga Iwi at this link. Give it a go!

How about learning and practicing your Maori alphabet and pronunciation? Check out this link for more.

This is a great website for learning some new words... there are 365 listed here - you could try a new one each day of the year! Click HERE for 365 Maori words.

Wilderness Sunday

It is Wilderness Sunday in our series of creation. In today's bible reading, Paul remembers the walk across the hot, sandy desert wilderness. He remembered going to places where people wanted to hear about God's love. The wilderness is a wild place, but it's a special place too. The animals and plants in the wilderness don't need people. Unfortunately, people can disturb the natural environment, the life cycle. This week we can remember that God is with us in every place in the world - in quiet places, busy places, wild places and beautiful places. God needs us to respect and show kindness to the awesome world God has created. 

We thank God for the wild places in the world. We remember that we are part of God's giant web of creation. May we remember that God's hope is in us and all around us.

Children Like You

We can work with God to bring signs of God's hope to a hurting world. All around the world, children like YOU are working in and with their communities to do amazing things.

On the news this week there was a great story about a young man who saw an elderly lady mowing her lawn. He stopped, took the lawnmower from her and insisted on finishing mowing her lawn for her. When he was done, he got in his car and drove off. He did not expect to be paid or rewarded for his act of kindness. I thought this was a pretty cool story to make national TV. I hope it has inspired many others to look for ways they can show kindness in their community.

Where do you see a need? What can you do to help?

A Story of Hope

Monica was part of a Lockdown Voices | Speak Out project, through the Write On / School for Young Writers. Students were asked to write a response to the pandemic and their experience of Lockdown. Monica's piece has been published and recorded as a podcast, aired on Plains FM 96.9FM radio this morning. You can read and listen to her story here:

Lockdown Voices | Monica | Standing at Dawn

D.A.T. 18 | LAND Sunday | Tongan Language Week

 

Mālō e lelei! Hello!

Tongan Language Week / Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e Lea Faka-Tonga is held every year during September. This week we have some very special helpers to celebrate this, as well as Land Sunday.

This week we think about how important the land is... and celebrate God's beautiful creation. We are part of this and are connected with God's creation. We remember that with God's help, just like the land, we can heal and grow.

Check out the video below, and enjoy the beautiful Tongan singing from Peatalisa, Tevunga and Angie... and the tour of the vegetable garden and glasshouse. We also pay a visit to the O'Keefes and meet their hens.

https://youtu.be/tpanCRIKl_o

The second song the girls sing, is very special to the Vaea family. It was Samu's grandma's favourite hymn, which she used to sing to Angie when she was a baby. Samu's mum taught Angie and Peatalisa, and Samu is now teaching 'Emeline and Tevunga. The translation is something like this... "Lord hear my prayer, At this hour, Take my sins away, Prepare me for heaven."

CHALLENGES

1. This week you might like to take a photo or draw a picture of something awesome you have discovered in your garden. 

2. Help out in the garden. You might like to do some weeding, or help with planting or watering.

3. Learn some Tongan! Do some research and learn a Tongan word or phrase. We'd love you to share it with us.

4. Try this week's Awesome Time Quiz:

KAHOOT!

D.A.T. 17 | Forest Sunday

https://youtu.be/Ygf2ktq9uiU

This Sunday is both Forest Sunday and Spring Flower Sunday. We can find God's beauty, mystery, and majesty in the trees and flowers. We can see, hear and feel God's presence in the wind, the ferns, the flowers and in the forest. 

The environment has heaps to teach us. From the forest, we can learn about the web of connection that binds all creation together with our awesome Creator God. We can rejoice in the wonder of God's creation and know that we have a special place in it.

 

Activities

Try the TREE QUIZ KAHOOT! 

There are heaps of cool activities on the Kiwi Conservation Club website. You can check them out here: https://kcc.org.nz/activities/

Here are some of my favourite tree activites... see how many you can do!

BE WITH A TREE

1. Go on a tree hunt. Meet a type of tree you haven't met before. Take a photo with it, find out what kind of tree it is.

2. Find something living in a tree.

3. Find a tree that provides us with food.

4. Find a tree that has interesting bark. Use some paper and a crayon to make a rubbing of the bark's pattern.

5. Find a tree you think is beautiful. Draw or paint a picture of it.

6. Plant something - a tree, a flower, a vegetable... anything!

7. Find some spring flowers and draw or paint a picture of them.

8. Make up a poem, song or rap about TREES or SPRING.

9. Find some TREE JOKES (that are better than mine!)

    Why do trees hate riddles? Because it's too easy to get stumped.

    How do trees go on the internet? They log on.

    Why don't you ever see hippos hiding in trees? Because they're really good at it!

D.A.T. 16 | Ordinary People Called to do Extraordinary Things

God calls us to all be part of God's way of love, and share God's love with other people. What are some of the ways we can share God's love with others?

When we are living in God's way, we bring the light and warmth of God's love to the world.

https://youtu.be/PsWzVnra244

This week's story comes from the book of Exodus (Chapter 3: verses 1 to 15) and is about Moses. Remember him? He was the baby in our story last week. If you didn't catch it last week, there is a link further down this post to the video about him (and the heroines who saved his life - so that he could then go on to do awesome things for God!)

Like Moses, many people who feel quite ordinary have answered the call to do extraordinary things. Check out the Kahoot below, and see if you can match the names of the people to the incredible work they were called to do. (Thanks to Izak for putting this together!)

Click HERE to play the Call and Answer KAHOOT!

Click here to watch Baby Moses video

Here's another video about this week's story, where Moses has to listen for God's voice.

Clilck here to watch Moses and the Burning Bush

Let us pray that we will remember God's call to us, to share love and light in the world. Amen.

D.A.T. 15 | Not all Superheroes Wear Capes

This week our story is about two heroes you may not have heard about before... 

Imagine meeting the most powerful person in the country, and when you meet him he asks you to do something bad... really, really bad. What would you do? 

Meet Shiphrah and Puah. This happened to these two women, and they chose to be heroes. They risked everything and their choice saved the child who would one day save their nation.

https://youtu.be/XkewPkL7ovo

You can learn more about what happened next to baby Moses by watching the video below... and discover more superhero women showing courage to do the right thing.

Challenges

1. Imagine: 

Image you are a superhero with superhero powers... what would they be? What would you hope to do with your powers? Draw a picture of yourself in your superhero outfit.

2. Poster: 

Make a poster promoting the wearing of masks to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

3. Mask Design: 

Design (and even make) your own face mask.

4. Superhero Photo:

Dress yourself up as a superhero, take a photo in your best superhero pose and email it to us.

5. Courage Words:

Through the courage and love of women, Moses was kept safe. Create a Basket of Courage Words as reminders of God's loving care. Draw a basket shape on paper and add lines to make it look like a woven basket. Write inspiring words on strips of paper and tape them to the basket. Here are some ideas:

God's love never fails.

God is always with us.

Friends are signs of God's love.

God helps us act with courage.

I can be a brave helper.

God gives us courage to stand up for love.

God helps us make hard choices.

6. Thank a Superhero

Make a thankyou card to give to one of your heroes. Thank them for being so awesome.

Pray

Loving God,

Thank you for always being with us. Thank you for giving us courage to stand up for love, even when it is hard. Please help us to show brave love this week. Amen. 

 

FISH | Family Games Night

FISH is unfortunately cancelled this Saturday... HOWEVER we will be sending out a link to play FISH KAHOOT! so keep an eye on your emails!

CHYPS | Youth Group | new dates

Here are the dates for the rest of this year for CHYPS | Youth Group:

Our next evening is Saturday 29 August from 6.30pm to 8pm.

A Walk in the Dark

For our first night back at CHYPS | CHapel Street Young People's YOUTH GROUP, our intrepid leader, Angie led us on a walk in the dark around the block. We paired up with someone we don't usually talk with, or someone we haven't seen in ages and had to discuss... (1) something interesting we noticed along the way, (2) something we did in the holidays and (3) something we are thankful for.

On our return to the church hall, we shared some of the things we'd talked about on our walk, and then launched into some ball games.

We finished with our 5 minute 'God-Time' where we made paper darts to throw, symbolising 'arrow prayers' (a short one or two word prayer). 

Our supper included scrummy hot pizza, chocolate fudge slice, chips and ice-creams with chocolate fish. 

We're looking forward to doing it all again next month!

Whatif...

Have you every had one of those nights when you're lying in bed and you can't get to sleep, because the Whatifs are going around in your head?

What if the bus is late?

What if my teeth don't grow in straight?

What if I flunk that test?

What if green hair grows on my chest?

We created a movie, inspired by the poem titled 'Whatif', by Shel Silverstein. You can check it out below.

We added an extra verse though... 

But then I remembered the words from Paul*

who said there is totally nothing at all

anywhere, anytime in all of creation

that would ever be able to cause separation

between us and the love of God, which is ours

through Jesus our Lord and His awesome powers.

So when I 'What-if' and I'm worried and scared

I remember God's with me and send off a prayer

and wherever, whenever, however I'll know

whatever the whatifs, I'm never alone!

We also read the book, Some Things Are Scary, by Florence Parry Heide - and created some illustrations inspired by some of the 'scary' things in her story. 

*In the book of Romans, in the Bible, a man called Paul made a list of all the things he worried could get between him and God's loving care. Our list was a little different... we talked about being late to school, going to the wrong class, getting the wrong day for Mufti Day, being bullied, not getting picked for a team, nightmares and not being able to get to sleep. In the end though, like Paul in the bible, we came to the same conclusion - that no matter what scary things we worried about, NOTHING can separate us from the LOVE of GOD. We are never alone... God is always with us, helping us get through. 

https://youtu.be/5kwquxUFEUQ

FISH is BACK!

It was wonderful to be back at FISH on Saturday night, after such a long absence. Our Family Fun Night was held at the Chapel Street Centre, as usual, starting at 5pm with take-away tea, followed by games and challenges for all ages.

We played GIANT pictionary, using the whiteboard and went on a wild chicken chase, looking for someone hiding with Ralph the Chicken. In the photos above, you can see our teams getting creative, in a paper sculpture contest.

We also celebrated Tevunga's 4th birthday with cake and candles.

Join us next month, Saturday 29 August, when we'll be back again, with a different range of games and activities.

Painting Rocks!

On Sunday, our Awesome Kids painted stones to remind us that God is always with us. We have to wait for the paint to dry before we can take the next step, which is to give a stone to people in the congregation to take home. They are then invited to leave the stone in a place where they strongly feel God's presence. 

A Prayer:

Loving God,

you are with us

every day, 

every single moment. 

You know our dreams and desires, 

our fears and failures. 

You love us.

Help us to welcome You

into our lives.

Help us to have the courage

to show Your amazing love

to others.

Amen. 

FISH returns!

Join us this Saturday at the Chapel Street Centre

Starts: 5pm

Ends: 7pm

BYO dinner

Parable of the Sower

This morning, Richard told us a story which Jesus told to a crowd of people, many years ago, while he was sitting in a boat! Richard even brought a boat along to church, which he sat in to tell us the very same story... the Parable of the Sower.

The farmer sowed... that's sow with an 'o', not sew with an 'e'! Sew with an 'e' is to sew with needle and thread. Sow with an 'o' means to plant seeds.

Anyway, the farmer sowed his seeds - some fell on hard ground, some on rocky ground, some on thorny ground and some on soft ground. Which seeds do you think grew the best? You can listen to the story in one of the videos below.

Jesus explained the parable like this:

Those who hear Jesus's stories but don't even try to understand them, are like the seeds that fell along the path. They easily get distracted and lose interest and do the wrong things. The seeds that fell on the rocky ground, stand for those who listen to Jesus's teachings for a short time, but when it gets a bit difficult to do the right thing, they give up easily and do their own thing. The seeds that fell among the thorn bushes stand for those who hear the message, but are more interested in having expensive toys and the latest gadgets than helping others, and what is right.

The seeds that landed on the good soil stand for those who hear and understand Jesus's message, and grow up to be strong people who love others and love God. They want to do what's right and help others to do the same.

We 'planted' M&Ms in some chocolate pudding (to represent sowing seeds of faith) - there were even a few gummy worms in there! 

We created some beautiful flower artwork, gluing seeds onto the centre of our flowers.

Watch an animated story of the Parable of the Sower:

Hear the Parable of the Sower explained:

Baby Shower

We are all so excited about the upcoming arrival of Mele & Samuela's precious child. It was great to all be together at the Chapel Street Centre on Sunday and have something so wonderful to celebrate. Thank you to everyone who made the baby shower so special!

Sharing God's Love

On Sunday, we made yarn hearts, which we turned into a mobile to hang in our church foyer. They are a reminder to share God's amazing LOVE with ALL we meet.

We heard the story, Time to Go, Hippo, written by Bob Hartman and illustrated by Kate Simpson. Just how do you deal with a big, bumpy, powerful grey monster with stomping feet, chomping teeth and a fearsome and SMELLY roar? 

Well, the farmers tried charging at it with their wheat-thrashers, rat-smashers and potato-mashers; the soldiers attacked it with their catapults and battering rams... but that didn't work. The hippo just watched them, went on calmly chewing his way through their vegetable patch and ROARED his great, smelly roar at them.

The old man, Barnabas knew. You'll have to find the story and read it for yourself to hear HOW he did it. But... it wasn't by charging or attacking or trying to scare the animal away. Barnabas watched and listened. He talked to the hippo. He said sorry for the way the people had treated him. He explained that we are all God's creatures, and that it is important to get along. Finally, he gave the hippo an onion (he had learned by watching the hippo that hippos love onions). "Something I would never have learned by chasing them away," he said. The old man befriended the hippo.

We talked about how hard it can be sometimes, to make that decision to befriend someone - if it is someone we wouldn't normally hang around with. Maybe it's the new kid at school, perhaps it's someone nobody else plays with, it could be someone who's a bit different or seems a little scary. But, God is with us as we make those hard choices, and God really wants us to show His amazing LOVE and KINDNESS to others, ESPECIALLY when it's hard.

It's pretty difficult to get to know someone if we're always chasing them away, or ignoring them. If we could be like the character of old Barnabas in the story, and make time to really listen and learn about the other person, let them know we see them, we hear them... and we care. And who knows...we could make a new friend! (Although, perhaps leave the raw onions at home!)

Friendship Pie

Last week, Heather read the wonderful story, Enemy Pie by Derek Munson. If you missed it, you can read it online at the link below.

Sometimes, it's hard to be friendly to people we really don't like, or who are mean to us. But, Jesus wants us to show God's love and kindness to EVERYONE. This story, 'Enemy Pie', is a great illustration of what can happen when we do. Even when it's really hard.

After the story, Heather made small apple 'friendship' pies. We decorated the pie baskets with positive words and handed them out at morning tea time.

D.A.T. #14 | Shine Your Light

This morning we created some self portraits, which we backlit with battery operated candles. They remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World, and Jesus wants us to 'be like a light' and shine the love of God in the world.

Check out the art in progress in the video below. So good to be back in person with our Awesome Kids!

And on the same theme... here's a video pulled deep from the archives (thanks to Laura!).

Shine Your Light

Even the Hairs on Your Head are Counted

Did you know you are a miracle? It's true! You are an amazing, crazy miracle. You are created in the image of God... in an awesome and wonderful way.

God loves you so much... your hair, your eyes, your smile - are exactly as God designed them to be. An amazing and wonderfully designed miracle... YOU!

God knows you inside and out... even down to the number of hairs on your head.

Hair Art
Try making one of these artworks, using either paint, felt pens / colouring pencils or wool / yarn to create an awesome hairdo.

Draw your face on a large piece of paper.
Using a black pen, divide the rest of the paper into sections,
with lines coming out at all angles from the head.
Fill each section with a different combination of colours and shapes.

Sketch your face onto a large, white sheet of paper.
Cut lengths of wool in different colours.
Twist and curl them around the face, to represent hair. Go crazy!

Use different colours of card or craft paper to create a collage effect person.
Cut lengths of wool and tie them different ways to make a variety of hairstyles.
Glue them onto your collage people.

And now for a blast from the past...

Check out this video we made back in 2016, of some artwork to go with this theme. It would be interesting to re-do the artwork now and see if there are many changes!

Go to the post from 2016 to read more about the artwork we created.

We are all in God's Team!

Check out the fabulous artwork created by our Awesome Kids on Sunday!

Wonderful to have a collaborative artwork on the first week back together at church after a long time away from one another in Lockdown. Great teamwork everyone!

We are a Team!

Some of our very Awesome Kids took up the challenge to write some acrostic poems, using the letters of their name for the beginning of each line. Their poems are about the ways they can be helpers of Jesus, sharing love with others as members of God's team. 

I think Peatalisa had the most difficult task, as her name has NINE letters!

Fabulous job, girls!

Here, they completed another challenge, which was to spell the word TEAM using different objects. Very clever!

D.A.T. #13 | Part of a Team

Jesus calls us to be part of his team, to go out into the world and share God's awesome love. Each one of us is needed. Jesus can use all of us. We are not on our own... we are part of a church family, God's team... and we are loved, just as the entire world is loved, by God. Nothing can separate us from God's never-ending, awesome LOVE.

Watch this week's D.A.T. here:

Here's a cool wee video about being part of God's team:

If you feel like singing, here's a great song about being part of God's family:

CHALLENGES:

Quiz
Have a go at this week's quiz, based on the bible reading from Matthew 9:35-10:8.

Click HERE for this week's online QUIZ

Acrostic Poem
Write an acrostic poem, about the ways you can show God's love to others. Here's an example for someone by the name of Grace:

Give away a toy or book to someone in need
Remember to pray for people who are sad
Ask my parents if I can help make dinner
Carry a bag of groceries for an elderly person
Encourage someone younger than me

To-Do List
Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t go to some far-off place, but stay near here and tell the people about the good news of God’s love.
Heal people who are sick.
Care for people who are left out.
Tell them that God’s peace is already here.
You have received a lot, so give just as much to
others.”

Make a list of ways we can be helpers of Jesus. A good place to start might be... What are some of the things we could do to help people who are left out?

Word Art
Make the word TEAM using different materials. You could make it out of playdough, people, Lego, spoons, sticks, flowers... anything! Be creative. Take a photo and send it in to us!

Poster
Create a poster with the words... In a World where you can be anything... BE KIND.

Peace be With You

Here are some wonderful Peace posters, made by Angie, 'Emeline, Peatalisa and Tevunga.

Great job, girls!

Paper Plane Project | We Are Together

Finally! Here is our Paper Plane Project | We Are Together. Our young people share God's message of LOVE and PEACE with one another, from home to home, around Christchurch.

https://youtu.be/l7F40WpSBdA

"Be joyful... encourage each other... Live in harmony and peace, and the God of love and peace will be with us all." 

(from 2 Corinthians 13: 11)

Peace and Love be with you all.

D.A.T. #12 | We Are Together

Welcome to this week's D.A.T. (Digital Awesome Time)! 

This week our message comes from 2 Corinthians; Paul says to "Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with us all." 

God created each of us, as a unique and beautiful human being. We are all loved, and God calls us to love one another. 

I discovered this wonderful book by the author/illustrator Britta Teckentrup, called We Are Together, and I share it in this week's video. As the book says, "On our own we're special, and we can chase our dream... but when we join up, hand in hand, together we're a team."

With social distancing at the moment, it's a bit difficult to literally join hands, but we can "embrace all life's colours, each shade, every hue... and life will be brighter whenever you do." Let's celebrate our individuality, our diversity, and the fact that even with all our differences we are the same, we are part of the same human race, beautifully and wonderfully made by our awesome God.

We can "change the world, with the power of words" and by the power of love and friendship... in our togetherness, our actions and thoughts and prayers. Let's go out into each day, wherever we are, living in love as Jesus taught us. Love and peace to you all.

D.A.T. #12 | We Are Together

Check out this week's Digital Awesome Time video... 

Being With Jesus | Matthew 28:20

Jesus sent the disciples out into the world to share God's love with everyone, and he said to them, "Remember, I am with you always." Jesus is with us always! Jesus doesn't promise that things will be smooth sailing, easy peasy, and always go right. But Jesus is with us, we are together with Jesus, always. That's what God's love is about. 

When Jesus told his disciples, "I am with you always," he was showing us that just by being together, by standing with someone, by walking alongside someone, by being with someone, is showing God's love. 

Jesus is with us always. Each one of us. Nothing can separate us from that amazing never-ending love. 

Prayer

Loving God,

Thank You for being with us. Help us to be with you.

Thank you for this beautiful world, please help us to look after it, and to look after each other. Help us to be with others and share Your love with EVERYONE.

Amen

Song

Listen to this beautiful song, Share the Peace, written and sung by the lovely Siu:

CHALLENGES

Creation Collage

God included a wide variety of creatures, plants, and elements in the creation of the world. Use pictures from old newspapers, fliers and magazines and create a collage that includes pictures of as many different parts of creation as you can find. 

Peace Poster

Create a poster, expressing your vision of peace. If you are between the ages of 11 and 13, you may like to enter the International Lions Club Peace Poster Competition. 

Live in harmony and peace. And may the God of love and peace be with you.

2 Corinthians 13: 11

What is Lovely?

Thought I'd share this lovely book with you...

Like a box of chocolates, we come in all sorts of packaging... we are all different shapes, sizes, shades. We all like playing different games, watching different movies, reading different books. We don't all have the same favourite ice-cream flavour... in fact, some of us don't even like eating ice-cream! Or chocolate! Go figure! But, each of us has been beautifully and wonderfully made by our awesome God and we are all LOVED.

Hope you are all having a lovely week! Go out and share the love and peace of Jesus with everyone.

Blessings to you and your families.