Check out the Palm Sunday video, made by Izak | a MaTCh Production.
CHYPS Youth Group is for all those youth in school years 7 through to 13. We meet at the Chapel Street Centre from 6.30pm to 8pm this Saturday night, for a mix of games and activities, followed by a short 'God-Time' devotion and supper. All welcome!
UPCOMING FISH DATES for 2021:
This morning our Awesome Kids created creatures from modelling clay to celebrate all the weird and wonderful things God has made in our world.
Livvie led us in prayer, asking God to help us remember to be thankful when we see a raindrop on a blade of grass, a ladybug crawling along a leaf, all the stars in the sky, or a beautiful sunset or sunrise.
We also talked about the Ten Commandments... guidelines God has given us to help us live in God's loving ways. Sometimes rules can feel boring and tiresome, but when we gave our 'robot' (Izak) the right commands to follow, he was able to make his way to the prize (a chocolate). Following instructions or rules can actually bring us joy and help us to live in love and happiness :o)
Izak and Callum made a stop-motion video to illustrate how we should live by God's laws, showing kindness and care for one another.
Watch Izak & Callum's video here:
Carol & Jill together with the help of some of our Awesome Kids, made this wee video to let you know, "God loves you!"
Last Sunday, our ukulele group, AbsolUKE started for 2021, with Monica as the patient and enthusiastic tutor.
The "ukuleleists" picked things up super fast, learning three chords in the first lesson! They also learnt the right way to hold a ukulele, how to strum, and some simple percussion. Lots of fun! If you'd like to give ukulele a go, you're more than welcome to join... everyone from beginners to experienced can be part of AbsolUKE.
Last Sunday, we had our Blessing of the Backpacks. All our young people were invited to bring along their backpack and receive a special blessing as they begin the school year. All our Awesome Leaders and our CHYPS Youth Leader were there to show their support.
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| Angie (jnr), Angie (snr) & Corban |
Join us at the Chapel Street Centre this Sunday at 10am for our Blessing of the Backpacks and the return of Awesome Time!
Bring your school bag or backpack along.
See you Sunday!
On Sunday 13 December, worship at the Chapel Street Centre was led entirely by the young people. The children and youth from Christchurch North Methodist Parish and community shared the story of the nativity.
There were dazzling angels, sleepy shepherds, wise star-watchers and even a cranky donkey - (a puppet operated expertly by nine year old ventriloquist, Lily). Mary and Joseph were doting ‘parents’ to a very bonny ‘baby Jesus’ and as the photos show, Joseph was a very ‘hands-on’ Dad.
The theme was ‘Counting on Christmas’, and there was a lot of counting throughout the story. Mary counted the time until the birth of her baby. The miles to Bethlehem were counted, as were the donkey’s footsteps and the twinkling stars. The angelic narrators reminded everyone that in the countdown to Christmas we know through Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection, we know we can count on God. So we celebrated the miracle and mystery of the gift of God’s own Son, who brings us light, love, joy, hope and peace.
The service ended with an upbeat Christmas song, led by the Chapel Street Band, bubbles and balloons.
The Christmas 2020 Movie, created by the children and youth was premiered. You can watch it at the following link: https://youtu.be/CwZpFW3bTHc
A few weeks ago, our Awesome Kids enjoyed games with Dave and Heather... as they explored what it means to be a friend. We were reminded that God is our friend - how wonderful to know that God, our friend, loves us and is always with us, no matter what.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice!" | Philippians 4:4
Watch the video of this morning's Awesome Time and find out how Izak was able to blow up 24 balloons in under 2 minutes!
We also decorated cupcakes, planted little gardens, had fun with bubbles and played a silly game where we had to try not to laugh! All these things brought us joy, and we were reminded that God loves us and is with us always - even if we are not feeling very joyful. God is right there with us, helping us deal with whatever life throws at us.
The Philippians bible reading reminds us that God wants us to be calm and rest in the knowledge that Christ is in our hearts and minds. No matter what is going on in our lives, even if it’s one of those terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad days... God’s peace encourages us to not be troubled, but rather rest in the assurance that God’s peace is better than anything we will ever understand. God LOVES us. No matter what, ALL the time. Accepting the invitation to ‘God’s party’, means we will always carry a piece of Christ in our hearts and live thankfully.
Check out the video made by Izak last week, of our Blessing of the Animals service...
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!
> 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!
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.
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!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Blessing of the Backpacks and our first Awesome Time of 2025.
