AWA June 2010

Just a reminder that is you click on any image in this email it will take you to a webpage or email link.

Hi !*FIRSTNAME*! I overheard Stella counting to herself ''...26, 27, 28, 29, 2010''. When I reminded her its 30 after 29, she told me ''lots of people say twenty ten!'' I love it. 2010 is the new 30.

Cheryl mother of 4 year old Stella. All Ages Together???

It is quotes like the one above that make me so glad I work with people who work with kids as well as kids themselves. But it is also the reason I have sadness because often there is an unwillingness to try and do more things in church life with all ages together. Don't get me wrong, there are times when children should be with children and and youth should be with youth but often the perception of children is the little picture above - simple and not able to understand the “great truths” of life and faith. So I was once again excited to be running an all age service at St Andrew's Presbyterian church. The theme was “Our great big God”, a celebration for the God that we love and serve. Two comments summarised the reaction to this alternative way of doing worship together. “I'm just happy to observe.” But the one that makes it all worth it, “It was great because I got to talk to people that I would never usually talk with.” How awesome is that!!! The difficulties that are quoted as reasons for not having all ages together more often all fall away when I see the excitement on someone's face because they connected with new people.

All Age Bible Engagement Fun

The little foil people in the picture were created as one of the activities that I presented as an option for people of all ages engaging with the Bible in a fun and interactive way. The children's ministry leader at Glendowie Presbyterian invited me to share with parents ways that they could encourage their children's faith and Bible reading. After doing this at the beginning of the year I suggested that it might be even more valuable to do the same thing with all ages together. Thirty five people of all ages, including two families who had never been to church before, stayed after church for an hour of fun and digging into the Word Of God. We then shared lunch together and the feedback over a meal was just very positive. I have been invited back next term to build on what we did together. The church is just up the road from our local school and some of the children that I have in my Bible in Schools class were a part of what we did, with their families. We used cup stacking to explore the power of God in bring down the walls of Jericho as well as his presence with Nehemiah as they rebuilt Jerusalem.

Starship

The Starship Children's Hospital is a wonderful place. If I fell ill I would choose to go there, however being an adult that is not allowed. But I do get to go there! Every Thursday evening between 5:30 and 7:30 a, currently, very small team, of which I am a part, gather to lead a children's programme. We start with a few songs, prayer, a Bible story a memory verse and an activity. Margaret Stewart, who leads the team has been doing so for over twenty years. And there are Brenda and Rachel who are also there every Thursday. The rest of the team are rostered on when they are available. Rachel goes back to the UK in July we are not allowed to appoint any new volunteers. Please pray that this will change.     It is just so exciting to have children and parents joining in as we sing, pray, learn a verse from the Bible and hear a story from the Bible. And then the best is sitting around a table, a wheelchair or a bed doing an activity and chatting. Most of the families we will never see again at the Starship, which is good, but many are so grateful for the time the team takes to share with them in a time of need.

The Beehive

It was awesome sitting in St Mathews church waiting to hear the results of the “2010 Intreped Travel National Volunteer Awards”. Four of us joined the Money family as John and Anette had made it into the top three slot of the largest category – social services. It got better as they announced the winner of the category and the Money's won. Seeing the Scripture Union logo displayed along with the names of these awesome volunteers made me feel quite proud of the organisation we are part of. But it got even better: we even got a mention on The Beehive website, the official website of the New Zealand Parliament and on on a sponsors website, Good Magazine.     Click on their photo and you can read more about these wonderful people.

Please pray for me and others as we explore a partnership with Prison Fellowship to run SUPAKidz camps for children of prisoners. Friday 2 to Monday 5 July SUPAkidz camp leaders preparation and training weekend. Pray for new leaders and that the team will bond and prepare well. Monday 5 to Friday 9 July Camp Newspaper SUPAkidz camp. The Bible theme is looking at the life of Jesus through the eyes of some newspaper reporters. Please pray for Ruth and Kelvin as they direct camp and lead the team. Thursday 5 August Starship Hospital Children's Church. I will be telling the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3. Thursday 12 August Starship Hospital Children's Church. I will be telling the story of Saul's conversion on the Damascus Road in Acts 9.

The Boys

Chess     I have loved having our cousins to stay as I got to share a room with my older cousin Jason. We played chess each evening before going to sleep. When my cousin left I decided it was time to challenge Dad. He beat me the first few times but I came back fighting. Currently I am the champion.     I am now playing water polo and I saved my first goal. It was awesome! James 11

Lego     My cousins came to stay for 5 nights. I love sleep overs that last five days. While they were here we built an awesome oil rig out of Lego. We were pretty sure it wouldn't blow up and pollute the environment. My cousin Lauren helped me to do my quiet times. We had to make boats which we tested in the bath to remind us that Jesus walked on the water. Chris 8

Letters     I have been learning new letters at school each day. I have had to take an item that starts with the same letter. I wanted to take Dad for A and “crazy” Chris for C but Dad said he couldn't stay all day and Chris likes his class too much. Mum has been teaching me all sorts of new things like writing, how to make fruit salad and new words. Thomas 5

Home

We had six children in our house for 5 days as the cousins came to stay. It was lots of fun, especially for the boys. Thomas just loved having his older cousins staying and this time he got to sleep in the same room with them and not in his parent's room. He thought it was really cool.     With Thomas at school Gill is enjoying having a few more hours in the day to do various things. She has enjoyed coordinating a list of contact details for the parents of children in Thomas' class, which has resulted in the parents getting together for coffee a few times.     We have also been enjoying watching the football world cup, especially the All Whites, although we are not sure about the continuous vuvuzela background sound at every game. Even better has been watching the All Black rugby side winning all their games. James is every happy with his side's performance.