On this beautiful holiday weekend, hope you are making the most of the sunshine. Here is a message from Rev Delphine for Pentecost and also an activity to do at home.Message from Rev DelphineDid you know that Pentecost is the official Birthday of the Christian Church (Eleanor’s candle idea is very appropriate for a Birthday). Well, what happened, you might ask, on this special day. The disciples were together in a room in Jerusalem because it was a Jewish Harvest Festival and Jerusalem was packed with people coming to worship and celebrate at the Temple. The Disciples didn’t feel like having a party, they were miserable because Jesus had just returned to God, leaving them on their own. They had forgotten that Jesus had promised He would send them something to help them, and that Jesus had said “I will never leave you” (that goes for us too).Suddenly there was a sound like a wind blowing and above their heads were tongues of fire – Jesus’ helper, the Holy Spirit had arrived! They were suddenly full of energy, smiling, laughing, and wanting to tell the people gathered in the street below, all about Jesus. The Holy Spirit helped them with what to say and everyone, even those that spoke a different language, understood. It was the day that Jesus’ Church was born!The Holy Spirit is a super charger. It is a bit like a mobile phone, it won’t work unless we charge it, and we won’t work to the best of our ability unless we plug into God, and we do that through prayer. God, through Jesus, will send us the Holy Spirit to help us be energised Christians . Happy Birthday to us all because we are Jesus’ Church!Activity - Pentecost Candle The Pentecost Candle shown below is very easy to make with some card and coloured pens, pencils or crayons. Before you roll the card into a candle shape and stick the ends with sellotape you need to write some words of Greeting in different languages just as Delphine mentioned in her message. See how many words you can think of and ask your family and friends if they know some more. You can start with Hello, Hi, Hola, Bonjour, Ciao, Shalom. Add a brightly coloured flame on top of your Pentecost Candle and remember the Holy Spirit.Best wishes from Eleanor, Delphine and the Messy Church Team
Please note that the Ascension Day Service on Thursday 18th May will not now be held at St James. There is however a Holy Communion Service for Ascension Day at St Michael’s Church, Penkridge on Thursday 18th May at 7.30pm. You will be very welcome there.
The Sunday Service on 7th May will be at St James’ Church Acton Trussell and will be a Morning Prayer Service at 9.30am led by Roger Howarth. Everyone is welcome
Hope you are well and building up to Easter - looks like the weather will be fine. Here is a message from Rev Delphine and an activity to try out of doors.Message from Rev DelphineI bet you have learnt a lot about Easter, so you won’t be like Fred the frog.Fred knew there was something special about it, but he was feeling a little confused about the whole thing. There was the eating side of Easter, as there was the eating side of Christmas. On special occasions you always had something nice to eat.That was it – eggs; Easter was about eggs! His teacher, Mr Toad, had told Fred about a very special meal called the Last Supper, and Fred wondered what kind of eggs they had eaten at that Last Supper – scrambled, poached, or maybe boiled? There was also something about nails and a cross. Fred was getting very confused, so he went to ask Mr Toad to explain.“Easter is for remembering” said Mr Toad. “Remember that it is good to be alive. Because a man once died at Easter – and He was so full of life that He wouldn’t stay dead. He leapt up again when no one was looking and made everyone happy.” And Mr Toad went on. “ If you remember Easter, and the man who died, then you will always be alive!”Do you know who that man is? I am sure you do – its Jesus!Have a great Easter. Remember, Jesus is always with us, no matter what happens in life.(Story adapted from Time and Again – A Book for All Seasons by David Hopwood)Activity - frame natureAt Easter we thought it would be appropriate to make a cross shaped frame (see below) to take outside, look through and see all the wonderful things of nature that God has created for us. What can you see - the sky, the trees, blossoms, daffodils, birds and lots more - happy viewing.Looking AheadPlease Save the Date for the next Messy Church which will be on Saturday 29th April, this time at St James' Church, Acton Trussell from 12-2pm. The theme is Kings and Crowns and hopefully you have seen the flyer with all the details about booking a place. Hope to see you on 29th April.Easter Blessings fromEleanor, Delphine and the Messy Church Team at Acton & Bednall
