Open Up Christmas

Thursday and Friday morning, I had the privilege of helping a local church with Open Up Christmas! Open Up Christmas is an event which invites Y4 children, from local Leeds schools, to see and hear what it is that makes this particular time of the year so very special to Christians. 

Through a mix of topical quizzes, craft, videos, dramatisation, and study these children (who come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds) think about that first Christmas. Teachers in attendance are able to sit, relax, and enjoy a cuppa with a snack…which is particularly treasured this time of year!  Teaching staff who attend the events are telling us just how much they and their colleagues value this annual event; Frequently commenting on how well organised we are and how effectively we explain what we as Christians believe is the true meaning of Christmas.

Open is an acronym we pray helps children remember what they learned.

O = Ordinary People (is who God uses)

P = Proclaim the Good News (of Jesus’ birth)

E = Everyone (whom this Good News is for)

N = Near to us is God (whenever we need Him)

This year, I was blessed to lead up front to teach about God being near to us; God with us…Immanuel. I talked about Jesus being light of the world and how it only takes a little light to penetrate the dark night! The children made candle holders to take home and since light is joyfully warm, we hope this sparks each to think of Jesus being near.

We had about 196 children attend from six different primary schools! I led a small group of twelve and nine with whom I asked additional questions such as, “why do we need a Saviour?” Together these children (some of whom I knew from Lunchtime Bible Club and my son’s school) and I had lots of fun and many children answered questions. I felt very privileged to be a part! I pray these children and staff feel very loved and that what was taught makes a difference to their lives!

Happy Christmas!

Kirkstall Festive Lights…

switched on tonight! We joined some friends and went to our local Leisure Centre car park for hot cocoa, Tombola (Ryan won!), craft stalls, music, games, and more! Despite the frigid temperature of 4 degrees C (39 F), our family enjoyed catching up with neighbours and friends.

The kids went inside the Vortex, which is a walk through illusion where you are standing in one place yet feel like you are moving; they loved it! Ryan and I watched outside on a telly screen. Titus was very chuffed (excited) to have one his mates come along and he purchased a dragon sword with his pocket money!

At 7pm, we gathered near Kirkstall Road as the crowd counted down from 10 and the Christmas lights switched on! Our family attended this event last year and have enjoyed this lighting becoming a natural start to our Christmas season!

Weekend Away

Have you ever been on a retreat weekend away with your church family? This is usually a more common occurrence in the States. Last weekend was the first time we have attended a weekend away since living here in England. Our church hired the Quinta Christian Conference Centre, near the Welsh border, for our group of about 80. This was a beautiful estate location situated in North West Shropshire upon 50 acres.

Although I have attended Christian Centres in the past, I did not recall the common bathrooms or need for chores. However, planning ahead for shower usage as well as being on the kitchen and meeting room clean-up rotas allowed time with community. 😉

We had several times of praise and worship and prayer along with Bible teaching. All was interactive even several people taking the Bible reading in turns, which made the teaching much more visual!

Although Titus was ill the first night, we are extremely grateful the Lord gave him swift recovery so he could participate the rest of the weekend! The afternoon afforded us free time with many options. Ryan and Titus played football, basketball, and dodgeball with many others whilst Cora and I drove a portion of our group to the nearby Welch village Llangollen. Driving there we enjoyed the gorgeous Autumn leaves and beautiful countryside.

The river waters were raging, due the recent abundance of rain, and the view from the hillside tea room was a site to behold! Our group enjoyed hot drinks before popping in and out of Welsh shops.

One night we had a bonfire and Ryan organised s’mores (chocolate digestives which sandwich roasted marshmallows)! The kids and I, though exhausted and up past our usual bedtimes, donned our wellies to trudge through the muddy fields before arriving at the bonfire. The bonfire’s light and heat was a welcome reward!

Cora and Titus, although the only children their age, enjoyed participating with us as well as swimming! The pool was heated to 29 degrees C, which was quite warm. Yet the contrasting air outside was very shocking! We had not been swimming since summer and this was a refreshing time, despite our great fatigue, for all!

Ryan led communion and creatively included Jesus’s first Passover and its meaning as well.

Weekends away involve countless hours of planning spread across a myriad of people. For our family, I spent much of the week prior packing everyday items in addition to all bedding. I prepared more snacks than consumed as well as baked 60 biscuits many reportedly enjoyed eating. However, I want to document for a future reminder that this time and effort was well worth it! We are thankful we made Weekend Away a priority as it provided time to get away from our normal routine, hear from the Lord, get know our church family deeper, and meet many new people!

Rugby Presentations

Milford Rugby League annually has award presentations. Last evening Titus, his Dad, and his team had a shared tea (Ryan of course smoked wings and frankfurters to share) and then awards were given to their under 11’s team. For presentations, the lads were asked to dress smart which included a Milford Marlins tie. Titus felt very grown-up having Daddy teach him to tie his tie! 😉

Titus and each team member were presented a trophy for the Squad Award. This is Titus’s first trophy!

Titus was also one of three nominated for Achievement, which was given to another, but the nomination greatly appreciated!

Nelson Mandela Model

For Black History Month, children were asked to choose a significant historical figure as the basis for a model or display board. Today Titus was recognised in Family Assembly for his model he made of Nelson Mandela’s cottage where he lived under house arrest.

Swimming pool at rear of cottage

Front of cottage

Rear of cottage

According to BBC,

The prison years ended in a cottage he had to himself in the garden of a jail near Cape Town then known as Victor Verster – with TV, radio, newspapers, a swimming pool and any visitors he wanted. 

But he was still in prison. And the greatest number of years that he was in prison – 18 out of 27 – were spent on Robben Island, where the contrast could not have been greater.

Many other black historic persons were presented by children. It was mentioned that last weekend South Africa beat England in the Rugby Union World Cup, which was quite significant considering this was the first year South Africa had a black team captain.

Several children were selected to present their projects before the school and parents at Family Assembly. Each were very creative and unique! We are very proud of Titus who worked several days over term break to make his outstanding model!

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday evening, we celebrated Halloween with 35 of our good friends (half of those were children!)! Our children and I began preparations the day before by baking homemade shortbread pumpkin-shaped biscuits and decorating them. We filled 100 Bags of Hope with a Bible story, colour sheet, glow stick, and sweeties.

Cora, Titus, and Ryan carved pumpkins and I cooked pumpkin to put in future pies.

On Halloween we roasted pumpkin seeds, decorated, and the kids donned their costumes (Cora dressed as a black cat and Titus was Spider-Man) whilst daddy smoked chicken and ribs. We setup our gazebo outside and readied the fire pit as well as hanging solar powered lights. Our dear neighbour friend graciously prepared games for the party and lent us her festive Halloween tableware. 😉

Titus was SO excited that I was thankful to entertain him by requesting he and Cora make a web and pipe cleaner spider. ☺️

It was great to see everyone’s creativity in the children’s costumes!

Us parents enjoyed handing out treat bags and eating delicious food (like mummy pizza) before heading outdoors for trick-or-treating. Five of us adults remained at home visiting and soaking up the warmth. I enjoyed time with parents I have known for years as well as becoming acquainted with new parents whilst caring for a friend’s baby. 😊

When everyone returned from trick-or-treating we drank hot drinks and roasted marshmallows for s’mores (marshmallow sandwich). This was a welcome warm-up after walking in the cold! All seemed to be enjoying themselves so much that our neighbour friend and I decided to skip the games. The children ran with their glow sticks outside in the misty dark night. It was great fun and I particularly enjoyed how excited the near 50 children received their Bags of Hope! After all, we want them to know that there is light amongst this sometimes otherwise dark holiday.