Jam Club Festival 2015
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Report
Going Deeper!
The Trekkers group (age 4-6yrs) had been thinking how we can become
grounded and rooted in our faith, so that we truly grow & flourish. In April
they planted some runner bean seeds to see how they grew. We left them in
the church kitchen – perhaps you saw them?! As well as green stems that
grew up, the beans had strong white roots that grew down.
Trekkers explained how Christians are a bit like runner bean plants too! We
need to grow both strong deep roots as well as tall stems. We looked at how deep roots
help to create a certain type of tree… and a certain type of Christian…
Trees with shallow roots who live a long way from water are like small bushes that live in
the wild. They get water and strength from where they can around, but in times of
hardship, like drought, they may not survive. These trees are like Christians who don’t
grow a deep spiritual life. They are people who don’t find ways to pray and read the
Bible a lot.
Trees with deep roots who live near water springs are like trees
with strong trunks and big branches. They will find water and
strength in times of hardship, like drought, and they
will survive. God, who is the water spring, will keep
them going. These trees are like Christians who
grow a strong spiritual life. There is room for this
type of growth in all of us. It is one that adapts to times and seasons of
life, is relevant (even for children) and is practical. Trekkers reminded us that you do
have to make an effort though!
The children had been busy painting their own pictures of trees with strong
deep roots that help illustrate the idea of being a strong Christian. You can
see them now in the Lower Church Hall!
Deep roots don’t just appear by magic! To grow deep roots & drink deeply
from the living source of water, that is God, there are 2 things you have to
do:
1) Time alone with God
It’s the act of sitting & resting in God’s presence that gives
us the time to drink from Him. Some people do this with
daily Bible reading and prayer. Some play music; others
keep a journal. Trekkers shared some of their favourite Bible
stories (Joshua / Daniel) and prayer activities (bubble
prayers). Whatever your preferred way, it needs to be
done… and done regularly!
2) You have to spend time with other believers
Pioneers group (age 7-10yrs) had been looking recently about
what it means to be ‘the church’. They told us that if we thought
that this picture was of our “church” ... we would be wrong. It is
our church building. The church is not the building but the people;
Church is family.
The best things about church are just like the best things about family. Church is a place
where we feel supported and loved, where we can try out our gifts, where we have fun
and learn together. It’s a place where we are accepted – unconditionally.
However, just like a family, churches are not perfect – they can’t be if they are made up
of people! There may be times when we feel that we don’t fit in or we struggle to get
along with others. But, just like a family, that is the time that we need to work at our
relationships and not to walk away.
We were reminded of how good it is to be together; Pioneers had
made people paper chains. When Jasmine & Michael blew on the
paper chain we saw that although it got blown about, the people
stayed joined together.
As church we are stronger together – and there is a good reason for this. God designed
us to be church. He loves the church and wants us all to be part of it. We all have a
valuable role to play in church and will all be better off for being a part of it. Pioneers had
been learning some important lessons about the church, but these lessons came from a
very strange source – not from the Bible, but from... geese!
They learnt that geese fly in that V shape for very good reasons. Firstly, as a goose flaps
its wings it creates ‘uplift’ which makes it easier for the bird behind to fly. It is a very
efficient way to travel. Flying in the V shape means that
geese can get to their destination quicker and can travel 70%
further. If a bird falls out of the V formation it feels drag and
finds it much harder to fly alone. If it has any sense, it
quickly comes back to fly with the flock.
The lead goose has a hard job and when it gets tired it moves
to the back of the V shape and another goose takes the lead.
Lots of the flock will take turns at flying at the front. And all the time this is happening,
the other geese honk to each other to encourage the flock to keep going.
If a goose is sick or wounded and has to stop flying, it doesn’t land alone. Two other
geese will go with it. Pioneers finished with a short video to help us remember the lessons
of the geese – watch it on our website – The Wisdom of the Geese!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rOg4WfNDfM
Thank you to all the children & young people who took part in the JC festival service, but
also especially thanks to the parents. Without them encouraging and bringing their
children to church each week, we wouldn’t have a Jam Club to Celebrate!
Amanda Maylin
Jam Club Co-ordinator
Video link for song Christ Alone Cornerstone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izrk-erhDdk