It seems such a long time ago, but 6th July was the last session before the summer holidays and we spent the session looking at Pentecost – it was a month late but, due to other things preventing us all getting together, we had postponed the session until now.
We were delighted to have everyone present including a new member who was celebrating her 4th birthday and keen to start with JAM.
We had prepared some lemon cup cakes for the children to decorate with icing and strawberries to look like flames (a bit like the ones the apostles experienced on that day). They were very creative and artistic, thanks to Frances bringing piping bags and nozzles….
We then shared news and began our session comparing how a balloon can’t be all it needs to be, without filling it with air. We thought about the wind, and how we can’t see it, but it has power. These analogies were used to help the children understand the invisible helper that Jesus promised to send – The Holy Spirit.
We showed the story with PowerPoint slides, how the disciples had all waited in Jerusalem, just as Jesus had told them, for the helper to come and it did so in a spectacular way, with the disciples hearing a violent wind and each one seeing each other with, what looked like, tongues of fire their heads. Not flames that burned them, but flames that filled them with God’s love, power and warmth. They were then able to speak to all the different Jews from every area and region, in their own language and Peter, filled with renewed confidence and the Spirit, spoke to the crowds, as they gathered to find out what was going on.
Peter proclaimed that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was the Messiah and so the people asked what they should do. Peter said repent and be baptised, as a result, over 3,000 people joined the Christian movement. We watched the Superbook Video and then came over to the church to see Joyce and the other new Elders being ordained.
We returned to the hall and some of the older members performed a little play “That’s the Spirit” which was well received and we then ate some of the cakes and decorated Holy Spirit mats.
We talked about having a monthly session for older members, separate from JAM, a session to have fun, discuss stuff, know more about God, each other better, and pray.
We plan to have a JAM Summer Outing on 29th August, the children and young people liked the idea of taking the train to Cromer, having fish & chips and enjoy a sand-castle building competition.
Two of our older members were planning to be abseiling off The Forum building on 19th July together with leaders, parents and church members but this was postponed due to bad weather. The new date is 12th October and we will be descending from 4pm (as it is the same day as our Anniversary/Harvest Festival Family Service in the morning).
Our next plant sale will be on Saturday September 20th from 8am-1pm. See you there for a chat, gardening advice and lots of lovely plants to buy (75% proceeds to charity).