This week’s bible story
Adam and Eve: Genesis 2.15—3.14
Do you know the names of the very first people in the Bible: Adam and Eve. In Hebrew (the language the story was written in) names tell you about who the person is, what they’re like. The names Adam and Eve mean ‘the first people ever’.
In the story God made a special garden for Adam and Eve to live in, and we know from the Bible that it was set in modern day Iran, next to Iraq in the Middle East.
Adam and Eve had been told that they could eat anything they wanted, except the tree that grew in the middle of the garden, which was called ‘the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’. What do you think that name means?
Read the story of Adam and Eve
What do you do when you know you’ve done something wrong? What is the best thing to do when you’ve done something wrong?
In the story, God sent Adam and Eve away, out of the lovely garden, and they learned to be farmers, to grow their own food, and to work on the land.
But what might have happened if they’d been honest and owned up (’fessed up!); if they’d taken responsibility for their actions instead of blaming someone else? We don’t know. Perhaps we’d still all live in that garden, not having to work …
But this story is still told as an example of how, when we aren’t honest, it affects many more people than just us. We don’t know what might have happened in the story if Adam and Eve had been honest. But we can be honest about ourselves, and then we know that whatever we’ve done, it’s easier to make it right again if we take the blame, apologize and acknowledge our part.
Reflection
Think for a few moments about the story of Adam and Eve:
how they did what they knew was wrong;
how they blamed someone else for what they’d done;
and how often we do that too.
Prayer
Dear God,
Help us to be honest when we do something wrong.
Help us not to blame other people, but acknowledge our mistakes,
and apologize and so learn and move on.
Amen.
Y6 residential: day 2
Yesterday was extremely busy with loads of fun adventures. This is our last morning, with three more activities to go!
Y6 residential
Year 6 are having a brilliant time at Robinwood. Yesterday, we did lots of activities such as climbing, giant swing and the Dungeon of Doom!
They’ve all slept well and are looking forward to another full day of fun!
Ask Italian
This morning, whilst Y6 are on residential, we visited Ask Italian in Wetherby to learn to be a chef and make some pizzas.
We had a great time designing and creating our own pizzas with a wide choice of ingredients: cheese, oregano, sun-dried tomatoes, ham, mushrooms and pepperoni. Check this out to see if we enjoyed our pizzas or not..!
The children were excellently behaved and and had impeccable manners – nice one, folks!
This week’s bible story
Jesus is friends with Zacchaeus: Luke 19: 1-10
Have you ever heard the story of Burglar Bill – Bill goes out every night. Getting into houses through open windows and taking things. Until one night, Bill found a baby, and that changed his whole life …
There is a Bible story about a man who stole from other people. He took extra money when he gave them their tax bills and became very rich on all the money that he stole. Zacchaeus was a little man and that small people can’t see in crowds. Read the story of Zacchaeus to find out what happened to him.
Reflection:
Jesus loved everyone when he lived on the earth. It didn’t matter how bad people were, Jesus was always there for those who needed him. This is true for us too – no one is so bad that God doesn’t love them. And the more time we spend with God – praying, thinking about him, finding out about him, the more we want to be like Jesus; kind, helpful and good. Just like Zacchaeus, Burglar Bill changed his ways and tried to be more like Jesus by loving those around him. Even though Burglar Bill and Zacchaeus made the wrong choice, God forgave them and continued loving them.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you that Jesus loved Zacchaeus even when he wasn’t making the right choices. Help us to love all of those around us and be honest about our actions.
Amen
Our school community working together to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee.
As part of a Wetherby community group, our school has entered a Jubilee craft cake for the Royal Church and Community Fete and Queen’s Jubilee Cake Festival at St James’ Church, Wetherby.
The whole school contributed to this creation and they all thoroughly enjoyed making it.
Reception – Beefeaters
Year 1/2 – stamp rubbings and crowns
Year 3 – clay corgi dogs
Year 4 – clay postage stamps
Year 5/6 – Hama Beads flags
We are all very proud to have been part of this and if you would like to attend the festival, it takes place on Friday 3rd June, 10am till 2pm at St. James Church in Wetherby.
This week’s bible story
Jesus Gives Us Peace: John 14:27–31
In John 14, Jesus is talking to His disciples shortly before He is crucified. He knows they will be scared, but He promises them a spirit of peace. Even though He will leave them, He promises them “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
He doesn’t promise His disciples a peaceful, easy life when they will always relax and never experience conflict or fear. But He does promise that ultimately, they will live together again in peace when Jesus returns. That means that no matter what they face, the disciples’ future is secure because of Jesus. This gives them true peace, not a peace based on their situation. We can share in that same peace when we believe in Jesus!
Memory Verse: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
Prayer:
Dear God,
Help us to remember that you are always there for us. Help us to feel the peace that you have given us when we are in times of uncertainty.
Amen
Brownlee Triathlon
Children from Years 3, 4 and 5 took part in the Brownlee Triathlon this week. The event started with swimming, followed by cycling and finishing with running. The children represented St James’ exceptionally well and we were very proud of them all.
“I enjoyed the swimming and I could see all the teachers pulling a ‘wow’ face which made me feel proud.” Harley
“It was great because everyone was cheering each other on. The swimming was my favourite part because I was the first person who made it all around the pool.” Leah
This week’s bible story
Jesus in the temple: Matthew 21:12-13
Have ever been really angry? Is there a difference between being angry because we can’t get our own way and being angry because something really isn’t right or fair? Can they think of a story when Jesus was angry?
The following story probably happened during the week leading up to Easter. Jesus had just entered Jerusalem on a donkey. Crowds of people came to see him and cheered him as a hero. Many powerful people were worried about how popular Jesus had become and some didn’t like his teaching.
The Temple in Jerusalem was a place of pilgrimage, especially at the time of the Passover. People would bring offerings, often of animals, as symbols of thanksgiving or of sorrow for past sins. These animals could be bought at the entrance to the Temple. It seems likely that the people who sold the animals, the money-lenders or merchants of the story, were charging too much and cheating the poor. Jesus may have heard about this, although that is not recorded in the Gospels. listen carefully to the story and think about the following:
How they think Jesus is feeling.
What Jesus does.
What he says.
Read the story of Jesus in the temple.
Reflection:
How do you think Jesus was feeling?
What did he do?
What did he say?
Was Jesus putting himself in danger by expressing his anger? are surprised to hear a story in which Jesus expresses anger. Why do they think he was angry? Are there times when it is right to show we are angry? Is it right to be angry about injustice or unfairness? What was Jesus trying to change by his anger?
Think about a time when you have been angry. Was it right to be angry?
Prayer:
God of all creation,
Help us as we try to understand all our feelings.
Help us to recognize when we are angry
and to see when things we do or say make other people angry.
Help us to see the difference between anger that is selfish
and anger that seeks justice for others or ourselves.
Help us to choose our actions with care, courage and love.
Amen.
This week’s bible story
Jacob steals Esau’s blessing: Genesis 27
The bible says that Peace comes through forgiveness and repentance (saying sorry).
Read the story about Jacob and Esau and see how they were not at peace with each other. After Jacob had stolen Esau’s birth right, he ran away and the brothers lived apart for many years.
Reflection:
How could he be at peace with his brother, when he had done so many wrong things? Would they be able to live peacefully? When they met, Jacob tried to give Esau gifts, but Esau just forgave him. This is a beautiful example of peace between two brothers after years of being angry and apart!
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you that there are examples in the bible where we can see peace between family and friends. Help us to be at peace with our friends and family.
Amen