Our elementary students held their weekly chapel this morning instead of on Friday as the gym will be used for the Toddler and PK Photo Day event. Chapel Leaders welcomed everyone and started off with the singing of our national anthem and reciting the Lord’s Prayer. After listening to the Land Acknowledgement, students sang a familiar song of praise, “Mighty to Save” to kick off our musical worship.
Then, three members of our Grade 6 classes announced their November Care & Share event for CTV / Salvation Army’s Toy Mountain. Even though this is a long standing tradition at Wesley, students still eagerly listened to the details shared by the Grade 6 students. On Wednesday, November 25th, students can bring monetary donations which the Grade 6 classes will use to purchase toys to donate to the Salvation Army. These toys will be distributed to families in Markham / York Region who would otherwise not be able to have gifts at Christmas time.
Next, the Chapel Leaders reviewed our theme verse from 1 Timothy 4:12 and the five ways we can train to be like Jesus – focus, respect, humility, endurance and leadership. Our Bible passage today was taken from 1 John 4:7-21. Students took turns reading sections together and by grades paired up with another. This passage reveals that God is love and He wants us to love one another.
Mrs. V, dressed up as Coach Wesley in her Wesley Wildfire attire, then led a group of 8 teachers and 8 students in a game called the Respect Challenge. The row of teachers had to pass a ball to the next teacher behind them either over (above their head) or under (between their legs). The row of students had to do the same. After two rounds, the teachers were clear winners. Mrs. V continued the game with the teachers. This time, they had to say something kind about the person to whom they were going to pass the ball. The teachers did it slowly and clearly so that everyone could hear the kinds words. After one round, Mrs. V continued to add extra features to the game. The teachers had to say the same kinds words but much quicker while still moving the ball over or under. While they were doing this, Mrs. V knocked the ball out of one of the teacher’s hands midway through the line and grabbed it. The game stopped. Mrs. V restarted the game again with the same rules from the beginning. However, Mrs. V knocked the ball out of a teacher’s hand again and grabbed the ball! Then, she thanked the teachers and debriefed the game with the students, explaining that when we share kindness (the ball), it moves throughout the group and it makes everyone feel good, especially when it is done slowly and everyone can hear and enjoy the kind words. However, when someone grabs the ball and holds onto it, the game cannot go on. The kindness stops! Using the game as an analogy, she said that God wants us to spread kindness and share it with others. The students were then asked to practice kindness by sharing three kind things with their seat neighbours.
To respond to the lesson from the game, the Chapel Leaders led the singing of an upbeat version of “Jesus Loves Me”. After the song, the Chapel Leaders welcomed Pastor Griffith. He started his message by explaining the words “kindness” and “respect”. He shared that kindness is showing care through what we say and do while respect is treating everyone as valuable. He then had three student volunteers act out three different actions – listening ears, helpful hands and welcoming wave. The volunteers were asked to share when they would do the action and the effects of the actions on others. This helped them see that a small gesture can have a significant impact. Pastor Griffith linked this to the passage taken from John 13:1-17 in which Jesus washes His disciples feet. Even though Jesus was their Lord, Saviour and Teacher, He humbled Himself to teach them how to show love and kindness, and to be an example to them. Pastor Griffith then shared a verse from Ephesians 4:32 which opens with the phrase to be kind to one another. He then engaged the students in another game – “Be a Kindness Detective”. Using different scenarios, students could choose between one of two possible answers to show kindness. He concluded his message by inviting the students to show kindness today by doing things such as
- lnviting someone to join
- listening without interrupting
- helping at home and
- using gentle words
These were all answers that were discussed in the game.
To conclude the service, the Chapel Leaders led the reading of the benediction and wished everyone a CRISP day before being dismissed to start their academic school day.