Today’s elementary chapel service was postponed to the afternoon as it was Teams and Clubs Photo Day this morning. Chapel Team 3 opened the service with the national anthem, the Lord’s Prayer and the Land Acknowledgement. They started musical worship with a song called “Firm Foundation (He Won’t)”, a song about trusting God’s faithfulness and remaining steadfast during seasons of anxiety, suffering, or uncertainty. This was followed by a second song, “Build Your Kingdom Here”. This is an energetic hymn about personal revival as well as societal change to bring hope and healing.
After filling the gym with praise, the students sat down to listen to Mrs. Serio’s Care and Share announcement for WCA Class of Graduate, Sharon Ngai, her husband Michael Cortimilla and their two children. Mrs. Serio talked about Sharon’s visit to Wesley in 2023 as they were preparing for their move to South Africa. This month, Care & Share donations collected on Monday, June 15th, will support their work in running a nine month residency program to train young South African leaders in the true Gospel so that they can go back to their communities and share what they have learned about Jesus. In addition to raising funds for the Cortimillas, Mrs. Serio asked that we pray for the work that God has called them to do as well as His provision for the family.
Next, royal trumpets played as Mrs. Vant Erve galloped into the gym as “Sir Learns-a-lot”. She led a review of the theme verse and reflected on the quest to seek the Kings Armour – something that we have doing this entire school year. After reviewing the different sub-themes, she prayed over the Wesley students, asking God to help them know to trust God, to seek justice, to find peace, have faith, be saved and know that Christ is the only way, truth and the life.
Chapel Team 3 then led the review of the different pieces of the Armour of God before leading the singing of “Lord Reign in Me”, a song about surrendering to God so that He can be King of our lives. Thirty seconds were then spent with elbow partners about why it is important to wear the full Armour of God.
Our guest speaker today was Pastor Kevin White from Cornerstone Community Church. He asked for a volunteer and a Grade 8 student rose to the occasion. Pastor Kevin asked him to get ready to play hockey. He subsequently handed him a helmet, which the student put on. This was followed by a pair of flip flops and a t-shirt. The student put both items on as well. However, he was clearly not ready to play hockey. Pastor Kevin explained that we, Christians, often do the same thing. We put on part of the equipment that we need or only the pieces that we like. However, after reading Ephesians 6:11 and 13, Pastor Kevin emphasized the word FULL in reference to putting on the FULL Armour of God. He even got the students to say (several times), “Armour only works if you wear the WHOLE thing!” He then gave an example about how we might wear the shoes of peace but when we see others in trouble, we look away instead of using the breastplate of righteousness. He used other examples to emphasize how there are HOLES in our armour when we don’t put on the full set. Pastor Kevin then listed each piece of armour and the associated Bible story that was associated with it this year. Next, he asked students to take 30 seconds and quietly reflect on one area (piece of armour) that God may be asking us to grow in. Lastly, he prayed for the audience. He thanked God for not sending us out without armour and asked us to be reminded to wear the full set. He also prayed that God would speak to us in a way that we can hear and understand, using Jesus as our example and the Holy Spirit as our guide.
After Pastor Kevin’s prayer, Mrs. V dismissed the students to end the school day.