This morning, our new Chapel Team led the elementary service. After O Canada, the Lord’s Prayer and the Land Acknowledgement, our musical worship began with “Firm Foundation”, a song about trusting in Jesus as an unshakeable source of strength. This was followed by a review of our theme verse taken from 1 Timothy 4:12 .
Mrs. V, dressed in her Wildfire cross-fit attire, led the review of the five ways that we can train to be more like Jesus and shared Hebrews 12:2, which emphasized the need to fix our eyes on Jesus to maintain our focus. Mrs. V also talked about distractions that can draw our attention away from what is important. She demonstrated this with a game that involved teachers and students. Eight teachers came to the front of the gym and were given toys to distract a volunteer who had to get around the cones without dropping the soccer ball that was held by a spoon. Three students attempted but were quickly distracted by the teachers. Finally, Mr. Au was called to make the attempt – and he was successful!
The Chapel Team then led the singing of “Fishers of Men”, a fun song with lots of actions, about Jesus’s invitation to his first disciples to leave their professions and follow him.
Our guest speaker this morning was Pastor Mark Griffith. He started by asking the children to play a finger game. He asked them to draw a finger close to their face. He wanted them to see that if they were focused on the finger, everything else (all distractions) became dim. Only the finger stayed in focus. He then defined “Focus” as paying attention to one thing at a specific time.
To continue his message, he asked for two female volunteers to go to the front. They re-enacted the story of Martha and Mary, two sisters who had Jesus as a visitor in their home. Martha was busy cooking and cleaning while Mary sat at Jesus’s feet, listening to his teachings. Pastor Griffith explained that certain activities may not be bad but they must be done at the right time. It is important that we focus on the right task at the right time. Mary was doing the right thing when Jesus was in their presence. Pastor Griffith also shared that when we seek the kingdom of God first, everything else will be added to us.
Pastor Griffith concluded with a game. On the screen, was the word “Jesus”. He asked the students to focus on Jesus. Then he asked them to play a modified version of “Simon Says”. Instead of “Simon Says”, students should only follow the instructions prefaced by “Focus on Jesus”. After a few rounds, the children demonstrated that they can focus on Jesus.
To wrap up the service, the Chapel leaders asked the students to read the benediction together. This was followed by another Grade 8 Walkathon promotional video before the students were dismissed to start their academic day.
