Today, the PK1 class led the ELC chapel service. After the pledges, O Canada and the Lord’s Prayer, Miss Wong and Ms. Donkor led a time of musical worship. They started with an energetic favourite – “Praise” by Elevation Worship. This was followed by a Jana Alayra song called “Oh Hallelujah” which was filled with actions. The final song, “The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock” was a prelude to this morning’s message.
With the words from Matthew 7:24-25 on the screen behind her, Ms. Donkor started her message with a demonstration. She had a few building blocks in a clear container of sand. She stacked the blocks to make a house on the sand. Although she did not have any water to reenact a storm, she did shake the desk gently and the house fell immediately. She explained to the students that when we do not trust in God, it is like we are building a house on sand. When trouble arises, everything comes undone. Next, she firmly placed a house on the big rock. Ms. Donkor shared that a house built on Jesus, our Rock, is one that can withstand any storm. She shook the desk and the house stood firmly on the rock.
Ms. Donkor then explained that when we build our houses (which are like our hearts) on Jesus, we can withstand difficult situations. However, we must also make our homes (hearts) beautiful by making sure we fill it with things like love so that people will want to come and see it. Next, she had a number of JK and SK students go to the front to pick out pieces of paper from a container to put into the house. These little notes had words such as “helping others”, “taking turns”, “good deeds”, “kindness”, “Word of God”, “Be polite”, “obedient”, Respect”, “Sharing” and “Love”. Ms. Donkor encouraged the audience to have these items in our hearts / homes so that we can make sure we are firmly on Christ’s foundation.
Ms. Donkor also took the opportunity to tie her message to Mother’s Day. She explained that honouring our Mothers and Fathers is something that God wants us to do. Then, she led the children in prayer. She thanked Jesus for being the Rock and our foundation. She also prayed for God’s guidance and for Him to give us kind hearts.
To conclude her message, she read the verse from Ephesians 6:1, which encourages children to obey their parents before singing the classic hymn, “Trust and Obey”.