Armagh and South Tyrone Union Junior C.E. Fun Day
At this year’s Fun Day, members from Junior C.E. in Armagh and South Tyrone Union were given the opportunity to express their artistic talent! Before this activity was revealed, Ruth Agnew welcomed the Junior C.E. members. To begin, we sang Jesus is Alive and Jesus Love is very wonderful. The President of the Armagh and South Tyrone Union, Dr Evan Sharkey opened with prayer and was then kindly conscripted by Ruth to remain at the front to help with choruses, possibly because the task of strumming guitar and holding up words was slightly impossible! With the aid of Evan and others conscriptions we sang: One Way, Salvation and Love, Love, L.O.V.E.
Our special guest Steven Condy arrived with a big holdall, obviously his mind was on other destinations when he asked the children “What would you bring on holiday?” After a number of valid answers including; clothes, sun cream, suitcase and food, he started to remove the contents of his holdall to reveal what he had packed. He had packed: antibacterial hand gel, sunglasses, toothpaste, sun cream, a fan, camera, wallet and shorts. But he had forgotten something…and he used this illustration to explain his omission:
Martin and Lolly were going on holiday to Spain with their dad and when they arrived at the desk the lady asked for their passports. Their dad rumbled through the suitcases and found everything, but the essential document! He produced his bank card, xtravision card, student card, driving licence and even his birth certificate! Although, all these documents were very important, some containing similar information as a passport none could be used to gain entry into a foreign country. Steven explained that the difference with the passport as that although it may have had the same details as the other documents, it had one crucial element. It had the seal of approval from the Queen allowing travel.
Eventually Martin and Lolly’s dad found the passports (phew!) and they were able to go on their holiday. We need a passport for heaven and it comes in the form of Jesus.
John 14:6 says: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
However, many people try to earn their way into heaven by reading the Bible, praying, being really good and regularly attending church and Junior C.E. Although these activities are commendable, they are just like the documents that Martin and Lolly’s dad tried to use to enter into Spain. In the same way unless you have the seal of approval i.e. Jesus, entry into heaven is impossible.
Romans 3:23 says: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
We can never reach God’s perfect standard no matter how hard we try. But, there is hope. God loves you very much, but He hates your sin, so He made a way for us to be perfect in His sight.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus didn’t deserve to die, but He was prepared to die for us.
To check that we were listening to the story Ruth and Steven fired impromptu questions and tasked us with putting a ball into a hula hoop. Unfortunately, there were no winners (or losers) as both girls and boys clocked up equal points.
Finally, before the food feast the Juniors were able to discover their artistic genius as Margaret, who led the craft left them with a broad spectrum to experiment with different materials. They had the choice of decorating a mask, creating a designer handbag, wind chimes or designing their own unique piece.
