Open the Book

It’s coming up to my favorite period of the church year from September through to December. It is the season of invitation when we are busy planning for the next 4 months.

Our doors are open to the community from Harvest through Remembrance Sunday to Christmas celebrations. It’s also the time when I schedule assemblies with Wales Primary, Kiveton Infants and Kiveton Meadows Juniors.

One of my highlights in ministry are school assemblies. I often hear people saying that schools ‘don’t do’ religious assemblies anymore and that children today know little about the Christian faith. That certainly is not my experience from the ways in which local school children respond to my questions on visits to Wales Parish Church.

I love my assemblies and am grateful to our Open the Book team. Open the Book (OtB) is an exciting storytelling project where Bible stories are shared dramatically with children in a way that is fun, interactive and memorable. Our storytelling team is made up of members from Wales, Thorpe Salvin and Todwick churches.

The Bible Society through whom Open the Book runs say, ‘A Bible story well told has the power to spark the imagination, inspire exploration, give hope, create a smile, teach important lessons and connect generations.’

We deeply appreciate being invited guests of all our local schools and value our partnership. We look forward to welcoming Wales Primary into Church for their Harvest Assembly next month. Our Harvest Service is 10am on Sunday 13th October. We will be supporting the Cathedral Archer Project at Harvest and are accepting tinned items and toiletries. All are welcome as we give thanks to God for creation.

Best wishes and prayers

Reverend Gary