tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354313712009-10-17T10:23:56.914+01:00UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.ukBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-82755226465515216342009-08-17T08:09:00.002+01:002009-08-17T08:12:28.277+01:00

At our church the Sunday morning children's ministry takes the summer off because with so many families away on holiday (vacation) we sometimes end up with classes with just 1 or 2 children in them. One of the older boys from my group came up to me yesterday morning and asked me if Sunday's Cool was on. I reminded him that we are not having that right now and told him why. He looked all sad

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-22619658910353859922009-06-08T15:43:00.001+01:002009-06-08T15:43:26.276+01:00

This week I am in two local primary schools doing an assembly based on the story of big Bad Brian the Lion. Big Bad Brian the Lion is a bully.  He goes around the jungle roaring at the other animals and scaring them on purpose. He creeps up behind the giraffe, eating from the tops of the tree, and the elephant bathing in the mud, and the monkey swinging in the trees. Creeping so slowly, so

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-41873852926299087602008-11-19T18:32:00.000Z2008-11-19T18:33:19.695Z

Watch this video and you have your answer.THIS is why!

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-16057453932909624682008-11-18T22:47:00.001Z2008-11-18T22:50:31.671Z

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-77201622778999088132008-11-17T20:14:00.003Z2008-11-17T20:33:54.573Z

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-84078464957154718742008-11-07T07:41:00.002Z2008-11-07T08:15:43.976Z

How you get involved in Operation Christmas Child depends first on your location.Each nation that sends boxes has it's own website with it's own rules and so on.So your best bet is to check there first, then take my rules as a "general" list of what to do.United StatesAustralia (New Zealand comes under their office)Canada GermanyIrelandNetherlandsUnited KingdomIf you live in one of those

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-31930685305351979822008-11-05T20:52:00.003Z2008-11-05T21:32:00.350Z

And I have saved my personal favourite until last. I just love the look on this little guy's face.Go check out other Thursday 13 participants.But please leave a comment so I know you dropped by.

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-24486128800241025882008-11-05T17:46:00.004Z2008-11-05T17:52:15.317Z

No words, just a picture!Then, head on over to the Wordless Wednesday main page and join in etc

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-8044537103029608002008-11-05T17:33:00.001Z2008-11-05T17:41:45.185Z

In between my main posts written by me, I'll include a few OCC videos from the last few years.

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-13918252903852513292008-11-05T07:55:00.005Z2008-11-05T08:29:45.693Z

Well, we officially opened on Monday with 3 training sessions and by the time I left yesterday we were looking like we might run out of boxes because no one wants to bring them in yet! PLEASE if you are in our area and have been packing boxes, BRING THEM TO US AT THE DEPOT! (you can fin the address of the depot by entering your postcode into the drop off point finder on the OCC website)We are

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-8628813827095579552008-11-01T18:12:00.003Z2008-11-01T18:21:40.625Z

The Shoebox Depot is coming along nicely.We have all our tables laid out ready for packing etc, we have cornered off a small area at the back to be a finance office. Ideally we would have a separate room for that, but needs must and the warehouse WAS free! And after all, banking will be done daily.We have a couple of urns for making hot drinks, and necessary supplies for that. We already have

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-37081343643905124192008-10-27T22:03:00.004Z2008-10-27T22:19:14.485Z

I was away for a night with my hubby last night when I got a text to say we would be picking up the keys for the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox depot this morning. We weren't going to be back in time to meet the others there, but decided to drive by it on the way home so that hubby would know for sure where it was.Some of the others were there doing a couple of things, so I got to see inside

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-29179799930362703362008-10-24T13:36:00.003+01:002008-10-24T13:59:52.912+01:00

I want to try and blog the next few weeks, well, couple of months actually.I figured here was as good a place as any because I believe that Operation Christmas Child is a ministry to children, on both ends of the programme.OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILDWHAT IS HAPPENING?Two main things1. My town is getting a shoebox depot for the first time ever.2. I will be going on a shoebox distribution trip to

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-9661048365569028922008-09-20T09:12:00.002+01:002008-09-20T09:16:00.789+01:00

Whatever we do, however we do it, they ARE watching!What I love the most is about 1/3 of the way through, when someon obviously has gone to try and stop him, (presumably one of the parents) and you can hear the pastor say something like "it's OK, leave him". Superb.

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-52233037406974101202008-09-04T11:44:00.002+01:002008-09-04T11:48:01.519+01:00

Great News on the OCC front!We've been promised a warehouse!It's FANTASTIC NEWS!We don't know which one or where yet, but one of the local estate agents has promised that he will find us something appropriate for the dates we want.Basically it's down to a a change in the way in which they calculate the business rates or something. We pay them for the time we are there, and because of the the

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-19610591437238117322008-08-27T18:17:00.002+01:002008-08-27T18:29:34.722+01:00

That title is deceptive!We do NOT camp! Heeheee! For crying out loud this is the end of September in Wales we're talking about here! We go to a place that has cabins, bungalows, static caravans, and camping space.I'm not sure what we're staying in this year, we shall have to wait and see.I have to work out something for the kids to do.We do not think there are enough of them to warrant a

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-6616637673681927262008-08-26T19:40:00.002+01:002008-08-26T19:46:14.776+01:00

Gosh, time for an update.Where have I been? What have I been doing? What am I doing now?1.) Right here, other than a weekend at the BEST storytelling festival in the world!2.) I've been learning more stories, telling more stories, discovering the joy of falling in love with a particular story, breaking my car (water pump, hose, head gasket), therefore becoming a one car family for now, getting

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-15034852562035348272008-06-10T13:45:00.000+01:002008-06-10T13:56:10.637+01:00

As promised I will share some of my story telling stories on this blog.One thing I haven't done in the two recordings I have done so far is quote an author in the actual recording, I WILL BE correcting that in future. But for now know that this story isDr Good and the StrangersbyBob HartmanENJOY Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-8343107568997356112008-06-10T09:57:00.000+01:002008-06-10T10:24:38.335+01:00

I thought I'd also give you a short update on my OTHER job.Hmmmmmm?The sessions are going fine, we have a great group of kids in both locations, if a bit of a small group.The problem is in the other aspect of the job. The main purpose of this post, when my friend took it on was to put together a team of volunteers, leaders and helpers, that could continue the clubs on after her paid period of

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-11909469079403146432008-06-10T09:38:00.000+01:002008-06-10T09:56:29.470+01:00

I'm having a very slow start with the new job. Can't seem to get a response from any of the local schools, even when offering to do stuff at their summer fetes for free, which will bring more people into the fete and raise them more money!Church leader with responsibility for my job says that this time of year schools really are not looking to get people in, they are trying to wind down for the

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-5782486032728869572008-05-01T13:41:00.000+01:002008-05-01T14:12:20.873+01:00

heeheee, read the comments on my last post. Karl was right, and I am glad I listened to him and did not close this blog down.Let me tell you a story.This story starts about 3 months or so ago.I went to a conference at a tiny church about 45 minutes drive from here, that I love to head out to whenever they have a conference on. This was with Sandy Zondervan, and was about how we pray differently

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-3141402022792855992007-04-20T07:32:00.000+01:002007-04-20T07:33:07.122+01:00

Two things!1. I am thinking about closing this children's ministry blog. While I love what I get to do in the kids work, I never seem to remember to write on there, Aaaaannnnnddddd we've had to cancel VBS for this summer, so there won't be anything to write about there!And I was thinking that maybe I should use it as a craft blog instead. So I can put my knitting stuff on there, my card making

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-73824120255031461692007-03-13T09:35:00.000Z2007-03-13T09:50:48.936Z

On Sunday morning, I did not take the children out for Sunday's Cool, because things were to happen very differently than usual. I wanted the children to have opportunity to be part of that. I knew that if I let them just stay with their parents there was opportunity for not understanding what was happening and wandering off. So I encouraged them to all come sit with me, off to one side and we

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-35855413938989424842007-03-04T17:08:00.000Z2007-03-04T17:48:49.041Z

Welll, the underground art project was no longer underground in the end, because of the problems we had last time with leaks and so on, the council have decided to make it on big boards of weather proof plywood. These will then be displayed somewhere. Maybe even back under the underpass we were painting in last time. Ho hum.Only 3 kids turned up in the end, and all 3 of them are in my son's

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35431371.post-2885840096014811422007-02-21T17:12:00.000Z2007-02-21T17:39:49.960Z

Yes ok it's Wednesday and I am only just getting around to blogging about this. I apologise!Sunday morning was our little performance in the main meeting for the adults. And it went so well. Let me tell you how this came about. We've spent the past three months working on a curriculum that is really more aimed at kids klub type environments, after school clubs that sort of thing, which leads

UKZoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14638344073899053857z.gregg@blueyonder.co.uk0