Welcome to a New Year. I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas with their friends and families and managed to obey all the rules we have with the Covid epidemic.

I haven’t heard from anyone about how they celebrated Christmas at their church so I am sharing what the children at St John’s in Hamilton East, the church I attend, did. 

For several weeks before Christmas those who wanted to be in a Christmas play spent Sunday afternoons at the country home of one of their teachers and made a film of the Christmas story. This was shown in church the Sunday before Christmas and enjoyed by everyone.

A Quiz on Parables.

The answers can be found in the Gospel of Matthew

Fill in the missing words

1) The parable of the s ----

2) The parable of the m ------ seed.

3) The parable of the w ------

4) The parable of the w ------ banquet.

5) The parable of the hidden t -------

6) The parable of the w ------ in the vineyard

For your bookshelf

Title: Muki and Pickles

Author: Ross Murray

Publisher: Beatnik Press

Based on characters created with Ella Murray, this is a delightful book with easy-to-understand language, beautiful illustrations and humour.

Muki and pickles, two little rabbits, are out on a walk discussing their favourite cakes when they see a superb peach on a tree across a stream. How to get there poses a problem until Muki remembers he has a book that tells him how to build a raft.

Working together they build a raft. However, when they reach the other side of the stream, a squirrel is busy eating the peach. They were very philosophical about it saying never mind, we learned how to tie knots. All ends well. Arriving home they find a basket of juicy peaches on their doorstep.

An added bonus is the appendix with instructions how to tie knots and a recipe for a peach upside-down cake.

Answers to Quiz

1) sower 2) mustard 3) Wheat 4) wedding 5) treasure 6) workers