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News

News Highlights Bob Hartman... coming to a town (or two) near you Open the Book have registered their 1000'th team 5000th 'Open the Book' storyteller David Williams of Churches Together in Cirencester reports: Jackie Sampson from the Putley group becomes a celebrity! Sharing, laughs and fellowship News from a new team in Tonbridge, Kent

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Bob Hartman... coming to a town (or two) near you

Bob Hartman will be in Suffolk for two events, taking time to share his knowledge and tips on engaging children and preparing worship for all ages. These times will be fun, interactive and loaded with practical ideas, with plenty of time for your questions. Events are on 9th February in Ipswich (7pm) and 10th February in Bury St Edmunds (1pm). Tickets are £5 and available from www.scateministries.co.uk, or by calling 01284 703705.

Bob Hartman is known worldwide for his interactive and engaging storytelling as well as being the author of nearly 50 books including the Lion Storyteller Bible, used by Open the Book teams in schools. He appears regularly at events such as Spring Harvest and the Children's Ministry conference entertaining audiences both young and old, as well as providing insight and ideas for storytelling.

OPEN THE BOOK HAVE REGISTERED THEIR 1000'TH TEAM

Windmill Primary School in Brookside, Telford have become the 1000'th school to have an OPEN THE BOOK team! The acting head has said: "At Windmill Primary School and Children's Centre, we are thrilled to have teamed up with Springfield Christian Fellowship for OPEN THE BOOK. We have heard about how children look forward to OPEN THE BOOK days at other schools and we are sure that bringing the Bible to life in our school will have a similar effect. We hope that working with Springfield in this way will further strengthen our relationship with them and we hope that OPEN THE BOOK will be a really positive experience for all our pupils."

5000TH OPEN THE BOOK STORYTELLER

Almost at the same time we registered our 5000'th volunteer storyteller. The lady is part of a new team in Suffolk where OPEN THE BOOK continues to grow at a great pace.

DAVID WILLIAMS OF CHURCHES TOGETHER IN CIRENCESTER REPORTS:

The giving of Bibles to all school leavers in the Cirencester area led to the following quotable quote! In the last OPEN THE BOOK assembly this term when leavers received their Bibles they returned to their classes and one teacher said, "I never thought I would have to say to my class, 'Please put your bibles away, we must get started on our lessons.'"

JACKIE SAMPSON FROM THE PUTLEY GROUP BECOMES A CELEBRITY!

Fame at last! I was coming out of a supermarket with a laden trolley, when a mother held her daughter back to let me pass through the gap. The girl said delightedly, "Ooh! Hello!" but her mother ushered her on into the shop. I could hear the girl saying..."but Mummy, that's the OPEN THE BOOK lady!" This, coupled with the joyful smiles when the children walk into our assemblies, makes all the work very worthwhile.

SHARING, LAUGHS AND FELLOWSHIP

Reverend Gita Bond writes: We are all having such a great time with OPEN THE BOOK in Ramsey and Upwood and have been asked by other parishes and the Ely Diocese to help at setting up their own OPEN THE BOOK teams. As you know my team includes members from the Baptist, Catholic, Methodist and Anglican churches so far. We have had a great time of sharing fellowship, many laughs and it's all thanks to OPEN THE BOOK. It really is such a great and simple programme.

NEWS FROM A NEW TEAM IN TONBRIDGE, KENT

Reverend Sue Morrell gives us this feedback: We would just like to tell you how delighted our team is to find how much the children at our school are enjoying it. We have only done a few performances so far, but already the feed back is very positive, and the school has been very welcoming. Some of us have been thrilled to have been approached outside school by children who recognise us. "Do you do Open the Book?" one little boy asked me, in Waitrose, and I was able to explain to his Dad what it was all about. Also one or two have said to us, "I love Open the Book!" So we feel very happy that it is working out so well. The Lord's timing is always wonderful. We are very lucky to have several members of the group who are very creative and clever at prop making, so that is another blessing. Also, as a group, we are thoroughly enjoying the experience, and having a lot of fun together.