CHILDREN love stories – especially Bible stories when they’re interactive, engaging and fun.

Jesus said: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to these.” (Matt.19 v 14)

Today, so many children could miss out on the great classic stories from the Bible; Noah, Daniel, Jonah and the life of Jesus could be closed chapters if youngsters didn’t get an opportunity to engage with the Bible.

Back in 1999 a project called Open the Book (OTB) began with teams of volunteers visiting primary schools to enact stories from the Lion Children’s Bible. We ‘open the book’ and read the story.

The teams make no charge to the schools and those who take part gain as much from the time as the children who listen. This is a way that the Christian faith can be shared in a fun and interactive fashion.

In the schools which have welcomed OTB as a regular morning assembly, children can’t wait to take part, dress up and enact stories in lively and informative ways. It is thanks to the teams of volunteers who visit that this exciting opportunity for children continues so strongly.

Open the Book has now become part of the Bible Society and, at the end of 2016, they reached their target of 2,000 schools nationally which are welcoming OTB teams into their schools. This is a fantastic achievement! 

If you feel you would like to be swallowed by a whale, be thrown to the lions or even play God, do tell the team leaders or leave your contact details at the Parish Office in Gosditch Street. Who knows, it might begin a whole new acting career for you.

HOWARD GRAY
Open the Book Co-ordinator, Cirencester