Open the Book Begins at Valentine’s Primary School
This week, Revd Garry and Su Brakewell had the joy of visiting Valentine’s Primary School to lead an Open the Book assembly for the children in KS2 (ages 4–6).
Together, they shared the story of Palm Sunday, and it was wonderful to see so many children taking part so enthusiastically. Their energy, engagement and willingness to join in made the story come alive for everyone. It was a real joy to see the children enter into the story so readily and help bring this important moment in the life of Jesus to life in such a memorable way.
We are delighted that this will now become a regular part of our ministry, and we look forward to many more opportunities to share Bible stories with the children in the weeks ahead. Building relationships with local schools is such an important part of the church’s life and witness, and we are grateful for this opportunity to serve the school community in a way that is creative, welcoming and rooted in the Christian story.
What is Open the Book?
Open the Book is a national project supported by Bible Society, in which church volunteers visit primary schools to present Bible stories in a lively, interactive and accessible way. Using simple scripts and child-friendly storytelling, each assembly invites children to hear and experience the great stories of the Bible in a way that is engaging, memorable and enjoyable.
One of the great strengths of Open the Book is that children are often invited to take part in acting out parts of the story. This helps the Bible come alive in a way that is especially meaningful for younger children, allowing them not only to listen but to participate and imagine themselves within the story.
The project is now used in thousands of schools, with teams of volunteers across the country helping children encounter the Bible through storytelling, reflection and prayer. It is a wonderful way for local churches to build strong, positive links with their schools and to support collective worship in a way that is inclusive, respectful and full of joy.
A Wonderful Start
Palm Sunday was a fitting story to begin with as we journey through the season leading towards Easter. The story of Jesus entering Jerusalem to shouts of praise and waving branches is one that lends itself beautifully to participation, and the children responded with real enthusiasm.
A huge thank you to all the children and staff at Valentine’s Primary School for such a warm welcome and for your enthusiastic involvement. It was a real pleasure to be with you, and we are very grateful for the kindness and encouragement shown to us during our visit.
Left: Sue Brakewell LLM. Right: Revd Garry Roberts
Looking Ahead
We are excited that this will become a regular part of our ministry and look forward to many more visits in the coming weeks. We pray that, through Open the Book, children will continue to discover the richness of the Bible’s stories and the love of God they reveal.
Please do pray for Garry and Su as they continue this ministry, and for all the children and staff at Valentine’s Primary School.