Children’s focus
Tim Stephenson
As restrictions continue to ease, the church leadership are very aware that adults have the choice of coming to Priory Street or, shortly, Rudloe Cafe on Sundays but that is a big ask for younger children. A small group met recently to try to work out what is possible and this is the result (from Rhiannon). For some of you perhaps this is an opportunity to get involved? But for everyone please lift up these plans and events and especially our youngest members in your prayers. For them, the last 14 months has been a significant chunk of their lives. I’m sure you’ll agree with the parent who reported:
[Our children] walk past the church and say ‘There’s our old church’, which breaks our hearts.
Over to Rhiannon:
Hi all
I’m excited to let you know that I am going to trial a couple of things with the children in mind to provide an opportunity for children to access in person meeting at church.
Firstly, I want to thank you for your patience, encouragement and support over the last 14 months with the online activities and more recently, the live Zoom sessions. I am aware that accessing things online has not been ideal but I’m thankful that it has been helpful to many of you.
So what is the plan?
The hope is that restrictions will continue to ease however, I want to approach the next few months with a positive but cautious approach, adhering to government guidelines at all times. We have a great opportunity to trial some different approaches to children’s ministry so, with that in mind, what we start back with may undergo changes and develop as we work out what is best for our children and end up looking different rather different from the initial plan.
Over the next few months we will be meeting on the farm for the first Sunday of the month, during theses services you will be able to collect an activity pack for your child, which will include colouring sheets, puzzles etc for them to complete during the service or at home later in the day. Hopefully, this will encourage the children to engage in the sermon at the right level. Please remember to bring your own pencils / crayons as there won’t be any provided in order to minimise contact between us.
On Sunday June 20th at 10am there will be a children’s service (the usual service with John preaching from Mark will be moved to 5pm on that day). This will be a short service that will be focussed on the children, there won’t be a sermon for adults, it will all be aimed at the children so that they can be reminded of what it’s like to be in church with their family, and of course for us to welcome some children into the church building for the first time!! I’m working on the final structure of the service but there will be sung worship (led from the front as we aren’t able to sing aloud yet) interactive story, craft to complement the story and lots of fun and enjoyment celebrating being able to worship together in person. As we will be restricted with numbers able to attend you will need to book your place for the service and details of how to do this will be in the notices nearer the time so keep your eyes open.
I hope that you are all keeping well and positive and I’m looking forward to seeing you all very soon.
God bless
Rhiannon
