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CHILDREN'S CHURCH 2008

        It's wonderful to see Children's Church continue to flourish. Many of our children have now undertaken the Welcome to the Lord's Table Communion Course and are regularly taking Holy Communion with us in the main church. These children are presenting themselves as role models to the others and there is now a momentum between them to partake in Communion.
        Thanks to Jo and her husband Bruce there is now a regular also a regular Youth Club for our older children which has been missing for so many years.
        Silvia has emerged as the main leader and co-ordinator since the departure of Peter and Smitha. Her natural ability, dedication and cheerfulness motivates us all.
        We have such fantastic children with us and visiting children from Baptism Sundays bring fresh expressions.
        Our ethos is to approach worship with fun and laughter and this creates a really warm and happy environment. I am constantly amazed at the depths of faith, love and understanding that the children have - most times I wonder who is leading who and who is teaching who! One thing is for sure, I always leave Children's Church on a high - our kids are so inspiring!!                                          Kevin Gwinnell

CHILDREN'S CHURCH 2007

" I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? " (Isaiah 43 v19a )
        This bible verse would have probably been suitable for a Sunday about 5 years ago.
        Thomas and Megan, both toddlers at this time, had discovered that it wasn't too difficult to escape out of the children's corner and to approach Grandma (Thomas) and Daddy (Megan ).
        After Patrice and I had spent a few Sundays trying to catch both children in time the Sunday came when during the service we just looked at each other, one of us asked "Choir vestry?"; and the other one nodded. That's where we took Megan and Thomas immediately and this is how children's church was born: two children in the choir vestry, three when Esther Prasadam arrived.
        One of our worries was: "How and where do we get children from?" Five years later on we have got other questions to think about: "How and where do we get helpers from?"
        About 8 children between two and eight years of age come to children's church every Sunday (sometimes more, sometimes less). This means that "Two people on duty" are not enough anymore. We need somebody to set up the room, somebody to welcome the children, somebody to go out into the church and invite new children into children's church.
        We also want to make sure that the children in the choir vestry get the attention they deserve so we have now got one helper looking after the little ones whilst the older children have got the luxury of having two people looking after them: The person who is leading the service in Children's church and a helper who helps wherever help is needed.
        We changed- as we are sure you have noticed- the stories and themes in Children's church. They are usually not linked with the readings in church any more. The reason for this is that we do not always find them suitable for the children. They were sometimes very difficult to explain and understand. We try to build up the knowledge of the children, rather than "jumping" from one story to another.
        Last year the children learnt about Joseph and Moses. This year they are learning about Jesus, how he grew up, what he did and what he taught. We try to include the ideas and wishes of the children. For example they asked for the story "The lost sheep". We then added the stories of "The lost coin" and "The prodigal son" before moving on to the miracles Jesus did. We also try to be as practical as possible and offer activities going with the stories and themes which hopefully will help the children to remember them. You know by now: the children are very happy to take part in the main service as well: doing a reading, singing songs, playing a story, giving books and other material out...   They know and feel that they are part of the congregation and it's lovely to see with how much joy they come out for a blessing (and grapes of course!), for baptisms or how happily they spent a whole service in church (like during "All Age services").
        The children themselves seem to feel more and more as a group of friends. They play together, work together, help each other. It's so wonderful to see how things grow.
        We still need volunteers and would be very thankful if some people would just be willing to be in the choir vestry from 9.45 till 10 am to welcome children when they arrive.                          Silvia Sermon

SUNDAY CLUB

BUBBLES - 3 - 5yrs                SPLASH - 5-8yrs
      XSTREAM - 8-11yrs

We had an exciting first term at Sunday Club.
The Scripture Union material we are using is brilliant and both children, leaders and helpers are enjoying exploring their faith through these exciting resources.

Through Advent we prepared for the birth of Jesus as we looked at the way God spoke to Mary and her obedience to his call. We thought about angels and their part in the Christmas story and in life today, and the angels message to the shepherds.

We finished our term at Sunday Club with a Christmas Party.
Unfortunately a number of the children were poorly and unable to attend and also another couple were away, but those of us who were there enjoyed playing games, hearing the Christmas story, taking Communion over in church and then returning for our party food.

In our first session back after Christmas we looked at Simeon who had prayed for years at the temple and then recognised Jesus.

For the next couple of sessions we are looking at Moses before starting our journey to the cross.

We would like to thank everyone who has donated toilet rolls, shirts, containers and other gifts they are really appreciated.
The offer is still open for anyone to pop and see us at anytime, and if you know any youngsters aged 3 to 11 yrs who you think would enjoy Sunday Club please tell them about us.

PRAYER NEEDS:
THANK GOD for Sunday Club and for our exciting first term.
THANK GOD for the children, leaders and helpers. Ask God to bless our times together.
PRAY for another couple of leaders to come forward to help us.
PRAY for more children to come along.

If you would like to know more about Sunday Club please speak to Mary Evans, Tel: 0121 561 3891.

SUNDAY CLUB
at Paul's Place

Since being licensed as a Reader in January 2009 I have been praying that God would show me areas of church life he wanted me to be involved with. I felt stirrings in my heart and one of for the children's ministry at St Paul's. I met with Mike and then the rest of the ministry team and shared the things I felt God was saying. I drew up some proposals and ministry team took these to P.C.C. who gave the go ahead for Children's Church which had been meeting in the choir vestry in church be closed at the end of the school year in July and something new be launched in September. I was to explore the way forward with the leaders of Children's Church. So Children's Church closed and over the next few weeks discussion took place about re-launching in September with a new name and new materials.

We are so grateful to all that has been achieved in ministry to our youngsters over the last few years but the time had come to move forward with new ideas.

Out of all our prayers and planning discussions the following was decided. SUNDAY CLUB would be launched on Sunday 13th September at 10am.   We would use Scripture Union resources and have three groups: BUBBLES for 3 to 5 yr olds - SPLASH for 5 to 8 yr olds - XSTREAM for 8 - 11 yr olds. It was felt that church would not be able to accommodate the three groups with the space that was needed so a BIG decision was made to meet in the church hall. Meetings would be on 2nd, 3rd & 4th Sundays and parents would be invited to drop their children off at the hall before going in to the church service. We felt it was important for all of us to be in church for the Communion on 2nd & 4th Sundays, not just the children who had done the Welcome to The Lord's Table Course, so on those Sundays it was planned for us to take the children over to church during the Peace and they would sit with their parents for the rest of the service. On 3rd Sundays we would have a longer session in the hall and parents would collect their children after the Baptism service.

Volunteers were asked for to be leaders and helpers - thank you to those who have come forward - there are 5 leaders and 9 helpers, which is brilliant and means that people don't need to commit to every session but we can work on a rota basis. It would be good to have another couple of leaders so if you would be interested please speak to me.

Excitement mounted as the launch date approached. Youngsters from Children's Church whose contact details we had were sent invitations.

BUBBLES would meet in the minor hall.   SPLASH would have an area in front of the stage. XSTREAM would have their area by the entrance. The middle section of the hall is a quiet place for our "Together Time" at the start of each session. We have the children's altar in this space with a special cross and candles.

All was ready and the 13th September arrived. I wondered if any children would turn up. The leaders and helpers arrived and familiarised themselves with the layout and suddenly the doors opened and the first children came.   I was overwhelmed - we ended up with 3 BUBBLES,
9 SPLASH and 2 XSTREAM. All who had received an invitation had come plus one extra child.
We had a mild panic as we hadn't prepared enough for 9 in SPLASH but that was quickly sorted and everyone enjoyed the first session of SUNDAY CLUB. We walked over to church and there was a real buzz of excitement. We arrived in church just as the Peace was ending. It seemed right to take everyone up front so everyone in the congregation could share our excitement. I have been humbled to see God at work through all of this, many affirmations and many things just slotting into place. Thank you to everyone who has prayed I have been very aware of the power of prayer so please continue to pray for Sunday Club.

We still have a few things to sort out but our first session was a success. We still need a few resources e.g. a CD/tape player, some material to make a proper divide between the "Together Time" space and SPLASH and XSTREAM areas, some craft resources etc. If anyone would like to make a small donation towards the cost of the items we need there is a box at the back of church.

Everyone is invited to pop in and see SUNDAY CLUB in action you would be made very welcome.

"He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Mark 9:36,37.