Sowing the Seeds
23/04/2009
Sheila Bamber reports on various aspects of the Sowing the Seeds project.
We have had a very positive response from across the diocese as we continue to explore what outreach and contact with young people may look like in your setting. Not only have we been involved in lots of conversations, but we are seeing the decisions made from the churches and lay people now bearing fruit!
St Mary’s, Shincliffe has developed ‘Messy church’. Run on a Sunday afternoon, families and children packed the hall as they explored the theme ‘Make a Joyful Noise’ for their first gathering (see photo). Using crafts, a short talk and singing, the messy experience ended with a meal together.
Jarrow Deanery has begun the process of gathering the youth together. St. John’s, Hebburn hosted a youth cafe style service with music, testimony, conversations and cocktails! Using the feedback from the youth who attended we are now able to explore what shape this may take for the future. Places like Eighton Banks are starting by building on natural relationships and are now beginning to create low maintenance ways for the church to re-connect with children.
Churches in the Stanhope area are beginning conversations to see what it may look like to encourage and work with one another to extend God’s Kingdom in that area. There are also deaneries in the Auckland area, as well as local churches, committing to praise parties and holiday clubs - some started this Easter with ‘Easter Explorers’.
As a team we want to encourage you over the next two and a half years to have a go at developing new and creative ways to be church with young people that are sustainable. If you have not yet made contact with us please do. As well as ongoing support for churches with ‘limited’ or no work with young people, some of the things we can offer are a ‘Basic Training Course’ for those who need to start from the beginning and remind themselves of good practice and how to get going! We have developed ‘Praise Parties’ (see below). We are also gathering material for holiday activities and after school work. Please see the website for further information and contact details.
For more stories and information about the work of the Sowing the Seeds team go to the Diocesan Board of Education's website: www.boardofed.org.uk
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