01/06/2009: Opening Doors
As I write this during Christian Aid week many people throughout the country will be busy knocking on doors as part of the house to house collection. I know from experience that sometimes doors are slammed in your face and at other times people can be extremely generous, welcoming and friendly. In my work as a Family Worker I have been knocking at doors – not on the streets, but in schools and in conversations with people, in order to discover which doors will open, and which doors it will be helpful to go through as the Family Worker project develops. I’d like to tell you about some of the doors which have opened for me this month.
One of the highlights was the ecumenical Children’s Work training day held at the Exeter Diocesan Offices on 22nd April. It was good to meet with people involved in children’s work in other local churches. Katherine Lyddon, Children’s Work Adviser for the Diocese of Exeter led a helpful session on ‘Dealing with challenging behaviour’. Another speaker, Hannah Richards gave some useful pointers as to how to reach children ‘where they are’, getting us to think about the ‘hidden messages’ which underlie group meetings, and the sometimes conflicting aims of children, their parents and children’s workers.
Continuing the ecumenical theme, I had meetings with the Rev. Alistair McKenna, Minister of Emmanuel Baptist Church, and his Youth Worker Ian Rush. It was good to learn about the clubs which the church runs for children and young people, and to have the opportunity to visit their Parent and Toddler Group which meets on Wednesday mornings. It was certainly a hive of activity the day I was there, providing a useful support to the families which attend. My meeting with Ian Rush led to an invitation to join him, together with Sacha and Bethan, the SWYM (South West Youth Ministries) youth workers attached to All Saints’ Church, and Mark from Exeter at the club which they run at Sidmouth College on Friday lunchtimes. It provides an opportunity to chat to the young people informally as they have fun playing games, and the Christian Gospel is presented in a short and relevant ‘God slot’ towards the end of the session.
I had a further opportunity to chat to Sacha and Bethan and learnt more about SWYM and the activities they are involved in at All Saints’ Church. They recently held a ‘tea and jam’ session – nothing to do with afternoon tea, the ‘jam’ refers to the instruments. A live music/magazine show is being planned for Saturday 20th June from 3 pm onwards in Connaught Gardens, which will feature Christian bands, competitions and interviews, including an interview with the Bishop of Crediton, Bishop Bob Evens. All are welcome to come to this ‘Party in the Park’.
On one of the few rainy mornings we have had recently I took an assembly at All Saints’ Infants School. The children responded enthusiastically to the invitation to catch fish (card cut outs with paperclips which were attracted to the magnet on the end of an improvised rod and line). The story was Jesus appearing to his disciples while fishing and inviting them to join him for breakfast. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk to the children and to share the Christian message with them.
You have probably heard about the new Youth Cafe ‘The Rock Cafe’ which has opened in the Old Post Office building. I called in the day after it opened and met the lady who runs it with her husband, Melanie Le Roux. She is a committed Christian, with a heart for supporting the young people of our town. The cafe looks very attractive inside, with tables and comfy seats, a snack counter and a couple of exercise machines for those who want to work off the calories! It is open from 12 noon to 7 pm, Mondays to Fridays, and Melanie told me that older people would be welcome to drop in for a cuppa at a very reasonable price early on in the day before the young people arrive. It’s good to know that there is a safe and welcoming place where young people can meet here in Sidmouth.
It was good to be able to support the recent Junior Church breakfast. By the time you read this we will have had the Junior Church Anniversary service, led by Pete and Debs Brazier of Seaton. Debs and I, together with Gill, the Family Worker from Chard, recently met up for mutual support and to share ideas. I’m continuing my programme of attending various church activities, having attended Choir Practice and the Thursday Group AGM. I also enjoyed the recent Concert and soup lunch for Christian Aid, which gave me the opportunity to get to know a few more people. I took the Women’s Fellowship on a trip to Uganda recently, in words and pictures, and we had a go at singing some hymns in Ugandan style. I would like to thank Robin Dixon for helping me with the powerpoint presentation.
As many of you will know, the Diocese of Exeter is celebrating the 1100th anniversary of the Christian Church in this area on Saturday 27th June. As well as a celebration service with the Archbishop of Canterbury on the Cathedral Green in Exeter, and seminars on various subjects at venues across the city, two exciting events are being organised for children and young people. The ‘Jim Bailey Altogether Worship Show’ will be taking place in a tent in the Garden of the Bishop’s Palace from 2.30-4.45 pm on Saturday 27th June. To get in you need to be aged 5 to 11 (or under 5 with a parent), and pay £1 pre-booked, or £4 on the day. The other event aimed at young people of a slightly older age group is on Friday 26th June from 7.30-11.30 pm at Exeter Cathedral, and features live music, a skate park, assault course, sumo wrestling, worship, a cafe and the Archbishop of Canterbury on a sofa! Entry to this event is free. Details of these and the other events can be found on the web at www.devon1100.org
There are some exciting events ahead, and I’m sure you will continue to support the Church’s mission amongst children and young people.
Ann.