Did you know that nearly 20 teenagers attend the Cyfinders group which meets at the Mission Church on Sunday mornings? In a typical week, there might be about 10 attending and two adults working with them and recently, we have been trying an experiment: offering separate meetings for boys and girls on one of the four Sundays each month.

I asked both the boys and the girls what they felt about meeting separately and got some interesting replies: The boys are puzzled to find that the girls are often very quiet when they all meet together and wondered who will do the talking when they are on their own! They seem to quite like having one single-sex meeting a month but also admitted that if they met separately every time they might begin to miss female company! The girls are enjoying meeting separately because they get more opportunities to speak up and find it easier to put their point of view across. They think they will find it easier to talk more personally and have some ‘girlie chats’, but feel it’s good to meet as a mixed group too, so that they get the ‘other’ point of view. This extra group is being run by Jill Hopkins and Sarah McConnaughie who have eight boys between them, so it is to be hoped that they are enjoying something of a change!

Sometimes the Cyfinders do a ‘special’, such as on June 15th, when you may remember enjoying a cream tea or perhaps buying a bag of scones to take home? They were specially made by the group (boys and girls!), along with cups of tea and coffee and a range of smoothies and sold to raise money for John Ngacha Wambui, the Kenyan boy they sponsor. John, who was born in 1996, lives 20 miles south-west of Nairobi in Kiserian. He attends school, but also works on a farm and writes regularly to keep us up to date with his progress.

Please remember all our young people in your prayers. Perhaps this month you could pray especially for the teenagers, for their families and for those who work with them in our church. Remember: they are the church of today!

Marian Jones

August 2003 Youth News

Are we ready for Early Bird? It could be flying in to Street in the Autumn!!

"Early Bird" is a monthly action-packed 30 minute worship event for noughts to sevens and their carers.It is running successfully in many churches in and around Bristol, and in November it is coming to Street Parish Church. When David Parsons was a curate in Downend, Bristol, he was faced with a Parish Church with no children in it. He went to a presentation given by Victor, the inventor of Early Bird, and thought it might be worth trying. He found it certainly was worth trying!

What happens at Early Bird is this: After the 8 am service on the first Sunday of each month, five helpers arrive in church, the projector screen is put up, costumes are put ready, an apple tree is set up by the door, musicians tune up, and a tape of children's worship songs plays on the sound system. The helpers, who have met to plan and pray ten days before the event, and who have been making preparations in the days between, pray again, and hope that at least a few families will turn up. They have visited about 100 families in the weeks just past and explained about Early Bird and invited the families to come. The families are almost all those who have been to church for a Baptism in the last two or three years, but who haven't found any way of joining in worship that really suits them.

If Early Bird starts at 9.30, then by 9.25 the helpers are getting really depressed, because nobody has come. Then at 9.28 the first group walks down the path, and the families keep coming, nearly half of them late. Well, you know what it is getting children ready. There are 30 or 40 people there in the end.

When the children and their parents - and there are just as many fathers as mothers, and a sprinkling of grandparents - come through the church door, music is playing, so they don’t feel awkward. Each child takes an apple (cardboard) from a basket, the child's name is written on the apple, and the child fixes the apple to the tree (hardboard) with blu-tak. A simple thing, but the children love it. At 9.30 the Early Bird Prayer is said, and action choruses begin. The words are on the screen. Some of the youngest children are bewildered, but their parents join in with a will. When everyone is worn out, it's drama/story time. It's always a Bible story, and this week it might be acted out by the helpers and then repeated by the children, or it might involve the children being a crowd, or the sea, or fish, or Wise Men. Or they might just sit on the carpet at the front, watching the puppets act out the story. When this is over, the half hour is almost gone. There's just time to sing a song that backs up the message of the story, to say a prayer about it, to have an invitation to next month's Early Bird, and to sing the song that is sung at every Early Bird. Families leave, taking with them some small present to remind them of the Bible message, and maybe two invitation cards for next month - one for themselves, and one for their friend's family.

The great thing is that it's still only 10 am. They still have loads of time to go swimming, go to football practice, visit grandparents, or whatever. No wonder it's a success.

Meanwhile, what’s been happening in Street?

July 12th/13th was a busy weekend for Mission Church youngsters. On the Friday night a dozen Explorers and Cyfinders went to Ringos in Yeovil to practise sliding down the dry ski slope on large rubber rings. A useful life skill! Then they went to McDonalds for a spot of eating and drinking. And on Sunday afternoon about a dozen of the younger members took a few adults to Brean Down for some digging, ice-cream-eating and general covering-everything-in-sand. Again, a good time was had by all. Thanks to the organisers of both treats.

Marian Jones

October 2003 YOUTH NEWS

As I write this we have already started a new school year and the young peoples' groups are back in full swing during the Sunday morning services. During the Summer the office has been emptied so we have a little more room to accommodate the young people.

We are trying different ways of integrating children and young people into the church services. Some of the ideas come from the young people themselves, some from our Rector and some from the Youth Committee. Today, the second Sunday of the month, the children and young people came into the service at the beginning of the service for quarter of an hour. Look and listen for more subtle changes in how children and young people get involved over the coming weeks and months.

CONGRATULATIONS to all those young people who did well enough in their exams this summer to get where they wanted to be! Eleanor Decamp starts her English degree at Jesus College, Cambridge this autumn. Alex Jones, Emma Marshfield and Chris Williams are all beginning courses at Strode College. Alex and Chris are doing A Levels (Alex in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Politics and Chris in Maths, Physics, Human Biology and Critical Thinking). Emma is doing an AVCE in Social Care, along with A Levels in Sociology and Human Biology. All of them need our prayers as they settle in to demanding new routines. And don't forget our 'Ex-youngsters' (I hope they're not offended!!) Tim Decamp and Helen Reade, both back at Cambridge for their 2 Year of History and 3rd year of Medicine respectively.

Next, please think about those with important exams this year. Becky Williamson will be finishing her A Levels at Strode College and those who've just started Year 11 - Ben Hopkins, Ceinwen Hatrey and Nicola Hawkins - will be working hard for their GCSE exams this summer. At the same time they and Becky all have big decisions to make about what to do at the end of the year, when it will be time to move on to the next stage.

Also those in Year 10 - Abby Hatrey, Fran Marshfield, Alastair Reade and Dan Jones - could do with some encouragement as they begin their two-year GCSE courses.

Nathalie Hawkins, Tim Hatrey, Jennifer Williams and Tara Rendall all moved up to secondary school this autumn. Nathalie, Tim and Jennifer are in Year 7 at Crispin and Tara has gone to Sexey's School in Bruton, where she will be a weekly boarder. We look forward to welcoming her back at weekends!

Finally, please pray for all those who started "Big School' this year. Caolan started at Butleigh Primary School, Charlotte is at Brookside, Olivia is at Millfield Pre-Prep and Joel is at Hindhayes.

Finally a few words of encouragement for Parents, Teachers and the Children themselves.

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not turn from it.

November 2003 YOUTH NEWS

Two week ago we had a wonderful evening at the first Event. This is an opportunity for young people to explore new ways of worshipping, praying and sharing questions and ideas about being a Christian. We met in the Mission Church and began with an amazing array of cocktails - seeing a Soda Stream again brought back memories for the older ones amongst us - many thanks Dave! We then gathered into a transformed upper room inviting the young people to worship and pray with us. Twelve of our young people came to The Event and we would ask you to pray for them and the adults involved (Judith, Mark, Steve, Dave, Adrian and myself) as we prepare for next month's Event.

We have also had a hectic start to the groups meeting on Sunday mornings, reparations for Harvest Festival, including the oversize banana, provided food for thought for the older groups. At the other end, the new Sparklers group for 3 and 4 year olds is providing an environment where some of our youngest children can learn more about God through a combination of Bible stories and activities.

Beyond Sunday morning many of our youngsters came to the Harvest Supper. The peppermint cream and chocolate krispy making was a big hit not least with those that had the opportunity to eat them (I expect, like us, many parents were presented with a decorative but empty box to sample!). Thanks must go to Frankie Marshfield, lan Jones and a number of the Cylinders for providing entertainment. We are blessed with some talented youngsters who are quick to volunteer and offer these talents for the benefit of us all - certainly a lesson for all of us. Finally a few requests:

If anyone has any large cushions or bean bags needing a new home we would be delighted to make use of them in The Event.
I put an appeal for babysitters into last month's magazine. Thank you for those who put their names forward. However, I could really do with a few more volunteers.

Sarah

December 2003 Youth News

Just recently there have been so many things going on which involve our children and young people, that it's hard to choose which to write about. So. I've gone for a 'stocking-filler' approach, and have collected together a number of little snippets and goodies. Here goes...

The Angels and Stars party, held at the Mission Church, was a glorious success. Over 50 5-9 year olds came to us on October 31st, to enjoy a safe, Christian alternative to Halloween activities. They started with parachute games, then went on to a whole range of craft activities and games: apple-bobbing, eating doughnuts from a string, face-painting, icing biscuits, making peppermint creams and candle-dipping were all on offer, as was the chance to make bead bracelets or angel wings. A party tea was handed out, and the evening finished with a few words from David Hatrey and a distribution of gold and silver balloons to take home. It was a real team effort; I counted 18 adult helpers and also we had the willing services of some of the older youngsters who mingled and helped where needed, ran the doughnut game (thanks, Tim) and supervised a creche (brave work, Ceinwen and Abby) so some of the smallest children's mothers could get involved. Special thanks to David and Jenny Collins who made all the food bags and provided craft equipment, and to Selina, who organised a fail-safe system which meant we knew exactly which children we had and which adults were collecting them. Quite a feat!

Talking of youngsters helping out, did you see the drama sketch performed by Ben, Sam. Tim and Dan in the service for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church? Their depiction of the difficulties of life as a Christian in countries where the church is repressed illustrated Bernard's talk very graphically. On the same weekend, Delaja and Helen ran a stall at the Christmas Bazaar, raising over £11 with their game of 'Guess the Teddy's Name' and the sale of Christmas cards made by Delaja and her Mum.

Lots of youngsters and their families have been busy making contributions to 'Operation Christmas Child'. Shoe boxes were collected, wrapped in gift paper and filled with presents suitable for a particular category of child, say a teenage girl or a primary-school aged boy. Altogether, we collected 18 boxes, which will join thousands more and be transported overseas by the charity Samaritan's Purse to be distributed to victims of war, poverty, famine, disease or natural disaster. Many of our youiigslcry helped 10 choose and pack the contents, which included useful things like soap. toothbrushes and gloves or woolly hats and also a variety of fun items such as lollipops and sweets, crayons and felt tip pens, small toys and jewellery. Some added family photos and cards to personalise the gifts, which will be distributed on our behalf to children for whom Christmas might otherwise bring nothing at all. In countries where it is permitted, the gifts are accompanied by bible extracts.

At the same time. fund-raising continues to support our sponsored child, John. M&M tubes have been given out and when the sweets had gone, youngsters were asked to take the tubes home and fill them gradually with coins. We are hoping to collect them all back in again by Christmas- and to put the money aside to cover the next few monthly payments. On December 21:i', the Cylinders will be making mince pies to sell after the service for the same cause. So if you will be at the Mission Church on that day. please bnng some cash along and be ready to sample some of their baking, or to buy some and take them home for tea!

Meanwhile, planning has begun for the Christmas Eve Service in the Mission Church. The Cyfinders are wanting a play especially for the occasion. (Did you see last year's wonderful on-the-spot interviews from Bethlehem, in which Mary, Joseph et al told the journalists all about their role in the greatest story ever told?) We don't want to reveal too much in advance- but suffice to say there are parts for everyone and we aim to keep up the usual high standards of drama, music and readings, laced perhaps with a little humour and a few special effects. By that hour on Christmas Eve, we need to re-tell the Christmas story in a way that will have the congregation, who may have been to one or two Christmas Nativities already, hanging on our every word. Do try to be there!

And I haven't even mentioned The Event, (which is the new monthly youth service) or the whole new Sunday School group (The Sparklers) which has been formed to accommodate growing numbers or given you an update on David Parsons' new venture. Sunrise, a monthly service for under-8s and their parents or carers which will start on Advent Sunday in the Parish Church. Since we are running out of space, all these goodies will have to wart until 2004. Let's make it a year when we continue to nurture all the children and young people we are already blessed with and when we also try to reach out to some of those who don't yet know us What could be more important?

Marian Jones