 |
|  |
|---|
|
Summer Club 1989 -Kings Club (October 1989 edition of the magazine) Did you know that for three days at the end of July, St. Thomas' church contained a real castle with a king in residence, knights in shining armour and scores of loyal subjects - not to mention the many adult peasants who dutifully served their masters? The occasion? - KING'S CLUB! An event where 108 children between the ages of 3 and 12 experienced what it means to be a citizen in a kingdom where Jesus is the King. But to fill you in a little... Each day began officially for the leaders at 9.15 with a short time of worship. I say 'officially' because I happen to know that for some it began much earlier (like about 6.30sm to make sure that every eventuality had been catered for!) Between 9.30 and 10.00 the children arrived - a little apprehensive perhaps on the first day - with their 50p and lunch box. What would it be like? Would any of their friends be there too? Would it be boring spending the school holidays in church? Well, any such fears were soon dispelled when Jim Crawley got the show on the road at 10.00 with a fantastic half hour of worship which included learning the theme song 'We are in God's Army', a very noisy way of ending a prayer known as an African Amen, and a hand-clapping sequence ending in a shout 'JESUS' made in response to 4 question such as 'Who is the King in our Kingdom?' Each of the three days had a theme - The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory and the days passed really quickly because there were such exciting things to do. One minute you were doing drama, the next you were listening to a vet who came to talk about caring for small animals, then you were making armour to demonstrate the power of God, and learning about healing with a visit by a real ambulance and medical team! The final day was one long celebration of the glory that is in God's kingdom. It began with the lowering of the cross to form a bridge between. the nave of the church and the castle which had been built beside the choir stalls. The children had to walk on the cross to get into the kingdom on their way to the coaches which would take them to Queens Park Sports Centre for swimming and activities in the sports hall. After an exhausting morning they returned to St. Thomas' for a party lunch with games to finish. I am sure that all the parents would wish to join with me in saying a big 'Thank You' to all 50 of the helpers, and especially to the organising committee of Hilary Ratcliffe, Jim Crawley, Chris Cowley, Brian Smith, Ann Griffiths, Helen Clayton and Carol Woodward. I don't think I have ever seen children and adults alike look so exhausted by 3 o'clock in the afternoon! But one thing on which we all agree - it was worth it and we all learned something about what a privilege and a pleasure it really is to be counted a citizen in the Kingdom where Jesus is the King. Summer Club 1990 -Shipmates (October 1990 edition of the magazine) This year's summer club was called Shipmates. It was very different to what I thought it would be like. I enjoyed it very much. It was at the end of July for 3 - 13 year olds. We all started together at St. Thomas' at 10 o'clock. There were about 160 of us plus all the leaders and helpers. Each morning Jim Crawley explained to us the theme for the day. On Wednesday the theme was "All at Sea." We learnt that before we become Christians we are all lost. Thursday's theme was "The Lifeboat." This taught us that God sent Jesus like a lifeboat to save us. The final day's theme was "Shipmates" where we learnt that when we become Christians we join God's crew and learn to tell others how He can save them. We also had a great theme song called "Abandon Ship." After the introduction each day we all went into our workshops. I was in the 11 to 13 year old group at the church in Storrs Road. Different activities linking in with the theme for each day included making collages, boats, videos, newspaper reports and comic strips; drama and music; lifesaving and swimming; first aid and games; visiting speakers sharing their experience of helping others. My favourite activities were making a video of an up-to-date version of the feeding of the five thousand and going swimming. At half past two each afternoon we all came back to St. Thomas' for a final half hour of singing, finding out what other groups did and being reminded of the day's theme. On Friday afternoon we had a Praise Party which included playing lots of games, singing and talking to God. Thank you everybody who helped make it such a super summer club. I really enjoyed it. Andrew Goodacre Summer Club 1991 -Superbook (October 1991 edition of the magazine) Summer Club 1991 took place on Thursday and Friday, 25th and 26th July. (This year only two days as the schools didn't break up until Wednesday). The theme was "Superbook". The aim was to teach the children about the Bible. The children were "explorers" of God's word found in the Bible. As in previous years there was a theme song. This year it went like this: "Come on, let's go exploring. Let's find the truth in the Bible, digging into God's word." On the Thursday we dug into the Old Testament. The 5-6 age group learnt about Noah's Ark and made some beautiful animal masks. The older groups studied the 10 Commandments and Jonah and the Whale. The 9-l0s made a tape and cartoon of Daniel in the lion's den which is to be shown at the family service in October (a date not to be missed), and the 11 plus group set parts of psalms to music. On Friday we dug into the New Testament. The children spent some time learning about the miracles and parables of Jesus. The 9-l0s brought the parable of the Good Samaritan up to date and acted out real life situations where the Good Samaritan could be found today. Such a venture as this needs much planning and many thanks go to Jim Crawley and his team, Chris Cowley (St. Thomas), Anita Wilson and Carol Woodward (St. John's), Helen Clayton and Anne Dilkes (Storrs Road Methodist). Each group of children had a pastoral leader who stayed with them throughout the two days, and numerous others helped run workshops, make drinks and so on. In all, some 200 children took part in "Superbook". The atmosphere in church was electric. I would recommend any member of our churches to attend the final half hour of each day at St.Thomas' next year (Yes please, Jim!). The excitement and enthusiasm of the children is wonderful. In the secular world in which we live we can no longer assume that all children have a knowledge of the Bible. Many households do not own even a dusty copy. For some of the children this may be their only contact with the church until next year, but seeds have been sown and the questions in the theme song have been answered: Is it only for grown-ups? No, No, No! Is it all very boring? No! Is it all very made up? No, No, No! Is it just fairy stories? No! This year 33 children went forward at the end on Friday, expressing a wish to learn more about God's word and Jesus. They will be contacted individually and put in touch with a church locally. As a workshop leader of 7-8s I was amazed at the knowledge and grasp some of the children had of the fifteen or so miracles we discussed. It brought home to me the responsibility we all have in sharing our faith with the young. I ask you to pray with me that 1n God's good time the seeds sown these two days will come to fruition and the children will learn to live their lives in the knowledge and love of God. Liz Travis Summer Club 1992 -Treasure Seekers (October 1992 edition of the magazine) This years summer club was called Treasure Seekers. It was held over 3 days at the beginning of the summer holidays. It was based at St. Thomas' Church, but we also used Storrs Road Methodist Church and Westfield Infant School. The children who came were aged from about 4 to 13, and they came from all of the three churches. There were also some children who didn't usually go to church. The children were divided by age and each group did their own activities. The activities were led by parents and other helpers and they were based around lots of parables. At the beginning and end of each day all of the groups were seated in the church, where the different groups reported back to Jim Crawley and the other children. We also sang a few songs and our favourite song was "Blessed be the name of the Lord". Jessica Rodgers Hooray it was Summer Club time again! Having been to two before at St. Thomas', I was looking forward excitedly to this year's Summer Club. It started soon after the school term finished and lasted for three days. This year it was called "Treasure Seekers" and was about Jesus' parables. There were lots of children there and many were from my school. We were organised into different groups. I was in the 'Maroon Spots' and my sister, Natalie, was in the 'Gold Stars'. We did lots of different things. We made bread, a collage, took part in drama and played games. I learnt about Jesus and the meaning of his stories, called parables. This made me think a lot about Jesus and God. I decided I wanted to follow Jesus. Things seem different now. Jesus is my friend and loves me. He helps me when I am sad and when things seem difficult. He has helped me to settle at my new school. I am sure many other children would like Jesus as a friend. Jonathan Abbott (Aged 11) Summer Club 1993 -Special Branch (October 1993 edition of the magazine) From a Pastoral Leader I was a "pastoral leader" of the Silver Stars (age 9 - 10) group, which meant that, even though I was 21, I was allowed to join in the activities with them. We went to Westfield School each day, apart from the "altogether" bits in church. The first day was called "The Special One". It was all about Jesus. We made some pictures and a commentary for them, of his life story, and acted a kind of drama together to represent his death and resurrection. The second day was called "The Special Gift" and was about God's special gift to his church, the Holy Spirit. We made kites to remind us how he is like the wind, and decorated them with different fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We also played parachute games which were fun! On the third day we looked at "The Specialists". Ordinary Christians who are serving God. Most of the ones we looked at were quite famous. Our group watched a video about Corrie Ten Boom and we acted out hiding Jews from the Nazis. Then we heard about Brother Andrew who smuggled bibles into Communist countries. We did a treasure hunt and found about 10 bibles in secret compartments of a car! I think most of the bona-fide 9-10 year olds enjoyed it as much as I did. Some were already regulars at St Thomas': others didn't know about Sunday Club which happens all year round! It was good to see some of the new friends I'd made, who were Silver Stars at the September Family Service, Summer Club Revisited. I hope and pray that they will .be specialists for life, living for the Special One through the power of his Special Gift. Jonty Frith Summer Club at the Sharp End! We were all very excited at the start of summer club. Then Jim came and introduced us to the theme, Special Branch. He taught us the theme song 'Cast your burdens onto Jesus' or burgers as someone in our house says. I was in silver stars. Our pastoral leader was Jonty. We went to Westfield School for our group activities. My favourite activities were kites, first aid and a session on Paul's journey to Damascus. At the end of each day we all met back together again in church and had another session of worship. We looked at what other groups had made. I enjoyed it all. Thomas Green Summer Club through the Eyes of a Pastoral Leader (1994) (October 1994 edition of the magazine) Two years ago I was fairly new to St Thomas' and certainly new to the whole concept of Summer Club. Having been encouraged to go along to the final session in 1992, I now feel as much a part of Summer Club as the children. 'Blessed be the name of the Lord'. The theme song, the volume of children, the sheer buzz and excitement that filled the church on that day, all helped provide such a wonderful feeling within me. A feeling that I can't really put into words, but one that I know was shared with others on that day. Two years later, there I was again, not visiting this time, but one of many resident pastoral leaders. I was a Blue Brick, and had 18 little blue bricks to keep me company. Being Pastoral Leader of the first time was a very enjoyable experience, and I have been left with many fond memories of my 3 - 4 year olds. The nicest of all was seeing 18 little faces again on the 2nd and 3rd days. Although I have a 4 year old of my own, I am still amazed at the amount of information children can absorb at that young age. I do believe that most, if not all, will have gone home having learnt that God gave us some rules called the 'Ten Commandments', and that we need to keep these rules if we want God to be happy. Just as we keep our parents happy by listening to their rules! The blue bricks learnt about 'Honouring their Fathers and Mothers'. In their own language, we tried to encourage them to help, love and respect their parents. We went on to learn about Jonah and what happened to him when he didn't listen to God. What we tried to do for three days, was to make it fun. We painted beautiful pictures; we flapped fish; we played pass the parcel; we played in sand; we sang songs; we were policemen; we made houses; we drove cars; we swam round church; and did so much more; having a wonderful time learning about God and the Ten Commandments. And if we couldn't count to 18 before Summer Club, we certainly can now. I can't think how many times we counted them in and out of the portacabin and the loos! Besides the responsibility, I think my biggest problem as pastoral leader to such a young group was having to explain each day at 10.30 am when Jim let us go - that 'No it was not lunch time quite yet!' When we all met for the first and final sessions of the day, yet again the theme song raised over 200 pairs of hands and nearly the roof. The children are Summer Club! The sheer volume of excitement is the reward! - And no-one deserves this reward more than Jim Crawley and his committee. Without all their hard work, Summer Club would not be possible. If you've never been, why not go along in 1995, for the final half hour session on the last day. To coin a phrase 'Listen with your Ears'. Listen to the buzz, the chat, the excitement, the joy, the enthusiasm, the shouting, the singing, the quiet prayer time - see for yourselves how children can enjoy learning about God, and how St Thomas' teaches them. I'll be there next year - will you? Jane Simmonds Summer Club 1996 from a Pastoral Leaders Viewpoint (October 1996 edition of the magazine) I had been on the fringe of the activities last year whilst working in the church office and Irene, as a schoolteacher, had felt in past years that once the summer holidays had begun, she could relax from work with children and in any event normally we would be away during the time that Summer Club is happening. We had both heard so much about summer club in the past that we felt we would like to be part of the action this year, so with a little apprehension we told Ian and Pauline Simmons that we were prepared to help for the three days. It was very clear from the first minutes of meeting together in church that the organisation of such an event was a huge task and had been extremely well done by all of those involved. It was also apparent that Jim's enthusiasm was infectious; it was a joy to see the children respond to him. It was only a short while before the day that we knew what our role was to be. We had been designated as pastoral leaders to two groups of ten year olds. At this time we wondered do we make a great escape from the ‘Great Escape’. The only problem was that we did not really know what the role of being pastoral leaders entailed. We quickly learned that it meant looking after all the needs of our charges and trying to build up a relationship with them over the three days. It also included being a stand in session leader when one of the leaders failed to make an appearance. All of the sessions were well prepared and as well as being active they focused on the bible teachings of Jesus in such a way as to be interesting for the children. At the end of each day before joining together with all the groups in the church we had a short time of discussing with the children what they had learned about Jesus. It was exciting to us that there was a genuine interest about what had been done and a willingness to want to talk about Jesus and how important the Bible stories are in today's society. We all learned a new song, "I reach up high" which was sung with great gusto at the beginning and the end of each day, with all of the actions and obviously enjoyed by all present including parents. At they end of the three days Jim suggested to the children that they pray a prayer with him, and if they felt after, that Jesus had in some way come in to their lives during the three days then they should tell their leaders so that there could be come gentle follow up as a response. What joy it gave us that one or two responded, leaving us in no doubt, that however much hard work is involved in preparation and running such an event one such a response makes it all worthwhile. Roger and Irene Freestone St Thomas' Beach Party (October 1997 edition of the magazine) On September 3rd approximately 100 passengers gathered at rainy Brampton airport for a flight to the sun with Galilee Tours. They were accompanied by close relatives who said their farewells in the departure lounge. To ensure that everyone was seated in the aircraft they were warmly greeted by Captain Andy and then Flight Engineer Pete went through the flight routine. Seat belts were fastened, the engines changed from a hum to a roar and we were away. This was no ordinary flight however: this one had altitude, I mean attitude -it was a flight into faith. Once we had settled into level flight at 28,000 feet Chief Courier Karen taught us a new song accompanied by the youth band. The message about trusting Jesus if you feel you are sinking was very reassuring to those who were a bit nervous about flying! After a safe landing in sunny Galilee the holiday activities began. Any ideas that this was going to be a lazy time on the beach were soon dispelled. On this holiday things happened. Such interesting and creative things they were too and all of them related in some way to the sea or water. Perhaps we should look in more detail at some of the ways in which the different groups passed their time. CRABS, for example, made a super picture of a boat then for relaxation, they all went for a swim. OCTOPUSES were busy making a lot of lovely flags with palm tree scenes to remind them of their time in Galilee. In another location it was storytime for STARFISH with Auntie Sheila ably assisted in some follow-up work by Kate and Natalie. SEAHORSES were also doing flags, two dimensional ones flat is, with fish and inspiring messages. At the Storrs Road beach resort a well organised group of FISHES were building cardboard boats. Would you go to sea in a cardboard boat'? Er, well. Perhaps it would take a lot of faith. In another part of thus resort SHELLS produced wonderful see-through pictures of a seascape. For their take home souvenir, ANCHORS each decorated a mug with a sea scene. An ideal reminder on dull winter days of sunny days by the Before leaving for the flight home everyone gathered at the main resort with Captain Andy, who was stood close by the shore in a boat. It was a real boat with a sail on which was written the message Trust God and Obey Him. Then it was back to the aircraft with more singing and playing from the excellent youth band. Our flight home seemed to take hardly any time at all and, on arrival, there were welcoming groups of parents and friends to greet everyone on our return. Glyn Botham Holiday Club 2001 (October 2001 edition of the magazine) Impressions of Cosmic Circus –a Group Leader’s Perspective Even as I volunteered to be a group leader for Cosmic Circus I wondered what I had let myself in for. I need not have been concerned because right from the start the event began to go with a swing. We were a very and integrated group yet made up of quite different individuals and we took part in all sorts of activities such as games, storytelling, arts and crafts, singing and dancing and, of course, learning about the Christian message. It was lovely to see the smiling and excited faces of the children as they came each morning to take part in another fun packed session. The puppets were very popular with the children, especially Ginger, and indeed Sarah in my group fell quite in love with him. The children enjoyed working as a team and in the process they made lots of new friends and we all had a wonderful time. I feel that we have reached out and shared the love of Jesus with others and made a real difference to some of the families who came along. At the end of the week quite a few of the parents said how grateful they were and how much the children had enjoyed it. I know I enjoyed it and look forward to next year when, I am confident, even more children will attend. Joan Galloway An interview with Ginger Interviewer: How are you? Ginger: I am fine, although I'm a little sad. Interviewer: Why is that? Ginger: Because I miss all the children from Cosmic Circus. Interviewer: So you had a good time at our holiday club? Ginger: Yes, it was great I met loads of people and made lots of friends. It was especially good when people came to see me, and I got to talk to them personally. Interviewer: So where are you living now? Ginger: I'm staying at David's house, although it's not as nice as the home that Phil Herrick made for me at Cosmic Circus. That was excellent! Interviewer: What else do you remember about Cosmic Circus? Ginger: I really enjoyed the activities and the games. There was so much to do that I didn't know where to begin. Interviewer: Will we see you at St Thomas' again? Ginger: Yes, I'm sure I'll be back to see you all again. Interviewer: Bye Ginger: Bye Lighthouse Party 2001 (December 2001 edition of the magazine) We had a party on the 31 October to celebrate light and God! It was called the Lighthouse Party and about 100 children came along to join in the fun. We had puppets, music and songs, and we even had some very special flag waving. There was craft, parachutes, flip the kipper, video, food and sweets, and a game involving hoops which I never really fully understood! It was a great night for all and I would like to thank all those who came along to help as well as all those who joined in. Neil Roper Memories of 'Treasure Seekers'-Holiday Club 2002 (October 2002 edition of the magazine) The summer already seems a long time ago, but the memories of Treasure Seekers still live on. It was a wonderful week of fun, learning and friendship. We had 140 children each day and about 180 over the whole week. To lead this year we had over 80 people involved in one capacity or another. It was an incredible experience for both the children and the leaders. One of the most exciting parts of the week was when the children wrote their prayers. Some of their prayers were amazing, and it was great to see what they had learnt and understood. I'm still meeting parents and children who are talking about Treasure Seekers. The appreciation in the community and the awe at the crafts that the children brought home are still being expressed. The week really was a great success. To finish I'd just like to thank all the people who made Treasure Seekers possible and all the children that came and joined in. We do not know what affect this week has had on the lives of these children, but we pray that God will continue to work in their lives as He was during Treasure Seekers. Neil Roper Memories of 'Star Seekers'-Holiday Club 2003 (October 2003 edition of the magazine) I am writing this in early September, six weeks after the event. Yesterday whilst having a coffee with a friend I heard her daughter singing “Our God is a great big God”. This little star had heard the song whilst collecting her big sister from summer club. How wonderful that God’s message is out there and being passed from one to another. Each year I think, “Well that week went well and the children had a great time – we will not do any better than that” and of course, we do! The first week of the school holidays is proving to be a highlight in our local children’s lives. I have been told by many parents what a good time their children had, and how impressed they were with the whole set up. Thanks to the dedicated group of staff and volunteers and the first class leadership, the children enjoyed five mornings of craft, games, songs, dancing, companionship and fun, and the added bonus of learning about Jesus. My memories of this great week are witnessing an average of 140 children returning each day full of smiles and enthusiasm, seeing David Sanderson dancing around in a silver space suit and silver painted wellies – remember this image during his next sermon!, and the thrilling feeling of knowing so many children were able to hear about Jesus. I recommend that you offer to help next year – you will be exhausted but you will feel very fulfilled. Thank you to everyone who helped and for your prayers, but most of all “Thank you God for all the stars you have created” Claire Redhead Memories of 'All the Fun of the Fair' -Holiday Club 2004 (October 2004 edition of the magazine) By two Volunteers Tissue paper, pipe cleaners, laminating paper, laminators, pritt sticks, coloured paper strips, cardboard, paper clips, plastic bottles, bun cases, string, beads, shiny material, cocktail sticks, cooking chocolate, apples, hundreds and thousands, double-sided sticky tape, postage stamps, paper hearts, needles, thread, tiny plastic eyes, wool and lists of instructions were all piled up on our dining room floor in the middle of July! Why? “It’s all the things you will need for the craft for Holiday Club,” Karen had reassured me! “All the Fun of the Fair” took place each morning for a week at the end of July. I was involved in leading craft activities with both the Juniors at Westfield School and the Infants in St. Thomas’ Meeting Room, so I worked with about 150 different children that week. Fortunately the children were divided into small groups of about ten, each with an adult leader and at least one helper! We were all busy sticking, cutting, designing, sewing and even eating the different activities, which were linked to the story of Moses and the bible memory verses that had been explained to the children in the opening session each day. What else happened? There was singing, aerobics, drama, puppets, our very own fairground leaders, fairground games, throwing the wet sponge, (a welcome treat for one of the leaders of the winning team at the end of each morning!) and of course refreshments. Lots of action! Lots of fun! Lots of children! Lots of leaders and helpers! Lots of noise! But also--- there were the special times of quiet, when the children thought about God, wrote their own prayers and learnt about how much Jesus loves them and wants to be their friend. A very big thank you to Karen Herrick and her team for all their hard work in planning the week. Please continue to pray for the children and their families. If you missed out on “All the Fun” this summer, make sure you get involved in Holiday Club 2005! Barbara Goodacre Wow! What can I say? This years holiday club has come and gone but has again outdone the year before. The fairground theme was always going to be a success, but who could have imagined that it would work so well? I enjoyed playing in the band this year, the children seem to get louder every year and to watch them worship God in their own way is very moving. I even got a few requests to sing songs that they had remembered from last year and I have no doubt that at next year’s holiday club we’ll get requests for these songs too. As a group leader the whole experience is somewhat different. Being in control of 10 5 year olds for a week is not the easiest task but was made easier by having someone to share it with. The 2 of us grew to know the children and were able to share with them and help them along their journey of faith. Everyday was started by an aerobics time to wake the children up, something that all the children in the Green Dodgems especially looked forward to. We would then have some action songs, which the children were taught throughout the week. This was followed by an update of our story. The drama allowed the children an easy way of understanding the story of Moses and was followed by Karen who spent a little time every day explaining to them how the story related to their lives. We then had crafts and games, which were always enjoyed by all involved – both children and leaders!!! The day was finished by the children being able to write their own prayers. The children always seemed to enjoy this bit as it gave them a peaceful few moments to remember all that they had done that day and then write down their thoughts and hopes and dreams. I suppose all that’s left to say is that I can’t wait till next year. Thanks again to Karen for all the hard work that she put into making it the HUGE success that it was. Charlotte Bird 'Party People' -Holiday Club 2005 (Easter 2006 edition of Spotlight) See some pictures here. First week of the summer holidays sees masses of children converging on Chatsworth Road; juniors scurrying along to Westfield School and carrying back an array of hand made items each day; loud music and laughter arising from St Thomas church ...What is this all about?...It has to be St. Thomas' annual Holiday Club! It seems a long time ago now, but "Party People" 2005 saw a record 160 children and around 60 volunteers come through the doors of our church to participate in an action packed week of music, drama, puppets, games, craft and friendly team rivalry. We learnt how Jesus participated in a variety of different parties in the New Testament and how what he did then, is still relevant and alive for each one of us today. Our new family Friday evening party, the finale of the week, saw so many people attending for family games, songs, clowning and food that it was difficult to fit everyone into the church! Memories of 'Party People' -Holiday Club 2005 (October 2005 edition of the magazine) By two Volunteers Holiday Club Started a little earlier than usual for me this year. After numerous band practices in the weeks leading up to holiday club, my real work started on the Sunday night. After CYFA had finished Gaz kindly volunteered to give me a hand setting up the PA system. We cleared the evening service kit away and then set about putting the new setup in place. When setting up it pays to take your time and make sure everything is working and tidy. After leaving church in the small hours it dawned on me when I arrived in church at 7am that I should have stayed in church overnight! The first job every morning was to turn everything on and do a quick sound check before the musicians arrived. The projector and computers had to be booted and prepared for Ben arriving to do the PowerPoint. Once the band arrived it was a case of checking they were happy with the sound before sorting the right slides out for that day’s songs. Once everything was setup and ready to go, I got a few minutes to sit down and rush breakfast whilst watching everyone arrive. The first half was always really busy for me. Trying to handle the sound desk, do aerobics, act in the drama and make sure the band sounded their best kept me busy. You have to remember that any soundman only has two eyes that can only cover 120 degrees, and two ears. As a soundman you can guarantee the moment you take your gaze off the stage to consult on the strategic application of the visual display someone will want a microphone turning on or some music turning off! In the middle of the morning it was really great to see the children enjoying their activities. My favourite game was the smarty game with David. When the activities came to a close it was time to jump back on the sound desk. It was a real pleasure to work with all the other techies and they were all of great assistance. My worst memory of holiday came from my role as a Colour Group Leader. I thought Jelly Wellies was a great game until it was my group that won and I had to put the wellies on. They really did stink and it was a horrible feeling but it was made so much worse by Gemma spreading Marmite on my legs. You cannot imagine how much I hate it! Apart from the Jelly Wellies I really enjoyed holiday club and it was great to see God at work amongst the children and adults alike. Chris Witham Last year’s holiday club was the first one that I had participated in and at the time I was unaware of what I was letting myself in for, but I didn’t hesitate to volunteer myself for this year’s, entitled ‘Party People’, when the opportunity arose. I thought nothing of taking the week off work to help in enabling the children to meet with Jesus through the teaching and activities that were planned for the week. The training evening arranged for all helpers allowed everyone to understand the purpose of Holiday Club, their role and to prepare themselves for the week’s activities. I found the evening extremely useful and due to the professionalism of the planning and arrangements for the week I was reassured that ‘Party People’ would be as successful, if not more successful than the previous year’s ‘All the fun of the fair’. My role was that of group leader, responsible for a group of approximately 10 older children. It was my responsibility to welcome the children to the day, participate in activities and games (recording and giving points) and encourage the children to recite memory verses. The week was well received with children wanting it to continue for the remainder of the summer holiday, having enjoyed the drama, activities and games that made ‘Party People’ such a success. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Friday evening event at the end of the week, which saw parents of those children who attended Holiday Club, invited along as well. I understand that this evening was successful also. I’m now looking forward to next year’s Holiday Club and I can’t imagine what theme Karen is going to use then! Paul Benson 'Clues from the Deep' -Holiday Club 2006 (October 2006 edition of the magazine) See some pictures here. Holiday Club this year, as every year, was great fun. Through looking at the story of Jonah, the children learned what it means to listen to God and to trust him - among many other things. I am always amazed, each year, at how God speaks to me through the children and the stories and songs. I had a great week and so did most of the children from what the parents told me. My favourite part was in the drama, when Jonah was swallowed up by the whale and it disappeared behind the curtain. My main task was to make sure that things ran smoothly at Westfield where the older children went for games and craft. It was great to welcome them all and hear their chat about the story or the drama that morning and to watch as they produced some very spectacular crafts to take home as a reminder of the day. I was exhausted by the end of the week but sad that it was all over. Ruth Bird (Junior Coordinator) Wow! Another great holiday club from Karen! We enjoyed the crafts. We thought that they were very imaginative and got the children involved and excited in the topics that they were doing. There were a variety of songs that got everyone joining in. The games were well prepared and even got the children wet, but lots of fun was included. The forfeit this year was very strange and was called “Clues in the Goo”. It was a joy to see the colour group leaders have to put their hands in to the “blue goo” at the end of each day to fish out clues from the week to explain them to the children. The puppets were excellent. Everyone especially enjoyed them when they were cheeky and really meant to go off stage. It was an excellent holiday club, but sadly it was Karen’s last one. We will certainly miss the excellent holiday clubs that she does. Let’s hope for some great new ideas from someone else next year! Lucy Quinn (Age 12) 'Jungle Jamboree' -Holiday Club 2007 (October 2007 edition of the magazine) and (Christmas 2007 edition of Spotlight) See some pictures here. This years holiday club 'Jungle Jamboree' saw around 130 children from in and around Brampton taking part in games, action songs, craft activities and experiencing bible stories through drama and puppets. The parables of the Good Samaritan, the Lost Sheep and the Talents provided a sound base for telling the children about Jesus and helping them learn. As an infant group leader this was my second holiday club at St Thomas' since moving to Chesterfield. I feel blessed to have been part of what was such a smoothly run few days and an amazing experience for so many children. The hectic and busy moments were forgotten by seeing the children fully involved in the creative biblical experiences and really enjoying themselves. The effort and energy so many people put into this year’s holiday club made it an undeniably fruitful experience for all the children involved. Well done Julie Brown and her team of sixty helpers for all your hard work and organisation. Beki Keenan Parents and Tots (April 1997 edition of magazine) Every Monday during term time, St Thomas' Meeting Room is throbbing with life. Lots of children, from tiny babies to 4 or 5 year olds are there with their Mums, an occasional Dad and assorted grand-parents and friends. The adults find badly needed company and friendship and the children find plenty of toys. Angela Antill and Jean Watson have run the group since it started in 1989. Initially they had small children themselves but they have happily continued to run Parents and Tots although their own children have to be at school. Their commitment to this group, their warm, open, friendly welcome and their genuine friendship offered to all who came have been appreciated by many. Angela and Jean are now standing down. As a Church we want to say a big thank you to them both. They will be sorely missed. We are grateful that Kim Winter will be taking over from them. Quest Club Prayers (August 1998 edition of magazine) Each week at Quest Club, the children are encouraged to read the Bible, using Scripture Union's children's notes. Recently they were asked to write a poem to express how Peter might have felt after denying Jesus. Peter's Denial There was a man with the name of Peter. He followed Jesus Christ, who was a great teacher. Jesus was on trial, one fatal day, Peter denied him, Judas gave him away. Peter did this three times, as Jesus said he would, Peter was ashamed for he said he understood. Jesus unfairly lost the trial that day, He went up on the cross and God took him away. By Joy Lennon (aged 10 years) Peter's Confession What have I done? I've betrayed God's Son By saying I didn't know him Was a great sin. I pray you will forgive So I could live Without being guilty. As you hung is so much pain I only hoped you could remain, But I know you are dying for us To release us of our sins But what did I do But say I didn't know you. I was wrong. By Laura Martin (aged 10 years) Caution, Children at Work -'Saints' After School Club (December 2003 edition of the magazine) Visitors to the Church during the late afternoon during the early part of the summer may have seen a surprising number of children walking around the churchyard, with clip boards in hand, peering at gravestones. Who were they and what were they doing? The children were all members of The Saints After School Club, which was set up a year ago to offer quality childcare for parents who can’t pick their children up from school because of work or other commitments, and most important of all, to provide lots of fun, games, and activities for the children who come along each week. One of the activities enjoyed during the summer was exploring the Churchyard, and the clipboards were there to help the children complete a Churchyard Treasure Trail. Each Club member had a copy of the Trail, and they had to work in pairs or small groups to find out the answer to the clues. In the process, they learnt something about the people whose names are remembered in and around the Church. Some of the children drew pictures of what they had seen. Ploughshare asked Sue Percival, Club Manager, why she had got involved in the Club. “It all started one Monday afternoon. I was running Parents and Tots as usual, when Julie Lomas came through from the office to ask if I would be interested in getting involved in a new initiative to provide after school care for children at the local schools. Using the Church as a base, we collect the children from Westfield Infants and Old Hall Junior Schools, and take care of them until their parents can collect them. I was very excited by the idea, and felt it was an answer to prayer at that time.” Although the Club is not “run” by the Church, Sue and the team are able to make good use of the links they have with people, such as Neil Roper who came in and worked with the children in the run up to Easter; and also with the buildings and churchyard, helping the children to appreciate that the church is a living and active place to be. Many of the children who use the Club service also come to Cosmic Club and the recent holiday club “Star Seekers”. Sue continued: “We have had a lot to learn during this last year, and there have been many times when I have sent up those “arrow prayers”. As we start back again this autumn term I hope more children will use the Club and enjoy the hospitality of St Thomas’”. Totzone (Easter 2006 edition of Spotlight) "Organised fun is the name of the game" Monday afternoon from 12.45pm in the Meeting Room at St Thomas', you will find a group of mums and carers chatting while their children play with toys, have fun with a craft activity and hear a short bible story. There is a "healthy snack" time for the children and a welcome tea or coffee for the adults. Janette who has been coming for over 5 years says "I came because a friend invited me but 5 years on I still come with my younger children because they enjoy the fun and it is so well organised. I like that it's not too noisy!" Annette agrees and adds that the lending library is a useful addition and the fact that the children ask to come means she returns each week. They both also really enjoy the Pram Service which is held towards the end of each term in church. Rachel's heartfelt comment is, "It keeps me sane, and the helpers are so friendly and approachable." If you have a child under five why not join us? Monday afternoons 12.45pm - 2.45pm in term time in St. Thomas' Meeting Room. Next term starts on 8th May 2006. Come and enjoy the fun! |