Only 6 weeks to go to the church weekend away ... but I'm delighted that this weekend is here as I'm looking forward to putting my feet up and watching a good film tonight! I've spent which seems like every day for the last wee while in mind-bending concentration to develop a programme that is as creative as possible to serve the needs of our children and young people at the church weekend and I've still got to finalise drafts, buy the rest of the resources and meet with the team so they can add their flare to the plans.
I really don't like the word 'programme' as it suggests a ridged format - and it's one thing I don't want as our priority is to minister to and serve the children in a way that meets their needs and hopefully help them to have fun in a place where they experience genuine Christian love, care and fellowship - and help them to minister too! Perhaps we don't think very often about children ministering to one another or to adults but if we accept that children are part of the body then we need to accept that God is gifting and enabling them as full members of the body. Serving is a key aspect of being a Christ follower so we need to encourage this and provide safe opportunities for children and young people to minister in. It's exciting and challenging stuff!!
The children's and youth team are going to be busy and I'm so grateful to all who have volunteered to help (there are now many but we still need more!) and I'm praying they will be really blessed as they serve. We're offering 3 sessions for 0-2s, 5 sessions for children and 5 sessions for young people - but at various times to help them get as much from the weekend as possible - as well as lots of activities and free time. I'm hoping that we can facilitate something for everyone that expresses meaningful community and praying that people will be blessed, challenged and encouraged in seeing how God is at work in all ages of our church family. This is one of the few opportunities we have to spend long periods of time together and I think it's going to be a powerful weekend.
We're almost fully booked so if you're not booked up I'd get in there quickly!
