Children and Young People at WURC
Junior Church Weekday activities Uniformed organisations
While things have been somewhat disrupted vy Covid over the past couple of years, Junior Church has started meeting regularly again. However, this is a picture of the 'old normal'.
We feel blessed to have a number of children and young people who attend our church regularly and take an active part in our worship and in church life. It is a delight that the children take part in the service in different ways: giving out hymn books, as 'volunteers' in the message in the first part of the service, lighting the peace candle and taking the offertory. Our teenagers contribute to the life of the church by reading in the service and in occasional music and drama contributions.
At times, the children and young people take the whole service. But on a normal Sunday, we all worship together for the first part of the service and then the children and young people go to their group. We have a mixed age group and adjust the activities according who is there each week. When we go out to our group we get up to all manner of things from cooking, drama, planting seeds, competitive games and collaborative games in order to learn about our faith and how to put it into action in our daily lives. All the activities aim to give a greater understanding of the bible passage for that week.
Our recent Christmas performances have been a 'No-Rehearsal Nativity', and these have been a great success. Costumes are arranged on the day with participants also being invited to come in their own costume (if they can) according to the character they would like to play. Members of the congregation also have an active role which has created an atmosphere of deep fellowship.
We have held Halloween Parties with a Christian message in the last few years. These have been very happy occasions and have attracted children in our neighbourhood. The games, jokes and food all have scary themes and the Christian message is a positive one that Jesus is the light of the world or that whatever we fear, Jesus is always with us and that God says 'Do not be afraid'.
Our children and young people also help with social events and with fund-raising activities. From time to time they attend church meeting to add their voice to the decision-making processes of our church.
One of our teenagers serves on the Southern Synod Youth Executive and represented Southern Synod at the national youth assembly.
The church has a Safeguarding Policy which is reviewed every year and all leaders are DBS checked.
During the week, we host a wide range of activities for younger children.
The Holmwood Pre-School meets each morning from Monday to Friday during term times, offering full pre-school facilities for up to 18 children aged 2 to 4. The preschool is thriving, fully-suscribed, and passed its last OFSTED inspection with flying colours.
Unfortunately, our popular Tuesday morning Tea and Toys meetings have had to be suspended for the time being. These are intended to provide a chance for mums and carers to get together for a natter over a cup of tea, and for their children to play together or with a range of toys.
These groups join our regular all-age worship services (about 8 times per year). Their sweet-making skills and the Father Christmas Grotto are highlights of the church's Christmas Fayre raising money for local charities.