posted Dec 7, 2011 4:19 AM by Peter Dawkins
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updated Dec 7, 2011 4:41 AM
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posted Dec 7, 2011 4:13 AM by Peter Dawkins
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updated Dec 7, 2011 4:56 AM by Selina Garner
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posted Nov 10, 2011 6:35 AM by Julian Garner
Over the past few months we have had five young people volunteering as young leaders - Lily, Tansy, Ella, Connie and Anna, have been helping to set up and run the Monday after school café and they are soon to be joined by another young person - Scott (pictured right) - who will be helping with some things at Square Corner and also with Squarefish Youth group on a Sunday night! All of these young leaders are doing this as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award. It’s great to have so many young people on board and taking this opportunity to serve their community in this way.
Youth café is held on Mondays after school at Square Corner; there’s a tuck shop that sells sweets, drinks and crisps, we also have a Wii (and a PS2 if you prefer the older game...!) sometimes we have crafts going on too, other than that its just a great place to come, relax, socialize, do some homework or what ever you feel like really! |
posted Nov 1, 2011 9:20 AM by Julian Garner
Oct 2011.
CatherineI decided to be christened at the age of 8 which was the start of my journey. But it has been in the past year (when I met Selina and the youth workers) that I have started to become more committed and serious about all this. I find - especially during my GCSE's and other stressful times - that it helps me relax and focus again. For example the time when I went to Lee Abbey and was able to explore my faith more and find out what religion is really all about.
I've had many powerful experiences, one was during the Alpha Course where we were focusing on heeling and people prayed for my knee problems to go away and after a few minutes my legs kept flinching and at some points I almost kicked people. However, since then I've had no problems at all.
Chanan"I've been going to church my whole life with my parents. I've gone to a few Christian camps since I moved from London and have grown in faith.
I've always believed in God and I've grown up with lots of Christians that are my age, older and younger, so I thought if all these people say it's true then it must be. From what I've experienced, people having miracles answered and great things happening I've decided I really want to be part of the Christian faith even more."
KellyIf you had told me two years ago that on the 5th October 2011 I would be baptised and confirmed, I’d have laughed.
Like many of us here today I have had to battle my fair share of demons, from a past I would rather forget. They left me broken, I found it hard to trust, love and be loved.
Then one fateful day, on the side of a wet soapy hill, I met the Vicar. She invited me on a bike ride, and that ride was to be the beginning of my journey.
I’d love to be able to stand here and say it’s been easy, but it hasn’t. I am having to learn to love, to trust and to forgive. Facing up to things from the past and not locking them away has made this one of the hardest years of my life, emotions have been raw and many times I have wanted to give up and walk away.
However amongst all the pain and mess it has also been a year full of amazement, God has clearly been at work, and the continuous love and blessings I receive leave me speechless and give me the courage to go on.
This church really has become my family and you have all played some part, however big or small, in helping me begin to heal.
Our God really is awesome! |
posted Nov 1, 2011 9:02 AM by Julian Garner
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updated Nov 1, 2011 10:17 AM by Selina Garner
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1 Nov 2011.
Five girls who are part of Squarefish went on a SWYM camp a couple of weeks ago called Inside Out Beauty.
The theme was ‘more precious than rubies’ - there were three teaching sessions; one on subject of the young people being more precious to God than rubies, the second on how other girls and women are more precious than rubies and the third was on how we show it.
We looked at things like the media that effect the way we see ourselves and others and also at how our actions impact others. As well as the teaching we got to take part in some excellent activities such as making bath bombs, nail painting, customizing clothing and a five course meal! Each young person was given a bracelet and the bible verse ‘You are more precious than rubies’ to take home to remind them of how special they are in God's eyes.
Vicki |
posted Nov 1, 2011 8:58 AM by Julian Garner
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updated Nov 1, 2011 9:07 AM
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1 Nov 2011.
 On the 28th and the 29th of October eleven young people were sponsored to live in boxes for 20hrs.They raised about £300 for the Karen Action Group and had a chance to be cold and hungry for a while and to learn about a tiny bit about what it's like to sleep rough.
They started off by building somewhere to sleep using boxes and some old polythene and only ate rice. They also had to compete and haggle to get any extras - like blankets or extra food. Cardboard boxes aren’t that comfy and it was very cold in the church, so not much sleep was had!
David Lewis came and gave an excellent talk about the Karen - it was both challenging and inspiring to hear about the lives of the Karen. The following morning Peter led a great bible study which enabled us to think about what it means to be a Christian in a world where there is suffering and poverty and homelessness. Then we everyone went home a little hungry and rather tired... and hopefully challenged and having learned something and a bit more appreciative of the blessings that we've been given.
This event wouldn't have happened with out the hard work of Tony, Lucy, Peter and David! Thank you! And a massive well done to the young people for raising so much money and taking part!
Vicki Highet
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posted Oct 4, 2011 10:58 PM by Julian Garner
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updated Oct 12, 2011 3:31 AM
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5 Oct 2011.
Hi! My name is Peter Dawkins
(otherwise known as Enoch). I am 18 and I have just started as the new youth
worker here as part of Squarefish! I am doing a course in youthwork with SWYM
just as Vicki did last year.
I grew up in a musical
family so I have music in my blood. I play 7 instruments (Piano, Violin,
guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, drums and harmonica) and I write and sing songs
when I can. As part of my ministry here I hope to use music and worship to
explore faith. I am also hoping to get involved in the music and worship in the
church. I long to support musical worship in our services
and I hope to stir up people's hearts for worshipping together with whole
hearts.
I am also a dramatic person
(not in the sense that I overreact about everything) having been in 5 school
musicals, 2 primary school plays, 2 church based productions and many nativity
plays, even playing the voice of God on one occasion! This is another thing God
has gifted me with and if it is right and the opportunity arises I would really
love to use my dramatic skills to explore the
Christian faith.
My prayer for this year and
for the years ahead is that I'd grow in love, faith and my relationship with
God. My hope for this year is to see young people come to know Christ and get
into a meaningful and life-giving relationship with Him. |
posted Aug 30, 2011 5:58 AM by kelly williams
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updated Aug 30, 2011 6:06 AM
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A group from Uffculme School’s Christian Union had an amazing day in London on Thursday finding out about London City Mission. (more)
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posted Jul 22, 2011 2:26 AM by Julian Garner
A cake making event to raise money for CREATE youth and children's ministry and the renovations of Square Corner was a great success in July! Squarefish young people joined in and helped raise over three hundred pounds.
Chanan came second with her cupcakes and Chris and Ruth raised nearly two hundred pounds in sponsorship making 50 cakes that were enjoyed in both Willand and Uffculme.
Thanks to Lucy for organising the event and to everyone who came along and entered the competition or brought cakes! Lucy plans to repeat the event next year so keep baking!
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posted Jun 29, 2011 3:18 PM by kelly williams
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updated Jul 20, 2011 1:44 PM by Julian Garner
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On a wet Friday evening a group of young people arrived at Wildside to spend 24 hours in the great outdoors, exploring the Christian faith. Much to the relief of everyone the sun came out just as we were putting up their tents! Everyone then spent some time getting to know each other and playing some icebreaker games, after which it was time to head off across the cow fields in the direction of Dunkeswell Abbey. On the way we explored the universe and distances between the planets! The Abbey had been filled with tea lights and a spontaneous service was held, which included sharing, prayers, some Bible verses and a few songs. After arriving back at camp it was time for a night walk which was done without the aid of torches and at times was very dark! We discovered God is with us in the darkness. Everyone survived this challenge, and we were rewarded back at camp with a cup of steaming hot chocolate. The camp had been lit up with tea lights and everyone enjoyed the hot chocolate and time to share our experiences before bedtime.
The following morning everyone woke to the sound of a violin, and breakfast was cooked on the camp fire. After a few hours sleep and some food inside us we went off to do a still sit. Everyone was placed on their own in the woods and left to sit and enjoy a time of silence, to pray and to take in some of Gods amazing creation. Some people took this opportunity to write or draw and others just sat enjoying the sights and sounds around them. It was then time to meet a tree and give it a big hug, this was followed by fire making and shmores! The 24 hours came to a close after lunch back at the camp site and some wonderful chocolate banana’s cooked on the fire.
A poem about God written during the ‘still sit’ by one of the Squarefish young people
Powerful, yet gentle
Distant, yet tangible
Intimate, yet omnipresent
Non judgemental, yet all knowing
Fierce, yet caring
Forgiving, yet fair
Silent, yet present
God, yet my father,
Creator of the world. |
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