Setting up CREATE has been quite a rollercoaster as I
have tried to follow and work out God’s plans for us! The vision to
develop a rural training centre grew has been developed over the last
year and after a summer of fundraising, sorting policies, interviewing
and praying; Will and Vicki joined us.
Much of the first term
was about establishing practical support in terms of housing and
allowances, mentoring and management and introducing Will and Vicki to
everyone. Sadly Will has decided he needs to be at home to sort through
some issues, so he did not return after Christmas. However, Vicki has
lots of plans for the new term, including a girls group and developing
her after school ‘film, faith and photography’ club.
Schools ministry
It
has been great to be able to develop our links with Uffculme School. We
have offered RE lessons, assemblies, helped organize the school carol
service and done regular lunch time clubs and supported the Christian
Union. This term Vicki is running a photography club and helping with a
strengthening families course.
Church groups
We
have worked hard to develop links with Willand, Kentisbeare and
Uffculme and Vicki continues to be involved in their youth and
children’s ministry on a Sunday.
Bright Lights Party
This
was an exciting partnership with Willand, Uffculme and the United
Reform Church in Uffculme. We teamed up to organize an alternative
message for Halloween and a group of young people helped to lead the
event and put together a puppet show.
Kentisbeare ‘Christmas Experience’
This
was part of a new project to explore a more contemplative spirituality
with children and young people. We piloted this at Kentisbeare and it
was a great success. We now have a set of resources to use again next
year. We also hope to develop the resources for an Easter experience and
a reflective day in the summer term.
Film night
Thirty
one children and young people gathered for a film night to watch the
Nativity in St Mary’s church just before Christmas despite the snow!!
Music Day – Fit for Praise
Andrew
Down organized a brilliant day of training for the Mission Community in
music and leading worship. Andrew Marie and the youth worker form St
Andrew’s church Cullompton helped run the day. As part of my role in
developing the CREATE vision I supported him to design the day to
include children and young people.
Looking ahead and food for prayer….
Godly Play
CREATE
will host a training day on Godly Play in Willand in February. We also
have funding for the resources for this method of religious education.
We hope that these will be stored in Sampford Peverell and that there
will also be training for teachers from our church schools. I am working
with Carol Booth (the Methodist ministers wife) who has experience in
Godly play and this project is in partnership with the Diocesan
children’s advisor: Katherine Lyddon.
Developing a youth ministry library
We
have been given £500 of resources by the Diocesan youth advisor Martin
Thompson to support youth ministry in our area and want to develop this
resource and make it available to the Square fish network and those
involved in Christian youth ministry. Vicki has offered to be our
librarian and lesley is there to help her when needed.
Exploring
a contemplative spirituality with young people through outdoor
activities. This project involves an exciting partnership with Lee Abbey
and Wildside Education.
Communications
This
term we plan to develop the Squarefish website. We need to set up a
child protection policy for social networking and develop a team of
young people to produce articles to update the site.
Thank
you for all your support to make the dream for CREATE a part of God’s
plan to grow His kingdom here on earth and within the lives of the young
people and children in our parishes.
