|
We are committed to making church as enjoyable as possible for our young people. There are separate activities for Junior Church led by Pat and Andrea, including cooking, colouring, discussion and games. Sometimes Junior Church stay in the Sunday worship for about the first fifteen minutes and then go into the back room with Pat and Andrea for the rest of the time, and occasionally they spend the whole time in the back room without going in to Sunday worship.
We encourage visiting preachers to include a 'children's talk' near the beginning of the service and there will definitely be one when Frank, our Pastor, is preaching outside school holidays. Occasionally, junior church stay in for the whole service when Frank is preaching and he provides activity sheets, including wordsearches and other puzzles that children and young people can get on with at a table at the back of the church.
There is also an area at the back for very young children to play with toys during the service while supervised by their parents or carers. Don't worry if they make a little bit of noise, lots of children have grown up in the church and everyone is used to it - and very pleased to have children with us on a Sunday. If babies or very young children become distressed or need to get away for any other reason please feel free to take them into the vestry (through the doors at the front, behind the Communion table) or to step outside through the main doors you came in through. If you do feel you need to step out at any point, please don't think you then need to stay out for the rest of the service, you can come back in at any point.
In the past Junior Church have studied for Scripture Exams organised by the Sheffield Christian Educational Council - gaining certificates and even trophies of which we're all very proud! Recently they changed from studying for exams to doing project work, assessed by representatives of the SCEC at a special service led by Junior Church, after which they were presented with certificates. This included a display of art and craft work that Junior Church had produced as well as imaginative and interesting presentations, in which the young people demonstrated what they had been learning about prophets of Israel under the theme 'Trust in God'.
The annual church camp is always an exciting time or Junior Church members, they also take part in many of the church's social activities as well having their own social outings - for example they recently went bowling to celebrate the completion of their project work.
Young people visiting church for the first time (with or without their parents) are welcome to join in with Junior Church on any Sunday - just turn up and you will be made welcome. The current crop of Junior Church are aged between 11 and 15 but those younger or older are welcome.
Junior church has changed over the years and continues to do so. Pat and Andrea regularly discuss with Junior Church members what it is that they want to do, and what they want to get out of church. We are striving to stike the right balance between making young people feel part of the church, while recognising that they will have different needs to adults and enjoy spending time together in a more youth friendly environment.
| 
About Us 
