I wasn't really looking forward to New Wine this year, having moved churches and then towns. I planned to keep myself to myself, work hard on team and read and sleep in the afternoons. It was a good policy. As I'd only planned to do things by myself ,and I am now quite used to going places on my own, it was a bonus to be invited out for coffee with friends.
The most enjoyable part about the week was being on team once again. It's now the 5th year that I have been on Boulder Gang/Rock Solid team and it's great to see the same faces year on year. I love having the opportunity to chat to a different bunch of kids, get to know a bit about them, help them to make friends with each other... and then spend the evenings moving around the floor splitting up playfighting boys! Although I went to New Wine with every intention of it being my last, I left feeling less sure.
Still, I feel myself to be right on the edge of comfort (and often far beyond it!) with some of New Wine's teaching and the way things are done. This year there was a focus on prophecy. In one of the team times we had to get into 3s... pray for words or pictures for each other... 5 minutes each.... Sound familiar?! Anyway, this time I laid out my thoughts on the matter right before we began and didn't stress myself over trying to hear some obscure word from the Lord in my time limit and so avoided any Clover advert embarassments. We fortunately ran out of time before getting to the point where the other 2 would be praying for words for me.
I continue to wonder: Is God really all that bothered about giving individuals small words of comfort to already comfortable Christians on a holy holiday? I don't recall Him being like that in the Bible. It all made me think of Professor Trelawney from the Harry Potter books. She's an old fraud. And so I felt like an old fraud giving strangers words of prophecy that I'd pulled out of thin air. But, like Professor Trelawlney, that is not to say that God might use me as a prophet when He so wishes. Not when I wish. Professor Trelawney is an old fraud, but she's only in post because of a true prophecy she once gave, and she has no idea that she gave it.
As well as prophecy there was rather a lot of time spent praying for healing for children again, as last year, but I was glad that one evening was devoted to praying for children who were 'sad, maybe because of something from home or school'. I continue to wonder about praying for healing. I come with very low expectations, reluctant to be there and witness a child be disappointed as a genuine illness or disability remains when other children seem to be healed of minor complaints. One girl really touched my heart when, after praying for her, she said "Nothing. But I pray a lot for healing. I know that God will heal me one day." I told her how mature and strong she was and how proud I was of her. But how I longed that it would be she who would experience a miracle.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Moving mountains!
I moved house this weekend and I'm embarrassed by the sheer volume of stuff that I have - even without furniture! We needed 3 cars to move me and all my stuff!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Explanations
I've been planning to teach explanation texts to my class this week and so have been watching Wallace and Gromit clips on You Tube. Love 'em!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSVD3nzsIyA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSVD3nzsIyA
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Job satisfaction
I'm sat in the sunshine at my computer planning away for the next 3 weeks' worth of literacy. And you know what, I can't wait to get back to work and teach it. I can't wait to get stuck in with all the assessments and focus groups and choir and everything else. And I realise that I am indeed a very lucky lady to love my job quite as much as this.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Spring Harvest 2009
Have been to Spring Harvest in Skeggy again this year, returning on Maundy Thursdy (that's how we say it up 'ere..!). There was much to reflect on whilst I was there, particularly with the difficulties that I've been having with church lately (which mostly accounts for the lack of blogging to be honest).
The theme for Spring Harvest this year is Apprentice: Walking the way of Christ. The first day was spent almost entirely in learning about learning styles, the leadership having taken the decision to organise us according to the best way that each of us learns as individuals. We were grouped into Pragmatist, Theorist, Reflector and Activist. By the end of the first day the 4 friends of us who went together were a bit weary of hearing about learning styles - 2 of us are trained teachers and the other 2 studied Christian Ministry at St Martin's College (now the University of Cumbria) and had covered all this kind of stuff ad infinitum before. A particular disappointment on the first day was to go to the activist stream only to be lectured on how activists don't like to sit and listen but like to get up and do things.... touch of irony there.
Fortunately, the remainder of the week was not spent telling us about what we would learn as the week progressed and we actually got stuck into the subject matter. I ended up going along to the Pragmatist stream (where I had intended on going initially - I ended up in the Activist stream on the first day almost by accident) and I was challenged throughout by both Steve Chalke and his colleague Jill Rowe. I am particularly happy to see how Steve Chalke really seems to have guided Spring Harvest towards a more social action/social justice route than I remember from a few years back. Along with my own recent dealings with church it has really caused me to consider what a Christian community really is and what it is called to do.
Steve Chalke responded to one question in a way that interested me greatly. The question was about how to do things for the community that didn't openly and ostentatiously have Jesus and by default evangelism as their purpose and driving force. And it interested me because I agreed so whole heartedly with his answer, but don't often hear it preached. He said that Jesus called us to love God with heart, mind and strength but equally to love our neighbour as ourselves. Not to evangelise our neighbours but to love them.
That is our purpose. Our beginning, our end, our driving force. If we have in the back of all that we do "we are doing this so that we can do that..." is that truely loving our neighbour? It's not about bums on seats, it's not about how many church run events we can have, it's not about how good we are at this or how good we are at that. It's about loving for the sake of loving. It is loving and expecting nothing in return.
And that is the greatest challenge. How can I be that person that loves unconditionally and where can I act out that love? How can we break down our constricting barriers of church and return to what we were called first to be?
Maybe being in the workplace is the best place to be. What a priveleged position I am in that I can not only teach a whole class of children but I can love them just for being themselves. I can show love to my colleagues as we go about the school day. And maybe as a school community we can take that love out into the village community. Maybe those children will go out and be loving wherever they may end up in the world.
And now I've got all bleary eyed and hopeful and ....
Yes, I'm a dreamer. And I'm here to stay.
The theme for Spring Harvest this year is Apprentice: Walking the way of Christ. The first day was spent almost entirely in learning about learning styles, the leadership having taken the decision to organise us according to the best way that each of us learns as individuals. We were grouped into Pragmatist, Theorist, Reflector and Activist. By the end of the first day the 4 friends of us who went together were a bit weary of hearing about learning styles - 2 of us are trained teachers and the other 2 studied Christian Ministry at St Martin's College (now the University of Cumbria) and had covered all this kind of stuff ad infinitum before. A particular disappointment on the first day was to go to the activist stream only to be lectured on how activists don't like to sit and listen but like to get up and do things.... touch of irony there.
Fortunately, the remainder of the week was not spent telling us about what we would learn as the week progressed and we actually got stuck into the subject matter. I ended up going along to the Pragmatist stream (where I had intended on going initially - I ended up in the Activist stream on the first day almost by accident) and I was challenged throughout by both Steve Chalke and his colleague Jill Rowe. I am particularly happy to see how Steve Chalke really seems to have guided Spring Harvest towards a more social action/social justice route than I remember from a few years back. Along with my own recent dealings with church it has really caused me to consider what a Christian community really is and what it is called to do.
Steve Chalke responded to one question in a way that interested me greatly. The question was about how to do things for the community that didn't openly and ostentatiously have Jesus and by default evangelism as their purpose and driving force. And it interested me because I agreed so whole heartedly with his answer, but don't often hear it preached. He said that Jesus called us to love God with heart, mind and strength but equally to love our neighbour as ourselves. Not to evangelise our neighbours but to love them.
That is our purpose. Our beginning, our end, our driving force. If we have in the back of all that we do "we are doing this so that we can do that..." is that truely loving our neighbour? It's not about bums on seats, it's not about how many church run events we can have, it's not about how good we are at this or how good we are at that. It's about loving for the sake of loving. It is loving and expecting nothing in return.
And that is the greatest challenge. How can I be that person that loves unconditionally and where can I act out that love? How can we break down our constricting barriers of church and return to what we were called first to be?
Maybe being in the workplace is the best place to be. What a priveleged position I am in that I can not only teach a whole class of children but I can love them just for being themselves. I can show love to my colleagues as we go about the school day. And maybe as a school community we can take that love out into the village community. Maybe those children will go out and be loving wherever they may end up in the world.
And now I've got all bleary eyed and hopeful and ....
Yes, I'm a dreamer. And I'm here to stay.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A blogging return on a peculiarly disagreeable book
I have caught my housemate in possession of a book. A disagreeable book. One might say, a ridiculous book.
The book is called "Get Married: What Women Can Do To Make It Happen".
I am incensed!
Now, I haven't read this book, but, aside from the title, the cover did nothing to draw me in any further. On opening the book I felt no greater desire to read it when faced with foliage page detail and floaty italic fonts. No, I think it is fair to say that this is not my idea of a good read.
Do you think there will be 10 easy to follow steps? Do 1. followed by 2. followed by 3. etc and by number 10. you will find yourself happily married (do the 2.4 children follow in the sequel?). What makes the author think that the steps that led up to her marriage will be the same as for everyone else? And what if you follow her simple self help steps only to find yourself married 10 years down the line wondering who on earth you are and how you managed to find yourself here? Is not being yourself surely a better way at approaching life than persuing marriage by any means?
The reviews on Amazon do nothing to allay my fears:
"She passed on truth to me that positioned my heart in such a way to truly receive the Lord's fullest blessings."
"In this book, Candice Watters gives us pratical tips and stories from her own life about how to finally reach the altar."
More worryingly though was another similar looking book that I followed a link to on Amazon (and is more popular...) "Getting Serious About Getting Married". About which reviewers said:
"But this book has reminded me of both my Godly responsibilty to be a wife and also the fact that being single is not part of Gods plan for the majority and so no matter how busy and successful we are, nothing else is going to slot into the perfect place made for a husband accept [sic] a husband! "
"This book is sent by God for "such a time as this"."
Oh please. Spare us.
The book is called "Get Married: What Women Can Do To Make It Happen".
I am incensed!
Now, I haven't read this book, but, aside from the title, the cover did nothing to draw me in any further. On opening the book I felt no greater desire to read it when faced with foliage page detail and floaty italic fonts. No, I think it is fair to say that this is not my idea of a good read.
Do you think there will be 10 easy to follow steps? Do 1. followed by 2. followed by 3. etc and by number 10. you will find yourself happily married (do the 2.4 children follow in the sequel?). What makes the author think that the steps that led up to her marriage will be the same as for everyone else? And what if you follow her simple self help steps only to find yourself married 10 years down the line wondering who on earth you are and how you managed to find yourself here? Is not being yourself surely a better way at approaching life than persuing marriage by any means?
The reviews on Amazon do nothing to allay my fears:
"She passed on truth to me that positioned my heart in such a way to truly receive the Lord's fullest blessings."
"In this book, Candice Watters gives us pratical tips and stories from her own life about how to finally reach the altar."
More worryingly though was another similar looking book that I followed a link to on Amazon (and is more popular...) "Getting Serious About Getting Married". About which reviewers said:
"But this book has reminded me of both my Godly responsibilty to be a wife and also the fact that being single is not part of Gods plan for the majority and so no matter how busy and successful we are, nothing else is going to slot into the perfect place made for a husband accept [sic] a husband! "
"This book is sent by God for "such a time as this"."
Oh please. Spare us.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Church Christmas Card
It's that time of year again - the Church Christmas Card time of year. With Sarah being on staff now she was designated buyer of needed resources. After much work having been done on the foyer of the church we were this year restricted to a much smaller board space (we reassured Dave that we were not going to be stapling to the walls this year...)
It seems that each year we get a little bit more ambitious with our lettering, going from 'Have a heavenly Christmas' the first year to 'We have seen His star in the East and we have come to worship him' last year, to the epic lettering of 5 of our most favourite lines from carols and Christmas songs this year - 'Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies And their hearts believed again for the peace of men Can this tiny light set a world on fire Come, bow down and worship; come let's worship the king'. After borrowing a Big Shot die cutter, cutting out the lettering took most of yesterday evening, but that was only a small part of the job - setting out the words so that they would fit nicely onto the border was a much greater challenge! We had estimated accurately, however, and the words that we had chosen fit comfortably on the available space.
We then carefully fixed garden meshing to the backing by attaching garden wire with staples to the board and then twisting it on to fix it. We made a manger for the middle of the board and attached it in the same way then finally rounded the whole thing off with some wired gold ribbon wound around the whole board. There were moments when I never believed that we would get it finished but Sarah and I are, once again, thoroughly proud of the result!
Monday, November 03, 2008
My mug
Went to All Fired Up to collect my creation this morning, then christened it with a brew at the Chap Centre!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Pot painting, friends and jollity
Yesterday I went with some good friends to All Fired Up in Lancaster. It is a coffee shop where you can paint ceramics as you socialise! We had so much fun, I painted a mug with a picture of a princess on one side and 'Miss Swarbrick's mug' written on the other side. I can't wait for it to be fired so that I can collect it and start to use it for a good ol' brew! Mmm mm. We were in the shop for 3 1/2 hours, beavering away. Debbie painted a very professional looking heart shaped vase with a flower on either side (genius, in my opinion) and Ellie painted a teapot/teacup combination very cleverly with the picture spanning the pot and lid (what talented ladies they are!)
Afterwards we went back to the Peatpeople's place for yummy fish and chips and television viewing - Peter Kay's X-Factor/any other live voting type show spoof. Loved it! Particularly Nelson Mandella-ella-ella-ella-ella under my umberella... Genius!
The Dinster (Dinester? Deanster? Dino.) is becoming more sociable, though I remained happily sandwiched in the middle of the sofa with a coffee table in front of me - safe from woofy dogs, sharp teeth and slavvery mouths :) Sarah fed him treats and stroked him - she's a braver woman than I!
Afterwards we went back to the Peatpeople's place for yummy fish and chips and television viewing - Peter Kay's X-Factor/any other live voting type show spoof. Loved it! Particularly Nelson Mandella-ella-ella-ella-ella under my umberella... Genius!
The Dinster (Dinester? Deanster? Dino.) is becoming more sociable, though I remained happily sandwiched in the middle of the sofa with a coffee table in front of me - safe from woofy dogs, sharp teeth and slavvery mouths :) Sarah fed him treats and stroked him - she's a braver woman than I!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Having a ball
Last week church held a ball. Why? Why not?!
It was a good excuse to wear pretty dresses!
It was a good excuse to wear pretty dresses!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Perhaps the busiest week in my life so far...
It has indeed been a hectic one this week. Yesterday was Open Day/Evening at school, starting at 1.30 in the afternoon (still in classes) and going on until 8 in the evening with an hour for tea. After half a week on residential last week and then 2 days of unproductive activity to fill up the rest of the week with a classful of exhausted small people I had only 3 and a half days in which to complete a piece of quality writing each and put it up on display. Yesterday morning was a highly stressed environment, a class of children in the ICT suite as journalists and editors putting together a newspaper about their trip to Kingswood. I ran with the role play scenario in a 'YOU ARE 5 MINUTES AWAY FROM YOUR DEADLINE!' kind of way, closely followed by 'THE NEWSPAPER IS GOING TO PRINT, IF YOUR ARTICLES AREN'T IN YET YOU'VE MISSED IT!' We did get it all done and magically displayed on the wall with duplicates backed and up too (all thanks to Mrs H - well done indeed!). Open Evening isn't something that I take to easily and with my own fast approaching presentation to parents it was quite stressful.
This morning was school harvest in church and all classes presented a 'something'. We did a Fischy Music song 'Wonderful World' with actions and instruments including a couple of djembes that we have for our drumming club. Finding time to rehearse this week hasn't been easy as I'm sure you can imagine, but it went well in the end. Choir sang a number as well which was very well received. The numbers for choir have swelled this year to over 30 now - I'm so proud! I love leading choir so much and we have even managed to recruit a few boys now as well. I'm still on a recruitment drive for boys though - there are none from my class in it yet - I'm determined to draw them in through those lunchtime doors!
In the meantime I think I'm in for a well deserved weekend.
This morning was school harvest in church and all classes presented a 'something'. We did a Fischy Music song 'Wonderful World' with actions and instruments including a couple of djembes that we have for our drumming club. Finding time to rehearse this week hasn't been easy as I'm sure you can imagine, but it went well in the end. Choir sang a number as well which was very well received. The numbers for choir have swelled this year to over 30 now - I'm so proud! I love leading choir so much and we have even managed to recruit a few boys now as well. I'm still on a recruitment drive for boys though - there are none from my class in it yet - I'm determined to draw them in through those lunchtime doors!
In the meantime I think I'm in for a well deserved weekend.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Residentials, sleep deprivation and wedding happiness
Woo hoo, blogger has let me in today!
Well last week was a crazy one indeed. The first 3 days of the week were spent down in North Wales at the Kingswood Activity Centre in Denbigh with my class. I did have some trepidations, specifically about times that younger children wake up and the noise that they make when they wake each other up (I like my sleep!) but was pleasantly surprised to wake on the first morning at 7 and on the second morning after 7! Wonderful indeed. We had such a brilliant time, though the weather was wet, the staff were absolutely brilliant and the kids were well behaved. Marvellous. However, the remaining two days in school were somewhat of a blur... really was so exhausted by the Friday that it was almost all I could do by the lunchtime to lift my sandwich to my mouth and chew! An afternoon PE lesson woke me up a little but I was so very glad come 3.15!
Following on from that I have been down to Birmingham this weekend for another lovely wedding. It was a fabulous day for it, possibly the best Saturday that we've had all summer - definitely well chosen, Roz!! The bride was stunningly gorgeous as ever and the whole day was a wonderful event. It was great to catch up with friends again and to look forward to seeing them all again in 5 weeks at the next wedding! No-one introduced me to the best man though, shame on them!!
Well last week was a crazy one indeed. The first 3 days of the week were spent down in North Wales at the Kingswood Activity Centre in Denbigh with my class. I did have some trepidations, specifically about times that younger children wake up and the noise that they make when they wake each other up (I like my sleep!) but was pleasantly surprised to wake on the first morning at 7 and on the second morning after 7! Wonderful indeed. We had such a brilliant time, though the weather was wet, the staff were absolutely brilliant and the kids were well behaved. Marvellous. However, the remaining two days in school were somewhat of a blur... really was so exhausted by the Friday that it was almost all I could do by the lunchtime to lift my sandwich to my mouth and chew! An afternoon PE lesson woke me up a little but I was so very glad come 3.15!
Following on from that I have been down to Birmingham this weekend for another lovely wedding. It was a fabulous day for it, possibly the best Saturday that we've had all summer - definitely well chosen, Roz!! The bride was stunningly gorgeous as ever and the whole day was a wonderful event. It was great to catch up with friends again and to look forward to seeing them all again in 5 weeks at the next wedding! No-one introduced me to the best man though, shame on them!!
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Busyness returns
It was the Southport airshow this weekend, so more opportunities to see the Red Arrows in action! As I was driving towards home they flew up in front of me, drew a heart in the air and threw an arrow through the middle. How kind of them to draw that just for me! Later on in the house we heard them coming back to Blackpool to land so rushed out into the garden to see them do their landing loop le loop and them whizz over the house - always worth a viewing!
This morning I am up early to continue my training regime - I'm aiming for 75 lengths in 45 minutes today!Wednesday, August 27, 2008
One and a half kilometres and a word from the Lord
Swam 60 lengths in 45 minutes today. Came home and then came the free newspaper through the door to spur me on... 
Saturday, August 23, 2008
What should be my Olympic sport?
I have got ridiculously into the Olympics this year. I have found myself wondering whether to stay up to watch sports live (never actually did, but it was a serious consideration) and then have watched sports back to back on BBC. All this competitive sport action has got me angling to get into sport again and make it for the 2012... I'm not to old am I?! So, spurred into action I have been swimming twice this week already and swum 50 lengths both times. Yes indeed! But which sport to choose? Joy sent me a link which chose for me! It is a good choice I think! Just let me dust off that wet suit...
You Are Kayaking |
 You have a competitive spirit, but you don't like to compete alone. You do well in a partnership, where you can feed off the other person's energy. If you have the right partner, nothing can stop you. Your energy is infinite! |
Thursday, August 07, 2008
New Wine N&E 2008
I have recently returned from another enjoyable week at that Christian gathering, New Wine (North and East). It tickles me that they have added 'East' into the name this year, perhaps realising that it gives the name some credibility; Newark not really being in the north....
*Warning: this post has become excessively long!*
I have been working on Boulder Gang again this year, the children's group for 10-11 year olds. In the evening they join with Rock Solid (8-9s) for Dream:Factory which is entirely led from the front with silly games, praise and worship songs, a talk and response and the inevitable gunging. As last year I took on the role of 'Age Group Leader' again for the 10s. Even more so this year I felt like I got to know my team and really tried to own my role. It is difficult to get to know the children's names when you don't own just one group of 30+ but are general overseer of upwards of 100 10 year olds. I really made the effort this year to sit in with the groups in the evenings and to try to engage with the kids. I did, however, get asked on more than one occasion if I was a yellow... or if I was a red... or whose group I was supposed to be in? Explaining that you're in all groups is a bit tricky! The children are quick to pick up on a hierarchy that I was keen to avoid - my role really is a whole lot less important than the group leaders who are the ones building real relationships, praying for and encouraging their group of children.
On the first day as everyone started to arrive I was overjoyed to be walking through the site when one of the children, recognising me from previous years, waved enthusiastically at me! What a lift it gave me! As the week progressed I remembered why I take this bus man's holiday each year. Although exhausting, I am convinced that I learn an awful lot more about God and about myself from the children than I would if I were an adult delegate going to the main meetings and going to seminars. Each day begins at 7.45 with a team meeting and worship before the doors open at 8.45. The morning sessions consist of a short together time with the 10s and 11s then onto rotations which take up the majority of the morning. The rotations are sport, craft, floating activity (this just means that it is different everyday, for example one day it might be learning a dance and the next day it might be science etc) and finally application. Application is the teaching slot which links into the evening talk and gives the group leaders a chance to talk to the children about their responses and to pray in different ways for what has been brought up. Finally the morning ends with half an hour of together time for 10s and 11s, some action songs and some silly games, finishing at 12.30. I seem to spend the majority of the mornings taking groups of children on toilet runs!! I think that in the morning craft is a very important time, that is when the leaders really have a chance to sit down on a table with some of their group, get to know them and chat to them about things that matter to them. I am convinced that craft time is vastly underrated in its value.
In the afternoons team members can do things like go to seminars and such like. I do nothing. Last year Sarah and I decided that we would not try to do anything extra in the afternoons - the children's work is tiring enough without trying to overdo it! Fortunately we were blessed with good weather this year which is so so very important when you go as a single person... sounds daft I'm sure, but it's mightily difficult to be sociable with the rest of your church when it is raining and everyone is holed up in their tents or else out at seminars. When the weather is good everyone congregates outside and it's so much easier to go up and join a group. This year our housegroup were mostly camped together slightly apart from the rest of the church group (not because they are antisocial but because the area we had been given to camp on was considerably too small for the number of people and tents we had to camp on it!) and so afternoons were generally spent chatting and lazing about outside someone else's tent, housegroup or not.
Evenings start again for the worker at 5.45 with another team meeting and worship time followed by doors opening for Dream:Factory at 6.45. This year our evening themes followed the story of Peter. There was also somewhat of an emphasis on healing this year, which I can't say I was entirely comfortable with. It seemed a bit falsely hyped as a result of the Florida thing (I suspect) and I was uncomfortable with so much focus on physical healing when I would suggest that most children suffer more from emotional scars like family break ups, bullying and friendship problems and feelings of self worth more than with their eczema. I did have to eat my thoughts, however, when a child who had fallen earlier in the week and broken their arm, had been to hospital and had a temporary cast put on it then was prayed for one evening and when they went back to the hospital their arm was no longer broken and they did not need to put another cast on it! I agree that that is an amazing story of God's healing power. Though as with many I struggle with why God heals some people and not others... a struggle I doubt will ever get resolved!
I was forever blown away by the privilege it is to pray with children, something that has been a growth in me completely over the last few years. I don't remember much about New Wine in Harrogate, but I remember being completely paralysed with fear 3 years ago when group leaders were asked to come to the front to pray for the children that had come forward in response to something. Then I didn't move and hoped that no-one would notice that I, a group leader, was still sat down. This year I had no such inhibitions and relished the opportunity to pray encouragement and strength into a child's life.
By 10pm my team worker's day was done. Just enough time to spend a little while with church people in the 'wine tent' for a drink and nibble and then it was time to go to bed ready to do it all again the next day!
I'll be back again next year. For sure.
*Warning: this post has become excessively long!*
I have been working on Boulder Gang again this year, the children's group for 10-11 year olds. In the evening they join with Rock Solid (8-9s) for Dream:Factory which is entirely led from the front with silly games, praise and worship songs, a talk and response and the inevitable gunging. As last year I took on the role of 'Age Group Leader' again for the 10s. Even more so this year I felt like I got to know my team and really tried to own my role. It is difficult to get to know the children's names when you don't own just one group of 30+ but are general overseer of upwards of 100 10 year olds. I really made the effort this year to sit in with the groups in the evenings and to try to engage with the kids. I did, however, get asked on more than one occasion if I was a yellow... or if I was a red... or whose group I was supposed to be in? Explaining that you're in all groups is a bit tricky! The children are quick to pick up on a hierarchy that I was keen to avoid - my role really is a whole lot less important than the group leaders who are the ones building real relationships, praying for and encouraging their group of children.
On the first day as everyone started to arrive I was overjoyed to be walking through the site when one of the children, recognising me from previous years, waved enthusiastically at me! What a lift it gave me! As the week progressed I remembered why I take this bus man's holiday each year. Although exhausting, I am convinced that I learn an awful lot more about God and about myself from the children than I would if I were an adult delegate going to the main meetings and going to seminars. Each day begins at 7.45 with a team meeting and worship before the doors open at 8.45. The morning sessions consist of a short together time with the 10s and 11s then onto rotations which take up the majority of the morning. The rotations are sport, craft, floating activity (this just means that it is different everyday, for example one day it might be learning a dance and the next day it might be science etc) and finally application. Application is the teaching slot which links into the evening talk and gives the group leaders a chance to talk to the children about their responses and to pray in different ways for what has been brought up. Finally the morning ends with half an hour of together time for 10s and 11s, some action songs and some silly games, finishing at 12.30. I seem to spend the majority of the mornings taking groups of children on toilet runs!! I think that in the morning craft is a very important time, that is when the leaders really have a chance to sit down on a table with some of their group, get to know them and chat to them about things that matter to them. I am convinced that craft time is vastly underrated in its value.
In the afternoons team members can do things like go to seminars and such like. I do nothing. Last year Sarah and I decided that we would not try to do anything extra in the afternoons - the children's work is tiring enough without trying to overdo it! Fortunately we were blessed with good weather this year which is so so very important when you go as a single person... sounds daft I'm sure, but it's mightily difficult to be sociable with the rest of your church when it is raining and everyone is holed up in their tents or else out at seminars. When the weather is good everyone congregates outside and it's so much easier to go up and join a group. This year our housegroup were mostly camped together slightly apart from the rest of the church group (not because they are antisocial but because the area we had been given to camp on was considerably too small for the number of people and tents we had to camp on it!) and so afternoons were generally spent chatting and lazing about outside someone else's tent, housegroup or not.
Evenings start again for the worker at 5.45 with another team meeting and worship time followed by doors opening for Dream:Factory at 6.45. This year our evening themes followed the story of Peter. There was also somewhat of an emphasis on healing this year, which I can't say I was entirely comfortable with. It seemed a bit falsely hyped as a result of the Florida thing (I suspect) and I was uncomfortable with so much focus on physical healing when I would suggest that most children suffer more from emotional scars like family break ups, bullying and friendship problems and feelings of self worth more than with their eczema. I did have to eat my thoughts, however, when a child who had fallen earlier in the week and broken their arm, had been to hospital and had a temporary cast put on it then was prayed for one evening and when they went back to the hospital their arm was no longer broken and they did not need to put another cast on it! I agree that that is an amazing story of God's healing power. Though as with many I struggle with why God heals some people and not others... a struggle I doubt will ever get resolved!
I was forever blown away by the privilege it is to pray with children, something that has been a growth in me completely over the last few years. I don't remember much about New Wine in Harrogate, but I remember being completely paralysed with fear 3 years ago when group leaders were asked to come to the front to pray for the children that had come forward in response to something. Then I didn't move and hoped that no-one would notice that I, a group leader, was still sat down. This year I had no such inhibitions and relished the opportunity to pray encouragement and strength into a child's life.
By 10pm my team worker's day was done. Just enough time to spend a little while with church people in the 'wine tent' for a drink and nibble and then it was time to go to bed ready to do it all again the next day!
I'll be back again next year. For sure.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Birthday happenings
Why is it that when your birthday falls in the middle of June it is still not safe to plan for a birthday barbeque??! Yesterday was not my birthday, the real thing was earlier in the week, but a few weeks ago (when the weather was warm and sunny) I planned for an evening of barbeque food and games up at the park; a joint birthday party for me and a friend whose birthday falls next week. On Thursday as the school teddy bear's picnic was taking place indoors I began to doubt whether we would be able to have a barbeque after all.... And so it rained. We rearranged ourselves, rang around and went for a nice meal in a pub instead! It was lovely. I don't go out with friends often enough and should do it more. Thank you to those who came, it was lovely to spend time with you!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The joy of Guiding
Today I have been away at a Guide sleepover with my 'old' or rather 'home' guide unit along with another unit in the district. I have only been able to join them for the day unfortunately as this weekend has become quite a hectic one with birthday parties and school duties. Nevertheless I have thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Guiding can be so completely rewarding, seeing the girls really responding to one another, encouraging each other and working together. Yet it is all in such a relaxed and fun atmosphere that you just don't get at school. The guides have been working towards their 'Traditions in Guiding' badge so some of the activities may seem dated - that's the point! Still, you can have fun without doing a 'glamourama' Go For It (moreso in my opinion). In one short day we have: made patrol emblems and posters to decorate the hut, learnt the national anthem, played dominoes, done pioneering, made a trail and followed it, learnt and used hand and whistle signals, learnt ballroom dancing, made twists and cooked them on a campfire, had a campfire with songs and skits, played a quiz and made a catapult to throw a table tennis ball the furthest as well as set up and washed up after lunch, cooked tea on barbeques and even had free time! That is one activity packed day!
The most enjoyable part of the whole day has been how relaxed it has all been. No targets to fill, no pressure to achieve. But plenty of quality learning and tonnes of enjoyment. Can't ask for much more than that.
Guiding can be so completely rewarding, seeing the girls really responding to one another, encouraging each other and working together. Yet it is all in such a relaxed and fun atmosphere that you just don't get at school. The guides have been working towards their 'Traditions in Guiding' badge so some of the activities may seem dated - that's the point! Still, you can have fun without doing a 'glamourama' Go For It (moreso in my opinion). In one short day we have: made patrol emblems and posters to decorate the hut, learnt the national anthem, played dominoes, done pioneering, made a trail and followed it, learnt and used hand and whistle signals, learnt ballroom dancing, made twists and cooked them on a campfire, had a campfire with songs and skits, played a quiz and made a catapult to throw a table tennis ball the furthest as well as set up and washed up after lunch, cooked tea on barbeques and even had free time! That is one activity packed day!
The most enjoyable part of the whole day has been how relaxed it has all been. No targets to fill, no pressure to achieve. But plenty of quality learning and tonnes of enjoyment. Can't ask for much more than that.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Oasis for women, words from the Lord and too much cheese
Yesterday was another of the wonderful women's days at church. Theme this time - self esteem and body image. On arrival there was a warmly laid out room with artwork from previous days and church events, tables set out cafe style, soft drinks and chocolate. Oh and chocolate. There were two chocolate fountains and copious numbers of strawberries, grapes and marshmallows.
As the afternoon got underway the Oasis planning team sat down in a panel on comfy chairs at the front. Connie described it as looking like Loose Women... and so it was! We discussed power and weakness, children, women's roles, how we feel about our bodies, colonic irrigation (that was a rather unpleasant aside!) and watched a clip of How To Look Good Naked (also quite cringeworthy, I shudder at the very thought!)
After much discussion, laughter and chocolate eating (I ate far, far too much!) we broke up into groups of 3 to pray for each other. It was one of those pressurised times that I really hate. Sarah and I got split up deliberately which annoyed me somewhat, not allowed to pray with friends obviously, and another two ladies joined me at my table. We numbered ourselves 1-3 then numbers 2 and 3 prayed for number 1 for 2 minutes and then were given another couple of minutes to share with that person what they had heard from God for them. Now, call me a cynic (Cynic! Cynic! I hear you cry) but I'm not really sure God works like that... "alright, Lord, you have 2 minutes in which to give me something specific for this one person that will mean something to them or encourage them; nothing airy fairy please..." Anyway, as I was praying for the first lady I was desperately hoping for something wildly exciting to happen or well anything really that I could share with her after 2 minutes. Perhaps my mind was far too consumed with the pressure of having to think of anything at all that I'd probably lost a minute of praying time in fretting! As I was praying a tune appeared in my head, "hooray!" I thought, "A word from the Lord!" and so I sang it through in my head to work out what it was.... only to discover that it was the Clover advert... So not that holy then. I didn't bother to share it. It reminded me of a talk that Jeff Lucas gave at Spring Harvest once where he described obscure 'words and pictures' that he's received in prayer meetings before speaking engagements. "Bless you, love", he thought, "I think you've been eating too much cheese!"
Too much sugar in my case perhaps?!
As the afternoon got underway the Oasis planning team sat down in a panel on comfy chairs at the front. Connie described it as looking like Loose Women... and so it was! We discussed power and weakness, children, women's roles, how we feel about our bodies, colonic irrigation (that was a rather unpleasant aside!) and watched a clip of How To Look Good Naked (also quite cringeworthy, I shudder at the very thought!)
After much discussion, laughter and chocolate eating (I ate far, far too much!) we broke up into groups of 3 to pray for each other. It was one of those pressurised times that I really hate. Sarah and I got split up deliberately which annoyed me somewhat, not allowed to pray with friends obviously, and another two ladies joined me at my table. We numbered ourselves 1-3 then numbers 2 and 3 prayed for number 1 for 2 minutes and then were given another couple of minutes to share with that person what they had heard from God for them. Now, call me a cynic (Cynic! Cynic! I hear you cry) but I'm not really sure God works like that... "alright, Lord, you have 2 minutes in which to give me something specific for this one person that will mean something to them or encourage them; nothing airy fairy please..." Anyway, as I was praying for the first lady I was desperately hoping for something wildly exciting to happen or well anything really that I could share with her after 2 minutes. Perhaps my mind was far too consumed with the pressure of having to think of anything at all that I'd probably lost a minute of praying time in fretting! As I was praying a tune appeared in my head, "hooray!" I thought, "A word from the Lord!" and so I sang it through in my head to work out what it was.... only to discover that it was the Clover advert... So not that holy then. I didn't bother to share it. It reminded me of a talk that Jeff Lucas gave at Spring Harvest once where he described obscure 'words and pictures' that he's received in prayer meetings before speaking engagements. "Bless you, love", he thought, "I think you've been eating too much cheese!"
Too much sugar in my case perhaps?!
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