The New Year Honours… ChildrenMartyn Payne |
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On Your Marks: January is a good time to take stock of things and look ahead with renewed commitment to the year ahead. This January sees the launch of Hope 08 with encouragements to consider a renewed commitment to social action and evangelism rooted in prayer. Barnabas is supporting this initiative and as part of January’s ‘fresh start’ theme offers the following ‘New Years Honours…’ list for children’s leaders. Get Set: Why not print this off and share it with your church? Then you can also keep it to hand, as you pray it through, to see which resolutions are particularly for yourself and others in your team/church. Go!
Children and me I will pray regularly for the children who live in my street. I will encourage all those who work with children at my church by asking regularly about their work. I will take a prayerful interest in the facilities provided for children in my neighbourhood. I will talk with the children at my church and listen seriously to what they have to say - their ideas, opinions, current interests, hopes and fears. I will be open to receive from children in the worship and ministry at my church. I will take a prayerful look at the way my church welcomes children and values their presence on all occasions. I will read again what Jesus has to say about children - particularly in Matthew 18 and 19. I will take some deliberate, personal space for prayer and reflection so as to be refreshed for my own work with children. Books and Resources from Barnabas/BRF that might help:
From the Ground Up
Children and my church I will advocate that a concern for 'other children' be among the priorities in my church's vision for mission. I will speak up for adequate resources for all work done among children at my church. I will ask for an audit of what is already provided for children outside Sunday services by my church and consider what new forms of 'church' during the week could welcome new children and their carers. I will take stock of my community's needs and consider what special events for children and families my church could sponsor to establish new meeting places where the Christian story can be shared informally and regularly. I will check that all who work with children from my church are not only CRB
I will make sure that our work with children is regularly reviewed and reported on at key meetings of your our leaders. Books and Resources from Barnabas/BRF that might help:
Messy Church
Children and the Community As a church… … we will develop professional and reciprocal relationships with the schools in our area, seeking to support good teaching of RE, collective worship and pastoral care. … we will find out from the DfESS website or by visiting the CGMC website about the government initiative to offer extended services in schools, and consider what our church (perhaps in partnership with other local Christian groups) can offer as before- or after-school activities for children. … we will research what local authorities in our area are doing to provide holiday activities for children locally and pray about what our church might offer to support these with a Christian presence. … we will include all children in our area in our church's vision for mission, praying for all that goes on, whether it comes under a church label or not. … we will visit the government website Every Child Matters and consider how our church and its planned activities stand against the five outcomes in this important document. … we will determine to speak up for the concerns for children in our local area - such as adequate play space, safety, issues of crime and social justice. … we will set up a training group within our church using a book such as Core Skills for Children's Work to equip people to work knowledgeably and sensitively with children. Books and Resources from Barnabas/BRF that might help:
Where are the Children?
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