9-13 Project Launches

After many months of waiting we are delighted to announce the launch of the long-awaited 9-13 project! Our new MethodistChildren team member, Penny Fuller, has joined team as our 9-13 Project Worker. Here's a word of introduction from her - 

'Hi, my name is Penny Fuller and I am the new 9-13 Project Worker in the MethodistChildren team. I am very excited about my new role and am looking forward to hearing about all the activities that are going on with our 9-13 year olds as well as how we make church relevant to this age group.
This is a completely new role with the MethodistChildren team and I am approaching it with enthusiasm, energy, and an open-mind. I am involved in a voluntary capacity with children's and youth work in my own church, Downsview Methodist in the Croydon Circuit. I am actively involved with The Girl's Brigade and help run a Company in Downsview and I am the Leader at our Youth Club. I have experience of working with children and young people from age 4 to 18 years old.
I look forward to getting to know you and you all getting to know me! Bye for now!'

It's a boy!

Staying with films, have you heard about 'It's a Boy'? This animated film was produced by The Breakout Trust and was sent to all 25,199 Primary Schools in the UK. The film takes us back to the first Christmas and we witness the birth of Jesus through the adventures of three quails who are determined to save the new born Christ from the clutches of the evil King Herod. This 30 minute film is ideal for use in Churches or Children's Groups to tell the Christmas story. The website that has been developed to accompany the film www.itsaboy.org.uk contains images, downloads, and RE lesson plans to aid you in using the film.
The DVD/Video is available now from CPO for £9.99

E-piphany!

After the number of people that commented on our Narnia service we thought we would offer those of you working with children some ideas that could be incorporated into a service for Epiphany. Although the service is loaded up as a web-page it can only be accessed through this e-newsletter, so that makes an e-piphany service! A special to gift to you from us for Christmas!

Click here to access the service!

Anglican-Methodist Covenant

A new website has been launched in the spirit of the Anglican-Methodist Covenant. This new resource is aimed at assisting church in local areas in developing joint areas of work and worship. We are excited to see that there are sections for people to contribute details of the work they are undertaking in partnership and we are sure that much of this work will have a children's focus. Visit the website and add your stories.
 www.anglican-methodist.org.uk 

JMA news

The January edition of Rainbow and FUN will be sent out early in January, bringing news on Bangladesh, Russia, and China. FUN has much more on these stories and news of all aspects of Children's work, not only JMA. If you don't receive copies for the children and leaders in your church then please get in touch with us. You can view back copies of Rainbow and FUN on the website.
We are also updating the JMA database and will be in touch with all our contacts over the next few weeks to ensure we are mailing the right people. If you, or someone else in your Church is the JMA contact then please ensure that a reply is sent to us!

New Year, New Ideas?

Will Children's Ministry feature in your New Year Resolutions? Perhaps 2006 could be the year that you commit to doing something new with the children in your church or community. With the Extended Schools initiative rolling out across the county this is the perfect time to consider whether your Church could be running a Breakfast or After School Club. Maybe Summer 2006 could be your first Holiday Club run in conjunction with other Churches in your area. It might be that you want to research other options for the curriculum that you are using.
Whatever you think the children in your area may benefit from, the team at MethodistChildren would be delighted to discuss any idea you have and work with you to find that new idea for '06!

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity  18-25 January 2006

Many of you celebrate the week in different ways, but children could be more involved and, 'This year,' say CTBI, 'the ecumenical service is suitable for all-age worship.'
The 2006 theme, 'Reconciliation', came form the Irish Churches. They explained,' Forgiveness is hugely important in Ireland where all communities have suffered deeply. The violence has engendered fear in so many peopl,. there is thirty years of fear to overcome. Sectarianism is rife.'
The resources include a pamphlet containing the special ecumenical service and daily reflections, a card with prayers for the peace of the world and the unity of the Church, a large A3 poster to advertise local services and a Resource Book containing additional worship material and information about the Churches in Ireland. The Week of Prayer worship resources are available from CTBI Publications, phone 01733 325002 or via www.ctbi.org.uk 

Narnia-mania hits!

Since we e-published our service based around The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, the response has been amazing. The launch of the new film version on the 9th December 2005 has meant that the interest in our service has been immense. Just a few of the places it was mentioned was in The Times (25/11/05) and The Daily Telegraph (14/11/05). We have also been impressed by the response to the competition we ran on the website to win tickets to see the film, and we are delighted to announce that the tickets were won by Jessica Hackney, Martin Davies Parker, and Anthony Davies Parker. We hope that the film is a useful resource for teaching children and that you get the opportunity to see it in the weeks ahead. If you see the film then why not post some thoughts on the Narnia thread in the Bulletin board on the MethodistChildren website?

Sing a Song for Christmas

Ever looked for a new carol for your children's choir to sing at Christmas? If you are looking for something more challenging than usual in a gospel music style then Ruth Thomas has recorded her new Christmas carol, called 'Mama Maria' , and you can buy it on CD from Songbird, PO Box 24407, London, W5 1YN for £5 inc p&p. Call 07908 747234 for more details.

An Audit plea!

Many of you who receive this newsletter will have filled in our on-line Audit. We are very grateful to those who have already taken the time to give us this essential information to map children's work in the Methodist Church. There are many churches we still need to get information from and so we need people to keep spreading the word about the Audit. Mention the Audit in as many places as you can - Circuit meetings, at Synod, anywhere you are in touch with other Methodists! We want this Audit to be as accurate and informative as it can be, and that depends on the spreading of the word!

If you require any further information please contact us on children@methodistchurch.org.uk 

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