Young Church

What’s On in March & Diary Dates

Young Church Lent Project 2004.

This year the Young Church Team felt it was appropriate to help the disadvantaged within our own society. We would like to ask the whole congregation to join us again this year in our fund raising efforts.

Our major fund raising event this year will be a 40-day money hunt. All those participating will be asked to collect a coin (or note) for every day in Lent. The coins can be of any value from 1p to £2 (or notes up to £50!). Please encourage the children in their efforts and if you can spare a coin I know they will be very grateful. If you would like to participate in our 40-day money hunt please see n member of the Young Church Team.

We are hoping to run a number of other events during Lent to help us to learn more of God's love and to raise more for charity. These will include refreshments after the 9.45am service on Mothering Sunday, a Lent Lunch and hopefully car washing. Please let me know of any ideas you have for Lent Events.

Young Church groups, The Fridge and The Freezer will all meet as usual during the month of March. Should you want any further information about those groups please contact Cara Parker (Young Church and The Fridge) or Maggi Gale (The Freezer/CYFA).

Toddlers' Clubs

1	Moon Beams	Babies and Toddlers	Sun. 9.45	Yew Tree
2	Twinkling Stars	Pre-school & Yr R	Sun. 9.45	Cloister
3	Star Trekkers	Yr R-2	Sun. 9.45	Hall
4	Sky Walkers	Yr 2-4	Sun. 9.45	Hall
5	Crew	Yr 5+	Sun. 9.45	Courtyard

Youth Club - Chill Out

1	The Fridge	Y 7 - 9	Sun. 6.30 - 8.00 pm	Location - contact Cara Parker via Parish Office
2	CYFA - The Freezer	Y 10+	Sun.8.00 - 9.30 pm	Location - contact Cara Parker via Parish Office

All childrens and Youth Groups are open to young people from all three churches across the parish.

We are in need of leaders and helpers for a number of our groups. Please speak to Cara if you would be interested in joining the team for the Parish’s important ministry to children and young people.

Young Church Activities

Children form an important part of life in the parish of Rayleigh. There are many groups that meet across the parish and children are always very welcome in our services. During the year there are a number of services held which are aimed at the children of our parish. These include our nativity services, Christingle services, crib services and holiday club services. We also hold all age services at least once a month at parade services and at other significant times of the year. All age services are good fun and include varied child friendly items as well as more reflective adult sections. The musical worship aspects of the parish are very broad. We try to include songs and hymns to cover everyone’s preferences. As part of this, services on occasions when the Young Church is not meeting include a children’s slot in which the whole congregation joins with the children in singing their songs.

The Young Church is involved with a number of the local groups including: Rayleigh Churches Youth Fellowship and Network Youth.

There are many parts to the Young Church based at Holy Trinity. We take child safety seriously and carry out checks on our leaders and helpers.

The leader of the Young Church is Cara Parker. For further information on any area of the Young Church please contact Cara through the parish office. Holy Trinity is an active and exciting Young Church. We are always delighted to meet new children who want to become involved.

Cosmic - (2 to 14 years)

CYFA - (14 to 18 years)

Mums and Under Five’s

JAFFA - (7 & 8 years)

Holiday Club - (5 to 14 years)

Uniformed Organisations - (6 to 16 years)

Cosmic : This is the collective name for the Young Church groups that meet on a Sunday morning between 9.45 and 10.45am. Children from 2 to 14 years are welcome to join with their age group. There are about 75 children who regularly attend Cosmic with an average of about 50 each week. Older teenagers who are part of the Young Church are involved in leadership of the younger groups. Further information on Cosmic below.

Twinkling Stars - Leader: Janet Carter. Children aged 2 to 5 years. This is a fun and lively group of preschool children that meet in the Cloister Hall. They learn more about God through simple stories, playing games, doing simple craft and singing songs. It is a delight to see the enjoyment and enthusiasm that these youngsters have.

Star Trekkers and Sky Walkers and Cosmic Star Trekkers. Leader: Sue Murphy. Infant School children aged 5 to 7 years.

Cosmic Sky Walkers - Leader: Yolanda Grainger. Junior School children aged 7 to 10 years. The Star Trekkers and Sky Walkers both meet in the Church Hall. It is a friendly and excitable group. They learn about God through lectionary-based sessions that include age specific interpretations of the reading, games and craft activities. One of their favourite parts of the morning is the Cosmic Shouts that start and end the sessions. On the first Sunday of each month we have a simplified communion service as well as our usual story. We then join the congregation in church for a blessing at the altar rail. As part of our worship on the first and fourth Sundays of the month we have music and singing. All the Sunday morning Young Church groups join together for this. It can be very moving to hear such a large group of children praising God.

Cosmic Crew - Leaders: Glenda Clark, Bob French. Children aged 10 to 14 years. This is a sizable group of young people who meet in the Courtyard Room. They have great fun. The sessions are also based round the lectionary readings but with an older outlook. Cosmic Crew is affiliated to the Pathfinder organisation so that the youngsters can meet with other Christians across the country.

CYFA. Leaders: Maggi Gale, Sue Robinson, Alex & Kat Gowing-Cumber. Young people aged 14 to 18 years. This Young Church group meets on a Sunday evening at the parish centre or one of the leaders’ homes. It is a friendly group who are very willing to give their time to helping the Young Church in more of a leadership role. The CYFA program is varied, including bible studies, discussions, participation in church services, games, and trips.

Mums & Under 5’s. Leaders: Helen Parsons, Kate Driscoll. This is a mother and toddler group that meets on the first and third Wednesday afternoons of the month in the church hall. There are many toys for the babies and preschool children to play with. The mums get a chance to have a calm cup of tea and discussions on relevant topics while crèche helpers look after the children.

Jaffa Clubs. Jaffa is short for Jesus A Friend For All. These clubs meet at local junior schools at lunchtime. They are usually for Year 3 or 4 children. During the half hour session the children hear a bible story and do related puzzles and craft activities.
Glebe School Jaffa.
Leader: George Gibbs.
Grove Junior School Jaffa.
Leader: Jenny Prasser.
Edward Francis Junior School Jaffa.
Leader: Lynn Lee.


Holiday Club. Leader: Ali Tomkins. The holiday club meets for one week during August at St. Michael’s church. It is an action packed fun week with music, drama, craft, games and stories. It is open to children from 5 to 14 years. All children are welcome, not just members of the Young Church. For further details and registration forms please contact the parish office.
This years Holiday Club is: Newshounds. 11th - 15th August 2003

Uniformed Organisations :
Brownies.
Leaders: Mrs. Julie Grant & Mrs. Paula Bower.
Girls 7 to 10 years.
There are two Brownie packs based at Holy Trinity. They meet on a Thursday and Friday evenings in the church hall.

Guides.
Leader: Mrs. Glenda Clark.
Girls 10 to 16 years.
The guide company meets on a Thursday evening in the church hall. FONT COLOR="GREEN">
Beavers.
Leader: Mrs Karen Vassallo. Boys 6 to 7.5 years. The Beaver colony meets on a Monday in the church hall.

Cubs. - Leader: Mrs Margaret Lloyd. Boys 7.5 to 10.5 years The Cub pack meets on a Wednesday evening in the church hall.

Scouts. Boys 10.5 to 14 years. The scout group meets on a Monday evening in the church hall.

Explorer Scouts.This is a district group. Boys 14 to 18 years. This groups meets on Monday or Wednesday evenings at Belchamps Scout Centre.

Network. This is a county scout group for young people 18 - 20 years.