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18 November 2008
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Youth & Children : Events
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Training opportunities | Events | Good practice | FURY | FUSE | Ecumenical Child Friendly Church Award | Resource Reviews | Web Links | Contact your CYDO |
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EVENTS FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE Please contact Nick White, your CYDO, for more details about all of the events below, or go direct to the web sites where they are listed. What’s coming up? What’s been going on?
All Around the World  Southern Synod Annual Children’s Event Saturday 14th March 2009 Sevenoaks Once again, it’s time to get together, have fun, make friends and explore our faith! Following on from the success of the Peace builders’ event last March, this event gives you a chance to find out about the life of children in other parts of the world + find ways to do our bit to make the world a better place for everyone? We’ll do this with the help of ‘Commitment for Life’ , part of the United Reformed Church who work for a fairer world for everybody. The day will include: games, craft, discussions, songs, prayers, challenges, and refreshments. We’ll also join with the young people and the adults for a small part of the day to share what we’ve been doing and worship together. So come and join us as we discover what its like for children “All Around the World” All Around the World is taking place at Walthamstow Hall, in Sevenoaks on Saturday 14th March 2009. Arrivals from 10 am, start 10:30 am , finish 4:30pm. The event runs alongside the Southern Synod meeting. Each child will need to bring a packed lunch. Places for this event are limited and will be filled on a first come, first served basis! So book in early to avoid disappointment!!!!! For more information about this youth event, contact : Nick White Call 01634 578003 Email cydo@urcsouthern.org.uk You will also be able to download booking forms from the web here. Planet Earth  It is that time again … time to get your creative juices flowing once more... it happens just once a year … it’s the Synod youth event ! Following on from the success of the Peace builders’ event last March, this event gives you a chance to explore how we fit into Planet Earth and how we can do our bit to make the world a better place for everyone? We’ll do this with the help of ‘Commitment for Life’ , part of the United Reformed Church who work for a fairer world and for peace with justice for everybody. The day will include:  
So
it’s time to find out
“Where do you stand?” Planet Earth is taking place at Walthamstow Hall, in Sevenoaks on Saturday 14th March 2009. Arrivals from 10 am, start 10:30 am, finish 4:30pm. The event runs alongside the Southern Synod meeting. Places for this event are limited and will be filled on a first come, first served basis! So book in early to avoid disappointment!!!!! For more information about this youth event, contact Emily Young Call: 07960 330556 Email: emilyrayoung@hotmail.com Synod Youth Camp 2007
One Saturday afternoon in August, 60 young people aged 11-18 and their leaders descended on Honeyhill Campsite, in Kent, for the Synod Youth camp. As each group put up their tents around the central marquee, an empty field soon began to look like a campsite.
The camp routine soon got under way:
8 am Breakfast, Chores, Worship
10 am Theme activities & discussion
12 am Free time
1 pm Lunch
2 pm Choice of activities & free time
6 pm Dinner & chores
7 pm Sports tournament
8 pm Worship
9 pm Evening entertainment
There was a wide variety of afternoon activities to choose from this year, such as: canoeing & rock climbing; photography & video; swimming & street dancing; as well as more leisurely activities like pebble painting & a boat trip. In the evening, the camp atmosphere got lively with salsa dancing, a fancy dress disco, a quiz and a DIY cabaret.
The main aim of the camp is to provide an opportunity for young people and leaders to share fun and faith in a Christian community for a week. This means getting to know people with all their good points and their annoying habits … and working hard to get along with each other!
Here’s why some young people keep coming to this camp:
“I like mixing with interesting people who I wouldn’t usually talk to.” (Max)
“I get to spend more time with my friends and learn about Jesus.” (Sophie)
“I like putting up our own tents.” (Duncan)
“I get to do things I wouldn’t normally do.” (Sarah)
“I like meeting old friends and new people.” (Joshua)
Some have been coming for a years but for others it was a first:
“It’s good, the people are nice and we get to choose which afternoon activities we do.” (Jody & Jordan)
“It’s fun, but it gets cold at night in the tents.” (Shannon)
“I liked the activities but I hated the chores.” (Nessa)
“It’s really good and I’m enjoying it.” (Leon)
All of the activities are run by those planning and attending the event, using the skills and knowledge of the leaders and young people. This, together with a grant from the Synod, helps to keep the cost low - only £60 for a week of activities from dawn to dusk!
Here’s what a few of the younger leaders had to say:
“It’s nice watching the kids grow up over the years.” (Sofia)
“It’s my first time as a leader and I’ll definitely be back!” (Emily)
“Roger says he’s getting too old, so we need some new leaders!” (Smurf)
United Reformed Church Children’s Assembly 2007
What? This was not a school assembly !! It was a gathering of children from every Synod of the United Reformed Church to explore their Christian faith, think and talk about issues affecting the church, and feed their views into URC General Assembly via video and other creative ways, and have fun !
Who? From each Synod, 6 children aged 9 –13 years and involved in a local URC were invited to attend, along with 2 accompanying adults to look after them.
When? Sat 7th - Tues 10th July 2007
(n.b. This involves 2 days out of school to engage in what will be a unique educational experience in itself. Letters will be provided for parents to pass on to schools.)
Where? Manchester University
The event ran alongside the URC General Assembly on the campus of Manchester University.
How much? This was funded by the URC and there was no charge for the children or the accompanying adults.
What was it like? Read this report by Shannon, aged 13, who was involved.
We left Chatham station just after 8 a.m. on Saturday 7th July for Victoria, then Euston and on to Manchester, where a coach met us - everyone excited to be away from their younger brothers and sisters (except Matthew, whose younger brother James came with us!). Our destination was one of the Halls of Residence at Manchester University.
After settling in (and some table tennis) we introduced ourselves and then got into groups with those we didn't know and to tell them about our churches. Our welcoming service was in a building called the Armitage Centre, followed by dinner in the canteen, more games, free time and bed.
On Sunday, we had our morning service and communion in the Armitage Centre and then, back at the Hall, we had a time for discussion on living and dying (quite deep!) with plenty of activities to get us thinking & talking about it. We then went off to the local Museum for the afternoon - including a bit about Dr Who - really good. In the evening there was a gospel choir and some of us went on stage to do the actions to the songs – this was really good.
On Monday morning there was a debate on what we would change about the church - and it was encouraging that the adults were listening to what we had to say. Later we debated about climate change and created collages & ‘green’ churches! In the evening we went to see Shrek the Third. On our return, we joined up with the band who had laid on a special service with songs to which we knew all the actions. So we went on stage again to show the adults how it was done!
Tuesday morning was our last session (although we all wanted to stay for two more weeks!) We had all prepared different presentations based on Psalm 139, which we gave as part of the final worship session with the whole General Assembly. Then we rushed to catch the train back to Chatham . I want to say a big thank you to Nick and the URC for giving me this opportunity which I will never forget. Thank you so much.
Southern
Synod Youth &
Children’s Events March 2007 
“We played lots of exciting games” “The event helped us to see how much fun worship can be” “My son enjoyed all the activities. When he got back he asked when the next one was going to be!”
“The worship band was really good” “The teaching was very helpful … brilliant … superb … interesting and useful.” “All the way back in the car they kept saying how much they enjoyed themselves and what a shame they couldn’t stay to the end.”
 took place on Saturday 25th
November 2006, in central London. It was an event for people to explore
the future of the URC in 21st century London.
Children & young people took part, having fun and having their
say about church.  |