Monday, January 26, 2009

Hildenborough Youth Group

The Hildenborough Youth Groups new youth club re starts on 11th March at St. John's Church Hall. This is an open youth club for the youth of Hildenborough and Leigh to come along and hang out together. If you would like to know more or come along, please get in touch with me.

AngelSpace @ Rochester Cathedral 2009
February 8th
June 21st
September 27th
November 22nd
AngelSpace is an event for young people provided by Rochester Diocese Board of Education.
There are many opportunities during this event for young people to explore faith in a creative and fun way in the mysterious space of Rochester Cathedral.
if you would like to go or know more about this event get in touch with me.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

UNICEF Year of the Child

UNICEF Year of the Child 2009

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR & WELCOME TO YEAR OF THE CHILD 2009
Making Children and Young People Count

2009 marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations' International Year of the Child. This is an ideal opportunity for our community to adopt 2009 as a celebration of children and childhood by:

* Celebrating their contribution in the life of the Community of Leigh Parish.

It is an opportunity to make 2009 a year in which the issues, injustices and challenges facing young people today can be highlighted. It gives chance for work with children and young people to be celebrated and to facilitate new initiatives with and for young people. It has so many strategic possibilities not just for celebrating, but also for lasting change and growth.

I would like our community to come up with ideas of how we can celebrate our children here in Leigh, you don’t necessarily have to have a big idea, small things work just as well. I am happy to co-ordinate these.

If you have an idea why not contact me today!

Coffee Morning





To raise funds for the
Mission to Gambia Project 2009

2nd. February 2009

09:00 - 12:00
Southdown House

High Street, Leigh, Tonbridge
Contact David Bennie:
01732834252 Email: isdaddyrasta@sky.com

African Crafts, Teas & Cakes, Raffle, Project Information and many other stalls - to raise funds for our upcoming trip to The Gambia in February half term - project includes, completion of new toilet block facility including installation of wash hand basins, repairs to floors of classes and painting of classrooms and exteriors

Youthwork Report

Youth & Families Report - November 2008

After8s
Commenced this autumn and has 6 members. Leadership is myself and a rota of the parents, which is working well. This term we have the theme of ‘Friends’, and have looked at telling our friends about Jesus, how Jesus made friends, reaching out, making friends.
CraftZone
This continues to grow in depth, we have a regular and loyal group of children and parents attending on a weekly basis in term time. This term we have been looking at ‘Heroes of the Old Testament’, including Joshua, Moses, David & Daniel. 1 big highlight was the harvest celebration. The children and church were encouraged to send in non-perishable food items. The children at craftzone decorated boxes into which the food was packed and wrapped. The ‘hampers’ (40 in number), were then distributed by parents and children.
Alpha
Once again we are running a joint course with Hildenborough at St. John’s church hall. This is taking place on Thursday evenings. Paula Marsh is attending as an assistant leader.
‘Alpha’ Home Group
Started this autumn with 5 members – hosted at Leslie Dyers house and meeting fortnightly. It is hoped that we will have 2 new members from the current Alpha Course when that finishes in December. The away day is on 22nd November at Sisters of St. Andrew, Edenbridge.
Youth Alpha
The joint Tonbridge Churches Youth Alpha Course at Carroty Wood has now finished. There were 26 youth on the course. 2 of our youth attended and it is hoped that they may go on to be Confirmed by the Bishop this November. I also attended as a joint leader at The Kent Youth Alpha Holy Spirit Weekend at Broadstone Warren Scout Camp on 31st Oct-2nd Nov. providing the intro talk on Friday evening. There were 80 teenagers and leaders at this very successful weekend. Our church is to receive a donation for my services at this event.
Leigh School
I continue to attend (with Lionel) weekly assemblies at the school. 2 of the assemblies were on the Shoebox appeal and Life at the time of Jesus, we have also looked at Jesus’ baptism and how He gathered His disciples.
Shoebox Appeal
This was officially launched at the school on 15thOctober with invitations going out to all parents to pack a shoe box with toys and gifts for needy children. Wendy & David Sellicks have kindly offered to be the ‘warehouse’ for collection again, which is the 28th November this year.
Gambia
Once again plans are well underway for next years project. In February 2009 we have 25 in our party travelling to Africa to complete the next phase of the toilet block as follows:
Build a privacy wall around the toilet block
Lay/connect water pipes from existing supply at classroom block
Infill with concrete base
Complete boys urinal
Install 6 washhand basins
Render all walls in and out of toilets
Shell tile the floors
Install toilet fittings
Paint walls and doors
Repair floors to nursery school
Repair and paint walls to nursery school
I am also travelling to The Gambia on November 20th to do some preparatory work
Anyone wishing to assist or requiring further info please contact me.
David Bennie
Youth & Families Minister 01732 834252 isdaddyrasta@sky.com