Been five days since first meeting. Still processing it, even now.
I think it went well. 11 of the 12 children arrived all with their money. 11 beautiful apple crumbles were made. Washing up was done, equipment labelled, rules decided upon and fun game played at end. Kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. So job done.
Or was it? Why was I up thinking about it in the middle of night? Yet again, I have deep appreciation for all those who run these kinds of projects. I was surprised by how the time goes by so fast. My fear is that the downside of the fun and energy created is that every session will pass as a blur of flour and sugar with no time to take anything in or get to know the kids a bit more.
However, maybe I shouldn't be too over analytical with just one session under my belt. As this is the first time I've ever done anything like this, I suspect the considerable feelings of frenzy are not helped by my brain working overtime...
Monday, 28 September 2009
Thursday, 24 September 2009
First meeting today
Very excited. First time we meet is today. Assembly advertising plus fliers have done the stuff and I have filled all my 12 places. Got all the equipment. Kids all VERY excited so their parents tell me. Ready to go...
However, also having last minute doubts about this will ever be anything like a fresh expression in the proper sense. But that's good, isn't it, because that way something contextual may emerge rather than imposition of something without consultation.
The good news is that this way, the church can offer something to people in the community beyond it's current membership. I'd rather help with that than do something vaguely trendy for people who are already Christians but fed up with church. There are groups round here for that already so it's nice to feel I'm not replicating something already being done.
I have a growing sense that it is important to keep my current project "neutral space" to get to know people. It's good loving service and community engagement.
Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. I still need to work out how to get all my bits and pieces round to the church without a car as Paul's run off with it on a work thing...
However, also having last minute doubts about this will ever be anything like a fresh expression in the proper sense. But that's good, isn't it, because that way something contextual may emerge rather than imposition of something without consultation.
The good news is that this way, the church can offer something to people in the community beyond it's current membership. I'd rather help with that than do something vaguely trendy for people who are already Christians but fed up with church. There are groups round here for that already so it's nice to feel I'm not replicating something already being done.
I have a growing sense that it is important to keep my current project "neutral space" to get to know people. It's good loving service and community engagement.
Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. I still need to work out how to get all my bits and pieces round to the church without a car as Paul's run off with it on a work thing...
Thursday, 17 September 2009
I survived!
I'm pleased to report the school assembly went very well indeed. I did a Ready Steady Cook thing with a bag of supposedly unknown ingredients. With a volunteer each, Abi made trifle and I a cheesecakey thing all in 5 minutes with kids counting down the last crucial 30 seconds. They then nominated two teachers to taste and all voted on which was the yummier dish. I won! I then advertised my cookery based project.
The kids were so cool. It's such a different experience presenting in front of a group of 100 kids than a groups of 100 adults. They get so into it. Their enthusisam and energy is so refreshing compared with the cynicism and weariness you can often feel with a group of adults.
I'm so chuffed to have done it. Right now, I feel high - like there's nothing I can't do - although thinking about it, I'm not sure I'm brave enough to take a senior school assembly so scratch that last thought.
On another matter, entering the whole world of CRB checks has been a bigger deal than I expected. I keep getting conflicting info and processing forms takes more time than I realised. This is all at the same time as waking up to John Humphrys getting cross about excessive checking on the Today programme on Radio 4. I disagree with JH and believe we need to be safe but I note how cumbersome it is to flag up when recruiting volunteers and how careful thought needs to be given to how you phrase it.
The kids were so cool. It's such a different experience presenting in front of a group of 100 kids than a groups of 100 adults. They get so into it. Their enthusisam and energy is so refreshing compared with the cynicism and weariness you can often feel with a group of adults.
I'm so chuffed to have done it. Right now, I feel high - like there's nothing I can't do - although thinking about it, I'm not sure I'm brave enough to take a senior school assembly so scratch that last thought.
On another matter, entering the whole world of CRB checks has been a bigger deal than I expected. I keep getting conflicting info and processing forms takes more time than I realised. This is all at the same time as waking up to John Humphrys getting cross about excessive checking on the Today programme on Radio 4. I disagree with JH and believe we need to be safe but I note how cumbersome it is to flag up when recruiting volunteers and how careful thought needs to be given to how you phrase it.
Monday, 7 September 2009
Well, things seem to be coming together well. Had an official letter of blessing from the PCC for my project (!?), fingers crossed for my funding applications to be looked on favourably and I've designed and made the fliers.
Fliers are funny things, aren't they? Everything seems so much more official when you've got a flier which is weird because it's really only a bit of paper that people may or may not look at, let alone decide to do anything about it. I'm aware of the collusive role a flier can play in the whole trap of mounting an "event-based" project - the "build it and they will come" mentality (Field of Dreams film) that just expects people to crawl out of the woodwork rather than invest in personal relationships/invitations. And then people wonder why their mission isn't effective. Anyway, I'm sure you get my drift...
It was good to read John Young's article in the Church Times this week about their fresh expression for children. (p.12) After 6 years, he reflects good connections have less to do with events and more to do with long-term friendship, hospitality and consistancy. Not rocket science but good to have it in print nonetheless.
Guess what? Just to make this whole project thing even more challenging, I've agreed to do a school assembly to advertise my project to the kids!? Am I mad? Any advice from anyone with experience in this kind of thing?
Fliers are funny things, aren't they? Everything seems so much more official when you've got a flier which is weird because it's really only a bit of paper that people may or may not look at, let alone decide to do anything about it. I'm aware of the collusive role a flier can play in the whole trap of mounting an "event-based" project - the "build it and they will come" mentality (Field of Dreams film) that just expects people to crawl out of the woodwork rather than invest in personal relationships/invitations. And then people wonder why their mission isn't effective. Anyway, I'm sure you get my drift...
It was good to read John Young's article in the Church Times this week about their fresh expression for children. (p.12) After 6 years, he reflects good connections have less to do with events and more to do with long-term friendship, hospitality and consistancy. Not rocket science but good to have it in print nonetheless.
Guess what? Just to make this whole project thing even more challenging, I've agreed to do a school assembly to advertise my project to the kids!? Am I mad? Any advice from anyone with experience in this kind of thing?
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