- Young Church News -

 - General Information -

With the exception of “Festival Sundays” the Young Church meets at 9.45am, the same time as our contemporary Worship Now! service. The children come into church with their parents for the first part of the service which we try to make child friendly and which includes the increasingly popular “Storytime”.

The children listen to the story in church and when the Church Family split into groups they go in to their own departments and follow through the theme with activities suitable for their age and stage of development. The introduction of “Storytime” has been a great successes. The children enjoy it (as do the adults!) and there is a bit of a stampede as the children rush forward to get their place on the stairs.   

The Young Church is split into 5 groups catering for different ages and the contact details for each group are as follows given below. For general enquiries please contact one of the Young Church Co-ordinators:
 

 - Creche -  Babies and toddlers up to 3 years.

Crèche facilities for parents with very small children are available for those attending the 9.45am service on Sunday mornings. For more information please contact the church office.

 - Sunbeams -   Pre-School Nursery -   3-5 years and Primary 1

In Sunbeams we welcome children from age 3 through to Primary 1. Priscilla the puppet, a great favourite, talks to the children each week and leads discussion of our weekly theme. Our programme provides the Sunbeams with a joyful introduction to the Bible stories through singing, play and craft activities. Please contact Maureen Carter for more information.
 

 - Stepping Stones -   Primary 2, 3 and 4

Stepping Stones are a group of children currently in P2, 3 and P4. We are a friendly, fun department where we combine getting each Sunday’s message across to the children with a mixture of craft activities, informal chats and games. The Department is run by Ross Annan and Gillian Godfree who lead the Group two weeks on and two weeks off. Each Sunday we are lucky to be assisted by two Young Helpers, Rachel Barlee and Allan Carter. In addition we have a rota of Adult Helpers, one of whom attends each week, and additional Young Helpers from time to time. We have around 20 children on our register and are always happy to welcome new members. If any child wishes to bring along a friend or relative on a one-off or more regular basis we would be more than happy to welcome them too. For more information please contact Ross (ross.annan@blueyonder.co.uk) by e-mail.
 

 - Explorers -  Primary 5, 6 and 7

The Explorers are a group of P5 - P7 children who come to our Young Church for games, crafts, stories and to meet friends new and old.  We continue the story the children hear in church and ensure they understand its meaning in relation to their everyday lives.

We do a lot of arts and crafts to help the children learn about Jesus’ miracles and teachings, and how they relate to the present day.  There are games and puzzles and not forgetting the occasional glass of juice and biscuits!

If anyone would like to come and visit us to see what we do, please feel free to visit us when the children leave the first Service or contact Moya Justice by e-mail.

 Other helpers include Evelyn Nicol, Jacquie Mather, Caroline Cameron and Clare Mather.

 - Pathfinders -  Secondary 1–6 (Meet at 11am)

As you will see, our Youth Group, Pathfinders meet during the 11am Morning Worship service. In the last year this group took part in the Forth Road Bridge Charity Walk for Christian Aid and enjoyed a barbecue, Christmas carol singing in the snow, ten-pin bowling and a couple of sleepovers. We also spent some time learning about the Old Testament prophets, and about how the church year is made up.  Some of the older members of the group also help out with the younger sections in the young church. So there is plenty to keep us busy!

 - Festival Sundays -

Harvest, Christmas, Easter and Pentecost.  On these occasions there is just the one service at 10.30am when the whole Church Family worship together. 

At Harvest the children and members of the congregation bring gifts of food which are delivered by Pathfinders and their leaders to organisations supporting the homeless. 

In the run up to Christmas, there is a gift service, when the children bring gifts which are then delivered to other less fortunate children.  We also support a Charity Appeal involving the whole congregation. 

On the Sunday before Christmas we always have a special service, often a Christmas play involving the children of the Young Church.  On Christmas Eve we have a Family Watchnight Service at 7pm which is aimed at families with young children and is always packed out.  Later on there is the traditional Watchnight service when older children and adults enjoy carol singing as we anticipate the approach of Christmas Day.  On Christmas Day itself we have one service at 10.30am for the whole church family.

Our Easter Celebration is the culmination of a week of ecumenical services with our neighbours in the parish. 

At Pentecost we celebrate together the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

 - Fun Zone -

 - Leaders -

But none of this could happen without the team of volunteers who make up the Young Church leaders and helpers.  At times it can be hard word but also rewarding and good fun.
 

In the past year we have seen a number of new leaders join us in the Young Church but we need new blood all the time.  So if you think you might be interested in helping out on an occasional basis in the Creche, or another Young Church department, in the Fun Zone or if you would be willing to become a leader please speak to one of the Young Church Co-ordinators. 

 - Young Church Collections -

Every week, the different departments of the Young Church have a collection.  The money raised in this way is used for two main purposes:

The Young Church sponsors a child in Ethiopia.  We receive letters and pictures from Yareko once or twice a year, which are circulated around the departments so that the children are aware of the hardships of living and growing up in a developing country. 

In addition, every year, the Young Church support Christian Aid by buying gifts for people in Third World countries – in previous years, these have included cans of worms, 3 pigs and a disaster survival kit. In previous years, small amounts were donated to many different charities, mainly involved with children.  This year, in addition to our sponsored child and Christian Aid, it has been decided that we will support one main charity and the Explorers group are currently thinking about which charity this will be.

 - Child Protection Procedures -

All new volunteers are required to complete the Church of Scotland Child Protection Procedures which involves a Disclosure Scotland Record Check and Jean Broadwood has now taken on responsibility for administering that procedure at Fairmilehead.