Magazine for February 2010


LINES FROM LYDIA


Lydia Sampson, a lively and talented singer and instrumentalist in the Music Group, having finished her A levels ( and grade 8 piano at the same time!), has gone to Yeovil for a year to work as a Christian volunteer for Urban Warriors. She describes her work:


Dear St Mark’s,


I’m having a great time serving God in Yeovil, where I’m doing the equivalent of an A-level in youth work. I really appreciate all your prayers and support. I thought it might be an idea to give you a rough idea of what exactly I’m up to.


Parents and Toddlers
….is the group I’m most involved in. There are four groups a week and it’s an important and effective outreach. We try to get to know the parents and the toddlers, make sure it’s a fun and safe place to be, and a place where the parents can relax as well. We usually have kiddy bikes, puzzles, craft, story books, lots of toys, and a cafe area with drinks and biscuits for everyone. It’s lots of fun, .. I love it.


Pure Energy
….is for 5-8 year olds who run riot but they’re adorable. They have fun, and have it written all over their faces We have crafts, stories, songs, puzzles and a play kitchen (also used for Toddlers and Pre-school), and it usually runs pretty smoothly. It’s a mischievous age, but I’m getting used to the discipline and stopping them eating Play Dough (though I don’t understand why they would want to – foul stuff. Two whole cups of salt!)


Cafe Izaya -
….is on a council estate in Yeovil. The children who come are generally about 7-15 years old, and need somewhere to go after school, somewhere to be, something to do. It’s challenging most of the time, but it’s worth it. We have to be strict, but they still have fun. The aim is discipleship and largely evangelism, in works more than words, methinks. We try to love them and to get to know them as much as we can. We invite them to our other more evangelistic groups. We pray for them, before and after cafe. The rest is up to God.


Lighthearted -
….is an evangelistic youth group event for 7-11s. With Bible teaching, crazy songs, videos, games etc. for the first half, then for the second half, time to go crazy with more games, football, craft, a prayer room if they want it, and largely fun. We make many efforts to ensure that just because it’s a church group, it is not boring, and it’s so worth it. We normally have about 160 kids there!


Breakout -
…is a new thing on another estate, which is normally a very challenging place to work. We get speakers in and music that they’ll like, and step evangelism up a notch. We’ve only done one so far, but we’re confident that these will make a big difference. Let’s pray so. It’s needed.


Well, that’s everything I’m involved in, information on the various other stuff, YCC and SWYM, do can be retrieved from http://www.urbanwarriors.org.uk/ or just email Phil Macauley and ask for the newsletter!


Lydia