St John’s church in Halesowen have started two new groups recently, as they expand and enhance their work to engage local families, and children and young people of all ages.
In early March the team launched a new weekly Stay & Play group for families with children under five, called ‘Sunbeams and Songs’. The group runs every Monday 1.30- 3pm during term time.
Talking after their first session, Children and Families’ Worker Louise Hicklin said: “We had five families with eight little ones come along. It's an amazing start and we are delighted.”
The team also successfully engaged a group of secondary school students last summer through offering refreshments and post-exam chill out spaces and encouragement. The young people nicknamed this group ‘Donut Club’. The church team have continued to work with this group and pray into what it might become and have now launched a Pizza
and Prayer group on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 4pm.
NWCs Coordinator Claire Biggs said:
“The young people arrive, have space to chat and catch up, and there are card games, board games and craft activities on offer depending on what they want to do. I have a fantastic team of volunteers who help with this and engage the young people. We then order pizza from a local place and share in tea together. After tea we light candles and pray over the month ahead.”
“In time we hope this will become a worshipping community but for now it is a space for the young people to be and a space we can offer to other young people coming through the doors this year.”
She added: “We started in February with three young people and held our second recently which five attended. It’s been a joy to offer something to follow on from Donut Club which started last Spring.“
