Growing younger
Nationally the Church of England has three priorities – one is to grow a younger and more diverse congregation. All Saints is blessed with many wonderful children and young people and has many testimonies of God’s faithful work among this age range through the last few decades.
Within there are four schools – two primary (Ecclesall Infants and Clifford All Saints) and two secondary (High Storrs and Silverdale). Between them, they represent around 4000 children and this last week they restarted their new academic year. We have been in touch with them all to say that we are praying for them (please do!) and continue to develop our relationship with them in other ways. Our youth minister, Cam, supports the Christian Union at Silverdale and the clergy are covering assemblies in Clifford All Saints before we appoint a new Children and Families Minister.
One of the most exciting things happening is children and young people working out their faith among their peers in their schools. It is easy to forget to pray for the children and young people from All Saints and other churches as they witness to the love of God in their words and actions at school. Also, please do keep an eye out in church for young people visiting for the first time – there have been some in the last few months. It is a big deal to walk into church for the first time, and how we respond and welcome really matters.
Finally, if you want to find out more about how young people understand and respond to the Christian story, there’s some fascinating research recently out called Translating God read by clicking this link https://www.youthscape.co.uk/research/translating-god/home
Ben Lacey