Hertingfordbury Parish News: May 2004

May Anniversary

This month sees the first anniversary of Young Church! Young Church is now an established part of worship at St. Mary's and it happens on the second and fourth Sunday in the month during the 9.30 service. It takes place next door to the Church, at The Fobury, because unfortunately we have no place in the Church to accommodate the children. Young Church joins the congregation in Church towards the end of the service, and shares with them all that has been learnt that morning. Helen Bishop and Christine Gorton run Young Church with the support of many helpers, young and old. The work and preparation that goes into each session is enormous and is taken very seriously, which is why the children enjoy it so much. Every detail has been considered in real Christian love in order that all the children, ranging from four years old upwards, gain something. As a Parish we are all most grateful and proud that this venture has got off to such a good start. We wish Young Church 'Many Happy Returns of your Anniversary'. We hope some time soon there will be a room in the Churchyard in which you can have your Sunday sessions, but until then we are very grateful to the Bishop's for allowing their home to be used. As each session draws to a close, a silence descends on Young Church and they all gather round Helen's chair. From beside the chair she picks up her basket. When the cover is removed, there in the basket is something – sometimes very exciting but on occasions not – an object that pulls together the threads that have made up all that has gone on during the morning, whether it has been making something, listening to a story, learning a song or a prayer or whatever. The Basket has become an important tradition for Young Church and they love it! Thank you to all of you, young and old, and we wish you another successful year.

Please note: Although the Hertingfordbury Parish News is produced by St. Mary's PCC, the opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the PCC.