Skip to main content

A Week of Telling Tales

Image
By

Wilsden Methodist & United Reformed Church - A Week of Telling Tales

You've probably all been there, you're planning an event to showcase your church to the wider community; you know more or less what you want, but what on earth do you call it?  Thankfully Sharon, our circuit children's worker, came up with 'Telling Tales - come and help us tell our story'.  

We decided to start our week off with a 'Family Party Day'.  We wanted it to be for everyone, completely free with proper party food and a bouncy castle.  We chose games for outside (hook-a-duck anyone?) and made plans for inclement weather.  Sharon provided 'children in the bible' themed crafts and we borrowed a badge-making machine from school.

Alongside this we planned an exhibition in our church, 'past-present-future' which would run all week.  Arms were twisted for stewarding duties, refreshment provision and general help.  We sent out flyers through school and the uniformed organisations.  We attached posters to telegraph poles and put adverts in the local free magazines.  And then we prayed.  A lot.

Would people come?  Would the awful weather abate?
They would and it did.

Naysayers who had been prophets of doom had smiles on their faces; it was amazing and we finished the day with light and happy hearts.

During the following week, Wilsden Walkers had a history-themed walk ending with refreshments at the church.  Willots and Linedancers held their usual classes amongst the exhibits.  Ten classes of children from the primary school visited.  Beavers, Rainbows, Cubs, Brownies and Guids came and Sharon weaved her magic with them all.

Tales were told from the Bible, the reasons we go to church were discussed.  Items which form part of our worship were labelled and commented upon (it was pointed out that the chief steward hadn't been labelled but that was only because she hadn't kept still for long enough) and we worked out that there were in the region of 500 visits by children during the whole week, plus a pleasing number of interested villagers.

Included in our exhibition was a series of anonymous replies to the question "What does my church mean to me?"  Some were several hundred word essays, some were a single paragraph like this one:

"My church is my extended family, I always feel welcome and loved.  It gives me spiritual guidance."

You can't get more succinct and to the point than that, can you  This is the message that we hope people took away with them.

There were times when all the preparations seemed endless, when we seemed to agree on nothing and we felt we had bitten off more than we could chew.  And we hope we don't have to do it all again in a hurry!  The answer is in the fridge magnets made by the children, which said "I am a friend of Jesus".

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer ...
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour still our refuge
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank

By
An article in the March Link stated that, after April, the foodbank operated by the Light Church will limit its service to postcodes which extend into the centre of Bradford.  However, there is a food bank which provides food bags for the whole of the Bradford district and surrounding areas. The following is an account of this bank; I am indebted to Keith Thomson, a member of the committee, for this information. Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank is the original food bank in Bradford. It opened in 2004, as an extension of the Curry Project for rough sleepers, started by Lashman Singh. It provides food bags for the whole of the Bradford district and collects food from the same area. It is non-sectarian, supporting people of all faiths and none, and the volunteers are from all sections of the diverse Bradford community. The main committee, the original seven and up to fifty volunteers are just that. We are all volunteers and no-one is paid. We never see the people and families that...
Post a Comment
Read more

Virtual Worship - 6 June 2021

By
Parables for Bradford - Week 1 Service Sheet (pdf) Opening Prayers: O God of all, lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth. Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe. Amen . Peace to the nations, to east and to west. Peace to our neighbours, to rich and to poor. Peace to all races, all women, all men. The peace of Christ above all peace. The peace of the Prince of peace, to you and to me. Amen. Song STF 262 All glory, laud, and honour. Address: Mark 4. 34 tells us that Jesus did not speak to the crowds unless he used parables. Matthew 7:28  tells us “ Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching. ” In the gospels, there are at least 9 verses like this, where we hear that the Crowds were astounded at Jesus’s teaching. Much of his teaching was in Parables. In the next few weeks, we will be looking at some of his Parables, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Soupermums! Wilsden Trinity Church

By
Do you have a young baby? Looking for something to do? If the answer is yes then Soupermums is for you. We're here from 11 until 1 every Monday, Mums (and dads) have a rest and the babies can play. Have a lovely sit down whilst you sip on a brew. Enjoy having someone else make lunch for you! Come along to Wilsden Church, meet the rest of the group. Lovely ladies cuddle the babies, whilst you eat your soup. Chat with the mums, new friends you will make. Swap tips and advice over a slice or two of cake. So what are you waiting for? come on along, For homemade treats, good company and if you're lucky a song. We're looking forward to meeting you, please come take a peek, 11-1 at Wilsden Trinity, we're here every week! Celine V  (a Soupermum!) Where can new mums go, to have lunch where it’s warm and safe and you get to eat fresh soup and homemade cakes, while someone holds your baby? Too big an ask? Not at Wilsden Trinity! Every Mond...
Post a Comment
Read more