Making Christmas pretties.

One of the many reasons why my job is great is that I go to go lovely places an do lovely things. I spent last weekend on the beautiful North Devon Coast at Lee Abbey, helping out with a Christmas craft weekend! It was great to be by the sea... (it's been so long!!) with loads of wonderful women of God, making lovely things, learning and spending some time in Gods presence.

Advent bunting workshop.

Lee Abbey, main house.

The grounds, looking towards Lee Bay.

Slumming it.

On the 28th and the 29th of October eleven young people were sponsored to live in boxes for 20hrs.They raised about £300 for the Karen Action Group and had a chance to be cold and hungry for a while and to learn about a tiny bit about what it's like to sleep rough.

They started off by building somewhere to sleep using boxes and some old polythene and only ate rice. They also had to compete and haggle to get any extras - like blankets or extra food. Cardboard boxes aren’t that comfy and it was very cold in the church, so not much sleep was had! David Lewis came and gave an excellent talk about the Karen - it was both challenging and inspiring to hear about the lives of the Karen. The following morning Peter led a great bible study which enabled us to think about what it means to be a Christian in a world where there is suffering and poverty and homelessness. Then we everyone went home a little hungry and rather tired... and hopefully challenged and having learned something and a bit more appreciative of the blessings that we've been given.

This event wouldn't have happened with out the hard work of Tony, Lucy, Peter and David! Thank you! And a massive well done to the young people for raising so much money and taking part!

Look to the right.

...of the screen! Now back to me.

Yes. Something new... a place for little videos to live. And some text, entitled 'About me' Isn't that nice. Look. Watch. Read. Thanks.

Tent up. Kettle on.

Nothing like a good bit o' traffic!

Yes. It's a cassette tape.

"They're like the Ben and Jerry's of Pies"

Gungor. Big Top.

Gentleman's Dub Club

Communion.

Very important info.

More useful advice.

Nativity prep already!?

I don't remember bunnies featuring in the Nativity story...

Someone should alert the NSPCCW (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Church Wardens)

Knitting, in its wooliest form.

Pretty-glowy-greenbelt-tenty-thingy.

The site, in all its lit up loveliness.

Isn't it pretty!

We've made it back from a great - but somewhat tiring weekend at Greenbelt. It was four days of comedy, excellent music, some rain, some sun, lots of tents, thousands of people, not enough toilets, much fun and most of all... God.

I do get left the best presents!

...

Coming Soon...!

DCYC 2011 Senrior Mixed

Great weather. Great people. Great God.

Camp fire and reflective time on the beach.

Perudo... Quite addictive...

...and competitive...

Always beautiful.

So. Here's an belated update on an excellent camp! It was a week of paperclips, pirate ships, Dr. Zues, Mr Chips, circus costumes, silly pranks, kayaking, zumba, craft, crocker, worship, God in action and more! It was great to get to know the young people and serve alongside fantastic officers in one of the most beautiful parts of Devon.

Can't wait to visit Junior Mixed and then there will be celebration and reunion to look forward to!

Let them eat cake.

This July the first 'Cake and Cup Cake Competition' was held to help raise money for CREATE! The entries varied from the brilliant to the downright bazaar - sadly the Marmite Cake didn't win, although I've heard 'It could have done with more marmite'.

For two days Square Corner was transformed by hordes of bunting and an abundance of cake. The entries were judged and raffled off to raise money for youth and children's work in the village and the refurbishment of Square Corner.

Thank you and well done to the cake bakers, organizers, fundraisers and volunteers who made this excellent event happen!

2 DAYS...!

...5 days...!

DCYC '10

Country Bumpkins in the City.

 

100 train tickets...

4 staff...

16 young people...

Up at ridiculous o'clock in the morning...

6:50am start...

 

Train from Tiverton to Paddington, and our day in the city begins there when we meet some of LCM team, including the railway chaplain of Paddington station.

We had the chance to learn a bit about homelessness in London, the work that London City Mission does and got to do some sight seeing at the same time!

It was a long, but brilliant and inspiring day!

Counting down...

DCYC Senior Mixed, 2010

...Only 9 days to go 'til DCYC Senior Mixed 2011!

First year working for CREATE...

September 2010. And it starts here, at the SWYM commissioning service.

The start of Film, Faith and Photography

SWYM conference, November 2010.

What's that an owl... at church...?

:D ...!

Term 1. Maureen's excellent cake!

Translation: Really good.

Kelly and Vicki's snowy adventure

Lee Abbey 2011

Lee Abbey, youth weekend away 2011

Cluster social - Dartmoor

More tea?

Engage work in the lovely spring time sunshine

More wildlife!

Weeks holiday in Guildford...

There's a time for everything... Ecclesiastes

Rural enough yet?

Hello, Devon!

Wildside Expereince, June 2011

Wildside weekend, exploring Gods creation

Mud. Wellies. Camping chic.

CU trip to London. ...Country bumpkins in the city.

So there it is. A quick overview of the past 12months in photos... And here a some words to go with the photos!

So, I’ve made it through my first year as a trainee youth worker. The time seems to have flown by and I’m looking forward to what the next 12 months could bring. I feel like I haven’t stopped since I arrived; its been challenging and brilliant. I’ve met lots of wonderful people and been able to start building some great relationships with adults and young people. 


To make an average week:
  2x Lunch time groups at school
  1x After school youth café
  1x Film, Faith & Photography meeting
  2x Church services
  1x Sunday night youth group
(add special events, weekends away, camps as required)
 
As well as becoming part of the youth work that was already in place I have been able to set up a small group exploring faith through film, photography and animation - I’ll admit that it didn’t have the smoothest start, but now its starting to develop and grow. The aim of the group is to facilitate looking at and expressing faith in a different way, through creative, digital arts. The young people have been able to learn and work together to produce a selection of photos and some animations that each say something about the Christian faith. I hope that through this group the young people will be enabled to share their faith journey in this way. I feel privileged to be able to get to know them and hear what they have to say as well as seeing them create some great pieces of work.

In addition to having a great time working with CREATE I’ve also had a great time training with SWYM. I feel like I’m learning every step of the way and although its hard at times its all brilliant experience!