The Barrow Benefice churches were awarded a £1500 grant for their “Fruits of the Spirit” project, which entailed multiple events and smaller projects all designed to outreach and strengthen the bonds between churches and their communities.
A school visit was arranged to All Saints Church, Barrow, for pupils to learn more about the environment and wildlife. Suffolk Wildlife Trust and the local Hedgehog Hospital organized the pupils activities, which included minibeast hunting and learning about hedgehogs, which saw pupils viewing the hedgehog feeding station and hedgehog houses.
The deputy head of the school commented; “I just wanted to say a massive thank you on behalf of us all at Barrow, for organising and running yesterday's nature day. It was a lovely morning/afternoon, which both the children and staff thoroughly enjoyed.
It was wonderful to expose the children to some of the wildlife to be found on our doorstep! Here's to inspiring the next generation of little "David Attenborough's!"
The benefice also held a St Nicholas Party for local children and families. There was a good turnout of 40 people total, with children ranging from toddlers up to 7 years old. A variety of five different activities were available to choose from, which included making model St Nicholas figures, star and wreath making and decorating; lighting up St Nicholas and icing fairy cakes.
The children were also given a gold chocolate star and a Bible Society story book as gifts.
A lot of the local church community came along to assist the event, and connections were made, with many conversations taking place with the adults.
Easter saw the benefice’s Easter outreach with the Easter Gardens project in three of the five churches across the benefice.
The team led by the Revd Nicola gathered a number of families with children ranging from babes in arms to older children (below teenage years) to help build Easter Gardens for themselves to take home but also for each individual church either outside the main entrance or inside the porch. A total of 43 children and 44 adults took part.
One family wrote; “thank you for organising such a successful children’s morning” – this family had come especially to the church having been invited by us in response to their child’s impending baptism.
All participating children were treated to a mini chocolate egg (The Real Easter Egg) plus a Christian comic, and parents had coffee and hot cross buns.
