St Andrew’s Church, Melton, used their funding to help build their Friday Club, a club aimed at providing an inter-generational time of fellowship with a gentle introduction to church.
The Club meets on alternate Fridays through term time at the end of the school day. It provides play for the children and valued discussions for parents and carers. A healthy meal is served to all of the children. At each session, there is a theme, which might be love, forgiveness for example or major festivals, which is then reflected in activities as well as a short “circle time” discussion.
After its inception, the Club very quickly filled up to maximum capacity, which is 15 children between the ages of 3 and 10. There is a waiting list for children wishing to join the Club now. In addition to the children, there is often up to 10 parents or carers attending. There are also several helpers from the church who attend when they are able to.
The grant from the Growing in God fund has enabled the purchase of toys and games suitable for the range of 3 to 10 year olds, art and craft materials, and outdoor games to use in the church grounds on sunny days. Also bought was a small gazebo to provide shade during the summer afternoons.
As an intergenerational group there has been a lot of learning and growing together during the first year, over 20 completed sessions. These families may not be regular attenders at formal Sunday worship, but they feel they belong to the St Andrews community. Many of them have previously attended Toddler Group and have also come to special festival services at Christmas and Easter. Others have never experienced ‘formal church’ before.
There has also been a Friday club engagement, with a request for a wedding in church. And in addition the club is expecting their first Friday club baby too!
Children and families are invited to special services during the year, and for the first anniversary the club celebrated together with a party in July 25.
Almost all the Friday Club children came to the Summer BBQ and Fun day, enjoying time in the church and church grounds.
Some of the comments from the children include:
“I made new friends.”
“I like it when we go through into church, it’s exciting.”
“God can reach all the way to Canada.”
“When I am kind, I make God smile.”
“I can say sorry if I mess up, God will still love me.”
“This is my church.”
The Friday club will continue next year, with hopes to purchase gardening and growing equipment for the children.
