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 Hi everyone!
The first term of my Careforce placement in Kidderminster is almost complete. Thankyou for praying for me this term, I really appreciate it. Well there is a lot to tell you about since I wrote the last prayer letter.
I now feel like I have settled my work routine and I have got to know a lot of people in the Parish. I find it a lot easier helping with the groups when I know the people. I'm finding the home visits a lot less daunting now that I have visited most people on the list several times. I think that I am getting on well with the family that I am staying with. I feel more use to the procedures. The family that I am staying with cook great food, which is a giant boost. Please prayer that we continue to get on well together.
The children's groups seem to be going successfully at the moment. The Jubilee club which is for 6-10 year olds attracts an average of 20 children from the Comberton estate every week. Since the last prayer letter 2 new people have volunteered to help at the club, which makes a big difference. The children and the adults both seem to enjoy the club. However over the last few months a problem has arisen .Teenage youths tend to hang out around St Chad's Church and recently they have caused disturbances at clubs which run at St Chad's. There is the possibility that at Easter 2 part time community based youth workers might be employed in the Comberton estate. This would help, because there would then be more for the teenagers to do. Please pray that Comberton receives grants so that youth workers can be employed. The children's lunchtime club that I do at Spennels School with the Children's worker Peter Cooper is going well. Each week we play some games and then do a Bible story. Last week I told the nativity story from the viewpoint of a Shepherd. To add humour Peter took in a sheep puppet which kept disturbing me as I tried to tell the story. Please pray that we can keep thinking of original ideas to make the children's club entertaining.
Pathfinders this term has attracted lots of teenagers, with there being about 25 each week. I normally prepare games for the weeks when the sessions are at St Georges Annexe. It's fun thinking of crazy ideas for games. Pray that I will be able to keep thinking of different ones, because it gets harder over time to come up with a new idea each week. Also pray that there will be a youth group for the Pathfinders after they are 14. At the moment the only group for people over 14 is CYFA. CYFA is mainly Bible study and at Pathfinders there isn't any Biblical content. It would be great if there was a youth club for people between 14-18 where Christians would feel comfortable to invite their none Christian friends. As for CYFA the numbers vary a lot every week. We recently had a discussion about improvements to the Church and also the CYFA group. Please prayer that the ideas they put forward can be implemented.
A lot of my weekly routine involves visiting old people and also helping at the Young at Heart Club for over 50's. I enjoy working with the old people a lot more now than at the start of the year. I get on well with most of them and at Young at Heart they seem to love trying to tease me. My washing up methods and hovering regularly comes under the spotlight. Apparently I use a hover like a lawnmower and I wash up plates as if I was polishing them. Please prayer that I get to know more people from groups like Young at Heart who don't attend church. It's harder getting to know these people because I only see them a maximum of once a week.
St Cecilia's Church is by far the smallest Church in the Parish, but it has a warm, friendly atmosphere. We had success recently in been able to put a poster up at Spennels School advertising the Sunday groups. Last week we had 7 children at the children's group, which was the highest total this term. The main shortage is teenagers, because there aren't any at St Cecilia's Church at the moment. Please prayer for the congregation size at St Cecilia's to grow, especially with children and teenagers.
Other things to mention include the puppet team. A group of 6 of us are doing a puppet and magical show at a Church in the Malvern's on Saturday the 6th January. We are doing a puppet sketch as well as songs. I'm involved in the puppet sketch; my puppet has an American accent while the other puppet in the sketch has an Irish accent. It's great that we are able to put together a team and go and perform a show. Please pray that the show goes well and that after it the puppet team continues to grow.
The Christmas period is an important time for the Church. Recently lots of people from the 3 churches have been delivering Christmas cards advertising the services over the Christmas period. Hopefully this will lead to a large increase in the number of people coming to the services over Christmas. Please pray that some of these people will decide to come to Church more regularly as a result of coming to the Christmas services. There is also lots of Christmas parties that have either already been or are coming up. These are great opportunities for Christians to invite none Christian friends.
As for fundraising I have now reached half the total. I have really appreciated generous contributions from Knowle United Charities, the Wet Feet Fund and some generous donations from people. However there is still £750 to raise. Please pray that I will be able to do some fundraising events next year to raise money for Careforce.
Thankyou for reading this prayer letter and have a good Christmas.
Hope to see you over the Christmas period
From Jonathan
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