Friday 21 December 2007

Merry Christmas

Apologies for the lack of blogs in recent weeks, I've been having problems with my internet connection.
Schools have all wrapped up and finished for the festive season. We ended with Christmas lessons and Christmas Rock Solid fun, so hopefully some pupils on Christmas morning will have a better understanding on what they are celebrating!
So prayers,
Please pray for the safety of all the young people, pray that this season may be a happy and peaceful one, for some this may be a hard time of year with family loss and splits in family so keep them in mind.
We also remember this is an important break for all school staff who by this point all deserve a well earned rest!
So until the New Year I wish you all a very merry, peaceful and happy Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!
Happy Christmas!

Friday 30 November 2007

Monday 3-Friday 7 December 07

Hello.

Can hardly believe that next week is December! So Christmas has started in the schools already and lesson planning on the nativity is complete! Scary how it has come round so quickly.

Here's how this coming week is looking.

Monday- Meeting with Bury Christian Youth (BCY).

Wednesday- Clare Middle yr 5 RE lesson, Nativity.
River of Life Meeting (evening)

Thursday- Two Clare RE lesson, Nativity
Rock Solid, Parkway

Friday- Rock Solid, Parkway
Mudflaps.


We are always looking for people interested in volunteering any time with us, and as Hope 08 is approaching you may be thinking about how you can serve you local community, if you interested in doing this with others please contact us for a chat.

Have a great week.

Friday 23 November 2007

Monday 26th-30th November 07

Hi.
I hope your week is going well. I'm looking forward to a break after a very busy couple of weeks, and having spent last week engrossed in seminars at the Youthwork the Conference in Eastbourne I'm a little tired.
The Conference was great, a good chance to meet with other youth workers and to generate some new ideas.
This Saturday we are spending the day with the Youth Alpha group at the Methodist Church as the Holy Spirit away day, please pray for the young people during this day.
SOMA is also on at the Methodist Church this Saturday evening, all welcome.
So next week is looking like;
Tuesday-KS2 assembly at Castle Hill on Commitment, our first assembly at the school.
Wednesday-Hope 08 Meeting.
In the evening I will be meeting with a group to look at developing youth work within the town in 2008.
Thursday- Rock Solid, Parkway yrs 5 & 7.
Friday- Rock Solid, Parkway yrs 6 & 8
Mudflaps, Kedington.

Friday 16 November 2007

Monday 19th-Friday 23rd November 07

Hello.

What a week, covering much of the country with a flying visit to Derbyshire earlier in the week to do a day conference at Cliff looking into possible dissertation titles (seems way too early to be thinking this far ahead!!) and this afternoon I'm off to Eastbourne for the Youthwork Conference which should be great fun, more on that next week.

So next week for me will look like this...

Tuesday-Visit to a church with Parkway yr 5's.

Thursday-Rock Solid, Parkway Middle.

Friday-Rock Solid, Parkway Middle.
Mudflaps, Kedington.

On Saturday our Youth Alpha group from the Methodist Church are having their Holy Spirit away day at Weston Colville, please pray for this time.

Have a great weekend.

Friday 9 November 2007

Monday 12th-Friday 16th November 2007


Hello.
I hope you all stayed safe last weekend and enjoyed the fireworks. But now we look towards Sunday with a different feel as we remember those who have died in war. We’ve been looking at this in Rock Solid this week, remembering the sacrifice many make for us and for others, but also celebrating the freedom and safety they have brought to many of us in our every day lives.

So this week coming...
Monday-I will be travelling up to Derbyshire Monday evening so please pray for a safe and easy journey. Also remember the Executive committee as they meet.


Tuesday-I have a one day study conference day at Cliff College and I will be travelling back that evening.


Wednesday-Prayer for Hope 08.


Thursday-Rock Solid at Parkway Middle, years 5 & 7.


Friday-Rock Solid at Parkway Middle, years 6 & 8.
I am travelling down to Eastbourne for Youthwork the Conference which I return from on Sunday evening. This is a great opportunity to meet with many youth workers, to get some teaching and encourage one another.

Monday 5 November 2007

Website

Hi, we are in the process of setting up a new HSI website and would like to know if there are any elements you would like to see on it. Please leave a comment or send us an e-mail if you have any ideas, we want to make this website as useful and interesting as we can. This blog will also eventually be moved over to the new website but we will update you with when that will be.
So any ideas drop us a line. Thanks.

Friday 2 November 2007

Monday 5-Friday 9 November 07

Hello!
What a week, I've been a bit under the weather so it's been a case of treading water this week and sadly I had to cancel an assembly but I did make it into Castle Hill for what can only be described as a very positive first visit with hopes to do much more there...keeps your eyes peeled for more news!
The Light parties were also a great success and it was great to see so many young people enjoying inflatable gladiator games and dance mats etc.
So coming up this week...
Monday-Line management meeting.
Tuesday-Christian Lunch at Castle Manor
Wednesday-Hope 08 meeting.
Thursday-Rock Solid yrs 5 & 7
Friday-Rock Solid yrs 6 & 8
Mudflaps.
A quieter week but a chance to catch up with planning. I hope you all have a great weekend, enjoy the fireworks and keep safe.

Friday 26 October 2007

Monday 29-Friday 2 October/November 07

Hello.
So it's the end of half term today and back to normal routine next week. I'll keep it short this week, here's what's happening;
Tuesday- Assembly at Parkway Middle, yr 8.
Castle Manor Christian Lunch.
Meeting at Castle Hill Middle followed by a lesson with a yr 7 class.
Thursday- Parkway Rock Solid, yrs 5 and 7.
Friday- Parkway Rock Solid, yrs 6 and 8.
This week is Halloween so please being praying for safety and understanding for the young people and children of Haverhill. Pray also for the light parties happening, the younger children's one at the Salvation Army hall and the one for young people being held at the Methodist Church.
Have a good weekend.

Friday 19 October 2007

Monday 22-Friday 26 October 07

Hello! I trust this finds you well.
What a week, another busy one with some great things going on! we had an excellent meeting with Kat and Sophie from 'Collective' who will be doing a missions week with us, it is looking like such an exciting time ahead and it only gets more exciting the more we prepare for the week!
We also had our Annual Genral Meeting, thank you to Downslade baptist church for hosting us and thanks to all of you who came.
I trekked down to London on Tuesday for the Youth For Christ leadership Tour which provides an opportunity to catch up with what is going on in YFC and with other centres from this part of the country whilst also keeping up to date with the new initiatives and resources out there.
I came away from the day feeling really positive with what we are already achieving in Haverhill and Clare but also seeing so much potential.
I have seen many of the resources that YFC provide and if any of you want any advice or help finding resources appropriate for your church groups or any schools work you may offer please do contact me and I will be more than willing to help you where I can.
a key thing to me which came from Tuesday is the aspect of Extended schools work in Haverhill. This is an initiative set up by the government which is requiring schools to open there doors from 8am-6pm and during schools holidays. The government our encouraging faith groups to offer support to schools. This got me thinking about Haverhill and how we can offer support. I am hoping to speak to our Extended Schools Officer to ask how we can help. If anyone is particularly interested in the ideas of Extended schools and you have any gifts you feel you could offer, be in sports coaching, dance, arts or help in a general after schools club I would love to hear from you, I would love to offer more support to schools but we need help from volunteers to make this more viable!
Please pray as we see how we can offer support to schools in this area.
We have also made contact with Castle Hill Middle-praise God! And we will be meeting with them after half term to see what we can do to help them. This is a true answer to prayer and we are so excited that we are now in all of the Middle and Upper Schools!
This coming week is half term, so lots of planning and praying for the coming weeks. Please keep praying for the young people in Haverhill and district, please pray that during half term that God will stay close to them, for some being at home can be a lonely place.
Please also pray for staff that they will have time to rest, also pray for churches doing holiday clubs, pray for protection and for wisdom and that they will have great fun spreading the good news.
I hope you all have a great weekend, dare I say lets pray for our England Rugby team as they represent our nation on Saturday in the World Cup Final!!! Enjoy the match if you watch it!

Friday 12 October 2007

Monday 15-Friday 19 October 07

Hello.

What a week, and it's not quite over. It's been a very busy week and I'm looking forward to relaxing tomorrow. Lessons went well at Clare though there was a mix up with one so I'll be back there next week to finish the last lesson.

This week is busy again, so here's what to be praying for...

Monday-We are meeting with Kat from 'Collective' the girl band coming to us in February for a mission week. This is our first meeting and we will be meeting with Parkway also.

Monday night is the HSI AGM at the Baptist Church.

Wednesday-We have a morning assembly at Westfield Primary.

Thursday-Final year 8 lesson at Clare Middle.

Friday-Rock Solid-there are many school trips away this week so we are planning on having one lunch time club rather than the two, for this week only!

Friday after school is mudflaps.

Have a great weekend and I hope to see some of you at the AGM on Monday.

Friday 5 October 2007

Monday 8-Friday 12 October 07

Hello.

I hope you have had a good week. I'm back in the flow of things after my week away. We've had a good week with clubs and assemblies. We have delayed starting Youth Alpha at Samuel ward until after the half term holidays.

On Sunday I will be visiting Church in the Field for their morning service to shed some light on my work which will be good.

Apart from that this is how the coming week is looking-
Monday-we have our first of four year 8 lessons at Clare Middle on 'Growing Up As a Christian', I did these lessons last year so I'm looking forward to them again, this time team teaching with Diana for a couple of them.
Monday evening is our Exec meeting.

Tuesday-second lesson with the year 8's in Clare.

Thursday- I have two lessons at Clare this time without Diana as she will be running Rock Solid at Parkway whilst I'm doing the lessons.

Friday- Rock Solid at Parkway and Mudflaps in Kedington.

It will be a busy week but I'm looking forward to starting off some lessons this year. Please continue to pray for us, it is very much appreciated.

Take care, have a good weekend.

Friday 28 September 2007

Monday 1-Friday 5 October 07

Hello!

This will just be a short one as I have just returned from the depths of Derbyshire and after a 5 hour journey in heavy traffic and rain I'm feeling pretty tired-though the week was very good, but I shall write more about that sometime next week!

Prayer requests for the things we are doing this coming week;

Tuesday-
An assembly at Parkway Middle.
Castle Manor Christian lunch, Diana is sharing her testimony.

Thursday-
An assembly at Parkway Middle.
Rock Solid at Parkway.
Samuel Ward Youth Alpha begins.

Friday-
Rock Solid at Parkway.
Mudflaps in Kedington.

Sunday-
Church visit to Church in the Field and Youth Alpha for Haverhill Methodist.

Please keep us in your prayers. Sorry for the brief blog, but I'm back with you next week so I'll be adding more!

Friday 14 September 2007

Monday 17th-Friday 21st September 07

Hello.

Well Diana and I are preparing for lots of work ahead of us as we return back to normality!

This week is looking good with some old things continuing and new things starting. if you want any more details on any of the things we are involved in please don't hesitate to leave a comment and we'll get back to you.

Here's how the next week is shaping up...

Sunday evening- We are running a Youth Alpha with the Methodist church for 13+ in the evening. If you know of someone who would really like to come to this please get in touch with me via haverhillschoolsinitiative@gmail.com or phone 07875 485520. Youth Alpha is similar to the adult Alpha course but done with young people's culture in mind, it's fun and relevant and leaves space for lots of questions. Diana and her husband Jay, myself and my husband Simon will be running this. For more info on Youth Alpha check out http://uk.alpha.org/youth/

***Another Youth Alpha course will be starting at Samuel Ward College from Thursday October 4th from 2.45 until 3.25 meeting in the Conference room.***

Monday-I'm off to Newmarket Youth For Christ to meet with my mentor in the morning.

Tuesday-Castle Manor's Christian lunch starts back (note chnge of day), this is an opportunity to meet with other Christian staff and students, to encourage one another and discuss different things. We meet from 12.45.

Thursday-An assembly with the year 5's at Parkway Middle, and the start of Rock Solid again, meeting in the gym, year 5 & 7's.

Friday-Rock Solid at Parkway for years 6 & 8.

I will be heading for Cliff College to do a week of study later in the afternoon, please pray for safe travel.

There will be no update on the blog next Friday as I will be away, Rock Solid will continue with Diana whilst I am away.

Please pray for the work in the schools this year as we are taking on more and our diary is filling up, we appreciate all the support we recieve. Please encourage any young people you know who may also want to attend any of these activities.

Have a great weekend.

Friday 7 September 2007

We're back!! September 2007


Hello and welcome back to the HSI blog. It's been a while but we have been resting up for the summer and recharging the batteries for the new school year!


Over the summer, other than resting and enjoying a good holiday, Diana and I have been plugging HSI out in Haverhill at the Big Day Out which was back in July on the Rec in Haverhill. It was a great day, if not a little windy. We met with lots of young people and families through playing the game 'The Price is Right' just for a bit of fun to encourage people over. Hopefully it will have raised awareness of what HSI does to both children and their parents.


This term we will have Rock Solid up and running very shortly in Parkway and will be back in Castle Manor for the Christian lunch. We hope to get CU's and Rock Solid's into other schools as well as lots of assemblies and lessons.


As well as all this I am going to be undertaking some part time study with Cliff College, I will be studying for an MA in Emerging Church so if you have any ideas and thoughts it would be great to hear some! Hopefully this will help me explore some of the ways in which we can engage young people, in a quite contrasting culture with the true concept of Church.


Well, more on what's happening week by week later, please keep us in your prayers and pray for the staff and children back at school now.


Take care.


Friday 22 June 2007

Monday 25 to Friday 29 June 07

Hello!

I hope you're not too wet! What a week!

We've been busy and madly preparing for the celebration service on Sunday. Also had the usual groups, we have been struggling with one of our Rock Solid groups on a Friday, please please pray for guidance for Diana and myself as we deal with the difficulties and pray also that the pupils do get something positive out of that group. We want everyone to feel welcome and safe in RS and at the moment it is proving hard work so we would really value your prayers.

So this coming week, my last full week before I take some holiday.

Wednesday-I will be spending the day at Parkway Middle doing a problem solving day-please pray that the rain holds off and that we have a great day full of fun.

Thursday-Rock Solid at Parkway yrs 5 & 8

Friday- Rock Solid at Parkway yrs 6 & 7.
Mudflaps.

We hope to see you on Sunday evening. Have a great weekend.

Friday 15 June 2007

Monday 18-Friday 22 June 07

Hello.

Hope you have had a good week. I've been busy this week which is always nice. Rock Solid has been really good this week and we're still seeing good numbers and mostly the same people each week, it's really encouraging.

Here's how the coming week is looking;
Wednesday-Castle Manor Christian lunch
Thursday-Rock Solid years 5 & 8, Parkway Middle
Meeting at Parkway Middle
Friday-Rock Solid yrs 6 & 7, Parkway Middle
Mudflaps.
Sunday-HSI Celebration service-West End Cong. Church 6pm-family worship to celebrate the work of HSI over the past 12 yrs.

I will be madly preparing for the Sunday evening. Please encourage people you know and your churches to come and support this service and to thank God in a time of praise.

Have a lovely weekend.

Friday 8 June 2007

Monday 11-Friday15 June 07

Hello.

After a busy week this coming weeks looks a little quieter. Here's what's coming up...

Wednesday-Castle Manor Christian Lunch
Thursday-Parkway Rock Solid years 5 and 8
Friday-Castle Manor Assembly-values
Parkway Rock Solid years 6 and 7

Have a lovely weekend.

Thursday 7 June 2007

Friday 1 June 2007

Monday 4th-Friday 8th June 07

Hello,

I hope you have had a good bank holiday! Well it it now the end of half term and the last stretch of schools term is in front of me!

I had a great bank holiday, Simon and myself went up to Cliff College where I studied for two years to go to their Festival, we survived camping in the freezing weather and battering rain, but we had a great time going to seminars and worship events, and I have come back with some new ideas and feeling more inspired!

Over this half term as well as planning and preparing assemblies and clubs I have found time to do some reading, at present I'm reading 'Mission-shaped Youth, rethinking young people and church' by Tim Sudworth, it's a helpful book for someone in my job as I look at the place of young people in one culture and how to present church to them and get them involved!

So, on to this coming week...

Wednesday: Westfield Primary assembly-The story of Noah
Castle Manor-Christian Lunch
Thursday: Rock Solid yrs 5 & 8, Parkway Middle
Friday: Rock Solid yrs 6 & 7, Parkway Middle
Clare Middle assembly-Commitment
Mudflaps

Friday 18 May 2007

Monday 21st-Friday 25th May 07

Hello.

I am happily writing this with some sunshine...at long last! It has been a slightly quieter week with no Rock Solid but I have been into Clare giving the year 8's lessons so that's been good.

Please make a note of the change of date for the HSI Celebration service, it will now be on Sunday 24th June 2007, at 6 pm at West End Congregational Church! This will be a family friendly service so please put this date in your diaries and join us as we celebrate the years work, and the last 12 years of HSI!

Coming up this week;

Tuesday: Clare Middle, year 8 RE, Creation
Wednesday: Castle Manor Christian lunch
Thursday: Clare Middle, year 8 RE, Creation
Parkway Middle Rock Solid for years 5 & 8
Friday: Parkway Middle Rock Solid for years 6 & 7
Mudflaps.

Thank you for your continued support in prayer, please also remember those who are taking and preparing for exams at the moment and those who will be moving schools very son or leaving school.

This is the last week before half term holidays so I will be back with you in 2 weeks time, take care until then.

Beckie

Friday 11 May 2007

Monday 14th-Friday 19th May 07

Hello.

Hopefully this time I can get this blog up on time!! After a crazily busy week I'm looking forward to having a lazy Saturday ready for a busy Sunday in Clare. On the last blog I didn't include preaching at Clare URC on Sunday morning so please pray for that.

We successfully split Rock Solid over two lunches this week, having nearly 30 on Thursday and about 40 today so the split didn't put too many off and we had plenty of new comers! Praise God.

This coming week is looking like this so far...

Tuesday: Year 8 RE on creation at Clare Middle.
Wednesday: Castle Manor Christian lunch.
Thursday: Year 8 RE on creation at Clare Middle.
Friday: Mudflaps.

There is no Rock Solid due to SATS, please remember the young people as they take these exams throughout next week.

I want to thank you for those of you who keep checking this regularly and remembering the work of HSI in your prayers, we value it so much. Remember to pass this web site on to anyone who may be interested!

Have a lovely weekend.

Thursday 10 May 2007

Tuesday 8th-Friday11th May 2007

Hi. Sorry that there was no blog last week and that this didn’t go up on Friday it was a combination of illness followed by computer troubles!! However, been back with it this week and very busy. Two weeks ago we started Rock Solid at Parkway and were astonished to have over 40 kids in one classroom, to allow for more room last week we were in the gym…however we got nearly 80 kids there this week! How amazing! It’s become so big that we are splitting it up over 2 lunch times to accommodate everyone! Praise God!
Last week also saw the start of the Christian Union at Castle Manor which too was a good time to meet with some of the students and staff.

So this week looks a little like this…

Tuesday: Parkway Middle assembly to years 7 and 8…Big Questions.
Wednesday: Westfield Primary assembly.
Castle Manor Christian lunch
Thursday: Parkway Rock Solid years 5and 8
Friday: Parkway Rock Solid year 6 and 7
Mudflaps.
Sunday: Clare Baptist

Friday 20 April 2007

Monday 23-Friday 27 April 07

Hello! I'm back, after a lovely Easter and a refreshing break and now the term is beckoning me into the schools!

Over the past two weeks I have really had the opportunity to catch up with paper work and planning and spend some good time thinking about praying about the term ahead with new challenges of lunch time groups.

This week we have two groups starting, on Tuesday is the start of Castle Manor's lunch time group, from 12:30, please keep this time in your prayers. Also on Thursday is the start of the Rock Solid at Parkway Middle, starting at 12:45. What an exciting and promising week ahead, I have already heard that kids have been asking at Parkway when it's going to start! First week is looking at things 'extreme' and how big and eternal God is! Extreme relays and extreme skittles are all part of the fun! This is such a promising club and prayer is vital to keep it real, so please pray for the children, Diana (a volunteer leader) and myself.

I am also looking ahead to a HSI Celebration. We have decided to spend a Saturday evening celebrating the 12 yrs of HSI and to give thanks for those years of work and particularly for all that God's enabled in the past school year! We hope this will be a great evening, so please please keep Saturday 23rd June in your diaries...you really don't want to miss out! Time's and venue will be announced in due course!

I hope that is enough to keep you praying for us, we value everyone's support and prayer for HSI.

Have a great and sunny weekend.

Friday 23 March 2007

Monday 26-Friday 30 March 07

Hello!

What a change we have had, the first day of Spring has now come and gone with snow!! Don't we live in a funny world!!

Had a good week though been battling a little with bugs going round, I'd really appreciate your prayers, I've been feeling quite under the weather and I have a busy week coming! Apart from that I had an excellent assembly yesterday with yrs 5 and 6 at Parkway which was certainly loud and entertaining!! The kids showed a lot of interest in Rock Solid too which is very promising!

So this coming week...

Tuesday: Mentoring at Chalkstone Middle.

Wednesday: Samuel Ward yr11 RE day, I'll be spending the morning speaking to 8 groups about my testimony so each pupils hears why I am a Christian and what that means to my life! Great opportunity!
I also have a meeting with Rob Ryan from Youth For Christ to just see what's going on and fill in YFC about what's happening in HSI.

Friday: Mudflaps.

I'll have lots of planning to finalise bits for next term so it's going to be a good week.

I won't be blogging again til after Easter as I am taking holiday from Monday 2nd April-Thursday 5th but will be away over the bank holiday too. So for now and far ahead have a very special Easter! And I'll be back for an exciting term ahead!

Friday 16 March 2007

Monday 19-23 March 07

Hello.

Been a good week, and have particularly enjoyed the sunny weather!

So the look for next week:

Wednesday: mentoring followed later for a panel meeting about the progress of the mentoring.

Thursday: Yr 6 assembly at Parkway Middle on an Easter theme, more races to eat Cream Eggs!

Friday: Mudflaps.

Though it looks a quiet week I am planning some things for Samuel Ward as I'm involved in an RE day soon and I have some planning to be doing for the up and coming Rock Solid.

Hopefully be a good and productive week. Have a great weekend.

Friday 9 March 2007

Monday 12-Friday 16 March 07

Hello.

So next week is looking a little like this;

Tuesday; starting with an assembly on an Easter theme for yrs 7 and 8 at Parkway so that I too can promote the soon to be running Rock Solid.

Also starting a Christian Union at Castle Manor that lunch time, the first one so hopefully we can see where it will go and what they want from it.

I have the last yr5 RE lesson on Stories that afternoon at Chalkstone too.

Friday; A group of students from Castle Manor are going to be looking around the Methodist Church to help them understand about churches which I will be joining them with before going to Mudflaps in Kedington.

Please pray for contact, I have been really struggling to get contact with some schools, lots of promised calls back and not receiving any so please pray that I'll be able to speak to those I really need to speak to, especially at Castle Hill. Thank you.

Have a good weekend.

Friday 2 March 2007

Monday 5-Friday 9 March 07

Hello.

Been a busy week and I can finally say I have now moved in to our new office at Samuel Ward! It's warmer and brighter and I can learn German while I work (I'm next to the German class rooms!!). It's been hard work moving boxes around but finally we're here. So that is one mission complete!

This week has been good all round, having had some really successful lesson with the year 5's at Chalkstone, they have been so much fun!
I have also just had a meeting at Parkway Middle and have some exciting news which I have been waiting for. We have a Rock Solid group...the first of many I hope. it will start from the summer term to give time for publicity etc. It will be a lunch time club at the school for anyone who wants to join me in my silly games and a short talk. Rock Solid material is great and I really pray the room will be so big that the club has to move rooms or be put on twice a week! I do need help though and if you or anyone you know might want to sit in on the club...you don't have to get involved if you don't want, I would really appreciate an extra body on a Thursday lunch for only half an hour. E-mail me if you're interested. haverhillschoolsinitiative@gmail.com

Next week I hope to be a part of Castle Manor's 6th form RE day on Tuesday, though still waiting to hear more about this.

I also have mentoring at Chalkstone.

Other than that I will be planning for assemblies to promote RS and planning the club!

Please do gt in touch if you want to get involved with RS. Have a great weekend.

Friday 23 February 2007

Sunday 25th-Friday 2nd March '07


Hello.

Hoping you have had a good week. I have been busy planning lessons this week as well as my final yr 10 lesson on Prejudice at Castle Manor which went well.

Yesterday I was at a meeting with Church leaders about HOPE 08, a year of mission across the UK, if you've not heard about it I urge you to take a look at the website for it, http://www.hope08.com/

So this week coming! On Sunday I will be 'promoting' if that's the best word the work of HSI at Haverhill Methodist Church to make people aware of what's happening, especially now Matt has left and I arrived. I'll be working round the churches over the coming months.

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday are full of lessons at Chalkstone Middle with the yr 5's as we look at Stories and I will be teaching them about the Easter Story so please pray for an openness and enjoyment in the lesson!

Hopefully the big office move is happening next week also, I have a little office at Samuel Ward which is now ready for me.

A busy week which I hope will be great fun not only for me but for those in the classes too!

Have a great week.

Friday 16 February 2007

Monday 19th-Friday 24th February 07

Hello,

I trust you have had a good week. Half term has been busy, started off with a Valentine's talk at the Methodist Church on Sunday morning and one lucky couple won a meal out for 2 in Haverhill after winning my quiz..I do hope they enjoyed their Pot Noodle!

Just had the final morning of holiday club, 'Going Bananas' at Haverhill Methodist church. It's been a really good few days and the children left wanting more which always feels like a positive sign to me. We had about 40-50 kids each morning, we jetted off to banana Island where the kids sang songs, played games and learnt about Jamima, Zacheaus and Noah! Hopefully some will come along to the family service on Sunday morning.

So next week back to schools, I will be back to my mentoring in Chalkstone Middle and writing lessons for the year 5 RE lessons.
I have the final year 10 RE lesson at Castle Manor on Wednesday morning.

So as term gets going again, plans will keep taking shape. Hope you have a good weekend.

Friday 9 February 2007

Half term week

Hello.

Hope you are all well and enjoying the snow! I always find it amusing that the UK can't cope with a couple of inches of snow!

Had a good week this week. Had three lessons at Castle Manor and after a very bad start I was thanking God because a girl approached me afterwards asking for a Bible! Certainly something to be thankful for!

Also had a few extra things going on and after a meeting with the Haverhill Echo I discovered an article on HSI and me on Thursday though they managed to completely omit the word 'Christianity' from the whole thing!!

Next week, well as you may know it's half term, so I have a series of lessons on the story of Easter at Chalkstone middle after the holidays so I will be planning that as well as being involved in the Haverhill Methodist holiday club, 'Going Bananas'. So looks like a fun week. Please be praying for the club which runs Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning.

I hope you have a fun weekend! I will be watching the rugby, so we need no more snow!!!!!!

Friday 2 February 2007

Monday 5th-Friday 9th February 07

Hello.

After having a manic week I'm looking forward to a restful weekend. The mentoring is continuing to go well and this morning I had a great assembly and the first of the RE lessons appeared to go well.

This following week looks a little like this...
Monday, Wednesday and Friday I have the same RE lesson with yr 10's at Castle Manor to get round the whole year group.
Wednesday I also have the mentoring at Chalkstone.
We've also found out we'll be moving into the new office at Samuel Ward after half term holidays so that is an answer to prayers.

I trust you have had a good week and enjoy the weekend.

Tuesday 30 January 2007

Tuesday 30th-Friday 2nd February 07

Hello.
I hope you have had a good weekend. This week is looking busy as term is well underway so here's how this week is looking for your prayers.

Wednesday: I have my weekly mentoring session at Chalkstone Middle which is followed by a Youth Services meeting to see how this work is going and how we can improve it.

Thursday: I'm in Clare for the Churches Together meeting in the evening.

Friday: I'm starting the morning off with an assembly on Commitment (yes more baked beans and jelly) with the whole school at Castle Manor followed by a year 10 RE lesson on 'Prejudice' which is the first of five lessons in Castle Manor. These are the first lessons and the first assembly I have taken at Castle Manor so please pray that it is received well and opens up great discussions.

I hope you have a good week.

Friday 19 January 2007

Monday 22-Friday 26th January '07

Hello.

Hope you have had a good week so far. Just a quick update and to give you a few things to be praying about for next week.

It's been a bit of a slow week but I had a great time at Chalkstone Middle on Monday and have started to mentor a student there which is a great opportunity, please be praying for this work as it is so important.

I have also been to a meeting about Haverhill Methodist Church's holiday club 'Going Banana's' which is taking place in half term which I'm getting involved in.

With it being a little quiet at the moment it has given me a great opportunity to reflect on what I gained from the conference and to look forward to this term. Already I have been in conversation with Samuel Ward about setting up an after school Christian Union this term, hopefully we can set up something more definite next week...so keep that in your prayers.

I have also been looking into how I can set up a Rock Solid club at Parkway Middle, this will be a fun club run at lunch times, which again will hopefully start after half term, however I am praying that someone may be able to volunteer their help to assist me with this one lunch time a week...any ideas please please let me know.

I'm really excited about these opportunities, it will deepen the work so that relationships can be built outside of the classroom environment so that the youth can really explore what it is to be a Christian! With all this I still have a lesson to plan and an assembly for Castle Manor and I am hoping to organise a fund raising quiz night...so watch this space.

Next week will be more of the planning of these developments as well as more of the mentoring, I won't be around on the Friday 26th and Monday 29th as I'm taking time out after last week.

Please keep praying for the young people and the schools, prayer is more powerful than we can understand! Have a great weekend.

Sunday 14 January 2007

Youth For Christ Staff Conference

Hello, and a slightly belated New Year!

I just came back from North Wales on Friday after having spent a week in a Castle for the Youth For Christ Staff conference. It was amazing week....the food was great, plenty of it! I got loads out of the week too, there were some great seminars with lots of information for me to take away and think about what more we can do in Haverhill and Clare to move HSI on! It was great to link with other people in similar situations, especially other new staff and others working on their own.

Hopefully 2007 will be a great year for HSI and we can move the work on and reach more children and young people making a real impact on their lives!!

This term is starting slightly slowly, I have a meeting at Chalkstone this Monday morning about some mentoring, so praying that will go well.

Hope you have all had a great Christmas and New Year and are feeling well in the swing of things now!