- Director of Children’s Ministry
01784-457601
www.facebook.com/FACT.FaithAwarenessinChildrenTrust
www.thefact.co.uk
It is now that we need to ask, not how can we reopenthings we have done before, but what are the needsbefore us that we can support and how does the gospelrelate to people and situations that are happeningnow? By its very nature that means these things may wellbe temporary and passing.Traditions are brilliant when they continue to be relevantto the moment we live in and not just something thatanchors us to the past. Innovation and ways of doingnew things are brilliant when they aid us to live in themoment and are not simply something hoped for in thefuture. If they have no immediate impact they force us topause and wait with nothing to fill this moment in time.As someone who dislikes it when Christians pluckrandom verses from scripture to make them say thingsthat they were never intended to say, I have becomeirritated by the over use recently of Jeremiah 29: 11.
In context this statement comes at a time when God’speople are in exile, in a foreign land under the cruel ruleof a dictator king. Life isn’t good. The past is what theylong for, to return to their home land and their livesbefore being conquered. They could easily haveperceived their lot as a time of waiting until it would allbe over but Jeremiah’s prophecy states that God wantsthem to build and plant and multiply in this place ofconfusion and uncertainty, of enslavement andsubjugation. They were to live in the moment and it wasthere that God makes his promise of good plans. Thatblessing was for them at that time in that place in thatmoment, not when they would return home in the future.At FACT, at this time, I am seeking to see God work now,in the mess and uncertainty of this pandemic, in its everchanging social restrictions. I am not waiting until this isall over nor seeking to get back to where we werebefore it all happened but to be be in the moment.So as you read on through this newsletter you will seewhat we are bringing from the past to re-purpose it forthe present, what we are offering now that is innovativeat this time but may well be transient and will have buta moment of value and how we are trying to help othersto think deeply about what can be done that will bedifferent to what they were able to do previously.
The language we use often reveals our deeper thinkingand presuppositions without necessarily articulatingthem. As I have re-established contacts with churchesand other groups the cry from leaders is often framedwith 2 distinct types of thinking.
The first type looks back to a time before the pandemicand it’s effects saying things such as, ‘When we get backto normal’ or ‘when we can reopen again’. For somethere is a desire to continue where we left off and thepandemic is seen as a blip that we will come throughand then carry on life as before.The second type of thinking looks forward to a time whenthe pandemic is over. For some there is a resignation thatwe need to wait for that to happen as the future isuncertain. Phrases such as, ‘We will have to wait and seewhat we can do in the future’ or ‘we need to know whatthe new normal will be’.
Both of these positions leave everyone in stasis, waitingor being trapped in no-man’s land. The truth is we willnever get back to normal as that form of normal nolonger exists and we may never return to doing some ofthe things of the past. To some that is a good thing, forothers that is to be lamented. Those who are waiting forthe future to arrive and then to move forward into it onceits path is clear and feels safe, will sadly be waitingforever as life will continually change and morph.
The story of God is a story of God in the moment, of now,in this place and at this time. His promise to always bewith us is present and continuous. Whether we will takethings from the past with us as we move into anunknowable future will depend on our actions in thismoment. and whether this moment has values for thosethings from the past.
FACT enabling children and households reflect on the Christian GospelA newsletter to keep supporters informed, inspired & involved.Issue number 143 October 2020
Registered Charity Number 1055843
On the drawing board (literally the whiteboard inmy office) are the outline plans for an Adventservice for households at the end of November /start of December and the embryonic scribblingsfor a service around Epiphany (early January)Services don’t need to be on a Sunday, but theycould be. They could be run multiple times if spaceis limited but the demand is high.If the idea intrigues you then simply get in touch tostart a conversation.There is growing evidence that family units havestruggled with a deep sense of isolation during thelast 6 months. A growing fear of the long winterdarkness is adding to that anxiety. People want tomeet face to face even with social distancemeasures. All the proposed services I’m working onwill go some way to relieving that anxiety and willhelp engender a sense of community once again.It will also strengthen the family unit and enable anopportunity for a joint encounter with God in ageappropriate ways.
Finding new ways of meeting safely as families is amajor undertaking but I’m pleased to say that aftermuch research and thought I have worked outways of achieving that goal. The first of what ishoped to be a series of monthly church services willtake place at the end of October / start ofNovember. There are 3 potential services at 3different churches. The leaflet above gives anoverview, and as I write I am confirming details withchurches. Keep an eye on our social media fornews as it breaks! These events will be limited innumbers and so places will have to be pre-booked(free of course!) and it will be first come first served.It’s not about trying to get everyone together butworking with the limited space they can offer. Thatmight mean allowing a dozen or more families orperhaps only 3 or 4. It might mean running theservice more than once and repeating the simpleformat. Quite literally a little and often is the wayforward at this time rather than a large gatheringon one occasion.
Join us to carve a pumpkin with a heart shape.We will place a candle into them and use themin a short service of ‘Light in the Darkness’.
You will be able to take them home!
The journey of the ‘Boxes’ continues with more twistsand turns. The original usage and how they wouldbe distributed has been adapted and developed.During lockdown some were posted or delivered tofamilies that requested them via our website, whichby the way is by far the quickest and easiest way foryou to ask for them. One church took 10 boxes thatthey hand delivered to families, then they set up aWhatsApp group to share amongst themselveswhat they liked, chatted about, questioned andwondered about God. Another church requested 2boxes that were delivered to families that theyhadn’t had contact with during lockdown just to letthem know they weren’t forgotten and hoped theymight use them to share about God. One churchused the box in their online act of worship which ledto them giving away 3 boxes to families whowanted to try them for themselves at home.We still have a good supply of boxes thanks to thehard work of our volunteers and we have taken thedecision to give all boxes away free of charge!Some people feel a need to make some sort ofdonation for them and that’s always welcome butnot a requirement. (The website needs correctingand is on my to do list so please ignore what it saysat the moment about costs of boxes!) We arecurrently seeking funding to allow us to create anddistribute another 200 boxes. That is most definitelyan item for prayer!
This shows 1 of the 8 sets of cards in a box with thecube and WO sheet to help you navigate the box.
We have been pleased to have more people offerto volunteer to help with the craft side of things andonce we can start to produce more boxes theirhelp will be most welcome and invaluable.
We have a pressing need for some regularadministrative support in the office. Perhaps youhave found that life has changed for you duringthis pandemic and you are wondering what thenext step might be. If you would like to gentlyexplore the possibility of volunteering on a regularbasis with some of the administrative tasks andsupporting me with those very necessary pieces ofwork you would be a very welcome addition to theteam! (It won’t come as surprise that admin is notreally me!) Why not get in touch to arrange asocially distanced coffee. We’ve even got lovelychoccy bickies!
Turns us in on ourselves, drives us downthe spiral ever deeper into our own negativefeelings, cuts us off from community, makes us wantto give up on things that used to be important tous, takes over our whole consciousness and crowdsout our distant vision, covers up all our landmarks,drains us of energy.
directs our focus outside and beyondourselves, lifts our hearts so that we can see thejoys and sorrows of other people, bonds us moreclosely to our human community, generates newinspiration and ideas, restores balance andrefreshes our inner vision, shows us where God isactive in our lives and where he is leading us,releases new energy in us.
During August and September I worked 2 days aweek and was furloughed for 3 days. It is myintention to work 3 days a week and be furloughedfor 2 days in October. As of November this schemewill come to an end and my intention is to return towork full-time. My working pattern is driven by theamount that can be done at this time as churchesand toddler groups, in particular, are finding newways to operate. The financial help the FurloughScheme has brought to the charity has been verywelcome and has enabled us to retain a positiveoutlook for the future in this financial year.
As a charity we have been blessed over the pastquarter of a century (yes it’s nearly that long) withpeople who have supported the work and ministryof FACT as Trustees. We have aimed to have 7Trustees which we see as the optimum numberallowing for good broad discussion and ideas,spreading the roles and tasks while not becomingso big as to make individuals feel unwanted orunneeded. We have never actually achieved thatgoal but always hovered around 5 or 6 members.We continue to explore with people the possibilityof becoming a Trustee. At our Trustees Meeting inNovember we will be saying good-bye and thankyou to Esther who has been with us over 5 years.Changes in family life and work patterns mean thatEsther is stepping back but will continue to supportfrom a distance. Thank you Esther for all you havedone. That will mean that for the first time in a verylong while we will be down to 4 Trustees. Due to thepandemic you may have uncertainties about thefuture but what about the here and now, do youfeel a possible calling to take up something newand exciting?
Currently there is much discussion locally andnationally around whether Toddler Groups cansafely reopen. Government and denominationalguidance shows that they are one of thosegroupings that falls through the gaps. There is clearguidance for Play Groups, Soft Play areas butvolunteer run, church based, groups for parents andtoddlers are missing out. The issue arises around the‘adults’ and their need to socially distance alongwith the need to keep toys and other equipmentclean and sterile. We’ve all experienced 2 and 3year olds who have no concept of sitting still - andwhy should they? So the reality of parents followingtheir toddlers as they interact with other childrenand subsequently other adults is an obvious issue.My advice to groups I have worked with is not to tryand open until the New Year at the earliest!However, rather than asking, ‘How can we reopenour group as before or with modifications to theway it used to run it?’, we would be better asking,‘What are the needs of the families we have contactwith and how can we aid them at this time?’ It ispossible to devise a totally different group thatfunctions in a Covid safe way. It may have lessfamilies attending and it may have a different focusand pattern to the gathering. You may need toconsider running multiple small groups and havinga booking process. You may find there is a differenttarget audience to that which you used to havevisiting your toddler group. For those of you who arestruggling to know what you should do then simplyget in touch and I will be very happy to meet up andtry and help you think about the way forward.
Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Jeremiah 29: 5
