The Parish Magazine November 2020

the parish noticeboard — 4
STAY
ST Andrew's Youth
The Parish Magazine - November 2020 11
STAY Schools Work
With many schools back in full swing
I have been able to safely continue
mentoring students in both Piggott
and Blue Coat Schools.
This has been a vital part of my
week as I offer space and time for
the students to open up and talk
about how life is for them both in
and out of school. To best describe
mentoring, it’s a little like
the image on the right.
Giving someone that
metaphorical helping hand
up to see the world from a
different view point. I
have also been able to offer
assemblies at both senior
schools, both virtually and
in real life. Recent themes
have been ‘Stories’ and ‘Love is kind’.
In these assemblies I was able to offer
stories and scriptures that speak of
hope, kindness and selflessness. I will
continue to pray for the local schools
that they will flourish and grow in
these uncertain times.
STAY on Friday
We had the pleasure of reopening
STAY on Friday Youth Club on 18
September in The Ark from 7-8pm. To
help fit everyone in we have split the
ages of young people into years 7 & 8
on the 2nd & 4th Friday of the month
and years 9+ on the 1st & 3rd. We are
allowed up to 15 per group so we have
the inside group and the outside group.
We are also offering the current
local year 6’s the chance to come
along on the fourth Friday of each
month to help aid in their transition
next September to year 7.
With the new restrictions around
serving food we have had to shelve the
donut wall, the baking sessions and
the offer of drinks from the kitchen
hatch. Instead, we’ve introduced a
brand new tuck shop, where all items
sold are pre-packaged and handled
only with gloves. We have also recently
introduced the very popular nail bar!
To book your child into youth club
please email me from the Monday of
the week you want to book them in for.
STAY on Sunday
We have started meeting in real life
as the STAY on Sunday group. As a
post lockdown gift I gave all the young
people their own STAY safe hand
sanitiser bottle.
They seemed thankful and
confused all at the same time! So far
we have looked at the themes of ‘Loss’
and ‘Gain’ and all that entails. What
have we lost over lockdown and what
does God promise we can gain through
loss. We are due to start a new series
of youth alpha soon. STAY on Sunday
is currently held in the St Sarik room
during the 9.30am service and meets
on the 2nd, 4th & 5th Sunday’s of each
month.
STAY Prayers
Some of the amazing young
people from STAY on Sunday
have been brave and stepped
up to read their written
prayers of intercession
during church. They have
prayed for Covid
and all it has
caused across the
world. They have prayed for the sick
and hurting and for the government
to have wisdom in dealing with it all.
I take my hat off to them for their
bravery and willingness to stand up
and pray at the front of church.
Training
Lastly I wanted to let people know
that I have signed up to a chaplaincy
training course for September to
December. This has been paid for by
the local schools and will help me in
my work as part of the chaplaincy
teams at both Piggott and Blue Coat
Schools.
As always, please get in touch with
any questions or thoughts
youthminister@sonningparish.org.uk
Thanks, Westy!
NOVEMBER 2020.indd 11 11/10/2020 23:49:35