2011 Annual Report - St John's in the City

St J’s Kids and the St John’s Congregation
Picnic Church (a St J’s Kids initiative) continues
to be a highlight of our year. In March 2011, St J’s
Kids families actively participated in our worship
outdoors in God’s creation at Otari Wilton bush.
With the bar-b-ques functioning this year, many
families also stayed on after the service to eat a barb-que
lunch and socialise.
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The children and leaders also continue to enjoy
actively participating with the wider congregation in
our All Age Worship.
This year St J’s Kids along with their parents and
leaders have enjoyed the opportunity to prepare
and serve morning tea to the congregation in the
Hall after church once a term. The success of the
‘Wingers’ (Yr 5&6 children, ages 9-11) morning
tea in March meant that the Halfbacks (preschoolers)
and the Centres (Yr 1&2 children, ages
5-6) eagerly took their turn. The one remaining
team, the Fullbacks (Yr 3&4 children, ages 7-8)
are anticipating their turn with fervour! A very
unique experience for the Congregation to be served
morning tea by a rugby team after worship!
Pantry Raid, with Stephanie MacIntyre at DCM,
November 2010
Ailsa Salt took on the challenge of actioning the
request for a children’s lectern, and as a result we
have a lectern beautifully carved by Dr Peter O’Hara.
Dr O’Hara was acknowledged for his many hours
of work during worship in June. The children are
enjoying using the lectern already – they can see the
congregation when speaking and the congregation
can see them! We are very grateful to Ailsa and Peter
for this gift and it is a physical testament to St John’s
commitment to being a Kid’s Friendly church.
Social Events
Beth Beard and Elizabeth Gibbs co-ordinated
Starlight Story time in August 2010. This was the
usual action packed evening with all ages involved
telling stories, dancing and providing supper. We
returned to having one session in the church
rather than the chapel to accommodate numbers.
Approximately 90 children and 55 adults enjoyed
the evening. Thanks to the many members of the
congregation who contributed to this magical
evening for the children.
Outreach
In response to low Foodbank stocks in Wellington,
St J’s Kids’ again raided the pantry of the St John’s
congregation in November 2010 and were generously
rewarded for their efforts. This was then transported
to the Downtown Community Ministry (DCM)
Foodbank after church one Sunday morning where
the children and their parents restocked the DCM
shelves. Stephanie MacIntyre, the Director, spoke to
those present, giving us a real insight into the work
of the DCM and the valuable role the children had
played in enabling this vital work to continue.