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Workers report for the website - Feb 2010
Sunday 28th February 2010 10:07 AM
Good News!
The most exciting news in this report is the re-launch of the group at Crossly Heath on Friday 26th Feb. We have been given the use of a maths room and nine young people attended the first meeting. This is fruit of lots of work and prayer and we thank the maths teacher, students and volunteers, but most of all Thank God!
Workers News
As most of our supporters will know by now Esther (our second worker) started her maternity leave on March 7th. We wish Esther and Marcus every blessing as they move house & look forward to parenthood.
Tony will continue to push the work forward and is planning to contact new schools very soon. We are very grateful for the volunteers who are helping Tony with lunch clubs and the out of school work.
Lunch Club news
Regular groups are held at Holy Trinity, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe, Brooksbank, North Halifax Grammar, Rastrick High and Calder High, Crunch Club as well as the re-launched group at Crossley Heath.
Plans are in hand to also do some lunch time work at Brighouse High school.
Assembly News
In the week commencing 15th March Tony will lead assemblies with an Easter theme in Rastrick High School for years 7 - 11 and w /c 22nd March at Brighouse High again years 7 - 11. Tony has also been asked to take part in Holy Trinity's Passiontide Service, March 26th in school.
Out of School Clubs News
16+ group It has been arranged for Simon Endeacott to speak to the group on the topic of Worship. Date to be arranged.
Soul Rush
Esther has put plans in place for this to continue for the rest of this academic year. Two dates have been planned and willing volunteers, three 6th form students and two gap year workers with local churches will look after these events.
Adrenalin - boys group.
The third meeting of this group has been held with a Valentine's Day theme. A balloon race, celebrity couples quiz and poetry competition led into a discussion on God's love for each of us. Ten young people attended the meeting, which finished with a bacon buttie supper.
Soul Rush & Adrenalin will continue to meet in their own space but at the same time & venue. Details from Tony on 07879675368. Email - tonybuck@cicscalderdale.org.uk
It's Your Move book distribution/ Church News
If your church would like to be involved in the funding or distribution of It's Your Move books which will again be given to primary school leavers throughout Calderdale (if their school agrees to take up the offer) please contact Tony. (Details as previous paragraph.)
Tony will update the congregation at Coley Church on May 2nd at 9.am & 10.30
CAP news.
Tony is now trained to deliver the three part CAP money management course. The principles of this course represent a solid foundation for any young person's finance. This will be another service CICS can offer schools.
Please pray for Tony as he again carries the work forward as the only paid worker and for the volunteers. And we still urgently need Trustees please!!!
Posted 10:07 AM | Permalink
Workers report for the website - Jan 2010
Friday 29th January 2010 1:45 PM
Assemblies (past & future) and a Carol Service
The planned Christmas themed assemblies were held at Rastrick & Brighouse High schools and for year 10 & 11 students at The Brooksbank school. The prop used for these assemblies was a cubed shaped 'Christmas present' which opened to reveal significant Christmas pictures, e.g. a turkey! The cube then folded out to form a cross thus completing the message of the gospel. Workers also did a short presentation during Brighouse High School Carol Service in St Martin's Parish Church.
Assemblies booked for this term on the Easter theme-
All March dates:
w/c 8th years, 7-11, Brooksbank
w/c 15th, years 7-11 Rastrick High
w/c 22nd, years 7-11 Brighouse High.
Lessons
During w/c 25th Jan, with the eight year 7 classes (1st year at secondary school) at Hipperholme & Lightcliffe High school Tony & Esther used the 'Plasticine Gospel' session to illustrate key aspects of the Christian faith through model making.
Lunch Clubs meet regularly as follows
Monday, Holy Trinity, Tuesday, Hipperholme & Lightcliffe High school, Rastrick High school (Key stage 3) Wednesday Brooksbank Thursday, North Halifax Grammar & Rastrick High (key stages 4&5)
Church Visit
3rd January Tony up-dated All Saints' Church
Don't forget! Speakers are available for your church. Please ask!
Marriage and Relationship course (MARS) with 16+ group
The material for this course has been successfully piloted at the 16+ group in late November 2009. Positive feedback from the twelve who attended included 'Really good!' 'Good, fun, helpful....' 'allowed plenty of discussion.....' ' would need to be adapted if being used with groups younger than 6th form age'
To balance the 'jammed packed' more serious MARS evenings 7 16+ group members met for fun food & Bible study/discussion on Mon 18th Jan.
Training
Tony will be attending a CAP money management training course in Leicester on 13th Feb.
Adrenalin and Soul Rush
Following the success of the girls out of school group, Soul Rush, a boys' equivalent, Adrenalin has been started. At the second meeting held on Dec 7th young people & 5 leaders enjoyed games and a short talk on how not to miss the best part of Christmas.
The next meeting will be at All Saints, Halifax Feb 8th.
This is also the date and venue for the next Soul Rush - 'Handmade by Soul Rush, handmade by God'
Nine girls met for the fancy dress Christmas party where they played games and exchanged Secret Santa presents. Greetings cards were also made to send to prisoners of conscience - address from Amnesty International. A short film clip, made by a local church focused on priorities at Christmas.
Esther's maternity leave.
I think most of you will know that Esther & Marcus are expecting a baby in May. Esther starts maternity leave on March 7th. Tony & Esther and the volunteers (who make such an important contribution to CICS - thanks!) have planned and prepared for the time when Tony will again be our only paid worker in schools. All the current activities, clubs etc. will continue.
Tony is also determined that he will be able to get into some new schools as well as maintain the existing high standard in existing schools.
Please pray for Tony, the volunteers, schools old and new and the trustees.
We do still need more trustees especially a treasurer!
Posted 1:45 PM | Permalink
Workers Report for the Website Dec 09
Monday 30th November 2009 8:44 PM
Warmest Christmas greetings from all at CICS in the name of Jesus - the reason for the season!
Assemblies, Lessons and Lunch Clubs
- In the two weeks beginning 7th Dec the workers will lead Christmas themed assemblies at Brighouse High and Rastrick High School (years 7-11) and Brooksbank (years 10& 11.)
- They will also be leading an assembly style slot in the Brighouse High School Carol Service at St Martin's Parish Church on Dec 14th
- Lessons introducing the Christian faith will be taken by the workers for year 7 pupils at Brooksbank school on 30th Nov, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 10th Dec.
- Regular lunch clubs continue at the following schools are led by Tony & Esther; Holy Trinity,
Hipperholme & Lighcliffe, Rastrick High School, Brooksbank, North Halifax Grammar
The group at Calder High is led by volunteers, Tracy, Beth & James
The group at Brighouse High now meets monthly after school.
Work is on-going to re-launch a group at Crossly Heath School.
Subjects covered this half term include the 'I am' Sayings of Jesus, Remembrance & Christmas topics. - Faith Day with year 10 students at Brooksbank.
Human Rights - an old topic - new format!
Students were divided into countries and one group became refugees for the day. In an introduction and conclusion to a 2 hour session cics workers challenged students on their knowledge of and attitudes to human rights and covered the following areas; prejudice, racism, poverty, greed and morality. - Holy Trinity Activity Day Nov 17th This involved half of the year 7 students and gave the chance to get to know students and follow up on previous assemblies.
Format - four themed activities each approx 50 minutes duration, as follows;-
Tube Line run by Esther Woolcock. Designed to help students to assess events so far in their lives that have affected or influenced them and in the light of that to think about their ambitions for the future.
Team building games led by school staff. Why and how do we need the help of other travellers on our life journey?
Prayer Zone led by Beth Fennell, (Care Force worker at St. Michael's Mytholmroyd( and Rosemary Wright & Daphne Cansdale (cics trustees) This took the form of four areas encouraging the students to connect with God in the areas of Questions, Forgiveness, Self -image and Difference. How does God fit into our life journey?
Play Dough World led by Tony Buck. Students create Play Dough models to illustrate key aspects of the Christian faith. These are then use to parody the world we live in and ask pertinent questions like -Why should we follow the rules? How were we created and why are we so individual and different? - Soul Rush and Adrenalin Soul Rush is an out of school time inter school club, started by Beth Bentley in her time as cics worker. Adrenalin is the new boys equivalent and has already met once.
Christmas Specials for both groups will be held 7th Dec. - MARS (Marriage & Relationship skills) material is being piloted very successfully with the 16+ group
Excellent feed back and constructive comments resulted from the first 2 sessions used at a well attended group earlier in Nov. Their comments will be very useful as workers seek to offer the course to schools. - Training and Networking 9th Nov - both workers spent the day in York sharing prayer & resources with
schools & youth workers from Leeds York & Wakefield.
19th Nov - Esther attended resource writers meeting in Wolverhampton
30th January - Tony will attend CAP money management training course in Leicester - Last -and over to YOU! CHURCH VISITS
Esther & Tony are available to contribute to YOUR worship time or evening meeting. Recently they have updated Upper Edge Baptists and members at Brighouse Evangelical Church, and Tony has shared in a Youth Service at Christ Church Sowerby Bridge. The workers & trustees would love to get to know more about our valuable supporters in their churches and to share insights of the work with you. We are open to invitations!
Posted 8:44 PM | Permalink
Celebrating the first ever CICS residential!
Monday 14th September 2009 7:45 AM
A night away for the 16+ group
This group has been set up specifically for Y 11,12 and 13 (16-18 year olds) to get together and form friendships outside their schools and colleges We are excited about this group as it has the potential to develop faith and strengthen relationships with God and each other.
After the hard work of GCSEs and A levels we felt the group deserved a celebratory break, so we booked one night at Westwood Christian Centre, Huddersfield. We enjoyed a relaxed Friday evening with an indoor BBQ (typical of this summer!)and big screen films. Saturday started with a full English breakfast followed by small group time. We looked at what we could learn from Jesus' disciple, Peter, his trust in Jesus and how we could apply this to our relationships with each other and Jesus.
We were encouraged to hear how Marcus, Esther's husband, found that God keeps his promises and plans our lives as he gave his testimony of leaving home and university life. A muddy walk to Scammonden Dam for sunshine and a picnic rounded off our time together. Sam Pearson 6th form student at Holy Trinity High says: 'I thought it was awesome! Great fun hanging out with everyone and enjoying time together! Thanks CICS! Tony and Esther specially. Again Sometime?'
If you or someone you know would like to be involved with the group, it's open to all of the relevant age group. Just contact Tony or Esther. Lunch Clubs form a large part of the work CICS does in local secondary schools. The weekly meetings provide a great opportunity to establish relationships and teach and share about Christian living. Currently 9 clubs run in 8 schools September sees the re-launch of an existing group and the provision of a new group for younger students at Brighouse High, bringing the total number to 10 clubs a week.
What's in store for the lunch clubs in September 09? Short series on Faith. This will be a good starting point for new members. Great examples of faith in the Bible particularly learning from the examples of Abraham and
Noah. Focus on Jesus - Who He says He is in the Bible including looking at the seven 'I am' statements.
Posted 7:45 AM | Permalink
Gala Art Exhibition!
Tuesday 11th August 2009 7:37 AM
The illustrations in this issue are of contributions to a mural which was on display at the Halifax Charity Gala. The theme was 'What is Important in Your Life', with emphasis on who and what we care about and how we use our time.
Many students from Calderdale secondary schools took part and each piece of work was different in style, representing the thoughts and feelings of the artists
During the Gala people were asked to vote for their favourite piece and the illustration on page one of this issue is of one the two winning pieces.
The display was Esther's brainchild and it was a great way of involving more contributions to, and interest in our Gala stand.
Posted 7:37 AM | Permalink
