Christians in Calderdale Schools Annual Open Meeting for Sept 15-Sept 16

The ordinary and everyday in God’s Hands can achieve the profound

With this exciting and challenging thought Paul Blakey, chairman of CICS, started our AOM, which was held in the newly re-furbished after flooding, St Michael’s Hall, Mytholmroyd.
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The formal reports were for year to Sept 2016, but updates were added to inform supporters of recent happenings.

Inspire Award

The AOM this year was also a celebration as last autumn, as you may have heard; CICS won the Inspire magazine award for Children /Youth Initiative. A representative group of trustees and workers went to the palace of Westminster to collect the award, which comprises a signed certificate, an inscribed glass plaque (which were on display in the hall) and £200 voucher to spend on equipment.

Primary work

Following the resignation of Ruth Wyeth the trustees advertised for a new primary worker. God sent us three excellent applicants so all three were appointed in Sept 2016 to work 6 hours each weekly (flexible) to explore primary work with a view to getting churches involved

These three workers quickly got themselves organised to cover as much of Calderdale as possible. To learn more about or to contact workers; Karen Hill, Nancy White and Angie Stradling go to our website www.cicscalderdale.org.uk

Notable events from their update include;

• Christmas Gospel Choir Workshop an inter school event in Todmorden.
• Starting new and encourage existing Open the Book Teams in Calderdale schools. Now in 12 schools
• Making themselves known in schools and to Calderdale Council and attending a Fairtrade event to represent CICS
• Showcasing the Dragonfly workshop at ‘Pushing up Daisies’ event at Todmorden

The workers are exploring possibilities to work with council to provide Holiday Kitchen lunches for children in certain areas. Churches are needed to support this venture.

Secondary School work
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• Neil Harris (lead Worker and secondary schools ) and volunteers made contact with and developed a very positive contact with a new school last year, establishing Question Point (QP) during lunchtime This involves a table, sweets to give out and felt tip pens! (The ordinary!) Suggest a question, see answers written down and await conversation! The school have now requested a fortnightly Sanctuary drop in for years 7 & 8 as well as involvement with lessons etc.
• Contacts previously made in other schools were fostered and Neil was invited to take and assist with lessons and a Diversity day, give an introduction to Christianity and lead assemblies in 4 schools.
• In October 2016 Chris Mason re-joined the team as a secondary school worker.
• QP now happens in 3 schools on a regular basis
• With volunteers one to one mentoring as requested by schools, has seen positive results.
• All these enhanced CICS reputation as a reliable and professional contributor to school life

Good news stories

Neil and a volunteer were able to help and pray with a group of girls who had frightened themselves experimenting with an Ouija board.
Mentoring has positively encouraged a young student towards anger management

It’s Your Move Books

2,200 copies of this Scripture Union publication were presented free to Year 6 children to give help and encouragement as they begin their secondary education.

This year 2,500 books will be presented by workers or church reps at special assemblies. CICS feels this is extra important this year as there are many children in the borough who have not been given a place at any of their secondary schools of choices so will be disappointed as they start senior school. Please pray and if you or your church would like to sponsor a book at £1.20 a copy please contact CICS

Trustees Report

The presentation of the financial statement is the formal part of AOM.

• The accounts are audited by John Tattersall and we thank him for his willingness to do this.

• We have £19,617 in bank but have to bear in mind that we have increase in workers hours in this year to a total of 45.5 weekly
• Many churches regularly support us and we depend on them and thank them and Methodist Circuit & district who have made us grants this year.
• Amanda Millington our treasurer is re-locating due to husbands work commitments so we URGENTLY NEED A TREASURER. We thank Amanda warmly and wish her and the family well.

Lifepath of Rev Thomas Crowther, Cragg Vale Church Mytholmroyd

Thomas Crowther was vicar of Cragg Vale from 1821 – 1859. He worked hard especially for the mill children to have shorter hours and better conditions and with others,  was instrumental in getting the 10 Hour Act for factory workers passed.
73 children from 3 schools will visit Cragg church for the day on 27th June to learn more about his life and time. This event is run by local Christians supported by CICS and SU.

Scripture Union News

Matty SU’s local worker attended the AOM. SU celebrates its 150 anniversary this year and its new campaign to celebrate is called The 95, which aims to train, resource and help churches to reach the 95% of children who never experience church. see SU website for details.

New logo and name for CICS

After 17 years we have decided we need a new logo. Please see web site for details of how to enter your design for our competition – we need something fun & funky!
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We have also decided to drop the word ‘initiative’ from our title so we are now Christians in Calderdale Schools – which is what we are, offering our ordinary and everyday to God to make it profound.

Thanks

The evening ended with Thank You cards being given to all those present. The work could not go on without the prayers love and financial support of Christians & churches throughout the borough, so Thanks to all and please keep up the support!

Please see our website for more details of events and people in this report