The months since the initial Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020 have looked rather different, with young people not being able to meet at church or in homes in the usual way. Weekly Friday sessions on Zoom replaced the regular Sunday morning Discoverers meeting and monthly Engage get-together, enabling us to at least meet regularly and in real time.

Friday night activities have included numerous quizzes, ‘Pictionary’, scavenger hunts etc. alongside a more ‘serious’ programme. The Youth Alpha course was completed, including an on-line ‘away’ morning considering the Holy Spirit, and we all enjoyed looking at the story of Ruth. During the school holidays we even met up on-line and were able to bake and paint together!

The young people also had deliveries of chocolate eggs and delicious brownies to celebrate Easter and the end of the school year respectively. Moreover, Secret Santa arrived!

Additional contact with the young people has been possible through our WhatsApp group. The group, entitled ‘The Engage Community’, was set up alongside the meetings for regular engagement and encouragement, as well as conveying messages and birthday greetings!

As we look ahead to the near future, we are keen to once again meet up in person as restrictions are eased.

Children and Young People

The last couple of months have seen the development of “Sunnyside Up”, bringing children and young people together once a month on Sunday mornings on Zoom. This has been well received, especially by those not served by Friday night Engage. We spend an hour together with games, activities, teaching and prayer.

Looking to the future, we hope to soon be meeting back on the church premises.