On top of yesterday’s jam-packed day of Kick-Off Event and Dance Recording, today was our monthly All Ages Gathering!
This month’s Theme was “Missions “with the plan being to focus on three diverse Missions, supported by St. Stephen’s, all of which also have direct “people” connections within the congregation.
One of the three was CTM Day Camps and I had been able to persuade three recent Team Leaders to come along and help run that portion of the Gathering. Each Mission had an opportunity to be interviewed, to choose a song ,in which the whole congregation could join, and each also had a “booth “. At a certain point everyone was encouraged to tour around and ask questions and that portion of the Gathering closed with groups praying around each booth.
Being June, we had planned to hold the Gathering outdoors and it was a picture perfect day without a cloud in the sky, a gentle breeze and the sun not too hot. The other two missions were equally interesting- Warm Heart Initiatives, which helps a village in Malawi and Chab Dai, in Cambodia part of a coalition working to stamp out human trafficking.
The children were all given “Passports” and they were able to get stickers at each booth and also draw in their booklets while other things were going on in the Gathering.
Afterwards everyone brought their lunch outside and groups sat on chairs or on the grass chatting and eating together.
So for once on a Sunday, my two “worlds” came together in one place, as I was able to bring a vignette of Day Camps into my home church. Biking home with a heavy pack basket of props from a Lamb Puppet to a stack of banners, I was happy to have had this opportunity to explain a bit of my passion to a different audience and hopefully interest some of the adults in the congregation enough to have them volunteer some help when we host our Day Camp Week next month.
Once home I spent 2 more hours hoicking maple pods out of the flower beds, walked Wil and now as the evening draws in it is time to think about making a new favourite- Melon and Feta Salad, for my dinner. My prayers in the week to come will be for us to connect with those missing Team Members for whom we are so anxiously searching in order to be able to build our 6 Teams.
Please pray with us for a miracle!