Our group of village churches aims to welcome people of all ages to be part of the church. For the past two years my job as Youth Minister has been to support youngsters in the area, and to help make the church relevant to their lives. Before Covid came, we had a lot of fun week by week in various clubs and activities, but not surprisingly most of what we currently do has had to move online’.
So, now we meet every Friday night to play virtual games and discuss a pop music video. One popular game has been 'Among us'; in this ‘whodunnit’ game where we are all astronauts on a mission, but there is an imposter among us seeking to sabotage the spaceship. Rounds are played on our phones and then ‘emergency meetings’ are called, where we discuss (over zoom) who we think the impostor is. In our discussion of pop music videos we consider the worldview and messages they contain and what the Christian point of view might have to say to it. On Sunday nights we have an online Bible study (we are just finishing the Sermon on the Mount) and play some more virtual games. On Monday afternoons at 4pm we have been baking over Zoom. So far we have made some flatbreads (with a little help from Jamie Oliver), some Rice Krispie cakes and chocolate cakes! We have given some of the produce of this to the Food bank, but currently all they need is toothpaste and deodorant!
Another lockdown innovation has been virtual Murder Mystery parties. We have had a couple of these (and hopefully have another coming up in a few weeks). These are fancy-dress and plenty of fun as well as good mental exercise (the secret is to look for ‘means’, ‘motive’ and ‘opportunity’). I also use this opportunity to show how we can consider the evidence to come to a reasonable faith in Jesus Christ.
Looking ahead, we are looking to put on some zoom family fitness sessions, so please be in touch if this interests you! And please contact me if you have a child who would like to join in any of these activities!
Mark Smallwood
Mobile: 07584 561378
Email: ms@evenlodevalechurches.org