Well now it’s December I can fully immerse myself into the Christmas Spirit and stop shouting at Andy while he is subconsciously whistling Christmas songs ‘STOP IT, IT’S STILL NOVEMBER!’. I have told anyone that will listen about my outrage that on November 26th in Basildon’s Shopping Centre, the queue for Santa’s Grotto was ridiculous. I don’t want to get in the mood too early or I will end up utterly fed up by the time we get there!

So I turned over my calendar on my desk to find a picture of Woody from Toy Story with a little bit of holly and a nice American caption ‘Happy Holidays’.* My advent calendar (I’m very grateful to Andy for saving me from grumpyness and nipping to Sainsbury’s yesterday to get me one) is ‘Merry Christmas! From Peppa and George (Pig)’ – coincidentally the same advent calendar as my 4 and 3 year old nieces. I’m (we’re) surrounded by all this snow and sparkle covered festivity, with very little reference to the true meaning of Christmas. My housemate Karen’s parents bought us a little advent calendar card which we opened the first door of yesterday and there was a picture of a lady dressed in blue…with ‘Mary’ written next to it. It’s a sad time where on the picture of the nativity you have to write the names of the characters in case people don’t know.

More and more Jesus is squeezed out of Christmas – so what are we doing about it this year? How are we making sure we are focusing on the right things this Christmas? How are we not getting so sucked in to the glitz and extras that we forget to communicate the real meaning of Christmas with those around us?

We’ve managed to get tickets to be in the audience of Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Comedy Roadshow, filmed on 13th December, on air on Christmas Day. (I’m VERY excited!) So you may possibly see me on TV on Christmas Day. That got me thinking, if I could wear a T-Shirt with anything written on it that potentially millions of people could see on Christmas Day, what would I want it to say? What one thing would I want to say about what I believe Christmas is really about?

I don’t have answers yet, but take a second to think about it! Viz-A-Viz Ministries have produced the More To Christmas DVD in a card – a great conversation starter to send to friends/families/neighbours – featuring real stories of real people and how God has changed their lives. For more information visit www.vizaviz.org

 
*I was pleased the other day whilst listening the Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 1 that as he read out a text containing the word ‘Xmas’ he said ‘No, not Xmas, Christmas, please keep the Christ in Christmas.

I’d love to hear your comments of how you are ‘keeping the Christ in Christmas’ this year.

Well I had a great few days away last week with Andy and my sister and her family…camping in October! We went down to the New Forest in their ‘new’ G reg Hymer Camper Van and spent three nights at the Red Shoots Camping site. It was surprisingly warm, even at night and we had a long sunny walk one morning which was great in the beautiful scenery! We spent the day with my brother and his family on Saturday which was lots of fun! Nice to have some time out and spend some quality time with family.

On Monday Ed and I were involved in Kingswood Baptist Church’s ‘Bright and Light’ Party for children aged 5-11. The children made pizzas and cakes which they ate later, made candles and 2 massive stained glass windows, played games, sang songs and Ed and I did a light releated quiz and challenges, whilst thinking about Jesus – the Light of the world. It was a great night with about 70 kids attending, many of whom had been to the holiday club in the summer.

This week saw the launch of the brand new shiny resource from Arise Ministries: The Great Hot Cross Bun Hunt. Yes, perhaps we’re a little premature in thinking about Easter but there’s nothing like being extra organised! ’The Great Hot Cross Bun Hunt’ communicates the Easter story in an engaging and exciting way to children aged 7-11. Using fun, craft, games and challenges it raises questions about the relevance of the Christian Easter story to their lives today. It can be used as a one off 2 hour event or split into 4 sessions. Watch this video to find out more:

If video doesn’t play click here: The Great Hot Cross Bun Hunt

Now busy preparing for our ‘Unlock the Power of the Church’ Conference in Radcliffe, Manchester this weekend. It’s the first evangelism conference of its type that Viz-A-Viz Ministries has put on so we would appreciate your prayers! Find out next week how it goes.

Here’s one of those blog posts that does what it says on the tin!

The next few events for Arise Ministries are:

• 31st October: Bright and Light Party at Kingswood Baptist
• 4th-5th November: ‘Unlock The Power of the Church’ Evangelism Conference in Radcliffe, Manchester with Viz-A-Viz Ministries
• 12th November: Just a ‘child’? Equipping Event in East Sussex
• 22nd November: Ed and I are off to a ‘Getting Your Kids Through Church Without Them Ending Up Hating God’ conference run by Care For The Family.

Between those, here’s an idea of *some* of the things I’m working on:

• Developing a strategy for Just a ‘child’? Equipping Events in 2012 and beyond
• Keeping contact databases up to date and emailing out news and event promotion
• Following up people who have been to our Equipping Events or bought our resources to see how we can help them in their children’s ministry
• Making visual aids for equipping events
• Working on our social networking strategy
• Creating the monthly prayer diary
• Calculating costings to put together crib sheets for resources, events and publicity

I’ve booked the second half of this week off so I can spend some time with Maddie and Emi and Billy in half term! So a busy couple of days for me!

1st October: Just A ‘Child’? Equipping Event—Fullbridge Church, Maldon

8th October: Just A ‘Child’? Equipping Event—Kingswood Church, Basildon

October has seen the launch of our Just A ’Child’? Regional Equipping Events with the first in Maldon and the second in Basildon. Both were very different in terms of the people attending but both very good. Ed leads the sessions looking at reaching, releasing and discipling children in the church’s community. The day is relaxed and interactive and feedback has been very positive in that people feel equipped and inspired to head back to their church and either start up new ministry or develop existing ministry. My role is administration for the events as well as being there to chat to people. It’s a great opportunity to connect with churches and help them reach out to the children in their communities. It’s awesome to think of what God can and will do!

CONFIRMED 2012, Just A ‘Child’? Regional Equipping Events:

• 24th March –  Sandy, Bedfordshire
• 19th May – Plymouth, Devon
• 26th May – Croxley Green, Hertfordshire
• 2nd June – Southampton, Hampshire
• 13th October - Basildon, South Essex
• 10th November – East Sussex

TO BE CONFIRMED 2012, Just A ‘Child’? Regional Equipping Events:

• Suffolk
• West Yorkshire
• London

For more details on Just A ‘Child’? please visit www.ariseministries.org.uk or email info@ariseministries.org.uk

This past week my brother Russell had his induction service as Assistant Pastor at Yeovil Elim. I travelled down on the train and met Mum and Dad who had gone down a couple of days earlier. Spending a whirlwind 18 hours with my family was lovely, and I especially enjoyed being able to take Sam my 9 year old nephew to school. The induction service itself was great – a real sense of love and excitement from the church as they welcomed Russell, Becci, Chloe and Sam in (although they’ve already become very settled and active members of the church). I felt really proud of my brother and I know that they will be really happy at Yeovil Elim and God will use them all for amazing things. You can see one of Russell’s recent sermons here.

I have recently lead a couple of services back at my home church Elim Braintree. The 11.30 Young at Heart Service is an all age service incorporating songs, activities and stories designed to help children and adults engage together. It’s been a real privilege to be part of the life of my home church, giving something back after all the teaching and encouragement I’ve received over the years! With a wealth of Arise Ministries resources and ideas behind me I’ve been able to do things a little bit differently and have some fun while learning with the children and grown ups! Yesterday we were  thinking about Harvest and helping those in need and us young ones made this beautiful banner!

This week preparations are underway for our first Just A ‘Child’? Equipping Event of the new term – on Saturday 1st October at Fullbridge Church, Maldon. Really looking forward to sharing with people enthusiastic about children’s ministry and hopefully injecting some enthusiasm and vision for their ministry with children in the local area.

With the arrival of Viz-A-Viz Ministries’ new National Director comes lots of exciting plans, ideas, visions and things that will be happening over the coming months. To keep up to date with all that Viz-A-Viz Ministries is doing and planning, please sign up in whichever way suits you:

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Thanks!

>> In other news, Andy is preparing to move into his new place sometime this week so we’ve been busy painting his room and buying curtains! Please pray for a stress-free and easy move and that he will settle in quickly.