Solid Festival 2011 – 8th-10th July.
‘For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.‘ 1 Peter 2:21

Wow, this time last week it was pouring with rain and a very dedicated team of wonderful people were setting up for Solid Festival 2011! (I was sat in a marquee making lanyards – I wasn’t going to get wet!). The youth festival ran from Friday Night til Sunday Lunchtime, and Junior Solid (for school years 3-6) ran all day Sunday. I had my normal role at the youth festival of ‘hostess’ – meeting and greeting visiting speakers/bands to the site. Then Sunday was where I got really busy – co-presenting with Ed in ‘The Hive’ for four, hour long sessions (The children are split into four groups and rotate around 4 different sessions including crazy games and outdoor activities) about what it means to follow Jesus and rounding off the day all together in the Big Top with the Junior Solid Roadshow.

The weekend had it’s hiccups, with bad weather meaning marquees were a mission to get up, delivery drivers getting to the end of their shifts and so not delivering our much needed radios, a few power issues…but actually it was an awesome weekend! I didn’t see too much of the main sessions in the Big Top but from the buzz on site and feedback from various people know that God moved awesomely in the over 700 young people that were there. Mark Ritchie returned for a second year, his comic style mixed with powerful teaching made him very popular – as well a site wide trend on twitter about Angry Poos (no I don’t know either!!). Worship was led by Jimmy Orr from Church.co.uk (married to Kat Orr, a previous Optimum Volunteer) and was a great mix of old and new songs. I especially enjoyed the mash up of Matt Redman’s ‘You Never Let Go’ with Eminem’s ‘I’m not afraid’. There was a fantastic time on Saturday night of young people coming forward to really commit themselves to following Jesus and their youth leaders were encouraged to pray for them, which from feedback they really appreciated the opportunity to do that, allowing them to know what went on at Solid and follow up their own young people afterwards.

Sunday was my first experience of a whole day of Junior Solid, having previously taken part in the Roadshow, but this year being on management meant I was a lot more involved! Ed had done most of the preparations for the Hive as I had been busy preparing the Roadshow and so I just stepped in to help lead. Much to my delight the ‘hilarious’ joke Ed has prepared and repeated non stop for the previous 2 weeks was a complete flop (Now i’ll know if he reads this because if he does he will try and protest!!) but fortunately the rest of the material wasn’t! Through interactive activities, video clips and teaching we looked at the fact we are all invited to follow Jesus but all need to make that choice to follow him. We were also privileged to have Big Fish Little Fish joining us to lead some singing fun! The feedback we got was great and the kids really engaged with what we were doing, even in the last session when they were all exhausted!

Then at the end of the day it was off to the Roadshow and 400 hundred tired but excited children with their leaders. We looked at the messages of making Wise Choices and Jesus giving us Second Chances through more songs with Big Fish Little Fish, some drama, video testimonies, teaching and a live interview testimony with Rosie, an 11 year old with an incredible passion for sharing Jesus with the people around her. It was sad when it was all over and exhausted we (well not me!) packed everything away, finally getting home at 9pm. Monday I was pretty dopey all day having suffered from a severe lack of sleep!!

So many people worked so incredibly hard during and leading up to Solid, Karen and Claire are definitely top of the list!! My Andy is also at the top, as co technical manager he started work at 7am and finished at 1pm, constantly on call and the first on and last off site. Well done you, I’m so proud!!

Despite the tiredness and occasional grouchiness, it was all so worth it, seeing young people and children connect with and worship God – such a great thing and a privilege to be involved with. Please join me and the rest of the team in praying for all who were there, that the buzz of Solid won’t be just that, but that they will be encouraged and inspired to make a difference and share Jesus with those around them.

–

Next up: Liv’It Camp starts 23rd July so am preparing a talk for that. Also busy emailing out publicity for ‘Just A Child?’ equipping conferences in Essex and Sussex in the Autumn – ask me if you want details!

On Sunday we went to the church that Hans (one of the organisers) attends. We were welcomed by the minister from the front, although Hans got a few frowns as he did his best to quietly translate a complicated sermon for us! It was great to be at that church, fairly traditional, but most of the time I wasn’t really sure what was going on! There seemed to be a lot of liturgy responses which members of the congregation all knew off by heart, and not much instruction from the front but everyone knew when to stand, when to sit and when to sing! A couple of the sings were in English or had English words underneath the German ones so we could join in a bit! The last song was Shine Jesus Shine, much to our ‘enjoyment’!

After coffee and biscuits we headed to an italian restaurant. They boys all had pizzas of some description while I had a salad which was very nice until I got to the bottom which was full of balsamic vinegar….mmm soggy lettuce! We then headed back to The Lighthouse to set up for the evenings ‘Check It Out’ Service. The theme was ‘Pusteblume’ – literal translation is ‘blowflower’, but refers to Dandelions. The service was to do with spreading ‘seeds’ – telling people about Jesus. There was music from their ‘Check It Out’ band, acoustic songs from Taste, a hilarious sketch, a great talk and the blessing of various teams who are off on mission. I had Marco translating brilliantly for me so I knew when to play the videos and powerpoints! A lad who became a Christian last year at The Lighthouse Week we were at came back and was translating for Joy – it was really great to see him again! After the service we packed away and were treated to more sausages and soup before saying our goodbyes and heading back to the hotel.

Monday was the long trip home, we left at 9am and got to the office at 7pm! We were all on track for the earlier ferry but hit traffic just before Calais, very frustrating! We kept smiling and telling awful jokes despite being hot and uncomfortable! It was funny, as soon as we landed in England everyone got their phones out, turned back on the internet and got engrossed into Facebook and emails…!

It was a great weekend, mainly in preparation for events in October and November, which I’m not sure that I will be involved in but it was really nice to see everyone again, and be reminded that God is bigger than England!

Today I have been back in the office getting ready for Solid Youth Festival and Junior Solid this weekend!

http://solidessex.wordpress.com/

Well I must be getting old! Sat while Taste are soundchecking for the gig thinking ‘ooh this is a bit loud!’ But its great and once the venue is full of young people it will be fine! We’re in Herne working with the Fishermans Office who we’ve worked with before, being very well looked after!

Yesterday was a fairly relaxed day. We visited a school to view their facilities for an event later on in the year which Taste have been invited to play in. A really nice school, quite different to most schools in Germany-the kids have a lot of freedom and the chance decorate their own ‘learning space’-this seems to create a much greater sense of respect and want to look after things than we often see in England! One of the venues at the school is a drained swimming pool which has been converted into a cafe and where La Roche will be djing at the weekend in November. In the picture you can see the team having a practice! We had lunch out and then a meeting about ‘Konficamp’ – an event in October which Taste are taking part in. The meeting was half German and half English-a chance for me to see how much I can remember and understand from my GCSE days! Andy and I then headed into town for a trip to our favourite shops in Herne- ‘Woolworth’ (similar but definitely not the same!), ‘New Yorker’ (sort of a cheap H&M) and the Euro Shop (i.e. a pound shop!). There was also some live music and entertainment in the centre of the high street…we had to stop while Andy drooled over the digital sound desk! The evening consisted of a trip the the Bavarian Inn which we have been to before-the infamous litres of Bavarian beer. I upped my game from last years 0.3l to 0.5l this year, while the boys went for the whole 1l! We had lots of fun and laughs as a team and a late night McFlurry trip!

Today we had a lie in and then headed to the Lighthouse to set up and then a gig tonight.

-

We’re mid way through the gig and its very very hot! About 40people all jumping around and enjoying the music and our attempts at speaking German! Jonny does a bit of singing in the next couple of songs so i’ll be let loose on the lights!

-

Second break is for sausages! Then La Roche is doing a dj set, while my wonderful Andy is on lights, having just drummed very well!

-

Back at the hotel after a great gig. Tomorrow we’re off to church in the morning and then Taste are doing some acoustic songs in a service at The Lighthouse in the evening. It’s now definitely time for sleep!

A while ago Dan and Jeni Wicks asked Andy and I if we would help them out at Burlington Baptist’s Church Weekend Away – running the Children’s Programme. We of course said yes and emails went flying between us to sort out who was doing what, what equipment was needed…then a lunch meeting on Thursday (less than 24hours after Dan and Jeni had arrived back from America so were very jet lagged!) to finalise plans and we were all ready to head up to Vauxhall Christian Trust Farm on Friday. Our home was a caravan (the boys slept in a hut while us girls had the caravan, but we made use of it in the evenings to play Uno and make hot chocolate!) and our venue was the Games Room. The whole site ate together and the food was very good!!

Over the course of the weekend we had between 18 and 23 5-11 year olds for about 9hours in total. The theme of the weekend was Worship and looking at all the different ways we can worship God. We did lots of singing and crazy dancing as well as games (inside and outside), crafts (making flags and shakers), challenges and stories. We also had a drumming workshop and a choice of painting or football. The children were fantastic – so enthusiastic, friendly and willing to join in. We had lots of laughs with them, but also some awesome moments of response.

One of the best bits for me was on the Saturday evening. I was down to do the story of Paul and Silas in prison, and had prepared something but in the afternoon just felt to change it (how many times does that happen?! Despite all the preparation God leaves it til the last minute to change it!!) to something a bit different. As it happened that evening they were all absolutely shattered and wouldn’t really have coped with anything active (planned idea) but really engaged with what we did. We all sat in a circle and I passed around a bowl of pieces of paper with descriptions of what it would have been like in prison. Each child got one and read it out: ‘It was dirty’, ‘It was cold’, ‘There were spiders’, ‘There was no medicine’ – we talked briefly about each one as we built up a picture of this horrible prison that Paul and Silas were in. Andy and Dan played Paul and Silas singing in the corner and I told the story of the earthquake and the prisoners chains breaking but them not leaving and the guard asking to be saved. The emphasis of the story was the fact that despite the circumstances Paul and Silas still worshipped God. We then went round the circle again, reading out the description and after each one saying all together ‘But they still worshipped God’: ‘It was dirty’ but they still worshipped God , ‘It was cold’ but they still worshipped God, ‘There were spiders’ but they still worshipped God, ‘There was no medicine’ but they still worshipped God. The kids were then given a tag to attach to a bracelet they made and encouraged to write down a difficult situation they were going through and to remember to still worship God. I wasn’t sure how well they would connect with it but was amazed at how much they concentrated and catching sight of some of the things they had written brought tears to my eyes ‘I want to get on with my brothers and sisters’, ‘I want to see my dad’, ‘Home’ – even the very youngest child asked to have a word written so she could copy it. I was bowled away (maybe I shouldn’t have been, maybe it was my little faith) at how God wove all the elements and ideas to really speak to the kids there.

So much of children’s ministry can be flowery basic stories and ‘God loves you’ stuff which is all so important but there is such a depth and spirituality in children which is often untouched. It really challenged me to expect more of children – to enable them to grow and flourish, rather than treating them as children that can’t respond until they become teenagers! To see the excitement on the kids faces as they understood something or answered a  question – to see them talking about Jesus is fantastic and makes all the hard work so worthwhile!!

Another great aspect of the weekend was to spend time with Dan and Jeni, great friends that we don’t see enough of! They worked so hard putting this weekend together and we were really privileged and excited to be part of it with them. Also massive thanks to Heather especially and Burlington Baptist for making us so welcome and looking after us!!

Well having had a week off I’m supposedly all refreshed and ready for the chaos and fun which is the summer!

On Saturday we were at the ordination and induction of Beth Powney at Sandy Baptist Church. It was great to be involved by providing technical support but also to be there on such a special occasion. I stayed with Beth for 3 weeks right at the beginning of my time with Viz-A-Viz Ministries and with her being Rich Powney’s Mum and Ed’s Mother-In-Law and previous Viz-A-Viz staff member our paths keep colliding which is great!

Back at my desk this week with the noticeable absence of Simon Petherick (Viz-A-Viz designer for many years has now gone freelance) and Rich Powney (unless God intervenes is off to London School Of Theology in September to study straight theology) – although Rich will be helping at some of the festivals this summer so will be seeing him then. It’s very quiet!!

Today I have been catching up on emails and preparing for a meeting tonight about Junior Solid. Tomorrow I have some admin bits and pieces to catch up on and then the afternoon/evening is Andy’s Early 21st Birthday Surprise (I’m very excited!!). Wednesday I’m doing some preparation for a Church Weekend Away with Dan and Jen Wicks, Thursday off to Basingstoke to view and exhibition with Ed and possibly Alan Cass and Den Pethers. Friday last minute preparations for the equipping session Arise are running at Earl’s Hall Baptist Church, Westcliff on Saturday. All very busy and spending lots of time trying to manage my time and be as time effective as possible…is that good use of my time?! Whilst keeping Germany, Liv’It and Leading Edge on the radar as they creep up very quickly with very little preparation time between events!! I’d appreciate your prayers, especially for my health – yesterday I slept most of the day and today have been having dizzy spells. Then if it’s not that I suffer with stomach aches – not fun and definitely not helpful!!

So the events that are upcoming are:

June
11th: ‘Just A Child’ Training at Earl’s Hall Baptist, Westcliff
17th-19th: Church Weekend Away with Dan and Jen Wicks
21st: Andy’s 21st birthday!!
29th-4th: Joining the ‘Check It Out Team’ in Herne, Germany

July
8th-10th: SOLID Festival + Junior SOLID (10th), Upminster
22nd-28th: Liv’It Youth Camp, Northallerton

August
1st-8th: Children’s Venue at Leading Edge, Warwick
22nd-4th: Holiday!

I will try and keep updates coming – please forgive me if I slack slightly!