Weekend Away 2015

This year also saw a difference in how the Weekend was planned.  Four of those attending met with four of the Leaders to decide on the theme and how the theme could be explored.  They also designed both the overall logo for the event and the logo which, by iron on transfer, was used on the tee shirt they decorated on the Friday evening.

Logo used in letters

The logo used on the tee shirts decorated on Friday evening

A total of 18 young people aged between 9 and 17 and 6 leaders attended the event which was held at Thorpe Bay Methodist Church in the Southend Circuit.

 

Friday evening after eating food, they had the tee shirt logo ironed on and then decorated it.

 

 

During the weekend, we looked at "how do we know God is there", "What gifts we have" and "Why do we trust God".  This was explored through sharing experiences, drama, craft and trust based games.  We also sailed a model barge off to the Kent coast, carrying a cargo of stones with our gifts written on them.  Not sure where it is now as it sailed away out of sight.

Drama

Drama

Drama

Saturday lunch was eaten on the sea front where we launched the model barge.  The afternoon, the highlight for many of them, was spent at Adventure Island.

The barge has been launched

Adventure Island



Adventure Island

Sunday morning we joined with the congregation to celebrate Harvest and share in their Harvest Meal.  One of the points from the Ministers' address was about trusting God.  This slotted in well with our last session and was a Spirit lead connection, the Minister had no idea what we were thinking about.  After a short session looking at trusting, we headed home.

Trust Game

Trust Game

Weekend Away 2014

The weekend away this year was made up of young people and leaders from:-

CUBB (the Sunday morning group at Maldon Methodist Church
All Saints Church, Maldon
Welcome Wednesday Wacky Youth Club (meets at Maldon Methodist Church)
South Woodham Ferrer's Methodist Church
Springfield Road Baptist Church, Chelmsford
Ex-member of the RAWR youth club

15 young people and 5 leaders spent an enjoyable weekend in Clacton, based at the Methodist Church.

The "Gang"

We arrived on Friday evening and had a take away meal.  The young people were divided in to three teams as a competition was running throughout the weekend.  Points awarded for tiding up, washing and drying up and generally being helpful.

After tea, some games were played to help all the young people get to know each other.  After supper, Batman birthday cake and hot chocolate with marshmallow and squirtie cream, bed time.

The Birthday Cake

After breakfast on Saturday morning, we looked at what it is or means to be a Christian.  Not just from the symbols of Christianity or behaviour, but what it means to and how it effects each person as an individual in their own right.

After a break (drinks and birthday cake finished up!) we looked at what it means to our lives to be a Christian.  In essence, the "rules" by which Christians live.  Unlike many religions and societies, Christians live by just two rules, "love God" and "love everyone else".  The craft for this session was loom bands with meanings behind the colours of the bands to help remember some aspects of the Christian faith.

After lunch in the garden on the sea front in glorious sunshine, they spent a couple of hours on the pier.  As the Saturday was one of the young people's birthday, it was requested that we could go Ten Pin Bowling.

After the evening meal, the rather shattered young people spent time socialising as they were too tired to play games.  After supper, bed.

Sunday morning we joined with the rest of the congregation for their Harvest Celebration service and their Faith Lunch.  Jelly and ice cream was well sought after.

After lunch we looked at exploring and why exploring the Christian faith is important.  The craft was to decorate a large wooden clothes peg.  The idea being that there is often on a Christian leader available when young people have a question.  So they can write it down and store it on the peg until that go to meet a leader.

The last thing they did on Sunday afternoon before we headed home was a group photo and group jump.  The photo is at the top of this entry and the jump is in the video below.