Fulwood Children’s Family Challenge

This article is available for download as a printable PDF booklet.

It is a joy that so many families with young children are involved in various ways with the life of Fulwood Methodist Church. Some are regular attendees at worship or at other activities of the church whilst others are very welcome but occasional visitors. Many of the children have been baptised into the church here or elsewhere.

Fulwood Methodist Church Council has been considering ways in which the church and families could together fulfil their concern to ensure that their children develop spiritually as in every other way. We would like all ages to comment on our ideas for a Fulwood Children’s Family Challenge (FC²).

At Christmas it is good to remember that Jesus came that we may have life in all its abundance (John 10:10). It is also important in our modern world to show that our spiritual nature is part of our everyday living and not something to be ignored or hidden away. This is the basis of the idea. But we would like you to be involved in shaping the detail.

Each year children, aged 3-10, would be given a series of challenges which would be presented in a high-quality booklet. The challenges would be simple and not require extra expense. Some of them could be achieved within the family; some with other adults or young people and some could be the centre of organised events or visits from the church. These could include people of all ages from the church in a church ‘family’ activity. The child, or the family, would then keep a record to show what had been done and when.

The activities would be something like: ‘roll down a grassy hill’, ‘feed a farm animal’, ‘paddle in the sea’ or ‘collect conkers’ but would also involve spiritual challenges according to age. Examples would be ‘draw a thank you picture’, ‘tell a Bible story in pictures’, ‘light a candle in church’ or ‘learn the Lord’s Prayer’ or ‘say grace at a family meal’. Some of these could be completed in a form to be presented (perhaps electronically) in church.

There will be many more ideas and also questions. For example, would it be a good idea to develop some challenges for families with older children of perhaps a more demanding nature? How could all people be involved in some way or other so that no one felt excluded?

Each year the Challenge would be presented at a family service and later in the year stories would be told and achievements celebrated. It would possibly run from April to November (and thereby complement the major ACTS musical / drama production each year).

Families who had met the Challenge may be presented with a certificate or similar marking what they had done. To make this idea work lots of help would be needed.

We need people to:

• oversee the project
• produce the ideas
• liaise with families
• design and print the materials
• work on the IT implications
• organise events, trips and contacts.

The list could go on!

We would like you to think creatively about this idea over the next few weeks. If you have any immediate comments or queries, please raise them as soon as possible with Janet or Ken Wales who may be contacted by telephone – 863791 or by e-mail.

Please also note that we will be holding a short meeting after the morning service on 15 January for anyone who is interested or helping in any way. This will last only for 20-30 minutes, drinks and doughnuts will be available and children welcome. Do join us then but, if you cannot, let Ken or Janet know of your interest.

Thank you for reading this. Please include the work in your thoughts and prayers and do not hesitate to get involved.