Hello church... 

The new academic year has started, and we’ve had a great start to the year with some exciting changes that have been made to the youth programme. We’ve welcomed five new young people to the youth group, and it’s been great to get to know them all individually over the past few weeks. 

Beginning with Rooted, on Sunday mornings. We’ve now split the group into two age groups, School years 7–9 in one group, and years 10–13 in the other. It has been such a blessing that we’ve had the capacity to do this with the volunteers too, so God has really answered our prayers within this, as we have two people in each group. This is so that we can do more specific teaching to their age. Between now and Christmas, we are looking at the same series as the church, going through the 7 Deadly Sins.

Youth Serve Sundays continue to take place, on the 3rd Sunday of each month (wherever Communion falls), and it’s really great to see the young people stepping up in this way, growing in confidence and being more involved. On Sunday 5 October, the young people will be leading the morning service, so plans for this are underway and we’re hoping to get lots of energy and engagement from them as we plan and prepare together. 

Youth Alpha has also begun! Thursday nights at SBC, we gather in the youth room, watching the alpha video, then pausing it throughout to ask and answer questions, share thoughts and conversation together. On the first week, we had five young people join us, which was a really encouraging start, and we had some brilliant conversations from the word go! We also share our favourite puddings each week which is an added bonus! I have started going back into Tenison’s on a Tuesday morning for the Year 10 assembly. I first met these students when they were in Year 8, so it’s really great to be working with the same year group, as I’ve been able to really get to know them as a cohort. From when I arrive at the church (their assemblies are held at a local church) I have conversations with the students while waiting for the teachers to arrive, so it’s an amazing opportunity to speak with them before the assembly starts too! 

We’ve been asking the young people what they’d like to see happen during the school holidays, as the youth programme is different during these weeks. 

We arrange more social-based trips and events, so watch this space for more information on this! A date for your diaries too! Saturday 13 December, Saltmine Theatre Company are returning to SBC, this time to do a Cinderella Pantomime at 4:30pm performance; tickets will are be available on the website very soon! Thank you all so much for your continued support for all things youth ministry at SBC. We couldn’t do any of what we do without you, so thank you!

God bless you all. 
Katie