Doorstep Days
Schools
workshops on my own doorstep today! Christ Church, Wanstead is only a ten-minute
walk away and it was a beautiful day for it, too! This is the second year I
have been a workshop leader for this diocesan Year 6 Leavers’ event involving
Primary Schools from the archdeaconry of West Ham and beyond. The day was
inspired some years back by the Wells Leavers' days, for which Lucy still leads
sessions; and I was also with Ken Wylie again today, who was a fellow
'performer' and leader of sessions on mime.
I
was in the side room of my local library for my two workshops and it was a
great venue, though I think we were perhaps a little loud for the usual
customers next door! I had groups of 45 children from four different schools,
and together we explored the theme of changes linked to the overall title of
the day, which was 'Going Up!' We used some games and simple drama activities,
leading into the story of the calling of the disciples, where we tried to get
behind the feelings of the fishermen, who had to make perhaps their biggest
decision for change ever, in response to Jesus' invitation to 'follow me'. I
ended each session with a reflective story on the life of Peter, which went
down well and provoked some good reactions about the journey that we all go on
and which will always include many sorts of changes - exciting and challenging -
but a journey that can be with God, who never changes.
I
also had the privilege of telling a story in the final act of worship in the
church. It was a ‘first outing’ of one I'd just written about Jesus choosing
his very different travelling companions, but how he knew that all those
differences were important to make a real team that would change them and
eventually the world!
There
are plans to have similar Year 6 Leavers’ days at other venues throughout the
Diocese next year, so it looks like I might have some more ‘doorstep days’ to
look forward to, all being well.
