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Showing posts from 2020

THE FINAL BLOG OF 2020!

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Hello! Thanks for joining us for this week's blog - the final one of 2020! Not quite the usual, but here's what's happening over Christmas at St Leonard's: C H R I S T M A S  Wow, how can it be Christmas next week? Yet, here we are... Although the youth work has wound down for the term, there is plenty going on at St Leonard's church for you to get involved with. Of course, some of these events have already happened but be sure to book on and join in with the Carol Services, the Crib Hunt on Christmas Eve (spoiler: look out for Sarah...), Midnight Christmas Eve Communion and of course, the service on Christmas Day morning. L A S T   B U T   N O T   L E A S T The three of us are taking a well-needed break over the Christmas period so we won't be around as much. If you do have any questions, comments or feedback for us, feel free to email or text us as usual - it may just be a little wait before we get back to you. Our contact details are all at the bottom. We'

10th December 2020

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Hello! Thanks for joining us for this week's blog. Wow, what a week it has been - I hope you've managed to find some peace amongst it all. We've been feeling a little swamped in the office but we're getting back into the swing of things now and beginning to feel more Christmassy! As usual, here's your update for the week:  I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  Unfortunately we have to cancel our plans for next week 😭 as a team we've considered the guidelines, revised our plan, sought guidance and prayed - and the conclusion we've come to that it's safest for everybody if we reschedule the cell celebrations that we had originally hoped to host. We are also in a position where the safest thing to do is go back online with cell groups. So, although they will be happening, we'll be back on Zoom again. We would love to see as many young people as possible, especially as next week are the last cell groups before Christmas. We also want to say a big THANK YOU f

3rd December 2020

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Hello! Thanks for joining us for this week's blog. And just like that, we're in December!  As usual, here's your update for the week:  I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  We hope you managed to tune in to the St Leonard's service on Sunday. If so, you will have seen plenty of silliness and reflection about waiting from us! Shout out to Harry for being such a great sport!  We had lots of entries into our text competition too but the winner was Naomi 🎉 here she is with her prize... Because what's better than a narwhal toy to celebrate winning? You can see Olly, Jonny and me in the service this week as well,  as we take on the All-Age slot again; this time focusing on endurance ...and it was certainly a test of endurance to get ready for it! The service will start at 10.30am and you can find it on   the church website . Let us know what you think... and watch out for another competition... Next week cell groups will be back to normal! We enjoyed The Invitation event, but

26th November 2020 (+ a day... oops)

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Hello! Thanks for joining us for this week's blog. I can hardly believe another week has whipped around and here we are again...  As per, here's your update for the week:  I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  Watch out for Olly, Jonny and me in the Sunday service! We have put together the All-Age slot (and had fun doing it 😂) all about waiting. The service will start at 10.30am and you can find it on the church website . Let us know what you think... and be sure to enter our competition... (more details if you watch the service). Next week we'll be doing something a bit different with cell groups. Rather than the usual, we'll be meeting together for a session called " The Invitation" . We have an external speaker coming to talk about sharing faith with those around us. It should be challenging, interesting and fun too!  It's a cool opportunity to listen and think more about how we can invite friends and loved ones along to church; how we can be inviting peopl

19th November 2020

Hello! Thanks for joining us for this week's blog. You may have noticed that the blog was missing last week... I can only apologise that the rest of my work swamped me a little!  As per, here's your update for the week:  I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  Cell groups will be continuing to 'meet' online.  For at least this term, we'll be tackling big questions during cell.  Last week, many cells began exploring the question, "What has faith got to do with LGBT+?" and we're looking ahead to spend time on other BIG questions like, "What if I'm wrong?" (having doubts in our faith) and "What does faith have to do with mental health?".  This week, we'll be doing a mixture of things - depending on what your leaders think might be best!  Although we are having to restrict meeting in bigger groups at the moment, we can meet 1-to-1 to go for a walk or sit outside (provided it's not too cold or rainy!). If you are a young person and

5th November 2020

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Hello! Thanks for joining us for this week's blog. Our hope is that you're feeling at peace with all the changes at the moment as we, once again, go into lockdown. As per, here's your update for the week: I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  Obviously there are some changes to the youth work due to the national lockdown. In a nutshell: cell groups will be moving to online . This means from today (Thursday 5th) for at least the next four weeks, we will be meeting via Zoom. Cell groups will remain at their usual times and we'll be sending out a link to join the Zoom chats in due course. Please let us know if there are any problems.  We would love to get any young people who aren't already involved, into a cell group. So if you or someone you know is between school years 7 and 13 and are interested in cell, please get in contact so we can add them to a group! Contact details are at the bottom. O T H E R   T H I N G S We are permitted to meet 1-to-1 with young people during

22nd October 2020

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Hello! Thanks for joining us for this week's blog. We're all feeling rather tired here in the office - it's been a busy half term! Hope you're looking forward to some kind of break next week. As per, here's your update for the week: I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  We had a great time at our joint Zoom event with the young people and youth team from Cogges church on Monday (19th)! We saw Olly and Ben (Cogges' youth worker) theologically reflect on this video: If this video doesn't work, you can click here to watch it . It was an interesting topic to think about..! And truly brought out the British-ness of the group with the outrage felt by the terrible tea-making skills. Overall, we had a fun evening and were left with some interesting thoughts. It's half term next week so there will be no cell groups. We will miss you all a lot, but look forward to seeing you back from week beginning 2nd November and wish you a restful, fun time off! We would love to ge

15th October 2020

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Hello! Thanks for joining us for this week's blog. Hope you're having a good week so far and that the weekend will be a restful time from the usual rush of life. As per, here's your update for the week: I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  Cell groups this week will be a bit different... rather than the usual groups meeting throughout the week, we will have our Zoom event with Cogges Youth on Monday. Here's all the details: When?  Monday 19th October, 6.30-7.30pm   Where?  On Zoom - details will be sent to you nearer the time     How?  We'll meet on Zoom, have some time altogether, have some time in break out groups and have a lot of fun   Why?  It's a great opportunity to connect with some other young people, set a fun challenge for your leaders and do something a bit different   If you're interested in coming along (and please do - it should be a really fun time, plus an opportunity to set the leaders some challenges), please fill out this form:  Cogges &

8th October 2020

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Hello! Thanks for joining us for this week's blog. We hope you're all keeping well. We'd love to be praying more specifically for you, so please let us know if you have any requests. As usual, here's your update for the week: I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  Cell groups continue with sessions on 'Loneliness'. Unfortunately the experience of being lonely seems to be a pretty common one. We, therefore, want to spend some time thinking about what the Bible says on loneliness, as well as how to take care of ourselves and others when experiencing being alone.  We would love to get any young people who aren't already involved, into a cell group. So if you or someone you know is between school years 7 and 13 and are interested in cell, please get in contact so we can add them to a group! Contact details are at the bottom. As ever, we're continuing to work on getting other groups up and running - so keep checking here or our Instagram page for the latest updates

1st October 2020

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Hello! Welcome to this week's blog. Hopefully you're settling into some kind of routine; we know we're grateful that we've been able to continue with much of the youth work.  As usual, here's your update for the week: I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  Cell groups continue with sessions on 'Encouragement'. It's always good to think about how we can be encouraging one another and what the Bible has to say on the matter. We hope this will be a week to become more effective encouragers, pray together and have some fun! We can still take orders for the St Leonard's Youth exclusive rain poncho, if any cell group members are interested. Please get in touch as soon as possible (details at the bottom) to let us know your preference (blue, pink or black) if you haven't done so already.  As a reminder: they will be printed with the Youth logo and cost £5. We've found it's always a fun way to unite the group as well as keeping us dry from the (inevita

24th September 2020

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Hello! Welcome to this week's blog. It's been an odd week of holding on to routine as best we can despite the changing advice and, in true British style, the changing weather! Nevertheless, here's your update for the week: I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  Cell groups continue with a session called "H ow was lockdown? " It's a massive question, but we hope this can be a time to reflect, share and pray together through what has been one of the strangest periods of our lives.  We are offering our cell group members the opportunity to purchase some exciting merch! For £5, they can be the proud owner of a rain poncho, adorned with the St Leonard's Youth logo. We've found it's always a fun way to unite the group as well as keeping us dry from the (inevitable) rain we encounter during cell groups. If any cell group members are interested, there's a chance to sign up during cell (so we can get an idea of numbers). If you're interested and want to c

17th September 2020

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Hello! Welcome to this week's blog. Olly, Jonny and I have had a good week on the whole, despite melting a bit in the boiling hot office! Time to invest in a fan I think... So here's your update for the week: I N   T H E   N E X T   W E E K  Cell groups will be continuing with another social session. All groups will meet on the church land (see t he last blog for a handy little map if you're not sure where that is) at their designated days and times.  As ever, we're continuing to work on getting other groups up and running - so keep checking here or our Instagram page for the latest updates. O T H E R   T H I N G S We've loved having cell groups back! It's been encouraging to see them so well attended as well as getting to spend time with our lovely young people. If your child is not in a cell group but would like to be, please get in touch on the contact details below and we'd be happy to help.  I've been busy giving the blog a revamp (you may have noti