Prom Tickets
Update on Prom tickets, as of the time of writing there are only 19 tickets left for Leeds Youth Christmas Prom. It promises to be another brilliant evening, but if you haven’t got your ticket yet I suggest you do very soon!

Onside Football
The nights may be getting darker earlier and the temperature has dropped, but the four MBC football teams who play in the Onside football league still have several weeks of the winter season left to play. With two teams in the under 17 league and two in the open league, the only dilemma is often choosing which match to watch! Sport is another great way of bringing people together, and our thanks go to our committed coaches Mike Gray, Thomas Pemberton and Chris Gray, as well as Caitlin their chief supporter! To find out how our teams are doing, or more about Onside have a look at their website.

Barcaple residential
Just to highlight there are less than 3 weeks left to book your place on Barcaple 2012, all forms must be returned to Glenda by November 30th.

MBC Nativity
This year we are taking on Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus, and Haddon has dramatized this account – but we now need budding thespians (of any age) to take it on! Please speak to Graham, Glenda or Haddon if you would like to be involved either on stage or behind the scenes. The nativity service is on Sunday 18th December at 10.30am, with rehearsals on the evenings of 13th and 16th December.

Monday nights Dispatches
Local filmmaker Anna Hall produced and directed Monday nights Dispatches on Ch 4. It’s about Sex gangs in Britain and how young girls are groomed, then exploited for sex. The programme looked at the situation across the UK but also specifically in Leeds, and also mentions the work of CROP. It’s a hard programme to watch; it’s shocking that this sort of thing literally happens on our doorstep, there are lots of local shots which you will no doubt recognise, but it is definitely worth the time. Sunday nights Connections group will be looking at this and the questions of what it really means to be Salt and Light in our society.

I took a break from the Rock Solid Club at Carr Manor High yesterday to spend the day at Allerton High School instead. As part of their termly ‘Enrichment Days’ it was a privilege to be invited back with Leeds Faith in Schools (LFIS) to teach the year 7’s on Christianity, as part of the Philosophy, Ethics and Religion department.

With a quarter of the year group (around 50) and eight year-11 mentors it was certainly two very full two-and-a-half hour sessions, pushing back the classroom dividers to fit everyone in! Having an extended period of time we were able to go through with the year 7’s a typical understanding of an 11-year-old’s view of Christianity through our animated character Joe, to learning that God created them, that God loves them, that we can’t be good on our own, that Jesus came to take the punishment for things we do wrong, and finally the important message that no-one is a Christian because of who they are, where they were brought up or if they go to church. But, that anyone can choose to be a Christian as it is a decision that we all have to make once we have heard the facts.

LFIS put a lot of thought into the teaching material for this and the session is also hopefully a lot of fun and memorable for the year 7’s. Highlights include creating their own creatures for their new planet (see picture), and I almost felt mean as they watch us tell the story of how the creatures destroy one another and their world as they watch their figures get squashed! An impossible task with marshmallows leads to a punishment of eating dog food (parents please note: it’s not real!) that of course one willing pupil steps in to take for the whole class really helps to get across the message of Jesus taking our wrong things away.

The opportunity to spend this time in school in this way really is exciting, and I would encourage you to pray for continued links especially with our local school at Allerton High after their involvement with What Matters, and please do consider supporting the work of LFIS. A great day in school, but I did leave feeling I’m glad I’m not 12 years old again and have to go every day!

Glenda

A few days on from the great baptism service that was held here on Sunday and I am still smiling! This is primarily at the confidence and certainty that both Ewan and Lawrence demonstrated on Sunday in their faith in Jesus and all that this means for their lives both now and in the future. To see and hear these two young men publically demonstrate their acceptance of Jesus into their lives through sharing their stories and the promises they made in baptism really was a pleasure.

On Sunday I said it was a privilege to introduce Ewan and Lawrence and a joy to know them both, and I very much meant this. Sharing their journey in different ways over the past weeks, months and years gives me the advantage of knowing how seriously they took their baptism promises and also leaves me hugely excited about the men that God has created them to be. With warm personalities and huge talent, with the right support and encouragement, they really will help to make the world a better place, as they share Jesus with those around them.

As a church it is great to have such occasions, but we also need to accept the responsibility that comes with nurturing younger Christians; giving them the space and freedom to be bold, whilst supporting from behind as they continue to learn. It is also a challenge for each of us as we see Ewan and Lawrence making big steps and public actions.

What is it God is calling us to do for Him right now?

Glenda

From breakfast at 07:00 hours to last thing at night being a Chaplain at camp is exhausting, challenging, full of opportunities and at times hugely rewarding. Many of the Cadets and adults come with a difficult circumstance left at home, and that’s before you take into account issues of homesickness, injury, exam results, facing fears and receiving any bad news from home. The site at Sennybridge is extensive and it is almost impossible to walk from one place to the next without meeting a Cadet or adult who has something to get off their chest or a question to ask.

The last two days have been full of activities, games, travelling over the beacons, all of which are fun, but nonetheless tiring too! A highlight of yesterday was being challenged by the RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major) to a race up the climbing wall. He clearly wasn’t expecting quite such a feisty response from ‘Wee Padre’ (as I have affectionately become known as by a few) and looked a little surprised at being beaten!! The on-looking Cadets and adults enjoyed it greatly, and am sorry to say the RSM has been teased fairly mercilessly since!

Check out the ACF Camp Web Page

Tomorrow is my last full day at camp before heading to X:Site on Saturday to head up the junior team, so an early night is on the cards tomorrow, but camp here continues for another week under Padre Edith’s care. As always, stepping out of the comfort zone and working with completely different people is always good for character, and reminds me of the security of God wherever we are.

I leave you with this final thought… Stepping into camp where everyone seems to know each other, knows what to do and often using words I don’t understand (however friendly they are) can be a hard-going environment for a relative newbie like me, let’s hope church doesn’t feel too much like that to our visitors on a Sunday…

Glenda

In the evening of my first full day of camp, it has been a good feeling to settle into the South Yorkshire and Humberside Army Cadet Force’s Annual Camp as one of the Chaplains for the second year having a little more idea of what is going on than arriving almost straight off the plane from Durban last year!

After the initial awkwardness of explaining I wasn’t a cadet when I arrived and showing my ID at the training camp in Sennybridge, in the Brecon Beacons, the familiar ‘Yes Ma’am’ began. With 450+ cadets, sergeants and officers here everything is organised with literally military precision.

After a welcome last night from my fellow officers in the Mess, I have spent most of today out with cadets on Adventure Training. The dismal weather prohibited the water sports and climbing wall, but as they learned to build a ‘basher’, play tug of war, rounders etc., the morale was surprisingly high after a night under the stars.

I think I made a good impression with my bullseye in Archery, but clipping only 1 out of the 6 clay pigeons was a poor show. The shotgun however has clearly made an impression on me with the bruises showing already on my upper arm and shoulder! There are already a few Cadets gathering in the sick room, so visiting them adds to the care they receive from the superb medical team.

Being a Padre it is great to go round and see all these young people from a wide variety of backgrounds being given such a range of opportunities of doing positive and constructive things. This morning I said farewell to a group off to do their expedition for their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

The days here are long and full, and the Cadets and the Officers alike have a never ending stream of questions for the Padre who carries sweets and a smile. Please do pray for energy, good conversations and that God would be glorified through the presence of the Padres here.

Glenda

Friday Morning!
My reflections from another fantastic day at Hope Leeds ʼ11 this morning are inspired by watching Susan Hiley & helpers calmly produce bacon, pastries, cereals, toast, fruit etc for 100 hungry teenagers and leaders, when the thought of such a job would make many of us run a mile! When we work together we really can achieve great things. The unity within the young people, from a wide variety of Christian faith traditions, is amazing to see. And
the comment again and again from the Mission Centres is that as they work ecumenically with other churches and organisations, they are achieving so much more than would be possible on their own.

One of the young people shared last night about discovering a beautiful white flower underneath a pile of nappies and other such pleasant things(!) as he was getting very disheartened with clearing the area where he was working, and was reminded in that moment about how beautiful Godʼs creation is underneath what we have done to it. It is an important reminder to us all and the young people as they head out in their teams today, that it is often the same with people. We all have the inner beauty of being Godʼs children within us, and yet it is often the rubbish of life that piles on top that can make it harder to see. It is our job as we share the truth of Jesus to look deeper than the surface ʻrubbishʼ that people portray.

Our morning session is just closing and the Lord Mayor of Leeds came to thank the young people as they work in the city of Leeds, and he encouraged them to get to know our great city even more. It was a real encouragement to have his sincere interest and thanks in what they are doing.

As I head off for another busy day, I am hoping to get around more of the mission centres and see more of what these amazing young people are getting stuck into today! Just by being themselves they are really changing the image of young people, and the difference the Church can make to our society.

Let Hope continue!!!

Hope ’11 has kicked off to an amazing start!

As I look around on Thursday morning at all the smiles and laughter it is amazing to think that 48 hours ago many of the Young People here didn’t know each other. The five mission teams have gelled so quickly (with the help of lots of team-building activities), and as they left yesterday morning there was a real anticipation about their first day in their respective mission areas.

After dealing with the domestics of accommodating and feeding 100 people, I had the pleasure of visiting the Meanwood team. The churches there have worked together to put on a holiday club, open the community cafe daily, tidy some local gardens as well as clearing a ‘ginnell’ – all working towards a community fun day on Saturday.

It was great to see those on the holiday club team getting alongside the children, and helping those who had organised it. Meanwhile, with the garden team, a lady with 8 children was so grateful to have her garden cleared as well as some of the children entertained! The response from the local residents near the ginnell was great as they brought out ice creams and offered their power supplies. The pride of the young people was indeed well-earned as they had made this shortcut accessible to those with buggies, pushchairs, the elderly and those now feeling safe to use it at night.

As I went into the community cafe I witnessed a lovely moment of one of the young lads showing an elderly gentlemen how to use the mobile phone (still in its box) that his daughter had bought him. As the Hope team member filled his phone book with useful numbers, there was a meeting of minds between these two men, and it was a privilege to see.

The young people are really learning that there is nowhere more comfortable to share Jesus than in this structure of Hope, and we pray they will see that through them Jesus really can change lives.

The morning sessions are being led by Robin Smith, discovering more about being an apprentice of Christ and setting them up for the day ahead. In the evenings we have a variety of speakers, all looking at ‘Encounters with Jesus’ overarched with Paul’s teaching in Philippians 2. The testimonies and photos are an important part of the evening. As is the worship, being led by our own Ed Duffy and the Divine band. Kate Slater is leading the art worship project and she will send pictures later in the week as some of the Young People express themselves beautifully in this way. Pictures to follow as it grows!

The after-hours events have been a lot of fun (and mess!) and have been led superbly by the Leeds Faith in Schools Team.

As for me, I’m so thankful for a team of supportive prayerful, amazing people who are really getting stuck into making this week life-changing for all involved!

Please do pray for continued safety, opportunity and huge blessings as the Young People and the team make themselves available for God.

Glenda

Preparing talks and sessions on the Seven Deadly Sins over the last few weeks has resulted in me wandering around looking at everything from a different perspective. What does this poster say about Lust? What does this advert suggest about Pride?

However, reflecting on the talk on Greed from Sunday, the chord that seems to have struck the most loudly with a few people is the concept of sharing.

This last week I have had the pleasure of having one of the BMS Action team staying with me, and in a very British way on Friday heard myself saying as I was going out, “Help yourself to anything you’d like.”

As I left I wondered did I really mean it…? How would I actually feel if I got home to find the last of my favourite perfume used up, or if the fridge was completely empty of the weeks groceries. Our idea of sharing is often in a very constrained framework, sometimes this is purely practical, but it can be easy to hide behind this.

To think about sharing should stretch us to think about our time, our possessions, our wealth, our hospitality and our homes. But perhaps for some we are better at sharing out than we are receiving. When Jesus sent the disciples ahead he told them to expect hospitality and to be provided for. There is a possible overlap with Pride here, but perhaps to be able to give we also need to learn to know how to receive.

Recently I injured my elbow, which for a couple of weeks meant that I found it quite difficult to drive and to do things at home. As a result of this, one of my What Matters photos is a picture of my car and house keys, as I was reminded of how much I value my independence. But I know how reticent I was to ask for help, something which I no doubt would have been the first to be annoyed at my friends for! As part of a family, a friendship and a Christian community sharing should become a more natural, two way process.

The jump from greed to sharing to receiving may seem an off-shoot from the original topic, but it is all circular when reflecting on how we live the lives we do: how we value other people; ourselves; our possessions and ultimately our faith in God.

Going Deeper at Lineham Farm has become a tradition for some of the older young people, and an exciting first time for those in year 9. With 24 young people (who attend Grounded and Connections or Linx), plus the team of leaders, it was a full weekend, in every possible way!

The theme of the weekend this year was, ‘Christ, the Centre of Christianity?’. This sparked out of a series of conversations over this year where it was discussed how it is easier to say and accept that we believe in God, rather than talking about Jesus.

Over the three main sessions we looked at the questions, ‘How did we get to Jesus?’, ‘Who Was Jesus?’ And ‘What about Jesus now?’ as well as a selection of seminars, and a Saturday evening session taking some space to consider what it means that God created us. The Connections group set out to read the bible in a year last September, and this is providing our teaching material on Sunday evenings. For lots of different reasons, many of us have been struggling with this, so we also included a session on Saturday afternoon on looking at the bible as a whole and Graham took on some of the young people’s challenging questions!

The weekend also includes a lot of fun, and lot of laughter, a great chance to catch up and share and be real with one another in a safe space. This can only happen because of the dedication, time, effort (and lack of sleep!) of the youth team, and the support of their families. So from me on behalf of the church and the young people, I want to re-emphasise my thanks to them.

Each of us, young people and adults alike, are – and should be – on a continuing journey of faith, understanding who Jesus was and is, and how that impacts the lives we live and the people we are. As the young people are striving to learn more of Christianity in a society which softens the definite, requires concrete where maybes are the only answer, please do pray for them (and the leaders) that Christ really does become the centre of Christianity for them and their lives, now and in the future.

Glenda

Loyola Hall – Guided Retreat.

The quiet start that this week afforded an opportunity not only to reflect on the last 7 years here at MBC, but to think about the future – both personally and for the vision of the youth work. I found the structure of the retreat helpful and the suggested ways of looking at bible passages were a good prompting. On reflection my main learning points from the retreat were to slow down enough to really see what is around me, and for a greater ability to focus on one thing or one person at a time. In terms of a church I questioned how well we really see what is around us, both in each other and in our community.

Wetherby Young Offenders Institute, Chaplaincy Placement.

The 2 weeks spent at the YOI were a really special time for me. I spent the first couple of days shadowing the chaplains and then was given more freedom to be on the wings. I was involved with the choir, the courses run by the chaplaincy as well as the statuary duties of hospital visits, new arrivals visits and being part of the ‘red alert’ care team. I spent a significant amount of my time in ‘Keppel’, this is the unit that is for the young offenders who are at risk of harm primarily to themselves and also others. I was really impressed by the high profile and respect that the Chaplains were given, from every level, and with the efficiency of how well the governor ran and managed the YOI.

Whilst working with the lads, I could not help but think again and again of the young men who have spent time at Wetherby YOI from our local area. I was faced with questions of what we can do to make a positive impact on the lives of local young people, what this would look like and how it could be achieved. The boys in the YOI had many stories to share of loveless and confused upbringings. They were so easy to love. As a church I feel challenged about how ignorant we can choose to be about the real needs of some of the young people (and beyond) on our doorsteps and the organisations that support them.

XLP, Urban Youth Charity, Lewisham.

The week I spent with XLP was a good reminder of how important it is to be aware of the real issues that every local community faces. I saw a brief spectrum of what XLP does across the different boroughs of London and in many ways was relieved to see that the ‘on the ground’ youth work they provide is in many ways not dissimilar to MBC offers, although perhaps better resourced. However, the main area that I was interested in learning from was how they successfully connect the work they do in the community, the schools work they do and then linking these young people and their families to local churches. This is achieved in part with the large gap year team who spend roughly half their time with XLP but are also placed in a church in the area they are working in.

There are questions to be asked about how the youth work here could be more joined up from community to church, including areas of schools work. Also to be considered is how we use other agencies, how we allow work to grow, what needs to be under the MBC banner or what else can be achieved through ‘outside’ projects such as Romance Academy. On reflection it seems clear that the links between different levels of youth work & ministry are based on people and relationships. This is certainly something to look at with the youth team in the future. It also helped me to reflect on the ‘hands on’ nature of my role with the young people, and the fact that I am probably the only person in the church/youth team who knows all the young people that are involved in the different areas of MBC’s youth work.

Soul Action Transform Team, Durban South Africa.

The time in Durban was spent in 2 main parts: the first week with ‘The Church on Florida’ and the second week with Lingisani Indlela, a project working in a township out of Durban.

My initial reaction to working with the church for the first week was one of disappointment, but it soon became clear as we travelled around the schools, crèches and youth day centers that were supported by the church how much of a real difference they were making to the lives of many people. As we practically got stuck in, I saw that the commitment of the church to support and improve the lives of people in the area was sharing the gospel in a real and transforming way. As a Christian of many years it is good to be reminded again and again that knowing Jesus really does change people’s lives, not just for eternity, but here and now in the circumstances we are in.

The second week working with LI showed a much more rural and difficult way of life, but again the focus being on Christian people who are seeking to improve the lives of those who have little or nothing and helping them have a sustainable future. During this time we were taken to the first LIV village. The drive and results behind a clear vision from God were just inspiring. To dream big dreams and see fruit to change society takes faith, effort, and a commitment to the long-term.

Personally, I know being taken out of your comfort zone is always a good place to be to re-evaluate the importance of one’s faith. On a practical level, I learnt and observed a lot about being a team member, (rather than being the person who heads things up) and how it could work well in the future to give people at MBC an opportunity to experience God and His work in other cultures.

Humberside & South Yorkshire Cadet, Annual Camp. Thetford, Norfolk. Chaplaincy.

It was a couple of years ago that I was first asked to consider Army Cadet Chaplaincy, and with the opportunity of my sabbatical, in 2009 I took the chance to experience my first taste of cadet life with a visit to Annual Camp in Otterburn. This opened my eyes to a way of life that saw over 400 13-18 year olds living together for 2 weeks, following a program of activities, working towards different achievements, having fun, working hard and coping with lots of rain! The Sergeants and Officers were an amazing group of people who truly believe in investing in the lives of these young cadets, giving up much of their time to volunteer at their local section. After visiting the camp and spending some time with the other 2 Chaplains I felt that I could support and work with both the cadets and staff. After a lengthy process I was commissioned as Padre (Captain) for the Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force (ACF), in time for their 2010 annual camp in Thetford, Norfolk.

Arriving at camp on August 1st was a huge culture shock, especially as it was less than 10 hours after stepping off the plane coming back from Durban, but during camp I was given a warm welcome by everyone I spent time with, and was hugely supported by the other 2 Chaplains. I had a huge amount to learn in a very short space of time, especially as nearly all aspects of military life were new to me. On a personal level it was yet another situation where I was very aware of many of my own weaknesses and again was challenged to rely on the strength that God provides.

I was very impressed with the stamina of the cadets who had busy and long days. One of the things that was also very apparent was how this wide range of young people were treated completely equally regardless of background, gender and experience. No kind of demeaning language or behavior is tolerated in any way, and for many of the Cadets, this acceptance is something they may only find within ACF.

As Chaplains we were given free rein to visit Cadets out in the field, support the medical centre and be in the chapel to provide a listening ear and quiet space for the Cadets in the evening. They even provided a tent for me to camp overnight with ‘E’ company whilst the Cadets were in the open field! The discipline and high aims of the ACF can have a really positive influence on the Cadets and it was a privilege me for to share how the Christian faith is real to all people in all circumstances. As with much youth work there will always be some young people that you are able to build a stronger relationship than with others, but all the Cadets responded well to the care that I strived to provide for them. The role of Chaplain is a real honour, to literally wear your cross on your sleeve, and be available for the Cadets and Officers to answer questions, share God’s love, support and pray in every situation and walk of life.

I would like to continue my role as ACF Chaplain, I have already completed the officers training weekend for 2011 and can do a week of the annual camp in my annual leave. Although I have made it clear to them that I don’t have regular time to give, they know I am on-hand for emergencies, the occasional visit and part of the camp in the summer. After the effort (on both sides) for my commissioning, and the challenge it provided for me I feel that it would be a shame to resign my post after the sabbatical period.

As a more general point I was also encouraged by the opportunities that were offered to me purely because of the Ministerial Youth Specialist accreditation that I have. Both in the YOI and with the ACF it was with some shock that I realised I was the only member of staff that had previous experience or qualifications in youth work, but without the support of MBC to be ordained these opportunities would not have been an option. I continue to feel that church based Youth Ministry with accreditation has been the right journey for me to this point.

Finally I would like to say again a huge Thank You to MBC for the generosity of their time in this sabbatical, and hope that it proves to produce fruit for the future here.

Glenda Down
January 2011