School visit

One of the most pleasurable aspects of having been a minister living and working in a community is the opportunity to work with schools. I have always found I get more out of it than the youngsters themselves. Their sense of wonder if they are coming into your church building helps you to stop taking what you have for granted. Then there is the honesty they bring. You may have been asked to talk about one thing but they always have their own agenda, insights and challenging questions. 

This academic year we have once again Hinde House lower school visiting  Firth Park Methodist Church through out the year, in their year groups. This past week 60 plus year four's  came to explore Why Christians worship? Not only were they well behaved and amazingly attentive they kept me on my toes with their questions and insights. What I love about this school is the diversity of children in culture and faith. Two questions stood out for me. One boy asked 'is it alright not to be religious?' And another when we were talking about those who are of the same faith being our brother and sisters, said 'me and my friend both like trains does that make us brothers?'  He had clearly picked up that having something in common can bind you together as family that is not dependent on biology. It was also great to be able to explore that relgious does not automatically make you a person of faith? or that not being a peson of faith means you cant have core values which are of worth. So not just a simple visit and chat. I will see them again when in school leading assemblies and so important relationships are forged. So it's great for our church community to have over 450 children coming into our buildings to continue to build their sense of awareness of God,be they Christian, Muslim or non religious!