Category Archives: All Age Services

Join us on Sunday 15 January for our first all-age service of 2017. It starts at 10.30am and lasts for about an hour. There’ll be singing and stories, art and activities, friendship and fun … something for everyone!

To find out what our all-age services are like, take a look at these posts.

Please note: this service will be held in Barton Hall, Horndean Technology College, Barton Cross, Horndean. Refreshments will be served from 10 a.m..

For more information, call Mark Wickenden, our Minister, on 07804 642090 or email him at mark.wickenden@horndeanbaptistchurch.org.uk.

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“What good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith?” That’s the question that James asked in his letter to the young church and that’s the question we explored in today’s all-age service.

After a delicious breakfast of bacon butties, we thought about what faith is and we watched a clip from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade … the part where he has to take a leap of faith. You can see some of our ideas in the picture. Then we thought about some of the excuses we come up with for not doing what we know we should be doing. Answers ranged from, ‘the dog ate my homework,’ to, ‘I had to feed my elephant!’

As well as singing songs (including What Love Is This? Love the Lord Your God and Hear the Call of the Kingdom) we played a game of ‘action’ charades and got in some practice for the quiz night with a round of Guess the TV Adverts, all of which were about It’s the Real Thing That Does What It Says On the Tin!

We also thought about what an ‘ideal’ Christian would be like. People came up with lots of ideas, such as they’d have a big, open heart, a trustworthy brain and giving hands. To the right, you can see a picture of what one group came up with. I do like the idea of a jet pack …

Natalie, aged 41.

For more information about all-age services call Hannah Lowry, our Children and Families Leader, on 07934 609648 or email her at hannah.lowry@horndeanbaptistchurch.co.uk.

On Sunday 22nd March we had an all-age service and some of the children held a sale. We raised £160 by selling cakes, homemade candles and cards, loom bands, hamma bead creations, and bric-a-brac. We were very busy and it was lots of fun having a corner to ourselves. The money will go to a charity called Melon Mission which helps children in Africa.

Ellie, age 7.

For more information about our all-age services call Hannah Lowry, our Children and Families Leader, on 07934 609648 or email her at hannah.lowry@horndeanbaptistchurch.co.uk.

‘Is it Messy Church today?’

Welcoming at the door, you never quite know what question you might be asked. ‘No, I don’t think it’s called Messy Church. It’s an all-age service. Lots of things going on and we have tea and coffee and doughnuts over at the back of the church …  and welcome!’

So much going on and such a lot to think about. There were parrots, penguins, prisms, post boxes, Pharisees, prayers and plasters! And the theme for today: the healing of the Paralytic.

We thought about our Good News and made the front page of a newspaper. We thought about the healing power of God and how only God can forgive sins. Luke’s Gospel chapter 5 verse 20 says, ‘When Jesus saw their faith, he said “Friend, your sins are forgiven”.

We sang songs about God showing His power: God is Good, He Is the Lord and He Reigns On High, ending the service with a rousing To God Be the Glory. Lovely to see the children joining in with maracas, tambourines, a triangle and waving ribbons in the air.

Yes we did have some little spills of water whilst we conducted our scientific experiments using mirrors, prisms, colouring pens (Everyone loves colouring in!) cocktail sticks, straws and spinners … so you could have called it ‘messy church’, but all was soon mopped up, and, looking around the room, great fun was had by all.

Some of us will still be trying to work out how to see the Magic Eye pictures – things hidden and things revealed!

by Helen W. (a grown-up)

Other thoughts on today’s all-age-service:

‘My favourite part was eating doughnuts. I enjoyed playing with the water and lights.’ Iestyn (an under-10).

‘Very creative. I particularly enjoyed the worship music. The drumming was excellent.’ Matthew (the drummer)

‘It was really accessible for kids. Really relaxed. It doesn’t matter if they make noise.’ Marcus (another grown-up)

‘It was excellent. I really enjoyed it. Inspiring. I’m a visual person, so learning form the activities works well.’ Jane (another grown-up)

‘Really interesting. There were loads of activities to do.’ Angharad (a young person)

‘My favourite thing about the all-age service was the scientific bits because they were fun and interesting.’ Sophie (an under-10)

‘Hannah deserves an Oscar!’ Dave (Hannah’s husband)

Our next all-age service will be on Sunday 22 March.