Summer holidays can offer some much-needed rest and relaxation, but they can also feel like a tricky time for parents as many struggle to feed their families and think of affordable, fun activities for their children.
Parishes around our diocese have stepped up with some wonderful ideas to engage young people. Each week during the school holidays, we will be sharing some of these initiatives on our enews and adding them to this page. If we've missed your parish, please get in touch! From food banks to breakfast clubs, youth groups to trips away, we would love to hear from you! Simply email Gemma, Catherine or James in the Communications Team.
Here are a selection of the activities that have been taking place around the diocese:
Holiday Clubs
- Left: Bury Parish Church has been running a Holiday Club - one of the sessions focussed on the Parable of the Prodigal Son (or Two Sons, or the Loving Father).
- Right: Leesfield Parish has held 'Worship for all Generations' Pet Services over two evenings.
- St John's Hopwood and St Luke's Heywood are opening for Summer Family Sessions throughout the holidays. Members of the community are invited to take part in board games, quizzes, workshops, craft activities and an opportunity to explore the church.
- At St Barnabas Centre in Oldham, the church has been 'heaving with happy children and the smells of good food' as their Holiday Activities and Food Club proves to be popular with local families.
- St Clements, Higher Openshaw is holding a Holiday Bible Club for children from 27th-30th August from 9.30 am-12.30 pm. The theme is "Secret Agents" and there will be teaching through the Gospel of Luke. Children can be signed up through St Clement's website.
Breakfast and Lunch Clubs
- Left: Churches in Wythenshawe recently teamed up to provide free food to those in need as part of The Big Feed initiative. The Big Feed is a movement founded in Wythenshawe which aims to help tackle food poverty, and churches got involved in plenty of creative ways. The week included afternoon tea, brunches, lunches, craft fairs, singing events, BBQs, fruit stalls, family fun days and more.
- Right: St Andrew's Hillock is running a breakfast club each weekday for the first five weeks of the holidays. It is open to any families with children who can enjoy cereal, toast, fruit or yoghurt, as well as hot and cold drinks. Toys and games are available, and in partnership with Onward Homes this year they are also offering various activities to keep everyone entertained.
Singing events
- On Sunday, St John’s and St Paul’s in Heaton Team Ministry kicked off their ‘Songs of Praise’ summer with a special family service and their monthly ‘Tea on the Lawn’ with homemade cakes, tea and coffee, singers, and a bug hunt for children.
- Each Wednesday morning in August from 10:00am - 1:00pm, St Paul's Withington is holding 'Come and Play and Sing!' sessions for families, with crafts, face painting, games and story time followed by music and singing.
Back to School Sundays
Many of our parishes are planning special services to help to prepare students (and teachers!) for the return to school. Blessing backpacks, reflecting on the fun of the school holidays and looking to the year ahead during a family service attract children, young people and families to church.
Here are a few examples:
- 'Back to School' on Saturday 31st August at 2pm at St Matthew's Church in Stretford - a fun service for families including plenty of interesting activities.
