Restart or new start?
Returning to secondary work in schools and college after lockdowns has been exciting, daunting, and fun. Christian Unions, mentoring students and providing pastoral support to staff have all resumed. It’s great to be back sharing the Christian message through loving and caring for others.
Is it a restart or a new start? Now we have resumed activities, the students who come to these activities want to explore more recent events such as climate activism, the “black lives matter” movement, gender identity, the pandemic and “what does the Bible say about all this?” It is a privilege to talk to wonderful young people about these matters.
It’s a new start for us as well as we welcome Carrie, who has joined us for this academic year as a schools mentor to support the wellbeing of young people in schools, and with new youth workers from supporting churches.
To meet the needs of this new start, as well as continuing to cover the assembly dramas we take into primary schools, we will be looking in the new year to recruit a part time schools worker to get involved with our various activities in schools. In the meantime we would also love to hear from anyone who feels called to volunteer with Engage, whether on a regular or an occasional basis, as there are lots of different aspects of our work (many “behind the scenes”) for which volunteers are vital. We welcome new Trustees to join us too.
If there’s something that interests you, or you have a skill you could offer us, please contact Shelley for a coffee and chat. We’d love to hear from you!
We are a local Christian charity which is passionate about taking the Christian message into schools in and around Woking. Our mission is to share God’s love with children and teenagers throughout their school life, supporting and inspiring them through faith and hope. We work collaboratively with local churches, and the community to help build and strengthen connections with our local schools.
Working with over 30 Primary and Secondary Schools, as well as Woking College, our dedicated team of schools workers, volunteers and church Youth Workers deliver a wide variety of age-appropriate and accessible activities to help bring the Bible to life, including drama-led assemblies in Primary Schools and small group mentoring and pastoral care for both pupils and staff in our Secondary Schools.
Primary School Assembly videos
Historically the Autumn term has always been busy for the Engage Assembly team, and this Autumn is no different. We’ve already distributed our Harvest Assembly video. This year we told the story of Joseph in Egypt, of Pharaoh’s dream and sharing of what they had with others. Now we are straight into Christmas.
Our brilliant script writer, Ruth, has adapted our Nativity panto script from an in-person presentation to an on-line video (“Oh yes she has!”). The team have laughed a lot while acting their socks off (“It’s behind you!”), and Rhea has filmed, edited and produced it. The result is a fantastic Christmas Assembly for the schools (“Ta-dah!”). We can’t thank the team enough – but it doesn’t feel like work: it’s far too much fun! Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch it.
Prayer Prompts
That Primary Schools’ students are blessed and their hearts are stirred as they watch our Christmas video.
For students in Secondary Schools and the college to have peace as they start this school year and prepare for exams.
For the students being mentored at Woking High School – for the seeds of hope and change to be planted in their lives
For us as we plan our work into 2022.
That youth workers and children’s workers have peace and wisdom to help and guide them in their roles at Church.
For our new schools mentor, Carrie as she settles into her new role.
For more volunteers to support the mission of Engage – may people’s hearts be stirred into exploring these opportunities.
Get Involved!
Perhaps you could become a Trustee of Engage and help shape the future of our work.
Maybe you have a heart for taking the Christian message into secondary schools or Woking College and would like to join the Engage team in running Christian Union meetings.
There are endless possibilities –just some mentioned here! Whatever your skills and gifting and the amount of time you have available, we would love to hear as we plan for the challenges of the academic year ahead!
For further information or for a chat please contact our Schools Worker Shelley Blunden on 01483 901891 or email office@engagewoking.org.