Summer Ark makes Covenant a reality in Newtownards
From Sunday 17th to Sunday 24th August two town centre Churches in Newtownards came alive with nearly 200 people descending upon St Mark's Parish Centre for the biggest Kids Club in the Parish's history.
Summer Ark started with a handful of leaders and young people four years ago at the prompting of the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Right Reverend Harold Miller. This year, St Mark's Youth and Family Co-Ordinator Stephen Doherty and Regent Street Methodist Youth Pastor Laura Ewing decided to team up for the event, which was launched with a Eucharist and act of Commissioning in Regent Street Methodist Church led by former President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Revd Roy Cooper, who was assisted by the Revd Adrian Dorrian, Curate of Newtownards. The Centre at St Mark's was the venue for the midweek activities before a closing service in Regent Street Methodist on Sunday 24th August.
On Monday to Friday, from 10am - 2.30pm, a combined team of over fifty leaders, young leaders and other members from both congregations (and some from other churches again!) played host to 140 children aged 4-11. The programme was based around a different one of Jesus' parables each day. After gathering for praise and prayer, the children were entertained with the day's parable by the Regent Street Methodist Puppet Team before splitting into teams for bible teaching, craft and drama workshops. Lunch was provided by volunteers from both churches before more afternoon activities. On Wednesday, in keeping with the Parable of the Good Samaritan, parents and grandparents were served lunch by some of the older children.
The memory verse for the week set the overall theme as the children were taught ‘bee happy, bee glad - there is great reward waiting for you in heaven' (sic) Matthew 5v12 and so bumble bees were everywhere to be seen in the centre!
The weekday activities drew to a close with a praise party on Friday night, during which each child in attendance was presented with a Bible. The gifts were distributed by Bishop Harold Miller, who was one of three special guests in attendance along with Canon Ken Smyth, the Rector of Newtownards, and Revd Roy Cooper who, as well as being a former Methodist President is Minister of Regent Street Methodist Church. Each of the three special guests was presented with a framed collage of pictures from the week.
The categorical success of the week has already laid seeds for future collaboration in Children's Ministry between the two churches. Revd Adrian Dorrian, commenting at the end of the week, said: "One of the most special elements of ministering in a town like Newtownards is the relationship between churches. We've been greatly blessed here in St Mark's with a wonderful covenant relationship with the people of Regent Street Methodist but I can't think of a more wonderful expression of that than Summer Ark. It is inconceivable that the Kids Club could have coped this year without the full involvement of both churches - this wasn't about one congregation taking the lead, it was a joint effort at every level. And that is really exciting!'
Text and Photographs courtesy of Rev Adrian Dorrian