‘Toolbox’ is helping children and families get more involved in church life
The Church of Ireland Children’s Ministry Network http://www.cm.ireland.anglican.org has put together a ‘toolkit’ offering advice to those serving in this field of work.
The purpose of this instructive but challenging – and literal – ‘box of ideas’ is to stimulate discussion of the ‘welcome’ children and their families receive at church gatherings and to examine ways in which this might encourage or discourage active involvement in church life.
The initiative is entitled ‘Make Yourself at Home’ (MYAH) and the toolkit provides insights to children’s and family–life in your church and looks at how this might be improved.
Each toolkit contains a set of audit cards which look at four key areas, namely facilities, activities, services and people; a Top 21 Ideas booklet; a set of ‘try me’ cards; A3 posters; an envelope containing elements which can be photocopied (a letter, a children’s questionnaire and feedback forms); and coasters, balloons, pens and sweets.
Each Diocese in the Church of Ireland has been given several toolkits to pilot. Down and Dromore diocese is piloting three, with the boxes being used in rural and urban settings.
Normally the box would cost £60, but it’s free for pilot churches!
Question: how do you get involved?
Answer: get a group together from your church to look at the work you are doing and see where and how you can improve it.
Then complete a form offering ideas of what you plan to do and post to Church House, Dublin.
Six months hence, you will receive notification regarding how your progress.
In addition, you can send an email to MYAH at admin@cmn.ireland.anglican.org and they will get back to offer advice and support.
One of the pilot churches is Christ Church Carrowdore who spent an evening putting their team together and discussing how best they might use their toolkit.
Julie Currie, Children’s Officer the Down and Dromore Diocese, was invited to facilitate their meeting, assimilate the toolkit and help the team come up with four key areas where the church could start making a difference.
Over a three–week period Christ Church asked parishioners to answer a simple questionnaire on Children, Young People and Families. This provided very useful information and revealed possible areas of improvement.
They have wasted no time in starting to make changes; already they have updated a crèche room, much to the delight of parents and toddlers.
Endorsing their work the Rev. Colin Davis praised the wholly positive response from his congregation in volunteering to help.
He confirmed the support given by parishioners, saying: “Amy (Goudy) simply took it on and she got someone in church to paint the room and source the toys.
“Her husband Graeme and sister–in–law Lynne helped with the artwork on the walls.
“The MYAH toolbox – plus the help and encouragement Julie gave us – have seen us make a good start. It’s true that it is still in its early stages, but I think this will be very much an ‘ongoing’ project.”
If you would like to know more about the ‘Make Yourself at Home’ toolkit, email julie@downanddromore.org
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