Junior Church at West Orchard URC
We have a vibrant and lively Junior Church Department at West Orchard which is run by a team of committed and dedicated leaders. We have over forty children who come along to Church week by week to learn more about what Christian faith is all about. Junior Church meets at 10.30am every Sunday morning and the children stay in for the first part of worship and then go into their departments.
At present we operate three sections Creche (0-4yrs) Primary (4-11yrs) and Seniors/Young People’s Fellowship (11-18yrs). When we are able, we split the older children’s group in order to focus the older young people on their individual journey of faith. We also offer a Youth Group, which meets fortnightly on Sunday evening at the home of one of our leaders, where the children have an opportunity to meet together and enjoy food, fellowship and discussion.
When our young people go off to University, the Church family maintains strong links with them and they always return to worship and help out at various special occasions during the Church calendar during the year. Many of your young people feel ready by the age of sixteen or younger to make a commitment to following Jesus after careful discussion and preparation by our Minister and Junior Church leaders.
Throughout the year we offer many events in which the children and young people can get involved which include:
Light Party – we offer this as a Christian alternative to Halloween on or near to 31st October. The Minister, Elders and Junior Church team all feel that it is better to encourage the children to focus on the light that Jesus brings into our lives rather than darkness. We were encouraged to offer this alternative when we discovered that many of our children had been frightened and alarmed by the gruesome displays and goods on sale around Halloween time. This proves a very popular event each year and we enjoy traditional games such as apple bobbing, parachute games and ‘catch the doughnut’!
Nativity Service – every year all the young people and children are involved in enacting the Nativity story for our congregation. Each year this service enables the congregation to focus on the ‘true’ meaning of Christmas and also singing many traditional Christmas Carols.
Junior Church Parties – when the busy period of Christmas is over, we celebrate the New Year by staging parties for all our children and young people. Whilst the younger children meet in the afternoon for food and fun the older children get together in the evening and share great fun with quizzes, lots of food and games. A great time is had by all!
Youth Week – for many years now the older children (11yr upwards) are invited to join in Youth Week which in the past has involved residential stays with fun days out and canal trips where they have spent 4 days on board a canal boat. This is a great opportunity for the young people and their adult leaders to get to know one another better whilst also having a fun time.
As well as enjoying lots of fun together we also carry out many fundraising events during the course of the year. We also support the New Beginnings Orphanage in Albania, where children are given a safe home with Christian love.
The aim of the Junior Church team is to enable every child and young person who comes along to West Orchard not only to learn more about the stories in the Bible but also to come to an understanding that each and every one of them is very special to God.
Our doors are always open to newcomers – so do come and visit!