The
Searchers have had a brilliant year with between 8 – 17 teenagers
turning up on Sundays at the White Swan PH. We are extremely grateful
for the use of the pub and its facilities with Kathy occasionally
spoiling them with a bowl of sweets – temptation aside they are dished
out after our Bible Study! With the Summer Term approaching we will soon
be awaiting the next Year 6 intake and perhaps some from The Zone.
By popular
choice the Searchers Outing took us again to Planet Laser where with
efficient team work we were the top team. My thanks as ever to Maggie
Rodd (who I suspect is hooked on it) and Katie Brooks’ Dad in assisting
with supervision and transport. After a brief Christmas shop we met at
the Golden Arches for our evening meal. I would like to thank St Andrews
Church in helping to pay towards the outing and to our treasurer Liz
Cook for her support. Also, many thanks to the Web Meister Andy Frazer
for our continual updates.
The
Christmas production on the 4th Sunday of Advent was
different to previous years and reflected a more serious and solemn
style. With Searchers either side of the Church holding candles in the
darkness they recited extracts from “On the Morning of Christ’s
Nativity” by John Milton; the opening chapter of John’s Gospel and an
ancient Christmas Vesper. The Searchers read purposefully and captured
the sacredness of Advent.
This year
the Searchers enjoyed contributing to the Voyagers Soiree with Emily’s
stunning dance routines combined with prophetic humour by Sam and Ben’s
dialogue of Elijah and his mechanic Dave.
Katie B did
extremely well in entering a competition at St Georges School where she
had to write about what the Searchers did within the community and won
£50 for an Outing. The Searchers have agreed to let the interest grow
and use it towards the next Advent Outing which hopefully will be to the
Ice Rink at Gillingham.
With the
Lent season upon us, the Searchers attended a “Why I am a Christian”
service with the sermon given by Anne Widdecombe MP, and we are now
planning for Easter in attending services during Holy Week – including
Good Friday Meditation and the Easter Monday Youth Pilgrimage @
Canterbury Cathedral.
As with last
year we are blessed to have a large group of Christian teenagers within
our community for they are the Church of tomorrow in ever increasing
secular age.
Submitted
for the AGM
Yours in Christ
S.Thomas
“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set
an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith
and in purity.” [1. Timothy 4:12]
