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This past year saw the Searchers
continue to gather at St Andrews Church and the White Swan
PH for regular Christian fellowship. As in previous years I
am indebted to Kathie in allowing us to use the facilities
for Bible study, discussion, role-play, prayers and games.
As with church attendance some weeks saw a greater
attendance of teenagers especially in the first two terms
when there are no examination pressures.
It was the
first year without a Christmas production, partly to lack of
numbers in the Junior Church but we welcomed the respite as
we joined in on the Advent Evensong 2nd December
and instead of an Advent Outing we had our own ‘Eventeen
Advent Service’ on the 15th December with James
belting out favourite Advent and Christmas carols, followed
by activities in the hall and make-your-own-pizzas!
This year has
seen an increase of the Eventeen services which have proved
to be popular and guarantees a bigger attendance of
teenagers and occasionally by ex-Searchers back from
University. We have celebrated an end of School year service
last July; an Autumn service in October and a Candlemas
Eventeen (with many candles all a-glowing) so far with
Tristan Stone playing the organ. Having the service in the
choir stalls instils something of a special occasion for the
teenagers with perhaps a sense of the numinous.
After the
Advent Eventeen we turned the church into a cinema and
through the use of a laptop, speakers and eating a home-made
buffet we watched “The Nativity Story” film first released
in 2006 portraying a faithful rendition of the gospels. The
film was thoroughly enjoyed but boy was it cold that day! It
was a funny sight seeing all of us dressed up for an arctic
expedition while munching on mince pies.
The Easter
weekend always proves a busy time for Christians and it is
no different for the Searchers. On Good Friday twelve of us
met at 9.30am in the Church hall for a short Reflection
service of readings, poems and a gospel reading followed by
Hot Cross Buns.
On Easter
Monday the twelve went to Canterbury Cathedral to join with
several hundred teenagers from the south east of England on
a Youth Pilgrimage. Despite the heavy traffic we just made
the parade of banners and the service was in keeping with
the celebration of the Risen Christ!
A memorable and amusing address was given by Matt
Summerfield from Urban Saints (formerly known as Crusaders).
Also two dance sequences by ‘Eximo’ portraying the
crucifixion and resurrection was well received.
As some already
know we have collected the signatures of the Archbishop,
both bishops and the last Archdeacon on the back of the
banner and there was an eagerness to obtain the signature of
the new Archdeacon, however Mrs Watson had an almost
Christ-like ability and disappeared straight after the
service! Nevertheless, we met Rowan Williams who always
seems to have time for all the groups on these Easter Monday
services. After a well deserved raiding of the church funds
and a visit to the Golden Arches the Searchers returned home
physically and spiritually satisfied.
The Searchers
will continue from April onwards but under the leadership of
our ALM Victoria Suchak. After nearly eight years of leading
the Searchers it is time for me to move on and to allow for
new ideas to be infused into the next generation of Sunday
morning teenagers.
I would like to
thank many people for their support over the years in
particular Liz Cook, Maggie Rodd; and for their patience,
support and love - my wife Andrea and my children Sam &
Hannah.
My ministry
within our church will still continue with the Eventeen
Services for the foreseeable future and I hope that it may
eventually attract older members of the Zone to join and
participate in youth worship and activities. The next
Eventeen should be around Ascension Day.
Submitted for
the AGM
Servus Christi
Stefan Thomas
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