What a pleasure it is to do All Age Worship at St John's. There is a great group of children who are so willing to take part in worship activities. 

Many of us can remember our childhood days at church. Mine began at Coventry Cathedral. At the front is an enormous tapestry of Christ, by whose ankle is the: image of a six foot high man. So from my early years I knew my God is a great big God! 

After my family moved to Wilmslow, Cheshire, we attended church at St Chads Church of England church, Handforth. I well remember Sunday School times with Mrs Cropper (who told me to "Be quiet and let other children have ill go at answering questions. !) and Mr Kendrew (who never had notes and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Bible). In the Youth Group, John and Margaret led us each week and bravely took us away camping in Abersoch and to Capemwray Hall in the Lake District. Sometimes I must admit it was more my crush on different girls in the group that kept me going to church than my spiritual quest! It was at Capemwray Hall on Easter Sunday 1970, I made my decision to follow Christ as my Saviour. 

I became a Sunday School teacher in my teens and I have continued since then to enjoy sharing my faith and teaching young people about Jesus. In Pickering I was part of a team of Crusader (Urban Saints) leaders and I helped to take our group camping. It was always a joy to see young people coming to faith. Only God knows if I would have become a Minister in Bury St Edmunds Circuit if it had not been for the Christian dedication of those who taught me at church in my childhood. I am so grateful to them for their part in my spiritual and social education. 

The Bible makes plain the need to educate our youngsters ( Deut 6:7, 11:19) and consider the importance Jesus gave to children: "Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19: 13, 14) 

At St John's, Alex Badrick is leading a group of children but he is off to University this summer. There is a need for a team of adults to give a new look to the Spark Club. You never know, one of those children might become your minister in a few years time! If you feel God is calling you to help with St John's children and young people please give me a call (01787 372738). If you would just like to talk about it I'd be pleased to discuss it with you.

Let's thank God for all those people who have influenced us to become followers of Christ. Let's keep on learning about Him in our daily discipleship too.