Thanks to Matt Beckett, Children Youth and Families Adviser for writing this article about the recent Clergy family day.
What do you think of when you hear the word rest? It might not be dangling 20ft in the air by a harness! And yet this was one of the many activities, that made a wonderful day of rest for some of our clergy and church workers and their families. The remarkable (and often very patient) instructors led the families through a range of exciting, and occasionally competitive, activities including climbing, canoeing, archery, and wildfire cooking, with plenty of time to pause and play in between. Judging by the hunger levels of my children on the way home, it was time well spent!
For many of those who work in our churches the expectation that weekends are often fragmented for the sake of mission and ministry is a given, but what the Children, Youth and Family team’s family day recognises is that the impact of ministry is felt by more than just our church leaders. Spouses and children are often part of the team or, in my case, get used to losing daddy for significant portions of multiple weekends in the month. But at the magnificent Horstead Center, bathed in the glorious sunshine, this weekend multiple church families were blessed! Blessed by the team who served them. Blessed by laughter and friendship. Blessed by the time to just rest with their family.
As we canoed down the Bure, we reflected on a day filled with memories, filled with joy, and filled with God’s presence. We are so thankful for the roles we get to play in the local church, and we are so thankful that there is a space to celebrate the commitment our families make to the same cause. A heartfelt thank you to all who enabled this precious moment for our family.
