R U ready to go Live@6 in Wheatley?

‘What can we do for the young people in and around Wheatley?’ was a question raised at a staff meeting early last summer.
 
The benefice of Wheatley consists of 12 parishes, from Horton-cum-Studley all the way over to Horspath. The A40 creates something of a divide, so it was agreed that whatever project we started, it would be a good idea to have something from which the young people of all the  villages could benefit, thus fostering a greater sense of ‘team spirit’. 

Live@6 was the answer, and it has been running now since October, on the second Sunday of each month at 6pm for around two hours.

Our age range is roughly 10-15 year-olds, and we have a mix of young people coming along, sometimes bringing friends from further afield.

Our format is usually: Arrival and games to get to know each other better; welcome and an introduction to the evening’s theme (which we try and align with the church year); a talk; then discussion in small groups, sometimes with a craft activity; singing (with the young people helping to lead with instruments); followed by prayer-time which is often interactive; more singing!

Finally, we serve refreshments – hot chocolate and Krispy Kreme donuts (they do a special deal for us!) which go down extremely well.  Then, in the 15 minutes or so remaining the young people hang out, run about and play ‘Twister’ (not all at once!). 
We have a regular team of helpers who meet to plan the evenings. Publicity is key too, but we have found that it is the young people themselves who spread the word: ‘R U ready to go Live@?’

It seems that the answer so far has been ‘absolutely’!

The Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley is Assistant Curate, St. Mary’s, Wheatley.