St Mary&St John's Church, California

Pathfinders

DIARY DATES
Saturday 22 November > Social evening at the Parish Centre with Patrick & Helen Mukholi
Saturday 29 November > Table Top Sale at the California Ratepayers Hall
Sunday 7 December > Christingle@11
Sunday 21 December > Carol Service 5pm at the Parish Centre
Wednesday 24 December > Crib Service 4pm > First Communion of Christmas 11:15pm
Thursday 25 December > Family Communion 10am
2009 Saturday 10 January > Epiphany party
Saturday 7 February > Barn Dance
Saturday 18 April > 2pm Parish Centre Spring Clean



Who can be a Pathfinder?	Any young person who is between 11 and 18.
Where and when do we meet for worship?	On Sunday mornings in our Church in Gorse Ride School at 9.45 a.m. (Yes, we know teenagers like their sleep, but they DO come!)The young people come straight into their discussion group, but join the main service just before communion. On the first Sunday in the month Pathfinders can join the normal eucharist or come to Alive@11 . Some do both.
Who leads the group?	At present we have three leaders, all CRB checked. We're not teenagers, but we are friendly!
How do Pathfinders help in Church?	Many come to the Alive@11 service in a helping capacity, running the crèche mat and operating the OHP or a computer assisted presentation. They also serve regularly, assisting the celebrant in the communion service.
Other worship opportunites?	A number of Pathfinders regularly attend the Eternity youth service at Warfield, near Bracknell getting there under their own (or parental) steam.
Are there other events for Pathfinders?	Yes. External trips and other activities are organised on a termly basis. We try to programme things the people enjoy, so have been bowling and Lazerquesting in the past, in addition to ice skating and swimming. Our recent trip to Thorpe Park was an interesting though somewhat damp experience. It will definitely be repeated.
What about other Christian events?	This year's Diocesan Yellow Braces Youth Camp was a great success and our Pathfinders had a wow of a weekend. Check out the pictures from last year. In addition a number of our young people took part in Pray 25, a day when we celebrated 25 years of St.Mary and St.John's Church.
Do Pathfinders help with charity fundraising and community events?	Yes! We have an enthusiastic (mixed!) group who prepare the Harvest Supper flowers, others have helped at school fairs and and made and sold cards. But this summer's event has to have been the Great Lemonade Sale. Take four teenagers, twenty four lemons, some sugar and water and buy a goat with the proceeds. As it turned out the lemonade was for sale in the middle of the heatwave (and people were generous) so the final tally was something like two goats and some chickens. A fantastic result everyone.
What social events are coming up?	Our Patronal Festival BBQ on 17th September is the first post summer holiday event. A chance to beat the Bishop of Reading at family cricket and celebrate twenty-five years of our church here in California.
What else?	We hope to move our young people forward on their Christian journey by a combination of discussions based on the Roots teaching material, plus a charitable/social programme which includes fellowship activities they enjoy. The group is small but very friendly. Join us!