Wessex Synod

Paddington's Pilgrimage Nov 2017 to March 2019

Paddington's Pilgrimage Nov 2017 to March 2019

Hello, my name is Paddington and I have come to visit you for a week as part of my pilgrimage around the Wessex Synod.

I would like to get to know as much about your church as possible and to meet as many people as I can before I have to move on to the next church. I would also like to ask you two questions and encourage you to discuss in your church as you explore your response. 1. How are you welcoming and encouraging the youth

in and around your church?

2. How do you encourage them to walk the path of discipleship, to grow and spread Gods word?

I have my travel journal with me so please feel free to have a look through it to see what my friends in other churches have written; and don't forget to write in it yourselves before I leave you.

Here are some ideas for my time with you... I am an adventurous bear who would like to visit every group and every activity that takes place in your church (camps, business meetings, Sunday and mid-week services and meetings). I'm here to meet people of all ages not just children and youth. ‘Paws with Paddington’ - Take some time to explore the two questions I bring with me. Updates: add photos and stories of our time together onto our facebook page: urcwessex.childrenandyouth My Aunt Lucy still lives in Peru and will be watching my adventures online! Be creative: Why not hold a marmalade party or just swap your refreshments for marmalade goodies, or how about a teddy bears picnic so I can meet all your furry friends. Offer a welcome : I would be more than happy to be welcomed formally into your groups, become a Scout or a member of the Girls Brigade, learn to knit with the ‘knit and natters’ or use my talents in the choir. Opportunities: I would love to join in any outreach work your church do such as schools work, network meetings, detached work and holiday clubs.

Here are some links to other online resources: Pinterest: Lots of creative ideas around Paddington https://www.pinterest.co.uk/search/pins/?q=paddington&rs=typed&term_meta[]=paddington%7Ctyped My own Website: www.paddington.com/gb Here is a note from my friends the CYDOs...

Thank you for caring for our bear and welcoming him into your church for a week. He comes to you from the Wessex Synod Youth Executive who wanted to do something to celebrate the Assembly Youth Theme for 2018 which is ‘Pilgrimages’.

It also comes at a time when the URC are encouraging our churches to consider how we are ‘Walking the Way’ of Jesus.

We hope you enjoy his company and that he encourages your church to consider how you welcome strangers, whether they are children, families, the elderly, or bears...

If you Personalise Paddington in any way, such as making him a scarf in winter or dressing him for the beach visit with your group, please ensure that he is dressed in his formal, recognisable travel clothes before placing him back in the travel box.

When his time with you has finished (Up to 7 days) please use the Check list in the box to ensure you have remembered everything before helping him to take his next steps walking the way in the synod.