We are so blessed to be able to engage with our schools on 3 levels: whole school, small group interventions and one-to-one work. Today was a busy day including all 3!

First thing I met Joy at Wellesley to visit their morning assembly and lead collective worship. This term it’s a messy story with some interesting props!

It’s the first day of Lent so I began by asking about yesterday’s pancake toppings and why we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. Some child volunteers helped to tell the story with a glass bowl of clean water which gets filled with the pollution of greed and unkindness (coloured water and coffee grounds!) to represent our beautiful world which has been messed up. We thought about how we feel when something we have made gets messed up and we wondered how God feels about the world He made. Then we read John 3:16, God loved the world so much that He sent His Son. A Playmobil man was symbolically plunged into the messy bowl.

We raised the roof with a very lively rendition of Rend Collective’s You Will Never Run, with actions. An invigorating start to the day!

Prayer is at the center of all Regenerate does. Today I was able to meet with Ruth a team member and community worker to pray for our schools and our work.

Then I just had time to gather my craft materials and resources from the office before it was time to meet Ian at Raysfield for Crafty Club. Our small group of KS1 children enjoyed wearing the name badges they decorated the week before. We learnt 2 new games and talked about the rules and whether they were important.

When lunchtime is over I just have a short walk to the KS2 building to set up for an afternoon of mentoring. I spend 20-30 minutes with each child, they choose the games or art materials they would like to use. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we quietly enjoy the activity. It is peaceful and
precious.