Pakenham Benefice used their growth fund grant to provide craft bags to children across the benefice at Christmas and Easter. The bags were well received - with children and parents saying how much they appreciated them and looked forward to using them. The bags also included invitations to the benefice’s festival services.
The personal delivery of the gifts were a key part of the project as it gave the opportunity to renew contacts with some families, personally express the invitation to services and catch up with what is happening in their family. Each bag was also personally addressed and tailored to the age of the child.
Some of the children attend Norton CEVC Primary school but the project is proving to be a useful way of keeping in contact with those children who are not yet school age and those who go to other schools.
The bags are prepared and distributed during the week before each festival by the Family@Church team. Family@Church is a benefice service and the team represents different parishes working together.
Personal delivery resulted in good conversations at Christmas and Easter - being invited in for a cuppa at Christmas and several great conversations on doorsteps at Easter with baptism families. Both resulted in good attendance at Crib services, Christmas day services and Easter Garden service on Good Friday and Easter Day Family@Church.
Easter introduced the church to a new baby and a further 2 people informed the church that they were expecting! The family with a new baby indicated they would get in contact to arrange a baptism.
In several families older brothers and sisters who received bags in the past are now helping the younger ones to do the crafts and activities, showing how exploring/telling the story in this way is becoming part of their regular practice.
It is hoped to continue this project as it is so valuable in keeping in touch with families. It lends itself naturally to baptism follow-up, it invites families to church festival services and encourages them to celebrate and learn about the festivals in their own home alongside their children. Parents and children love it and look forward to it.
