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Parley First School Visit to St Marks Church

On Friday, 11 June Year 2 from Parley First School, accompanied by their teachers, Mrs Bristow and Miss Tribe, and several helpers, made their annual visit to our Church. They were welcomed by the Rector, together with Mavis Brookes, Ralph Hebditch, Marilyn Bettell, Frank Sizer and Frances Lane, whom Charles introduced as our Youth Group!! The children, as usual, were beautifully behaved and took a great interest in everything around them.

Charles started the morning by telling the children a little of what goes on in the Church before we all joined them in singing Hymn 887 'Thank you for this new day'. The youngsters were then asked what gifts they thought God had given them and gave intelligent answers such as life, food, homes, brothers and sisters. Charles then read the story of the five loaves and two fishes (John 6) and told them how he gives a homily each week based on the bible reading. He then went on to explain the services in a little more detail, including the Eucharist, the seasons in church and the vestments, etc.
The children then split into groups and were given work sheets asking them to find and draw the lectern, font, altar, candles, crosses, etc. The organ fascinated many of them and Ralph had a large crowd around him asking questions.
Once the visitors were settled in their seats again we proceeded to the highlights of the morning. Firstly we baptised Betsy, the teddy bear, who received an additional name on this occasion of Lucy. Eden and Luke acted as the parents with Charlotte, Maria and Stephen as godparents. Charles explained the significance of the baptism service and answered their questions.
We then witnessed a 'wedding' with the bride, Jamie-Lee and groom, Lucas, attended by the bride's father, Sam, best man, Thomas, and three bridesmaids, Lucy, Gloria and Lili. The service was accompanied by suitable organ music and they took the whole service quite seriously, following Charles' instructions, looking suitably radiantly happy and speaking the responses very clearly

The morning ended with a question and answer session when Charles was asked whether it is hard working in church and how old they had to be to be married. We thoroughly enjoyed our morning and hope these six year olds gained from their experience. It would be lovely to see some of them again at our weekly services.