Introduction

Introduction

 ‘To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.’ Ecclesiastes 3.1

‘We don’t have time to relax! We’re too busy rejoicing !’ Marion Pritchard, age six, on hearing a radio broadcast telling people to relaxing Easter weekend’ It is one o’clock on a Saturday afternoon in October. The doors of the church are wide open, and a dozen children, some still in football kit from games that morning and some in Halloween costumes, are gathered around tables in the community space. Some of them mix bread dough, others cut out shields and helmets, decorating them with stars, streamers and glitter. A sign on this table quotes Romans 13.12 – ‘Let us therefore put aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.’ By the door there is a child-sized altar, with candles, a cross and a basket. Next to the basket are pieces of paper with hearts on them, and markers – children are invited to write on the pieces of paper the names of people or pets they have loved and who have died. The names will be sung later, as part of our worship together...