Saying Farewell and Thank You to Maureen
On Sunday 9th January we said goodbye and thank you to our super Children and Youth Worker, Maureen Smith, who has been in the role for 3 years (almost to the day). We are very grateful for all she has done, especially during lockdown when she led Junior Church online in the most creative way. And then when children and families were back in church devised ‘Bubble Church’ which enabled family groups to worship in their different bubbles and meet with their friends. A snapshot of some of her projects is on a board, currently at the back of church (see photo below). Particular highlights that I remember – during Cop26 each of the groups of young people created posters with their take on the climate challenges, which were challenges to all of us, and during successive Black History Month she encouraged the young people (and the wider congregation) to understand its importance and significance.
She prepared successive groups for their first communion and a testimony to her influence were the moving testimonies from the communicants.
We were able to say thank you with a Cakes and Fizz Party. A big thank you to all who contributed cakes with a special mention to Lucy Dennett who created the centrepiece (see photo below) with the words in gold on the top “Thank you Maureen – we love you”.
Jane Padkin and her daughter Eve did the lovely flowers and Ellie Lupa made a beautiful card with a clever drawing of the church for people’s messages to go into. There was a collection for a gift and we are looking forward to finding out what Maureen is going to buy.
Maureen thank you very much for all that you did for us. We will miss you very much.
