As well as being an incredibly encouraging week as far a our schools ministry is concerned it has also been a week of sadness and prayer as we heard during our time in Glenrothes of the ‘home-call’ of someone very special. Aunty Muriel is the older sister of my dad and 2nd of 5 siblings, a very lovely lady.

So today saw Andy and I heading up to Neatishead in Norfolk to meet up with the rest of the family to pay our respects and give thanks for a life well lived, a light in the darkness and a lady who has been a real legend and a true servant of the King.

In a little tiny Baptist church in the back of beyond we had the chance to get together, some of these cousins we sadly haven’t seen for years, but now drawn together in a love for this woman of God. She has been an amazing influence on many lives right up until her death, particularly loving her work with children and young people, giving her time money and energy to anyone that needed her attention.

But my real abiding memory of family moments with my aunty were those where she and best friend Mary had the whole young family; me and my cousins, over to hers for her famous Christmas parties:-) We loved it! Great fun games, moments of hilarity and real frivolity. They were lovely times and we remember and look back with fond memories.

This afternoon we headed over to Surrey Chapel in the city and had further opportunity to hear about her life and reminisce with the wider group of friends and family. My most vivid memories and ones that sister Angela and Mary shared, were of her as a ‘no-nonsense’ commandant or Commie as she was affectionately known, at Bible Camp each summer on the East Coast of Norfolk. She ran a tight ship and even though I was her niece there was no hint of favouritism but an expectation that I would be a good example as the daughter of a renowned speaker and preacher. 

To my shame I was a bit of a rebel but she was a lady that I looked up to and admired, teaching me  unswervingly what it was to be a follower of Jesus with a passion for the word but a love for life. Even through some of these rebellious years I continued to go to camp and would always commit my life afresh to Jesus as I heard of his love and power through her ministry and the preaching from those great bible teachers at the camp.

I remember one year as I took my GCEs, waiting for my results at camp and preparing to ring home to find out how I had done, really struggling as I was worrying about whether those grades would enable me to do the nursing I was so hoping to apply for, she shared a verse with me:

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

She encouraged me with this verse assuring me that my future, whatever it held, whatever it holds, is safe and secure in His hands, that He is my joy, that He is storing up those pleasures in eternity. Muriel can testify to this today! That as we mourn, she is enjoying those pleasures, that freedom which is waiting for us all as we step into eternity with Him!! She is more alive now than she has ever been, immersed in His presence and overwhelmed with His glory.

We love you Aunty Milaroo:-)

…this was the comment from the head teacher this afternoon as our week in Glenrothes concluded with an amazing final mini concert with the whole of these S1s! The students have obviously had a really enjoyable week and seemed to have gained a lot from their experience. We are certainly going to miss the kids, having spent so much time with them and although looking forward to getting home to our own beds, we will definitely remember this week and the team we have been working with.

It’s been a tiring and challenging week in many ways and Dave suddenly pointed out today, that we haven’t seen daylight since Sunday afternoon on our drive up here! Leaving the house at 7.25 every morning, performing all day in a darkened venue with artificial lighting and then heading over to the church for dinner each evening at 5 means that we miss the sunlight and the beauty of the Glenrothes scenery. But what has helped each day is the sight of these bizarre massive IRIS’s reaching high into the sky, bright and colourful but slightly strange sculptures it has to be said! Certainly creative and original; they offer a hint of the type of minds that we will encounter today as we challenge the kids to come up with some exciting ideas to present at the end of the day as a conclusion to ….The Apprentice!

The excitement was tangible this morning as the pupils arrived and the enthusiasm from last night’s gig, lingered on…I’m not just talking about the kids!! Everyone was in good spirits and looking forward to this the climax of the week. The morning started once again with a 50 minute assembly, setting the scene with Taste and Foolproof, songs and sketches linking in with the theme of Playing Your Part, a conclusion of all that we had presented throughout the week.

A short Q&A session headed up by Bruce and Gwyneth meant that the students had an opportunity to put the band and theatre company under the spotlight, asking any questions that crossed their mind. A couple that stood out were questions about the inspiration for the songs, the reason each member of the team had decided to ‘go on the road’ and the explanation for each of the names – Taste and Foolproof. It gave the opportunity for the band to share something of their own thoughts and their relationship with God. It was a good session and laid a foundation for the rest of the day, encouraging the students to get involved in the challenges.

And so the next 3 periods would be given over to the Apprentice and challenged each team of 5/6 to come up with a presentation to bring to a panel of judges at the end of the day. But there were various stages to go through. First a list of questions offered them the opportunity to win prizes / props / laptops / expertise from a member of Taste or Foolproof. This would aid them in producing a quality product in the final showdown!

The idea was that they would deliver a song / sketch / powerpoint / news report or something along those lines, that illustrated one thing they had learnt this week. After a few minutes each group had come up with an idea and were working hard to produce something that would catch the judges eye. Joe and Sarah were each allocated classrooms where they would be on hand to encourage and assist any group that needed help. Naomi and Dave were our ‘star prizes’ and were allocated to specific groups to offer expert help. It was a fun day with lots of ideas and many teams picking up on the Christian element to the week. The theme of Prejudice seemed to be the predominant thread and there were some thought provoking ideas coming through.

Sarah was just sharing how good it was to spend time with these smaller groups today and even had the opportunity to share her testimony with one team who just wanted to get to know her better. Naomi was particularly excited about one of the groups she was helping who had decided that they would not only write a sketch about prejudice, performing it once with the bullying element in it and then delivering it again with the characters behaving without prejudice. They then each went along the line sharing their own true story of the hurtful comments that they had received in their young lives, how it had effected them and how they had then dealt with it! It was a powerful delivery and one that went on to win a top prize of a day at Lendrick Muir Outdoor Activity Centre!!

Finally the last session was given over to Taste for a mini-concert and a final plug for Exchange the lunchtime club running at the school by Scripture Union along with local workers and churches. It was a brilliant end to a great week, and now we are driving home having packed up in pretty good time. Leaving the school at 5pm, a brief stop and an opportunity to meet Sarah’s lovely family for a wonderful curry in a flying visit to their holiday home in Whitbourne and then the long 8 hour stretch home. We’ll be doing the first drop off at 3.30 am, finally arriving home at around 4.30 and I’ll put this blog up when we come to in the morning:-)

Thanks so much for sticking with us, praying for us and supporting us and encouraging us with your comments. We’ll be in touch soon with more stories on the road…

Having a place that we can feel at home while we’re away is an incredibly important part of the whole experience, ensuring rest and recuperation after a long and busy day and revitalising tired bodies for each new day ahead. Many times over the years we have stayed with ‘strangers’ who have become lifelong friends and once again this week, as many times before we are privileged to be welcomed into homes of some very special people.

Last night Brian took us into the garage to share a moment with his pride and joy…a stunningly beautiful Harley…what a gorgeous sight and we were even allowed to sit on it!!! Two dead pheasants hanging on the wall was slightly disconcerting, though but another little nightcap and putting the world to rights and then we’re ready for bed…

A brand new day filled with opportunities to share Jesus and a final ‘push’ for the concert, hoping that many will come tonight. On this day we would be encouraging the young people to consider the wider world…we hoped that this would be a reality check, helping them to look outside their own situation, recognising that every one of us has a place and opportunities in this world to make a difference in the lives of people who are in a less fortunate position than ourselves.

The main focus of the day would be The Trading Game, a team based activity which would challenge the youngsters to consider the difficulty of balancing the worlds resources. With 100 students, divided into groups of 8 they are actually given very little information but have to work things out for themselves. They are instructed that the object of this game is to make as much money as possible in the given time.

Each group represents a country and is only allowed to use the equipment and materials they are given. In the envelope at the beginning of the game they discover their resources and equipment and then set to work making money by manufacturing and selling goods. These goods are ‘shapes’ which they will cut from the paper they have received and must be identical to the images shown on diagrams spread around the room which they use for reference. Each shape has its own value.

Players then take their products to the banker who checks them and credits their account. Any deviation in the size, accuracy or neatness of the shape will result in a reduced value and their income will be effected. The object is to manufacture as many shapes as possible – the more they make the wealthier they will be.

Eventually it becomes apparent that the resources have not been distributed evenly, that it’s all very unfair. For example the UK may have more equipment but fewer materials. India will have plenty of materials but only one or two pieces of equipment and so each team begins to realise that they can negotiate with other countries to loan equipment for the exchange of materials. It’s all very clever and trading is quite unscrupulous at times. There are many levels of teaching that can be drawn from the experience. Fantastic:-) The kids really seemed to engage and it was interesting to see the parallels that could be drawn from the world situation.

It’s been brilliant this week to see the team develop, growing new skills, getting alongside the kids and encouraging them to engage in the programme that’s happening around them. We were so excited this week to be able to perform two new songs, songs that the new guys wrote together with Andy just before Christmas. Both songs are going down really well, with a powerful message – Reach Out and There ia a Love…we’re hoping the album will be finished soon so that you can hear the new band:-)

After a busy day we had an hour to set up extra lights ready for the evening before heading off to the church for a lovely (but speedy) meal then we shot back to the school to sound check and do final preparations for the concert. A technical hitch with the lights was soon resolved after a phone call to Andy Keel who is always on the end of an iPhone ready to help when needed! We had getting on for 100 young people come along and enjoy the gig which featured Foolproof as well as Taste. There was a great atmosphere and an opportunity for them at the end to meet the leaders and find out more about Exchange, the Christian lunchtime club in Auchmuty High where those who have been intrigued and interested by the things we’ve said about Jesus this week can find out more…

We are having such a brilliant time this week with the young people from Glenrothes – (haven’t tried the scotch pie Ruth cos we’re getting so well fed!!) Our hosts are all so lovely, too. Last night we were invited to head over to the boys hosts for a cuppa – when we arrived we discovered a whole trolley load of cake, biscuits, crisps & tea!! Sarah Andy & I are staying with an English couple who made their home here years ago, we are being well and truly spoiled!! Andy has even been invited to share a ‘wee dram’ of finest malt with Brian, just before we head to bed each evening!! Maybe we could be persuaded to stay a bit longer:-)

This morning was another early start as we prepared for the day ahead, our heads full of three different presentations of which one we would be repeating 3 times during the day…so much to remember but with a powerful message to deliver, it has to be right! Our theme for the day was ‘Live Life to the Max’ and Taste was responsible (along with Foolproof Theatre) for introducing the theme to the whole year group in our first presentation period 1.

Using our songs and games we looked at how unique we are as human beings with Foolproof producing a brilliant sketch about what a person is made of and how much we are worth. We took this opportunity to follow this thought through in a fun way in the lessons that followed. We decided that if we took these basic elements of a human being we would be able to make a person. Mixing the ingredients together in a bowl we tried our Frankenstein experiment!! Water, a nail, salt, sugar, matches, pencils, a lime, soap and a spoonful of curry powder made an interesting mix but were unsuccessful in creating human life!

The team and class enjoyed this experiment which illustrated that life is more complex and precious than our physical components. Next Taste had the dubious pleasure of ‘kidnapping’ and holding for ransom an unsuspecting member of the class. Some of their classmates were unwilling to pay very much for their return but we established that someone who truly ‘cared’ would be willing to pay the highest price. Finally we talked about Jesus giving his life for us, giving everything because he loves us so much. It was a powerful lesson and an opportunity to illustrate the love of God without ‘preaching’ at them, but we still had one more lesson after lunch and a final presentation at the end of the day.

At lunchtime, once again we had a great crowd of youngsters, the ones who hadn’t headed off into town, these were the ones who really wanted to come and hang out with the band. One of the bands in the school also wanted an opportunity to show us what they could do and appeared out of the woodwork doing a little demo for us once lunchtime had finished:-) They were actually brilliant and it was a joy to see the talent within the older pupils in the school who clearly take their music very seriously!

The rest of the day went incredibly well with Youngsters getting involved and enjoying all the activities laid on for them. The team is gradually getting to know individuals and enjoying the opportunity to spend longer with the students than the usual fleeting acquaintances and we are hoping and praying that these relationships will encourage the kids to come tomorrow night:-)

Every time I upload a picture of the school we’ll be working in I think that for you, our faithful supporter, each one must look pretty much like the last. But this morning is different, for some reason I look at this picture of Auchmuty School and imagine the individuals sitting in those classrooms behind those windows, looking out on the world, every one with a story to tell, thoughts, personalities, hopes and dreams, experiences, doubts, hurts and passions. A complete mix and yet each known and loved by their Creator God. What an amazing opportunity we have, to help each one on their ‘Personal Search’ to consider the possibility that God exists and if that is true, is He interested in me? Can He actually make a difference in my life, and even change my situation! Yesterday’s programme would have given them an opportunity to look at the evidence for the existence of God and to look at who Jesus is and today we would be exploring the statement that Jesus made that He came to bring life to the max, so bring it on!!!!

So not quite such an early start this morning, pickups start at 7.25 so we need to be up at 5.30 to allow everyone a turn in the shower and breakfast. The team are excited about the potential for today and looking forward to lessons that are more familiar. It means that everyone in the band has an opportunity to deliver some of the material and to share about the way Jesus has influenced their lives and effected their choices and decisions.

But for the first session of the day, everyone was in together. 210 x 11-12 year olds all together for an hour. Bruce from Scripture Union and Fiona from Foolproof Theatre were leading this programme. Setting up the chairs around the hall instead of rows created a whole new feel for the morning. Students were in three rows facing the centre of the room with Bruce & Fiona presenting from the middle of the ’round’. It was a brilliant idea and had the attention of the kids from the moment they walked in (after the confusion of finding where to sit!) and created a whole new atmosphere. Looking at different philosophers and how they view life gave the young people loads to think about and consider before going into classrooms to unpack the theme in more detail. With drama from Foolproof and a song from Taste this session was completely interactive. Snippets from ‘Horton hears a Who’ and the new film Hugo augmented the whole theme.

Lunchtime today was a real answer to prayer as on Monday not many pupils had come to the hall to meet the team, and those informal times outside the class situation are so important in getting to know the young people better. Today we had about 100 come down which was really unusual as the hall and the area surrounding it is not a place where people hang out or even pass by much at lunchtime. However, the wider SU team had grabbed their lunch and gone out to the dining room and other corridors to try and encourage kids to come down to the hall to meet Taste and hear some music. It clearly worked and a great atmosphere built up as more came along and joined in with what was going on. After lunch we had another music lesson and then the final session with whole year group all together again in the hall to sum up the day using film clips, discussion, drama and music.

As well as presentations from stage we feel we are gradually building some relationships and getting alongside some of the young people too. Please pray that this continues and that many will decide in the next couple of days to come along to our evening concert on Thursday night where we’ll have the opportunity to share even more.

So we arrived safely at our destination – according to Jane on the Sat Nav!  St Margaret’s Church in East Glenrothes. Just slightly earlier than the 4pm we’d predicted but welcomed nevertheless by a bright & breezy Beth, welcoming us to her church on this crisp and frosty afternoon. Unloading was a challenge as night fell and the temperature was following suit. We only needed some of the gear for this gentle introduction to Taste and so digging out small cases from under the pile of baggage, speakers and other gear that we weren’t using was pretty time-consuming when we just wanted to get on and set up! We’d been invited to do 3 songs as part of the worship for these dear people who have been praying for the youth of Glenrothes and planning this week for two years! And we were looking forward to meeting these committed Christians of the area, worshipping and praying together!

Eventually we were ready, three acoustic guitars a djembe and 4 harmonies sounded superb, am I allowed to compliment my own team? We had been asked to sing ‘Be Thou my Vision’ as well as two from our own repertoire, so we included Give Thanks and Light of the World, with opportunities to share about our work, introduce the band members, pray and excite the congregation about the week.

Finally it was time to meet our hosts and head to different homes. Lovely people and beautiful homes to stay in but the briefest of conversations before bed and a very early morning!

What a shock to the system after our lovely Christmas break; this morning was our earliest start for a while getting up at 4.15 ready to pick up the team and be at Auchmuty High by 6.15. The reason for our early start was that our set up and sound check time currently stands at just under three hours but this week we’re working with Foolproof theatre company who also needed time to set up and rehearse. After some difficulty accessing the hall we eventually found the stage covered with chairs, music stands and equipment which after clearing and then unloading only allowed enough time to set up the basic sound and visual system, no lighting and blackout curtains.

Still the assembly went well, an hour with the S1 year group setting the scene for our week with them titled ‘It’s My Life’, today’s theme looking at ‘Who Am I?’ Then it was off to classrooms for them and setting up the lights and blackout for us. Some classes then came down to us for lessons on ‘Does God Exist?’ and ‘Looking at Life’ (an art based lesson which included the pupils designing a personal ‘logo’ that represented their own life). The day finished all together again and our friend Gordon Roy from SU summing things up with a brilliant activity getting the kids to identify with Jesus by choosing one of a series of images, then drawing a picture of themselves and placing it alongside the one of Jesus that meant the most to them. Not an easy task for an 11 or 12 year old but some good discussion in small (ish) groups. A crazy day but looking forward to a slightly later start and another opportunity to meet these lovely, lively young Scots and share a little bit more with them.

Hey folks, seems like such a long time since we’ve been in touch and an age since we’ve had to make such a long journey. The world looks very white this morning as we head out on our northward journey up to our second home, the beautiful land of the Scots, Glenrothes to be precise.

Leading worship tonight means arriving early to set up a minimum amount of equipment and with a journey of 460 miles to cover in a van that only travels at 56 mph the journey is a long one. So we took the opportunity to stay overnight in Grantham with our wonderful friends Dave & Les who offered to put us all up in their beautiful home in Grantham, breaking up our journey enough to enable us to take it slightly easier today.

Hitting the road promptly at 8.30 this morning, we head north with great anticipation. This Personal Search Week in Auchmuty High School will see us teaching alongside our friends from Scripture Union and a number of SU team members that we’ve had the privilege of working with over many years. We will also be joined by Foolproof theatre who will be delivering their own lessons as well as contributing to the introductory session everyday that we are putting together.

This is a particularly exciting week as the school has offered us the whole of S1 (year 7 in English money) 209 students for the whole week. The team, Headed up by Bruce Lockhart and Gwyneth Duff have been commissioned with delivering a variety of lessons that encourage the young people to take a journey, a voyage of discovery, to look at and discuss the existence of God, to consider where we come from and how we fit into this world. We will be looking at our purpose and meaning, where we get our value from, how we value others, how we treat them, and how we respond to the wider community and the needs around us.

It’s an action packed week and I’ll try to keep you up-to-date as each day unfolds! My new year’s resolution is to keep these blogs brief so they don’t take too long to read. Problem is that once I start writing I get so excited by what I see happening in front of me!! So we’d appreciate your prayers for us today especially leading worship tonight, meeting our hosts and settling into our new ‘home’ for the week, and a good nights sleep as we will be getting up st 4.30 in the morning!! School run begins at 5.30 with arrival in school at 6.15 to set up and be ready by 9am!!!

Hey folks:-)

Thank you for coming to this post today!! We’d love to ask you to stand with us and pray for us through this year. I will be putting up a prayer diary at the beginning of the month which will give you some idea of what Taste will be doing each day. If you are able to pray for us on a daily basis we would love you to. If you need to return to this post during the month to remind you what we are doing on a particular day you will find the post under the tab ‘prayer requests’. Thanks so much for taking the time to read it:-)

JANUARY 2012

1. BRAND NEW YEAR FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES. Please thank God for all those young people that he has lined up for us to meet over this year. That He will speak clearly through our ministry and that many will respond to His Boundless love!!!
2. Pray that this year’s team will take every opportunity offered to them to share Jesus with those that don’t know Him that He will equip them for all that they need to face the challenges that lie ahead.
3. The final day of our holiday. Please pray that we will be fully rested and prepared for all that the year holds and that those travelling back to ESSEX this day will have a safe journey. There is a particular opportunity coming up for a schools week in Thundersley. This will be a promotional week for an activities week we are putting on in our home church, Thundersley Congregational, during the half term holiday. Please pray that as Rich approaches the schools this week he will see much enthusiasm and that he’ll be able to book us in to one or two of the local High schools.
4. Preparations begin in earnest for our first schools week this year up in Glenrothes in Scotland. With new lesson plans to write and prepare please pray that we will be inspired and creative in all that we are able to produce in the next couple of days.
5. In Glenrothes school we have been given the whole of S1, that’s year 7 or 11-12 year olds!! We will be working with Scripture Union Scotland and they will be delivering lessons at the same time as us, with different groups. Over the week we will be taking the young people on a journey to discover who they are and where they fit in this world and to encourage them to think about the bigger picture and whether there is a God who has a plan and purpose for their lives. Based on our Check it Out discovery resource we pray that these lessons will really speak into the lives of the young people God has ordained that we will meet over the week.
6. Andy & Joy travel to Cambridge to meet up with XTasty Boy Bkid. Back in the UK to celebrate his 18^th Birthday and his mum’s 50^th and we are invited to revive last year’s Taste!! Bit scary! Pray that rehearsals go well and that old songs come to mind easily.
7. Performing with BKID in Cambridge, please pray that those who come to this ‘Birthday Party with a Difference’, will have lots of fun but hear the message through our songs. Please pray that old friends and the wider Kidby family will hear and respond to the gospel.
8. Please continue to pray particularly for David Scott our bass player who has a trapped nerve, which is giving significant pain in his leg. He needs the power of the Holy Spirit to bring healing. Please pray for him.
9. Leading Edge directors will gather today at the Ministry Centre in Basildon to share together about the event to think about opportunities for the future and consider the way forward. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as we look to the future and whether it is good AND right to pursue something similar in the future.
10. Trustees away day with the Leadership team. Starting the day with the Full Team gathering for breakfast we will then be meeting and praying together as we consider what the ministry could look like over this year. Please pray for Jon our new UK Director that as he presents the vision, and for the trustees (Peter King, Beth Powney, Corinne White and Pat Rae) as they make decisions and facilitate the team to deliver the ministry.
11. Taste will be back in the recording studio today following a good Christmas break. Please pray that they will quickly remember the songs and put down their individual parts with professionalism and care while enjoying the experience:-) That’s Joe on drums, Dave on Bass, Andy on Guitar, Sarah and Naomi on Voice and Acoustic Guitar.
12.  Taste continues to work on their songs in the studio, recording and perfecting their skills to make an album to offer to young fans. Please pray for patience and perseverance for the whole team as they encourage and support each other through what can be quite a stressful process, especially for Keel who engineers the sound and perfects the recording.
13. Final day of preparation for the week ahead in Glenrothes School. Please pray that the team will learn the content of the lessons quickly and be ready to share their love and relationship with Jesus with those that they meet.
14. Day of rest before heading to Scotland tomorrow. Please pray for health and strength that the team will make the most of this time to relax, pray and prepare for their week on the road.
15. Travel to Glenrothes in Scotland, 460 miles in a van that will go a maximum of 56 miles an hour!! Please pray for a good journey, safety on the road and patience as we travel in such a confined space. When we arrive we will be sharing with the host church about what will be going on in school. Please pray that they will get behind the week, pray for us and give us the support and encouragement that we need.
16. First day in Auchmuty High school, please pray for Taste as we arrive at 6 in the morning and that we will be set up quickly, efficiently, that everything will work and that we are ready to deliver our first presentation to the whole of year 7 who will then divide up into different groups led by different team members, those in Scripture Union and those in Taste. These young people will be given the opportunity to discover who they are and where they fit in this world. Please pray that they will each have a great experience and be ready to learn and hear what God has to say to them.
17. Day 2 in Auchmuty School this time looking at life choices. Please pray for Taste as they deliver their presentation on choices and consequences…It’s My Life. Again we will be encouraging the students to consider the possibility that there is a spiritual dimension to life which is very real and a God who we have chosen to live for. The team will be sharing about the way that this life choice has completely transformed the direction of their lives and that knowing God has made an amazing difference to each one of them. Pray for the team as they share their stories.
18. Day 3 in Auchmuty High School Please thank God for every one of the students we are seeing this week that as we share with them again and again during the week that they will discover more and more about God’s love for them and that barriers that they had about what Christians are like would be broken down so that they are ready to hear the gospel tomorrow night. Pray that the Holy Spirit would really be preparing their hearts.
19. Day 4 in Auchmuty High School. Please pray for health and strength for the team today. With a full day in school and then a concert in the evening it’s a long day but an exciting one. Please pray that many of the young people will come to the concert, hear the gospel and respond to all that God is saying to them.
20. Day 5 in Auchmuty High School. Please pray for those to whom God spoke at the concert last night that they will really sense the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives this morning and that many will accept the invitation to take the next step to discover Him. Please pray for the staff too, who are also being exposed to the teaching throughout the week. Please pray that they will have open minds and open hearts, that they too will hear what God wants to say to them! Please pray for our travel home, that as we travel through the night we will keep safe and have a good journey.
21. A day of sleep and rest for Taste. Please pray that each one will have a good chance to sleep and relax after an exhausting week and that they will have a chance to recoup spiritually, too.
22. Please pray for the mentors of our wonderful team. These are individuals who have agreed to spend time with them getting to know them and encourage them building them up and providing support and a listening ear when the team are back from tour. Please pray that these folk will speak into their lives with wisdom and spiritual insight to build them up and disciple them; for Megan, Ruth, Dave & Rich…amazing people each one of them!!
23. Taste have the opportunity to go into local schools to advertise a week they will be delivering at Thundersley Congregational Church. If this does materialise please pray for health and strength after such a tiring week in Scotland, that we will have lots of opportunity to reach many youngsters over the week, that they will be excited about the activities week ahead and lots will sign up for a brilliant week.
24. Much of Taste’s equipment is wearing out and in need of replacement. As we search for grants and look for funding please pray that God will provide, that he will inspire those who can have the resources to release what we need.
25. Please pray for God’s provision for our financial needs this month and as we look for supporters who would be willing to stand with us and offer to donate towards our ministry, thanking Him for answered prayer over many years of relying on Him to provide all that we need.
26. Thank God for all those opportunities that we have to work with different churches and organisations around the country. Please pray that as they approach, various schools in their area that doors will open and that those in authority will not create a hindrance but will generate enthusiasm for our visits.
27. There maybe some opportunity to do some more recording this week. Please pray that Taste would be inspired and motivated as they each record their part, that they would be protected from colds and flu as they attempt to record vocals and harmonies together.
28. Xoanna Lead Singer in Taste 2004-2005 (and Andy’s cousin:-)) has returned from Argentina for a few weeks to spend time with her family having spent the last few years setting up a band in her homeland who tour around the country, not so much in schools but with young people who don’t know Jesus yet. Her ministry has been incredibly effective in working especially with young girls who have eating disorders and identity issues. She is now married and currently studying so that she can be more of a support to girls in this situation. Please pray for us as we spend time with her, thinking about and praying through what the future may hold for her.
29. Please pray for the spiritual well-being of the team that as they take this weekend off that they will be fed spiritually and receive a real lift as they spend time in their host churches.
30. Please pray for Taste as they take some more time in the studio this week to finish recording that we will have the patience and concentration to make the most of this opportunity and pray for Keel as he produces and finalises the recording.
31. We have had many enquiries for schools weeks recently in particular working with friends in Diss. Please pray that as the local workers approach the schools about the possibilities that lie ahead, that those in leadership positions in the school would be keen to take the opportunities being offered to them.

Yes there are real people in there!!!!

…add 150 young people, a snow machine and fireworks and you have yourselves the perfect Christmas party, that is according to the wonderful Rich Keeler from our church at home – Thundersley Congregational – oh and of course a generous sprinkling of Taste throughout the evening!!! This is Radiate an event close to our hearts, happening every two months and something that we have been privileged to be involved in over the years.

It was particularly exciting for Joe who was back playing in his home church and at this event which had been a significant part of his teenage years. Performing at the Christmas party has become a bit of a tradition and we love it.

So the church is completely gutted and converted into a maze of activities. Each room has it’s own atmosphere and feel, providing a different type of activity for each youngster to experience. There is something for everyone, from air hockey to aquarium, from playstation to party games (that’s where leaping over a toilet roll on the end of a piece of string comes from), from salon to sumo and chill to chat there is something for absolutely everyone.

The whole point of this experience is to offer these young people an opportunity to get to know some of the people from the church, to discover a place where they can be themselves, have fun but discover that God loves them and wants to be involved in their lives, giving reason and purpose in their ‘being’. This being a Christmas party gave us the opportunity to share the real Christmas message, helping them to understand the truth behind the story of a God so in love with his creation that he entered into darkness to bring new life and the offer of a relationship with Him.

The band spent the evening milling around, playing games with the kids, asking them to share what they are most looking forward to this christmas and filming their responses to show as part of the concert section of the evening, leading into the gospel message.

The concert went really well with the young people engaged and responsive, dancing and joining in with songs they knew as well as the songs they didn’t. As a climax to the evening they were asked to sit and listen, having first watched the video footage of their expectations. Sarah shared a story of a Christmas where she was expecting a very special present form her parents, a bike that she had been hoping for and looking forward to. sadly for one reason or another she never received it and was left empty and disappointed. Andy used the story to illustrate the fact that often even when we do receive presents we have been anticipating with great excitement we soon lose our enthusiasm after a while and get bored, looking for the next thing to satisfy our lives.

At this point Andy talked about the darkness of this world and as he did, Rob lighting engineer for Radiate, magically dimmed all the lights, creating a complete blackness in the hall…and then, as Andy talked about Jesus entering this world to bring light into the dark, he switched on the mirror ball and tiny specks of light began to sprinkle around the whole hall touching each young person in the room as the ball circulated, illustrating beautifully the effect of Jesus coming into the world to bring light into the lives of anyone willing to accept him into their lives. It was a brilliant and beautiful picture causing many to respond and even though there wasn’t much time left lots of the youngsters went to chat to leaders, asking questions and receiving prayer with at least 3 or 4 deciding to follow Jesus that night and step into the light.

It was a great night and we look forward to doing more work with our church over the next few weeks and months. Thank you for your prayers for this special event, please continue to pray for those that became Christians and for those who had questions that this christmas will mean more to them than usual and that they will experience the reality of Jesus in their lives over the festive occasion. We hope that many of them will bring family to some of the events we are running over the next couple of weeks so we pray for even more fruit as the good news is expressed in different ways this Christmastime.

Today we are in Radcliffe with good friends and family, sharing together and remembering a very special lady Margaret Rothwell. Please pray for John and their family and friends as they give thanks today for this life well-lived and one that has influenced so many and been a light that has drawn people to Jesus. This is a very special family and we pray that God will be particularly close to them all right now, for John and Gareth, Sooz, Katy & Charlotte as they go on this roller coaster ride of emotions, remembering with fondness all the good times, laughing together one minute but then coping with the sadness of missing someone who means so much. We pray that the promise and hope of the future; that this is not the end but that they will see Margaret again one day, complete, whole and perfect and that will sustain them and bring them hope through those darkest times.

 Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.