Just Thinking…

This new job is quite strange. The lack of set working hours, which I love, is hard to get used to. I think it is hard for the people around me too, they see all my time as free when its not at all. I think that I will settle into the strange hours and lack of afternoons soon enough.

I am quite enjoying what I am doing so far. School is about to start and I am optimistic about this year for our programs. I am a little concerned about scripture, we dont seem to have anyone who wants to teach! I am planning to teach some High School scripture this year, I deal with high schoolers better I think and it will be good for our Youth Groups.

Apart from changing the Kid Zone (Sunday School) model over, I see most of the childrens stuff as things for me to maintain. They dont need heaps of work from me to grow them. The high school stuff on the other hand needs extra effort to grow it. We only have 3 people in years 7 – 10, that needs some work.

Alastair has volunteered to lead a weekly bible study on a different week for whoever wants to come. I think its great. We do devotions at youth group, but we dont really have anything for the people who want to deepen and grow their faith. It has so much potential.

We are also changing the way we do youth group. We are splitting the night into thirds, first third as a big group doing a combined activity, middle third in year groups doing devotions and getting to know each other better, the last third some unstructured hang out time where they can just enjoy being in the community. I have started to do some reading on youth group theory and I think I have a lot more to read, I think this kind of structure brings a good balance between fun and learning whilst building and maintaining relationships.

I had been thinking about not doing Uni this year, but I have changed my mind. Now that it relates to my work as well I think its worth me doing. I dont feel as overloaded as I did last year so I think if I take it slowly I can keep studying.