my life and youth work…
I just found this article about a high school student who stripped naked, smeared himself with oil and ran amok in the school’s canteen.
He was eventually ‘tasered’ and arrested for his trouble, but what cracked me up was his explanation to the police: “It just seemed like a good idea at the time.”
I forgot to link to Marko’s post about the top 10 most influential Youth Ministry books when he posted it a couple of weeks ago (so here it is now). Many books I’ve picked up recently have come as recommendations from other bloggers, so it’s well worth checking out the list on his blog including the comments below to find new resources that may stretch your thinking.
For those of us who can’t live without a daily dose of caffeine or music, there may be some good news coming up. The current speculation is that you could soon walk into Starbucks, buy a caramel macchiato and download the latest U2 release onto your iPod. Full rumor-mongering here.
Update: On a similar note, I’ve just read an interesting article about the “Death of DRM” (Digital Rights Management) and how record labels are looking to standard MP3 files as the future of downloading music. For more on DRM, try defectivebydesign.org
Today The WIRE (where I work) released a statement about its intent to close the project at Easter. It would take too long to explain how and why, but for more info on what The WIRE has been doing in Littlehampton for 10 years Click Here (pdf file. Get Adobe reader).
As from 31st March 2007, The WIRE will be closing its doors and shutting down all of our current activities.
Over the past ten years The WIRE has launched a huge number of activities and initiatives for children, young people and families in the local area. As a team we count it a real privilege to have been with you all on this journey to make a difference in this community. On that journey we have had much to celebrate, we have had some incredible times, with a lot of laughter and fun but also some tough times that we have shared together.
We have achieved much recognition for our creative work including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award and the British Urban Regeneration Association award for community regeneration. Through successful partnership working with schools, health and local government among
others, many of our aims are now being met within the community. So in 2007 it is time to reassess, focus and start to dream new dreams.Although The WIRE as we know it will no longer exist, there are plans currently in preparation for something new that will continue in the spirit of The WIRE and develop more of a specialist service. We believe passionately in the community and are excited about the future.
We have known about these changes for a while and on the whole they are a positive thing reflecting the great developments that have happened in our community, yet I was still quite nervous about emailing this news to the contacts in my mailbox. For most of the afternoon I’ve been getting varied responses ranging from disbelief to support and solidarity. Here are a few:
it’s been clear to me that The WIRE has been doing a terrific work. It seems wrong and unfair that lack of funding should force such a good work to be unable to function
Wow what an end to an era. But as you say the start of a fresh beginning!
The team have been doing so much good work over there for so many years I think its crazy that no funding has been found to continue work that has been so successful. I am sure that the WIRE phase 2 will be just as successful and be strong for another 10 years!
you guys have prepared the ground and foundations for a really exciting future for that whole community
I was a little bit shocked about the message, because I am still very proud of [my time with] the Wire Project
Sounds like some very brave and bold decisions have been made to me. It’s always so tempting to perpetuate good things even when ending them could bring about something better.
Currently, I am very excited about the future. My employment is secure (although not defined). There are many opportunities within the local area for youthwork and community development so it will be interesting to see what sort of plant this new WIRE seed will grow into. With only two months until we close, there’s a lot of work to do in communicating these changes to the general public and answering their questions. That will probably be the most painful part as there are many, many families who will be impacted by our departure. Prayer would be appreciated!
I have a volunteer called Fran who does a fantastic job of helping out with some of our activities. She is always willing, helpful and enthusiastic. Today she was wearing a knitted jumper with a picture of an owl on the front which could only be described as a “Splendid Sweater” (see Joe Fisher).
One of the teenagers went up to her in all seriousness and said “I like your jumper, it reminds me of hooters!”
I’m assuming he was referring to the noise an owl makes, but Fran was a bit concerned…
Why is it that sometimes, simple tasks become such a burden that you find yourself doing anything else except what you need to? I usually find writing assignments, tidying the house, or doing the banking fall into this category. Right now I need to finish the 11-14’s teaching notes for Spring Harvest. They were due in last week. It’s not that they’re difficult or taxing, I just seem to keep drifting off. Still, there’s always tomorrow…
This afternoon, when out for a walk in the countryside with 5 teenage boys, we wandered onto land that was not part of the public footpath. We were challenged by a lady shouting from the upstairs window of her house, who then gave us directions back to the path. It was getting quite dark and the light was on in the house, so the woman was silhouetted in the window. All I could tell was that she had blonde hair and was probably in her thirties.
As we walked back towards the van, the conversation revolved around that brief encounter with the lady in the window, with each of the lads added their own thoughts and interpretations of what she had been like. By the time we were all safely on our way home, everyone had agreed that the lady had been around 16 years old (the same age as them), incredibly attractive and had somehow in that brief conversation suggested that she might be both single and available!
It’s amazing how experience can be changed and adapted retrospectively in groups!
A randomly funny YouTube video.
Thanks to ysmarko
No, not the name of a new C of E Greatest Hits compilation album! Yesterday I had the privilege of leading worship at church which I really enjoyed and think went pretty well. I have a habit of using different people in the band line-up (because I was given a few chances when I was younger and want to return the favour) and I try to involve young people as much as possible. Anna, Lucy and Dave did an amazing job yesterday and they’re all under 16.
After the service a few people came up and said they had enjoyed the worship, but this morning my 10 year old friend Tommy asked if he could join the worship band next time as he’d loved it and wants to worship like that too! High praise indeed!
Kitchen disaster
Originally uploaded by bobweasel.
This is how my kitchen looked at 3pm today. When we decided to buy a new kitchen I should have really thought about how much effort these things take…
In order to put in the kitchen, I first have to put the new floor down but I can’t do that until the walls are rendered, which I can’t do till the wiring is finished which I can’t do till I fit the new spotlights. AND I couldn’t do the spotights until I took down the original ceiling, rewired and put the plasterboard up!
So far I’ve only managed to rip the old ceiling down. It’s been there for 80 years and accumulated a lot of interesting articles like spare pipes, tools, clothing, dust, rat droppings (don’t even get me started on the dead rat smell under the house), toys, electric cables, etc, etc. Needless to say it’s a long and dirty process.
Still, I should have the new ceiling and lights up by Monday!
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