HALESWORTH URC SUPPORTS BEACH MISSION
Scripture Union Beach Mission has taken place most years since 1901. A team of committed Christians from churches all over the country volunteer to spend their holiday helping others discover more about the Christian faith.
This year, for the first two weeks of the school holidays, a team of twelve adults from Halesworth United Reformed Church took a total of 40 youngsters, aged 5 to 18, from Halesworth and the surrounding villages. Special SU buses picked us up and delivered us to the Sports Pavilion by 10am. From there the young people joined groups according to their ages and went off with leaders to do crafts and other wacky things, play games and explore the Bible. Morning sessions were rounded off at the Beach Special Show – on the beach – grown-ups doing silly things with a serious message!
Our group then enjoyed a long lunch together – eating sandwiches and ice creams from the café and playing on the beach. We then walked them all back to the Sports Pavilion for 2.30 for their afternoon activities. – More fun, fellowship and friendship for the young people.
Meanwhile parents and other adults were invited for refreshments and Bible Studies. There were even special gatherings for parents with toddlers.
On several evenings there were Beach Parties and other activities.
The SU Beach Mission Statement aims to reach out to families who have no other Christian contact: “To present the Gospel message, share the love of Jesus Christ and model the Christian faith to families who live or holiday in the Southwold area”
The Beach Mission was amazingly well organised and delivered by a team of dedicated adults, well prepared with the Scripture Union teaching materials.
Our youngsters wished it could go on all summer – not sure the URC team of adults have the energy for that!
Find out more at www.subm.org.uk and maybe join us next year on August 6th on Southwold Beach.
The Beach Mission 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed myself at SUBM this year and it surprised me how many friends I made! I thought there would be no-one there that I knew but it turned out that Ella Canham and Paula Hales were there. Not only did I have fun and spend time at the beach, I learnt a lot. We were studying the book of John in the New Testament and I found out that Jesus did an amazing miracle when he brought back Lazarus from the dead; that was something I didn’t know! I learnt 2 Bible memory verses; Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me “ John 14:6 and "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- John 10:14 .
We spent an endless amount of time playing games, having ice-creams and getting to know each other. I have made a few really good friends and one that I have been meeting up with in the week. The Beach Mission taught me that there are Christians my age that come from all different backgrounds. I very much hope to go back next year and then I can do 2 weeks, instead of one!
