Offering What You Have
It goes without saying, that at SYLS we are deeply passionate about supporting and encouraging churches to engage with their local schools. Since we began in 2012, we’ve learned there’s no one size fits all approach to schools work, and over the years we have been inspired by the many creative ways churches across the country have done just that.
We know that it can be daunting knowing where to begin, and tempting to look at other examples of what churches are doing and think ‘we couldn’t do that’. But as we hear about the different ways churches are supporting their local schools, we're continually struck by the power of simply offering what you have.
We shared an example on our Facebook page from Davidson Mains Parish Church in Edinburgh, who had made use of their empty church car park to ease pollution and congestion at the school gates.
As part of their ‘Park and Stride’ project, there is now a dedicated area at the far end of the church car park where parents are invited to drop off their children or park to walk with them. They’ve even created a special path which allows parents and their children to walk through the church garden and down the lane, avoiding the busy roads.
It’s a great example of using the resources and assets already at our disposal, and it also shows what projects and ideas can emerge when we begin to speak and engage with other community partners, in this case the school PTA.
So much is built on relationships. And in the case of Dornoch Cathedral - all they had to do was say yes! They were approached by their local primary school to see if they would display Remembrance themed artwork and poetry created by Primary 6 pupils. The idea morphed into the creation of a beautiful art and poetry exhibition that was opened up to members of the public, creating a powerful space within the cathedral for people to gather and reflect.
Our church buildings are a fantastic asset for projects like this. They are also places place of interest for pupils to visit. At Fountainhall Church in Aberdeen, the local minister Tanya Webster put together an alphabet treasure hunt together. It's such a creative way to help pupils not only engage but feel comfortable in the sanctuary space. Hosting a church visit like this is a great way to help pupils discover how Christian communities demonstrate their beliefs through prayer, worship and special ceremonies.
There are so many ways that congregations can support their local school communities that doesn’t need extensive budgets or large volunteer numbers. How could you use the assets and spaces you do have to reach out and show God’s love?
