From 28th – 30th August, we hosted our annual St Mary’s Holiday Club!

This is a summer holiday club for children who are in primary school, which takes place over three days. The aim of Holiday Club is:

  • To teach children the good news of Jesus Christ
  • To invite non-church families to the club and to church, to hear the gospel for themselves
  • To serve together as church family and grow in our love for the Lord Jesus and His people

Our theme this year was ‘A Bug’s Life’. The church site was transformed into a Bug Hotel, with a giant toadstool at the front of the church building.

Through talks and Bible studies, we thought about how BIG God is, and how small we are compared to Him, but how big His love is for us. He loves us so much that He sent the Lord Jesus down to Earth, to become one of us, to live a perfect life and to die for us so that we may have eternal life with Him.

Our memory verse of the week was:

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” (Isaiah 40:28)

It was a joy to hear kids and adults alike chanting this verse around the site, joining in together with the fun games and craft, and sitting around God’s word, learning together more about Him.

The children were put into one of 11 groups, including:

  • Butterflies
  • Bumblebees
  • Dragonflies
  • Mosquitos
  • Centipedes
  • Grasshoppers
  • Snails
  • Wasps
  • Scorpions
  • Ladybugs
  • Caterpillars

Alison Bird, who led the Snails team, writes below what her experience of Holiday Club was:

“I have always enjoyed helping at Holiday Club every summer and this year was no exception. The theme was “A Bug’s Life” and I was group leader for the Snails. I had eight little ones mostly aged five. It was such a privilege to work with them each morning, leading them through the various activities – games, crafts and Bible study – as well as sharing with them in the Bug Hotel (main church) presentations that topped and tailed each day. One non-church child arrived wanting Mummy and not wanting to join in but before the morning was out she was happily ensconced in all the activities. I love the openness of young children to God and His word. They are like sponges soaking it all up. We are so blessed in Britain to have the freedom to teach them openly in this way.

Another real joy of the club was getting to know my helpers – Lee Adams, Charlotte Holmes and Catherine Atallah – who were all amazing. It is through serving together that we really build relationships with our fellow church members.

I am always blown away by the incredible games that Harry Thrift comes up with and the fabulous crafts that Melinda Stylo and Fran Montgomerie produce. We had great songs from ‘The Beetles’ and great talks from Nick McDonald and Dave Atallah.

What encourages me at Holiday Club is that it is a picture to me of God’s family. It comprises people of all ages and stages of life working together to glorify God in this valuable ministry. I love seeing the older folk and the teenagers mingling happily. There is always such a joyful buzz which is like a foretaste of heaven.

I would encourage everyone who can to get involved with Holiday Club. You will be both blessed and a blessing.”

I am hugely thankful to God for all of the incredible volunteers who made the week happen, for the parents who brought their children along, and for the families who invited their non-church friends along to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

We look forward to next year, where we will be putting on our armour and getting our swords, bows, and arrows ready, as we prepare to ‘Meet the King’ in St Mary’s Castle at Holiday Club 2025. Save the date: 27th – 29th August 2025!

Please do consider whether you would be able to help next year, or bring your kids, and keep that week free in your diary 🙂

With love in Christ,

Nick McDonald