We welcome children and young people to our services, and seek to include them in worship (e.g. children help start the service by lighting candles, and at the Communion help to lead the congregation to the altar rail). Children who are not confirmed, but who regularly attend church, are welcome to receive Holy Communion if their parents are happy for them to do so. We are currently running a teaching programme for children (and parents) entitled 'Preparing for Holy Communion' . This meets on Wednesday evenings, 5.30-7.30, with a meal provided. Please contact the Chaplain for further details..
Our Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Revd. Dr. Geoffrey Rowell, will be visiting us 5-9 May, so there will also be an opportunity for Confirmation if anyone so wishes.
We have an active Sunday School - Advent activities focused on the "Jesse Tree", with a Crib Service before Christmas, at which we invited donations of children's books and materials for distribution to educational charities. Christian Unity Week saw a new (3-D) children's vision of Church. During Lent the Sunday School will help focus the church on the real heart of stewardship.
The Chaplaincy observes the 'Child Protection' guidelines of the Diocese.
The Chaplain enjoys and welcomes contact with schools, both Romanian and International. In December the local 'Tudor Arghezi 19' school performed Leon Garfield's 'animated' version of Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' in the church.
In the autumn, young musicians from the George Enescu music Liceum presented a remarkable concert of music by British and Romanian composers, following their successful study and concert tour in the UK. Further concerts are in the pipeline.
We hope to run an art project involving children living in homes run by the charity 'Health Aid Romania', under the direction of two professional artists, one Romanian, the other British. Children from this charity have joined our services on a couple of occasions, performing Romanian songs. The choir from another local school, Sf. Stefan, has also performed in the church.
We are exploring the possibility of a joint drama project, building on the drama work currently running at the Sf. Macrina Centre for street children, and on the church's contact with Tudor Arghezi school, with the suggestion of creating a modern 'Mystery' play.
The Chaplain would welcome ideas for further work with young people. We are especially interested in supporting AIDS prevention, child care, counseling and orphan care