21/08/2020
Daily HOPE, the free worship phone line launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury, is giving callers a holiday-at-home experience throughout August. Alongside a different theme each day of the week, poem, reflection, bible verse and a prayer of thanksgiving, callers will also experience immersive country and seaside soundscapes, embellished with the sounds of seagulls, birdsong and even ice-cream vans.
In Leicester, an interactive, themed holiday-club takes place online, with a programme of virtual challenges, workouts, music, comedy, stories and more. The children watch as they take part, posting live comments and sending in photos of their activities to each other. Organised through Holy Trinity Leicester, more than 100 children registered, many with no previous church link at all.
Meanwhile, in Gloucester, a group of imaginative churches have developed pop-up ‘creative cafés’, inviting families to take part in organised outdoor art and craft activities whilst enjoying tea-party treats. Participants are also given take-away snack bags, to picnic on the way home. Hundreds of children have taken part in the creative café staycation experience, generously funded by churches and local donors.
“We wanted to do our bit in showing God's love to our local families who are going through these extraordinary times” says Revd Fiona Crocker, Vicar of Cam with Stinchcombe.
Notes:
Holiday at Home is option three on Daily Hope, which is available 24 hours, 7 days a week free of charge to all UK landlines and mobiles by calling 0800 804 8044