"A Constant State of Change is Here to Stay"

This statement was coined by a large organisation that I know a few years ago and, whilst it is mildly amusing (maybe!) on initial reading, it could bring people out in a cold sweat if change is not an experience that they welcome! Personally, I like the idea of change, but when push comes to shove, I probably struggle with it as much as anyone else. Why is that? Well, I guess it’s to do with liking the security of the familiar eg preferring to sit in the same pew in church on a Sunday (if that’s your thing!), or considering a holiday location that is different to the place you’ve gone to for the last 20 years??! We feel safe when we know what’s happening, generally, and anything that looks like it’s going to change and shift can be stress inducing. One of the things that helps when change is inevitable is having sufficient warning and a time to prepare, which brings me on to what I really want to talk about, which is that cohort of brave and courageous Year 6 pupils in the schools of the West Worcester Beacon area…

For the last three years, Karen Gorman and I, on behalf of the churches, have facilitated annual workshops called ‘It’s Your Move’ in Broadheath, Hallow, and Holt & Grimley primary schools. We use video material and a printed booklet that is produced by a national organisation called Scripture Union. It has been compiled by a team of professional children’s workers, is highly engaging and always goes down really well with the children and staff. As you will be aware, all the schools in our area are ‘church schools’ and they are very welcoming and appreciative of the many and varied ways in which we try to support the brilliant work that they are doing, whether through corporate worship (assemblies), school governance or parent teacher groups. We work all year round with the schools and so ‘It’s Your Move’ always feels like a fitting climax to the school year. 

‘It’s Your Move’ is about facing the very real issues of change that the Year 6 pupils are going to face and, in discussion, they are very open about:  the size of their new school feeling daunting, going to miss their primary school and their teachers, feeling they might get lost, wondering what it will be like to have to make new friends, learning new skills (eg learning to tie a tie) homework (!), looking forward to a different menu in the dining room! The list is quite endless, but Karen and I discovered that there was an almost equal mix of anxiety and excitement. We were able to offer reassurances and the video material also has interviews with Year 7 pupils and talks in positive and animated ways in which that transition can be made in a positive and mature way. 

During the workshop we also hear about the story in the Bible about the storm on the lake and how, although Jesus was asleep in the boat when the storm blew up, eventually the disciples wake him and then he calmed the storm totally bringing peace and calm (apologies to any Bible scholars for my crude summary of an amazing miracle!). It’s a core aspect of the Christian story; that when we ask God to help in our time of need, he does (mostly!?) step in. We encouraged the children to put this into practice in the event of feeling at all overwhelmed in their new school. 

There’s no getting away from the reality that change does come and we all respond in different ways, but maybe the lessons learned in ‘Its Your Move’ is not just for our younger citizens!

Revd Paul Wilcox 

Associate Minister