News from Clayton

AS we look to planning for a vastly different winter and Christmas, friends at Clayton Baptist Church, Bradford, have turned the spotlight on meeting the needs of their community.
Under the banner ‘Follow the Star - Let your Light Shine’ #Jesuslightoftheworld, the church is serving as a collection point for its member-inspired initiative the ‘Clayton Winter Coat Bank’ where people can donate children’s coats which will be distributed throughout December to local children.  

Building on the relationships established with local schools, from 1st December, the church launches their ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’, encouraging people to collect an item of food each day until Christmas, which will then be distributed to families in the local community.
The ‘Follow the Star’ programme also includes the ‘Great Village Advent Calendar’, ‘Star-gazing treasure hunt', ‘Nativi-TREE’ churchyard story trail and ‘Star-maker’ craft packs, all to be shared with the community. There will also be an online virtual ‘Follow the Star’ Nativity presentation! #lettingourlightshineforJesus
 
Kenny Brown, Minister-in-Training says: "All the way through lockdown we have sought to be bringers of hope, expressing the servant heart of Jesus, from a place of listening to and engaging with our community. We have been so blessed with volunteers who have given so much of their time and gifts and for the strengthening of relationships with the schools and families."
 
Lucy Brown, children's and families worker says: "It's an exciting time of year when we can engage with people through a variety of creative events and draw people towards the person of Jesus by letting his light shine through us in all that we do. As we go forward with our Let your Light shine events, our prayer is that we will let our shine and cause people to wonder who their light shines for."