Our Youth Ministry exists to reach all young people with God’s Love, to provide a safe place for genuine relationships and also where young people can Experience and Encounter God.
We want to recognise the individuality of all young people and encourage them to reach their potential. Young people are a major resource of our Church life and we try to encourage and promote the good that they bring to us as well as be challenged by the freshness and energy that they have.
The Mitford Youth Group, typically 12 members, meets in the Village Community Centre on Sunday evenings during term time when fun, friendship, and opportunities to explore the Bible and see its relevance today, play an important part of our time together.
We collaborate in this with the adjoining parish of Morpeth, whose groups cater for High School age children from our church; while our youth group attracts children within the Middle School age range. Children commute from a wide catchment of Northumberland outside the Mitford area. About half of the children regularly attend church within their own parish.
Activities include games, role plays with a biblical theme, crafts including making gifts for events such as Mothering Sunday or a wreath at Christmas. Collecting and packing toys and essential items during Advent for the Shoebox appeal is an annual traditional activity.
The youth group also participate in outdoor activities including evening /night walks around the surrounding countryside finishing with games and a BBQ within the vicarage grounds.
In recent years the youth group has played a part in the annual Christmas Carol Service – one year performing a play to remember the troops in the First World War, another year playing Christmas Carols on hand bells – a new skill developed during the youth group sessions running up to Christmas.
Recently the Church Junior Football Team won the local junior football league which is organised through the Newcastle Diocese and run at a Leisure Centre in Cramlington on a Saturday morning during term time. The football team is made up of both children who attend the church and others whose only contact with church life is through the experiences gained in playing with other church teams.
“Let the children come to me; do no try to stop them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you: whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”