FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY: CBeebies star to lead another swashbuckling pirate party
by the Rev Luiz Lima, vicar, St John's Church, Locks Heath
AHOY, me hearties! Some of you may remember that back in 2024 we were visited by Gemma Hunt from CBeebies for an amazing Pirate Party.
St John’s Church, Locks Heath, was packed out with 400 children and their parents over two services, cheering, shouting and dancing as we explored the Bible and the Christian faith – but with a swashbuckling pirate theme.
Parents and children dressed up in pirate costumes and Gemma, who presents the pirate-themed gameshow ‘Swashbuckle’ on CBeebies, led them in games, songs and a Bible story. And that evening, Gemma was interviewed about her broadcasting career and her faith at an evening event.
Well, we’re doing it all over again on Sunday 10th May. Gemma will lead two identical pirate-themed Sunday services at 1pm and 3pm. Again, they’ll include swashbuckling songs, exciting stories and fabulous activities suitable for children. And she will be talking about her faith again at 6pm.
And before both services – at 12noon and 2pm – we all hope to be outside the church enjoying cake, refreshments, pirate-themed crafts and amazing entertainment. It’s like church that you may never experienced before!
It’s a real chance to allow our youngest children to understand something about faith in a way they’ll understand, with the help of a presenter they will feel they know from TV.
I’ve known Gemma for a while, and she is uniquely talented at giving children and their parents an incredibly fun time. And she has a real Christian faith that she’s happy to share.
Children from local schools will be singing during the service, and we’ll expect our church to be decorated with a pirate theme.
If you’ve never been to our church before and would like to bring your children to something that they’re likely to enjoy, do feel free to sign up. Tickets for each service on May 10 are £2 and are available on www.stjohnslocksheath.org.uk/pirate-party, or 01489-578082.
And tickets for the evening event, starting at 6pm, are also £2 - which includes a glass of Prosecco. You’ll be asked to submit a question about Gemma’s experience as a TV presenter, her involvement with the media, and how her faith impacts her life, which she’ll answer on the night. Tickets for this are also available on the above website and phone number.
Rev Luiz Lima, vicar, St John's Church, Locks Heath
ST JOHN’S CHURCH, Church Road, Locks Heath, SO31 6LW
www.stjohnslocksheath.org.uk
