FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY: Hundreds enjoyed pirate party with CBeebies legend
By the Rev Luiz Lima, vicar, St John’s Church, Locks Heath
WE had an amazing time last weekend when Gemma Hunt from CBeebies led two swashbuckling pirate parties at St John’s, Locks Heath.
Hundreds of children and their parents came in pirate costumes for fantastic activities outside the church, including face-painting, balloon-modelling and playing with gigantic soap bubbles.
And then Gemma, who presented the pirate quiz show Swashbuckle on CBeebies, led us in two pirate-themed services, including fun games, action songs and fabulous stories. She made a parent at each service walk the plank and she told the Bible story of the Parable of the Lost Coins using children as her props.
A choir, from St John the Baptist C of E Primary in Titchfield Common, St Anthony's RC Primary in Fareham, and Park Gate Primary were dressed in eye patches and pirate hats. They helped lead the songs alongside the worship band from the church.
Then in the evening, around 80 parents and some children returned to hear a 90-minute interview in which Gemma talked about her faith, her life in broadcasting, and some of the challenges she had faced in her life.
She spoke about her father leaving home when she was four, how she embraced the Christian faith, and about the anxiety she developed during her broadcasting career. It was only the love of God and people at her home church that pulled her through a low point in her life.
It was incredibly moving to hear someone who is in the public eye make themselves so vulnerable in front of an audience of strangers. And also inspiring to hear how her faith in God had made a difference.
Overall, it was a fantastic day of joy and welcome, where hundreds of children and families heard something about the love of Jesus and experienced an amazing welcome from St John’s Church.
We don’t have a celebrity at church every week, but we do have an incredible community of people who offer a huge variety of activities for all ages, from Sunday through to Saturday. We pride ourselves on being open, friendly and encouraging to any newcomers.
If you would like to know more about how God loves you, and how you can get involved, discover more on www.stjohnslocksheath.org.uk. We’d love to meet you in person.
ST JOHN’S CHURCH, 7 Church Rd, Locks Heath, Park Gate, Southampton, SO31 6LW