Despite being a member of Saint Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Wombourne, I volunteer at the Pentecostal Church, Kingsway. Initially this started as my volunteering activity for my Duke of Edinburgh bronze award, but after completing my three months of volunteering, I decided to stay on and assist the children in their learning about God and His word. The youth group, called Infusion, meets every Friday in the “Hub” of the church, and the children learn about God through talks and activities.

As well as this youth group, Kingsway offer a group for younger children, called Fizz. At the same time a group for high school children is also available, called Blaze. These groups give young children and teenagers activities to do on Friday night, and Blaze keeps the teenagers off the streets and teaches them important lessons. Kingsway holds groups such as Alpha and Youth Alpha, to help you truly find your faith and has services on Sunday mornings and evening. Often the services incorporate the youth group attendees, at times such as Easter, Christmas and Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day. Occasionally, youth services are held, or the young people are taken to youth services at other churches, so that they can feel more involved in the church.

The people are lovely and welcoming, you will never feel unwanted in this church. The services are always joyful, and the members ensure that each service or group goes perfectly.

Theo Moriarty

Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara- Wolverhampton

By Alisha Swali

This is the Gurdwara that I go to weekly and is where anyone can go irrespective of caste/religion etc It is actually the first Gurdwara to be established in Wolverhampton in 1966. The literally meaning of the punjabi word Gurdwara is the ‘door to the Guru.’  In the Gurdwara, the main hall where worship takes place is known as a Darbar Sahib and is where Guru Granth Sahib Ji is kept. It is also where we sit on the floor, as a sign that we are equal. The Guru Granth Sahib Ji are the holy scriptures within the Sikh faith, they contain the teachings of our Gurus’. The 10 living Gurus’ within the Sikh faith were living people, who were enlightened masters and teachers who taught the Sikhs about God and to Sikhs have the light of God within them. The Guru Granth Sahib Ji is given the respect that a human Guru would be given. It is recited throughout the day and returns to it’s own room at night. It is placed on a raised platform (Takht or Manji Sahib meaning throne), under a canopy and covered with a beautiful patterned cloth. When we get to Guru Granth Sahib Ji, we touch the floor with our foreheads as a sign we submit to the truths found within Guru Ji. There will also, be someone waves the Chaur Sahib (fan) over it. At this Gurdwara and all of them, congregation gather to sing the praises of God by using the shabads (hymns and sections ) within Guru Granth Sahib Ji and remember God by repeating his name in meditation. This is because Sikhs believe that God has no physical form and He resides within us. In this Gurdwara and every other one,there is a hall in which free food also known as langar is served. The food is simple and is vegeterian to try and meet all the needs of people coming to the Gurdwara. The concept of langar has been within Gurdwara since the time of the first Guru,  Guru Nanak Dev Ji since 1481. For children and people of all ages, in this Gurdwara there are many sessions that go on throughout the week including; Sikh history, how to play classical instruments to accompany the singing of shabad and the chanting/meditating on God’s name (kirtan classes), homework clubs, wrestling (including training from professionally trained olympic athletes), gatka class (which is an ancient martial art which was used by the Gurus, is learnt) etc. There is also Punjabi classes for children on a Sunday where they learn Punjabi but also, where they can work to get qualifications for learning Punjabi. There is also a gym where there is both women’s and men’s sessions. There is many things to mention about Gurdwaras and their history, but I’ve got to keep things short, so If you would want to know more feel free to look at this website about what a Gurdwara is all about. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/ritesrituals/gurdwara_1.shtml

Lenten Liturgy

We finished our school term off by coming together as a whole community to mark the end of our Lenten journey and to mark the start of Holy Week, in our’ Lenten Liturgy’, written by Debbie Ferris the school Lay Chaplain. We were blessed by having Fr Mark Crisp present who explain in his Homily the events in Holy Week leading to Easter Sunday and the Lord’s resurrection. He invited everyone to join him in Masses across the diocese.

Some of the students from varies year groups, led by Farai in 6 form who played the part of Jesus, depicted the story leading up to Palm Sunday, and the crucifixion. The students laid down palms and coats at Jesus’s feet as he rode to Jerusalem.

Miss Baskeyfield led the choir who sang ‘Ride on Ride on Majesty’, ‘Majesty; worship his majesty’ and ‘When I surveyed the wondrous cross’

Later in the Liturgy, Farai walked around the hall while 12 students read different prayers, which the rest of the school responded with ‘He kept on walking’.  Jesus knew that every step he took was one step closer to his death but he kept on walking.

He knew that before he died he would have to confront the centre of religious power, those who used God’s name to manipulate and control and oppress.

He kept on walking.

He knew that he would be betrayed to death by one of his friends and companions on the road.

 He kept on walking.

He knew that he would be falsely tried by a corrupt and unjust legal system.

He kept on walking.

He knew the crowds were fickle and likely to turn on him as they had the prophets before him.

He kept on walking.

He knew he would be mocked and humiliated.

He kept on walking.

He knew his dearest and closest friends would fail him, abandon him, deny him, and struggle to believe in him.

 He kept on walking.

He knew he would be flogged and tortured almost beyond what he could physically bear.

He kept on walking.

He knew his mother’s heart and the hearts of the men and women who loved him would be broken.

He kept on walking.

He knew he would suffer an agonizing death, and face the greatest confusion and darkness he had ever known.

He kept on walking.

He knew that if he was faithful to the end, he would know the greatest joy, of bringing redemption to the world

He kept on walking.

He knew that when all of it was through, he would return to the One from whom he came, the One who is Perfect Love.

He kept on walking.

God invites us to pick up our cross and take this path, the Way of the Cross. He invites us to walk together with others who are forced to walk a path of suffering, humiliation and death. He invites us to know our own weakness and brokenness and not be afraid to keep walking.