Edward Bear Club

This is a special 'club' for the 0-5 year olds with their Mums, Dads, Grandparents and/or carers, centred round a large teddy bear called 'Edward Bear' . The idea originated from the Mothers' Union in Chelmsford, and is open to anyone in Grange. The Club meets on the first and third Tuesdays in church for a short period of 'worship', and then moves to the Meeting Room for crafts, drinks and a time for play/chat.

Edward Bear is 28 years old - enough to be a motherly/fatherly figure, young enough to be lively and energetic! He arrived at the church through a somewhat circuitous route! Mollie Bell, a member of the congregation, had been given the bear by her mother who lives in Lymington, Hampshire. Her mother had bought him 'because he had a very kind face' for her grandchildren and any other children who came to visit. She is now 95 and has moved into a residential home so she has passed the bear on to us. He has been well-loved and cuddled for all of his 28 years, and we are delighted to welcome him to St Paul's.

Edward Bear now has his own wardrobe of clothes, all in the liturgical colours of the church's year, and a small leather suitcase to keep them in.

At the end-of-term meeting we had a party.  It was  a Teddy Bears' picnic in the church garden, and it was really hot and sunny.  It was a real picnic because we had a tablecloth on the floor and we all sat around and ate sandwiches, crisps, grapes and biscuits - yummy yummy!  It was really good because there were ten of my friends and some parents, grandparents, a big brother and the helpers with me. We heard the story of Jesus feeding 5000 people from one little boy's picnic basket of five loaves and two small fishes.  Love from Edward

On Advent Sunday two travelling cribs are blessed during the morning service, and are sent off on their journey round the homes of the young families in the parish.  Each crib is welcomed into the home, a candle is lit and the following prayer said:

The crib and its figures stay overnight and are then passed on to the next family.  They also go into the Nursery and Reception classes at the Primary School. The cribs are received back into Church on Christmas Eve at the special children's service at 6 pm.  The crib figures have been knitted by the older members of the parish, and the children are encouraged to play with them.

	At Epiphany the children (and adults) dressed up as kings, and journeyed through church to take their gifts to Jesus in the stable (beneath the altar).  They followed the star (Ruth) and the lead camel with bells (Penny!).