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CELEBRATE - Children of Light Festival

Working alongside the Archbishop of York and his team, the Diocesan Children, Youth and Schools team, in line with the diocesan vision for churches, households and schools, is resourcing a variety of diocesan wide events and activities designed to support churches and deaneries in their engagement with children and young people in the lead up to Easter, through to the Summer and beyond. The ‘Festival’ itself begins with a commissioning worship service video available for churches to use from March 20th and will culminate at York Minster with the Archbishop and children and young people from around the Diocese leading a service of celebration in Spring 2022. These pages will be regularly updated with ideas and resources throughout the year

Lent Resources

During Lent this year we are encouraging our schools to use the brand-new free resource for Lent, Pilgrim Pathways. The resource has been written by the Archbishop of York Youth Trust and provides 6 weeks of content, including videos with the Archbishop of York. Pilgrim Pathways will take pupils on a pilgrimage journey through Lent, looking at 6 different items that are important on a walking pilgrimage.

Each week will focus on a different item beginning with a lamp and followed with a map, first aid kit, walking stick, shelter and finally food & drink. Pilgrim Pathways will help KS2 and KS3 pupils explore how these items symbolise ideas that can help them when facing challenges in their personal life journey. The resource encourages reflection and practical actions that can support pupils’ wellbeing and happiness. They are suitable for use in the classroom, as part of collective worship, or can be used for pupils learning from home.

The resources can be accessed here:https://www.archbishopofyorkyouthtrust.co.uk/projects/pilgrim-pathways

Easter Resources

Because of the current and ongoing restrictions on social gathering associated with the Coronavirus pandemic, this flexible resource is designed to be used in a variety of ways by churches and schools. We are delighted that we have been given permission by Imaginor to use the artwork of Nebiyu Assafa, and hope that you find them a helpful stimulus for exploring the Easter story in more depth.

You could:

· prepare and deliver bags of resources to families at home to help them engage with the Easter story

· use the videos as part of collective worships

· use the pictures and wondering questions as part of a reflective trail – outside or inside

Please see the downloadable Guidelines document below for more information and see the Exploring Easter Resources page for the downloadable resources.