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Women’s World Day
of Prayer

We decided to make this an opportunity to build on our relationship with St Luke’s and St Michael’s and to draw in the wider community. With a service at St Michael’s in the morning at St Luke’s in the evening the focus was on Highbury in the afternoon. This brought together representatives of the three churches, the Juniors, Staff and Head teacher from St John’s Primary School, parents of the children and the staff and clients of Highbury Day Centre. Highlights were the singing by the school choir accompanied by their set of small steel pans and the dance to the anthem. With an estimated 150 people present many of whom had never been in Highbury before the atmosphere was joyful and reflective. We provided all the children from St John’s School with a Women’s World Day of Prayer bookmark. On it was this prayer:
O God,
open our ears to hear your Word,
open our minds to receive your truth
and open our hearts to love others as you love us,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen

The school were very pleased with their involvement and the children wrote a lovely report of their experience. As you read this they are enthusiastically preparing for this year’s service on Friday 6th March.
Felicity Cleaves, Mary Michael and Janet Partington
Parent and Toddler Group
The Tuesday Session has been attended by various families during 2008. Some parents and toddlers attend every week whilst others drop in occasionally so attendance from week to week varies. It is a friendly group with most parents willing to help out with the regular duties and the children really enjoy all the toys and activities available. The singing at the end of the session is also popular and a nice way to close the morning. 
Another highlight has been the monthly visits from Jean, Elisabeth, Marion and Joyce who join us and get the children involved in various craft activities, this is very much appreciated and educational for the children.
One of the regular mums mentioned to me last week that she attends three other playgroups, and our Tuesday toddlers group was by far the best for facilities and friendliness, which is really nice to know.
Anita Tarawneh
The Thursday Session is busy, with constant numbers of around 20 families and 30 children. Most of the families live locally, however some people travel from other parts of Cheltenham as it’s such a friendly group. During the last year we have had visits from Play Rangers, Phoenix Cards, Jewellery Makers and several other companies. We have also been out socially on a number of occasions for meals or drinks at the local pub.
Lyndsey Morgan