Parishes across the Diocese who have been working with Kirsty Pierson from iSingPOP this year, have reported how much this support has helped them bring new families and children into church. Kirsty’s assistance and the ‘Pop box’ resources have helped churches launch iSingPOP inspired New Worshipping Communities or family services. Following this successful year of partnership, the pilot has been extended to see how these connections and New Worshipping Communities can be further embedded and built on.
Reviewing the year Kirsty said:
“This first year of the partnership has been really encouraging! It has been a real privilege to be able to work with a variety of different churches, assisting and empowering them.”
“We have used a variety of iSingPOP resources in several parishes around the Diocese and have seen the school children, their families, congregations - and clergy, all really enjoying them!"
Since the start of the partnership in January, Kirsty has taken iSingPOP’s main format to each parish. Working intensively with a nearby primary school to teach them their energetic worship songs, the celebration concert or ‘Main Event’ has then been hosted by each parish church. From there the team invited the school children and their families to an upcoming Family Event at the same church, five of which were New Worshipping Communities (NWCs).
Churches have been continuing with their newly launched New Worshipping Communities utilising the iSingPOP resource ‘The Pop Box’. This way clergy and lay ministers could take the lead and have all the resources they need to carry on offering a fun and family orientated NWC, with Kirsty continuing to offer support by phone and email.
“The iSingPOP resources really do make a difference for churches unsure how best to engage families with children, and it has been a real blessing to be present at their first events and see how much the children enjoy singing the songs they already know with their families but also witness the joy of the volunteer helpers as they see new families enter their church and enjoy interacting in the space.”
With her background in the Performance Arts and her passion for high energy sung worship stretching back to her own childhood, Kirsty has shared she has many highlights from this first year. She has particularly enjoyed her role in bringing the joy of worship to each community, and songs which focus on Christian values and God’s love for all creation, as well as strengthening the connections between schools, churches and families. She said:
“One moment that stands out for me, from one iSingPOP NWC follow-on event in church, was when I witnessed a young girl singing the
lyrics ‘You are loved’ pointing at her parents with them simultaneously pointing back at her with tears in their eyes! It feels so special to be creating an environment where these precious interactions can happen.”
Kirsty has taken a shorter version of the iSingPOP format, single 'Workshop Days' to another six schools around the Diocese. These have been used to encourage children to attend pre-existing church family services or events within the parish.
She adds:
“One Children and Families Worker decided to use the momentum of a Workshop Day to set up a new iSingPOP Afterschool club which saw 16 children attend for a whole half term!”
Children and Families Worker Sam Andrews at Pershore Abbey helped arrange a Workshop Day with Abbey Park Primary community school and went along to support Kirsty. At the celebration event afterwards, Sam advertised Pershore Abbey’s monthly NWC aimed at families. This did indeed result in several new families joining their next Café Church where they utilised the ‘Pop Box’ resources.
Sam Andrews said: “I think it was the children that asked to come along but all the adults were just as in to it as they were! Everybody was up and dancing!”
Sam added: “We definitely plan to incorporate the Pop Box resources into the mix of what we offer at our Café church going forwards. iSingPOP is landing well with people who don’t usually come to church so to me it’s clear that’s where our outreach needs to be.”
Kirsty is pleased to see the partnership extended. She said:
“I am absolutely thrilled that the Partnership is continuing for another year. I believe the fruit which we have seen grow this year can begin to flourish next year, and I am delighted to be able to bring the joy of an iSingPOP project, to a lot more schools around the Diocese.
"I am especially excited to start conversations with different parishes next year and see how iSingPOP may be able to support their ministry.”
If you think working with iSingPOP might benefit your parish and would like to be considered for the second year of this partnership, please contact Simon Hill via shill@cofe-worcester.org.uk.
