Brentwood Schools Christian Worker Trust (BSCWT)

Please scroll down to see article on Open the Book.

The Brentwood Schools Christian Worker Trust was established in 1991 with the aim of bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the schools of Brentwood.  The work of the Trust includes leading assemblies, taking RE and PSHE lessons at every level, setting up and running lunch time and after-school clubs, drop-ins, supporting Christian groups in schools, and , where requested, providing pastoral support for children, parents and staff.

The Trust is staffed by 4 part-time workers and a team of over 20 volunteers. The 4 members of staff are Ian Kemble (Director of Schools Work), Mary Thomas (Secondary Schools Worker), Susan Evans (Primary Schools Worker) and Fiona Mason (Administrator).

Joan Dewhirst is Chair of Trustees and Sally McMahon is Chair of the Management Support Group

Open the Book

The assemblies at Holly Trees School have had a great start, with staff, children and the Open the Book team really enjoying the presentations.  The programme of assemblies shares the stories of the Bible starting right from the beginning, and in the first year, tells the Old & New Testament over the course of thirty weeks.  So far we have presented the stories of Creation, Adam and Eve and the Great Flood – so only 27 more to go!   I say ‘presented’ because we vary the style of story telling each week, so far using audience participation, full costume drama  (complete with very large green serpent) and over head projections to illustrate the story as it is read.  Next on our list is a monologue from Abraham.

The team consists of a number of volunteers from the Brentwood Methodist Church, a couple from the Brentwood Baptist Church and myself from Christ Church.  We meet each Wednesday morning at 10 am to rehearse ready for the assembly at 10.35, the script or general idea having been worked out the week before.  None of those involved are used to being out in front of an assembly apart from myself, and possibly Wes Hampton the Methodist minister, but we have all quickly settled into performing in front of the whole school and are now even beginning to enjoy our weekly get-togethers.   So far, the children have sat in rapt attention: many of the children have not had the chance to hear the Bible stories, and we hope to open their eyes and ears as they learn that the bible stories are full of adventure and astonishing events.

If you feel you would like to be involved in this project, we welcome any new additions to our team, even if you feel we can only help out once in a while - no two weeks see the same cast involved.  However, the most important support you can give to us is prayer.  Please pray for the team, for guidance as they prepare and support as they perform, and pray that the children will encounter God through these assemblies.  This is a great opportunity to take church into school and to tell the story of God to children who may never come near a church in their lives, and it’s good fun! 

Susan Evans