Father's Day - celebrating Hy-Speed at Highbury

Sunday 17th June was Father's Day.  For eighteen months we have been running a men's event once a month on Saturday evening called 'Hy-Speed'.  It's a great space for men to come together with their youngsters and meet up ... and it's all based around Scalextric Digital Racing.

If you want a taste of Hy-Speed go to our Web site, read all about it on the Congregational Federation's Web Site or see the video that was made to celebrate our winning a Community Award from the Congregational Federation.

Father's Day seemed a great day to have an awards event, enjoy some racing and build in a service too!  Carolyn, our children's worker shared thoughts during the service.  Here are her rough notes!

Father’s Day Hy-Speed Event

9.30 Racing and Breakfast (cooks and washing up)

10.30 Service and Awards

11.15-12.30 Racing and Café

Service ideas:

Racing…

Olympics…

Sports Day (the closest most of us will get!)

·        Run some races/physical challenges with dads and children

Highlight of some people’s yr, the Fathers’ Race. Serious training and high tension followed by punch-ups!

A lot at stake; pride, standing, status in the playground/school gates.

‘My dad’s bigger than your dad!’

Bigger car, stronger, taller, faster, richer…

·        Bible- ‘last shall be first and first shall be last’ Matthew 19:30, Matthew 5:3-12

What do children really want? The biggest, fastest, richest dad?

Care for the family parenting tips; ‘Kids want 5 minutes, not £5.’

‘Quality Time’ was a fashionable phrase around parenting but Reg Bailey, the chief executive of the Mothers’ Union, (who is actually a dad!) claimed, ‘Kids don’t want quality time, they need you all the time.’

Children grow up fast. What will your legacy be?

·        Toy Story 3 clip (growing up, leaving home)

Being a parent is challenging. Constant test of values, patience, boundaries, role models and love.

·        Rob Parsons: I may be ashamed of some of the things you have done, but I will never be ashamed of you.’

·        Father images in the Bible. The lost son- ‘I was there waiting all the time.’

This is a powerful inspiration for parents, but goes further than that. God is saying this to all of us,

‘You were still a long way from home when I saw you. My heart was filled with pity. I ran, threw my arms around you and kissed you.’ Luke 15:20

AWARDS

·        Which race are you in? (recall Sports day)

·        The rat race? (images for these)

·        The human race?

·        The race for life?

·        The race against time?

·        Or, the one race that really counts…

·        2 Timothy 4:7-8

‘I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith. And now there is waiting for me the victory prize of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day – and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.’