Picture: Keith Blundy
Andy Harris talks with two young people at The Pulse event.
More than ninety (90) young people who are members of church youth groups across the Diocese of Durham descended on Durham Cathedral’s Galilee Chapel on an autumn Sunday evening for the inaugural meeting of a new series of youth events with a twist.
Titled ‘The Pulse’ the event formed part of a vision to see young people come alive in faith, meet others and collectively discover being part of something much bigger.
Picture: Keith Blundy
Daryll Hackett juggles whilst lying on a bed of nails to the amazement of teh young people gather in teh Galilee Chapel in Durham Cathedral
Highlights of the first meeting on Sunday (9th October) included a glow-show and juggling from entertainer Daryll Hackett of ‘Holy Kapow’ a Bradford based performer whose ethos is to demonstrate God’s love for us all and through sharing it to bring joy to people. Also on the programme was a talk from former full time soldier Rachael Phillips – who shared her coming to faith on the front line whilst serving in Afghanistan. The evening was interspersed with singing and worship led by James Clay and his band from Hillside Church, Lobley Hill, Gateshead.
The Pulse is the brainchild of newly appointed Diocesan Leader of Youth Mission and Ministry, Andy Harris and builds on his 28 years of experience as a teacher of RE and History in County Durham. Andy said: “I am delighted in how this has worked out – it really seems to have captured the imagination of our young people.
“We are trying to get across the idea of something living, if someone has a pulse they are alive and what we want to see is young people grow and become alive in their faith.”
Youth leader Lucy Mann from Shildon said: “Our young people loved it – they were singing all the way home and they had the best time! We will definitely be at the next event!”
The Revd David Tolhurst from Silksworth in Sunderland said: “The Pulse has been an awesome event – what a night!”
Picture: Keith Blundy
Young People get the Pulse during singing and worship
Andy added: “I think the secret was to give them both an engaging but also entertaining programme that is lively and vibrant where they can encounter God at work. We hope to repeat this event ‘termly’ but we will have an ever evolving programme.
“As well as ‘The Pulse’ it is also really important to engage the network of paid and voluntary youth workers in the Diocese and to to start thinking about how we best resource them to support youth mission and ministry – that is my bigger aim in this new role.”
