Welcome to the Refine Youth Website

Welcome to the REFINE site

Susie’s Spring Blog '07!

(April '07)

The sun was shining the last time I blogged and it's shining again now! Yay! And - boo - it's exam time again; hang in there, study hard, you'll pass!

During this coming summer term we're studying stand-alone sessions called Nooma. They're really cool and thought-provoking DVD's - you'll love them! We're doing this type of thing instead of meeting in cell groups as so many of you have exams. So if you miss the odd session (a) we'll miss you, and (b) it shouldn't matter too much.

We're losing some long-term Refiners at the end of this term. We are so sad about that (no, really, we are!). As they won't be here for the Refine weekend away (see Happenings!) that we've organised in November we've organised a night away camping for them instead (see This Term)... honestly, how nice are we?! (Don't answer that question!) The night away camping is geared around the five who are leaving us - Michael J, Sam L, Susie B, Tyrone H and Geri S - but it's open to everyone so any of you who want to come are more than welcome too. We'd love to have as many of you as possible come to give them a good send off!

As you've all (mostly!) chosen to have a Refine weekend away this year we're not organising an official trip to Soul Survivor this summer... but that doesn't stop you guys organising it yourselves and we'll so support you doing that. It might be that some of the older ex-Refiners will go in which case you could hook up them and go that way? If you want to go, let us know and we'll try to make it happen for you!

On top of the weekly meets there's loads of other stuff happing this term from The Works and Fun Day to a Prayer Day at the Abbey to a Bowling Social to a Nexus Cross City event to visits to Soul Survivor and Holy Trinity Brompton... what more could you possibly want?! Some of the events require consent forms... keep checking the This Term page to download them - they'll appear close to the time of the event.

Thank you all again so much for your honesty in the end of term questionnaires - it really helps us to try and pitch things right for you.

See you all Sunday! Bless you! We love you! We're always here if any of you need us! S. x.

Susie’s Summer Blog '06!

(September '06)

The sun is shining at last, way-hay! That must mean that exam time has arrived and it is here just to annoy all those that must sit inside with heads bowed low over notes pondering on the point of it all. I just want to say that I really feel for each one of you doing exams – you have my thoughts and prayers. I intensely dislike exams, well except the bit when they are all over and you feel free again. However I know that many of you being blessed with a whole lot more intelligence than I don’t find them that much of a stress so my prayers for you are that you will be a gentle, caring support to those around you who may not be coping so well. Please feel free to present the prayers of Refine to any of your friends who may or may not know God. Please remember to give both their names and your names to Gillian who will make sure prayers are said.

Firstly, sorry to you all that it has been a while since I last updated my blog – I have no excuse other than the same one you are probably using for not giving me your 24-hour fast money! I.e. there is none! So a quick plea, again: to anyone out there with whatever money you have collected, please pass it on to me as soon as possible. If you have collected no money may I suggest that you make a donation from yourself to cover the cost of your breakfast at least? Many thanks! Love ya!

Talking of love, you may or may not have noticed that we are due to show some love in the form of a strawberry afternoon tea to some of the older members of Christ Church this term. The date on the programme has been changed from Saturday 1st July to Saturday 8th July (as Sean and I are on holiday and didn’t want to miss out on the fun!). If any of you are interested to help with the planning of food or age-appropriate games please let me know; you will be most welcome as I am sure that you wouldn’t want to leave organising games just down to me!

Thanks to all of you who have signed up to Soul Survivor B – until we have got our transport sorted there is still time for more of you to sign up to come: names to Gillian as soon as possible would be fab! We would so love to have you come!

And finally for now, a big thanks to all of you for still being on the Refine journey. We love being on it with you. We are sorry for the things we still don’t quite get right and we are always open to hearing what we can do differently. Big thanks as always to the Cell Leaders for all they do and for the brilliant and imaginative ways that they have led worship this term.

Bless each and every one of you and see you Sunday! S. x.


	Welcome to the REFINE site
central happenings groups news forums contact susie's blog members links	Susie’s Spring Blog '07! (April '07) The sun was shining the last time I blogged and it's shining again now! Yay! And - boo - it's exam time again; hang in there, study hard, you'll pass! During this coming summer term we're studying stand-alone sessions called Nooma. They're really cool and thought-provoking DVD's - you'll love them! We're doing this type of thing instead of meeting in cell groups as so many of you have exams. So if you miss the odd session (a) we'll miss you, and (b) it shouldn't matter too much. We're losing some long-term Refiners at the end of this term. We are so sad about that (no, really, we are!). As they won't be here for the Refine weekend away (see Happenings!) that we've organised in November we've organised a night away camping for them instead (see This Term)... honestly, how nice are we?! (Don't answer that question!) The night away camping is geared around the five who are leaving us - Michael J, Sam L, Susie B, Tyrone H and Geri S - but it's open to everyone so any of you who want to come are more than welcome too. We'd love to have as many of you as possible come to give them a good send off! As you've all (mostly!) chosen to have a Refine weekend away this year we're not organising an official trip to Soul Survivor this summer... but that doesn't stop you guys organising it yourselves and we'll so support you doing that. It might be that some of the older ex-Refiners will go in which case you could hook up them and go that way? If you want to go, let us know and we'll try to make it happen for you! On top of the weekly meets there's loads of other stuff happing this term from The Works and Fun Day to a Prayer Day at the Abbey to a Bowling Social to a Nexus Cross City event to visits to Soul Survivor and Holy Trinity Brompton... what more could you possibly want?! Some of the events require consent forms... keep checking the This Term page to download them - they'll appear close to the time of the event. Thank you all again so much for your honesty in the end of term questionnaires - it really helps us to try and pitch things right for you. See you all Sunday! Bless you! We love you! We're always here if any of you need us! S. x. Susie’s Summer Blog '06! (September '06) The sun is shining at last, way-hay! That must mean that exam time has arrived and it is here just to annoy all those that must sit inside with heads bowed low over notes pondering on the point of it all. I just want to say that I really feel for each one of you doing exams – you have my thoughts and prayers. I intensely dislike exams, well except the bit when they are all over and you feel free again. However I know that many of you being blessed with a whole lot more intelligence than I don’t find them that much of a stress so my prayers for you are that you will be a gentle, caring support to those around you who may not be coping so well. Please feel free to present the prayers of Refine to any of your friends who may or may not know God. Please remember to give both their names and your names to Gillian who will make sure prayers are said. Firstly, sorry to you all that it has been a while since I last updated my blog – I have no excuse other than the same one you are probably using for not giving me your 24-hour fast money! I.e. there is none! So a quick plea, again: to anyone out there with whatever money you have collected, please pass it on to me as soon as possible. If you have collected no money may I suggest that you make a donation from yourself to cover the cost of your breakfast at least? Many thanks! Love ya! Talking of love, you may or may not have noticed that we are due to show some love in the form of a strawberry afternoon tea to some of the older members of Christ Church this term. The date on the programme has been changed from Saturday 1st July to Saturday 8th July (as Sean and I are on holiday and didn’t want to miss out on the fun!). If any of you are interested to help with the planning of food or age-appropriate games please let me know; you will be most welcome as I am sure that you wouldn’t want to leave organising games just down to me! Thanks to all of you who have signed up to Soul Survivor B – until we have got our transport sorted there is still time for more of you to sign up to come: names to Gillian as soon as possible would be fab! We would so love to have you come! And finally for now, a big thanks to all of you for still being on the Refine journey. We love being on it with you. We are sorry for the things we still don’t quite get right and we are always open to hearing what we can do differently. Big thanks as always to the Cell Leaders for all they do and for the brilliant and imaginative ways that they have led worship this term. Bless each and every one of you and see you Sunday! S. x.