Youth Group

God Squad

The Circuit Youth group, GOD SQUAD, continues to meet at the Spire on alternate Sunday evenings in term-time and attendance averages 8-10. Snooker, table tennis, table football as well as chess and board games are popular pursuits. we also regularly undertake art and craft projects. At each meeting we also spend some focussed time considering Christian themes or teaching. Sometimes we lead these sessions "in-house", but also welcome visitors to lead our "God Slot".

Do contact us if you know of secondary school-aged young people who are already involved in church, or would like to be.

The group meet fortnightly on Sundays in term-time, 6:00-7:30pm at The Spire, Poole in Hall 1.

Upcoming meeting dates for 2025 are as follows:

• 7th September
• 21st September
• 5th October – 3Generate in Birmingham. No meeting at The Spire.
• 19th October
• 9th November
• 23rd November

If you have any children 11-18 or about to turn 11 in your churches, do get in touch – they would be very welcome to join God Squad.

Autumn 2025

Synod: Huge thanks to everyone who supported The God Squad stall at Synod – we raised £95.90 in aid of Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal!

Next up: 3Generate, the Methodist youth gathering, 3–5 Oct. Please keep our 4 leaders & 10 young people in your prayers!

Summer 2025

Body Percussion with James Devenish: a brand-new skill for everyone! As always, the young people picked it up with ease... while the leaders did their best to keep up!

Summer Outing to the Allotments: We were warmly invited by Paul and Jill from Poole Methodists to visit their local allotments. It was a lovely afternoon spent learning about the seasonal rhythms of allotment life, harvesting fresh produce, and enjoying a relaxed picnic under the summer sun.

God Squad Summer Break: God Squad is off on summer break -- time to swap Bibles for beach balls! Our final session of the term is on Sunday 6 July, and we'll be back refreshed and ready for more fun on Sunday 7 September. Have a fantastic summer -- see you soon!

Spring 2025

A Special Visit at Our April God Squad Meeting: At our April God Squad gathering, we were delighted to welcome Rachel Bending, our District Chair. The evening was full of fun and fellowship as we tested Rachel's table tennis skills, enjoyed treats from our pop-up ice cream parlour, and even managed a few games of chess. It was a fantastic evening of laughter, connection, and community.

Mocktails, Music & Methodism: Our May God Squad session brought the sunshine indoors with a vibrant Tiki Bar experience! The young people had a blast mixing their own non-alcoholic mocktails, featuring creations like the "Wesley Mojito" and "Tropical Dream" (see menu attached). With Hawaiian shirts, garlands, and plenty of dancing, the atmosphere was full of energy and fun.

We were also joined by Karen James, who led our God Slot with a powerful reflection on the connection between Methodism and the pursuit of justice. She highlighted the historical roots of temperance in the Methodist tradition, tying it beautifully to our alcohol-free theme. The evening rounded off with some lively games and lots of laughter – a fantastic time was had by all!

Easter 2025 – Best Wishes to All, from the God Squad

We send our best wishes to everyone from God Squad for Easter, and would like to encourage friends to call into Wesley's and take a look our Easter display on the Inspire art wall within Wesley's Café at The Spire.

Lent 2025 – The Journey Through Lent

At our Explorers' Service Poole Methodists focussed on "The Journey through Lent". We had a display on each of the tables depicting 6 different milestones. Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day was our pre-Lent starter, and then the children labelled them and put them in time order as follows: Ash Wednesday; Palm Sunday; Maundy Thursday; Good Friday; Easter Sunday.
(Props provided by the very talented Paul & Gill Stigwood.)

Highlights from 2024

December – Festive Quiz & Supper Evening
A huge thank you to everyone who supported our young people’s festive event this year! Together, we raised £405.50 for The Genesis Centre, supporting their homelessness project in Poole.

October – 3Generate 2024
Our second year at 3Generate, the Methodist Children and Youth Assembly, was another vibrant and inspiring experience. Over 2,000 children and youth leaders joined for a weekend of worship, fun, and creative sessions with speakers, artists, and musicians. Participants were encouraged to share their own stories and experiences.
Would you like to join us next year and be part of this exciting event?

Highlights from 2023

December – Festive Quiz & Supper Evening
Thank you to everyone who joined our festive event! With 50 attendees, we raised £239.40 for the Kids Go Free school holiday meals scheme – £93.40 from supper donations and £146 from our gift stall. We’ll be back at God Squad on Sunday 7 January. Merry Christmas from all of us!

October – 3Generate 2023
Our first 3Generate, the National Methodist Youth Assembly at the NEC in Birmingham, was an unforgettable experience – indoor festival vibes, indoor camping, and fantastic connections, including with a group from Eastleigh. We can’t wait to go again next year and hope you’ll join us!

May – King’s Coronation Celebration
Over the Bank Holiday weekend, God Squad celebrated the King’s Coronation with a fun open evening. Young people teamed up with older members for a lively table football tournament, wore royal headwear, and enjoyed delicious party food and drinks.