Dear Prime Time member,
As I set out for the Church Office this morning I had a rough outline forming in my mind as to what I would write about in my letter to you today, but as I find quite often is the case, God clearly had other ideas…! My journey to the office this morning included a couple of stops to drop off hearing aid batteries. As I entered the porch of one house, a sign hung up on the wall caught my eye. It read: “FAMILY – Like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one”. This is a phrase that I haven’t come across before, but it really jumped out of that sign at me. The analogy is perfect. Families do grow (and go!) in all different directions, but wherever we are in our lives or in the world, we never lose that commonality, our genetic make-up and family bond – the one thing that all the members of any family have in common. For some people, it is not their natural family, but a church family or other group that they identify with that they consider ‘family’. However, the strength of feeling and the emotion is the same.
You may have heard me say it before, but to me, Prime Time feels like an extended family. I consider myself so fortunate to be part of it, let alone leading it. I have the benefit of so many years of experience around me. I am surrounded by people I know I can trust to guide me and who will offer me the benefit of their life experience. And with more than one hundred and thirty Prime Time members, I figure that within the membership we’ve probably got most situations covered! And like an extended family spanning many generations, Prime Time has embraced its younger members; not just my own family but children and grand-children of Prime Time Team members and Prime-Timers alike have been welcomed to events and have been treated quite literally as one of the family. And the way that Prime Time members have embraced the various initiatives that we’ve worked on with local schools speaks volumes about a group of people who wish to encourage and support the younger members of ‘the family’, just as you would do with your own grandchildren. I’m also aware that you support each other and look out for one another if someone is unwell or experiencing a difficult time, just as you would with a sibling who is at a similar life stage to yourself. I love it and I think it is one of the strengths of the Prime Time group – welcome to the family!
We are all children of the same Heavenly Father; maybe He is the ‘root’ referred to in the sign that so grabbed my attention this morning…
For anyone who attended Monday’s virtual Prime Time Quiz Afternoon on Zoom, you may have realised that for me it was something of a family affair; there were three generations of our family represented at the quiz! I think I can confidently speak for all of us when I say that we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I know I for one haven’t laughed that much in weeks! It was lovely to see everyone again – we were able to use the break out rooms so small groups could manage to chat and there were a few Lock-Down hairstyles to be admired!
Such was the success of Monday’s event that even before the session drew to a close, people were asking when we would be doing it again! So I have pleasure in confirming that there will be a Prime Time Virtual Quiz – Take 2 on the afternoon of Tuesday 11th August. I will send out instructions as to how to join this event nearer the time. We have opted for a different day of the week this time so as not to disadvantage people who may have a regular commitment on a Monday afternoon. Our Quiz Master Di has pledged to make the questions a little easier next time (but as someone pointed out to me – the questions are only difficult if you don’t know the answers!)
If you missed the quiz on Monday afternoon (or if you were there and you want to re-live the experience!) I have attached the quiz questions to this email for you to challenge yourselves (or maybe your own family over Zoom at the weekend!) One attachment has just the questions and one the questions along with the answers, so make sure you open the ‘Questions’ attachment first (otherwise the quiz won’t be very challenging at all!)
May I wish you a very enjoyable week quizzing those nearest and dearest to you and thank you for being part of our family.
With every blessing,
Penny
Penny Naylor
Primetime Befriending Co-ordinator