Press Release re first Cross Section

Last year, four youth workers began to dream some dreams. Each of the four felt a need for churches in High Wycombe to bring young people together; to offer a space for all young Christians to express and celebrate their faith. From small house churches or big old medieval foundations, they saw all young people coming together in different churches around the district. In February, this dream became a reality. The first Cross-Section was hosted by All Saints’ parish church on Sunday 25th February. Young people from churches from around the town and surrounding area came to explore together the journey of the prodigal son. After hearing the story and being challenged to think about which of the sons’ experience was closest to their own lives, the young people scattered through the church to respond through art, through silence, through chatting in the café or through the Prodigal Son labyrinth installed in All Saints for Lent. The evening was fabulous and working towards it (and to the future events) has been so enjoyable. Four very different people with different outlooks on youth work and youth ministry yet with the same vision of serving young people across High Wycombe in the places where they already worship and in places they’ve never been. In February it was a huge medieval town centred church but next it’s a modern church plant in a housing area (St Birinus, 29th April 6pm) and then in a medieval rural church (St Michael & All Angels, Hughenden). We began with dreams and now we’ve seen some of them come to fruition, we’re still dreaming. We’ve got hopes of bringing the young people together to explore their faith in so many different styles with a Gospel choir, DJ worship and some reflections on modern monasticism from a Taizé brother. As well as continuing Cross-Section, we are also setting up a team of Christian youth workers for detached work in High Wycombe. Please keep us and all the young people in your prayers as we continue to work and explore together.

Sarah Brush, Stella Voaden, Matt McNulty & Paul Scott (The Wyde core team)