Holiday Bible Club

Every year we hold a Holiday Bible Club, during the summer holidays. It runs Monday to Friday mornings during the week that ends on the second Sunday of August (on which day we have a special HBC service).

It is open for free to all children aged 5 to 10, and runs from 10:00 to 12:30
No pre-registering, just come earlier the first day to register.

We had hoped Holiday Bible Club could be held in August 2020 and 2021, but sadly not! It was back for 2022.

Holiday Bible Club will next be on in 2024, 5th-9th August, from 10:00-12:30 daily!

The HBC display at our History Exhibition

2023 we did "Waste Watchers" again, last done in 2007. Especially enjoyed were the club song "What a Load of Rubbish" and the daily episode of the play. Most challenging were the daily "Swops for Life". Joke of the Week was: "What do you call a chicken staring at a lettuce? A chicken sees-a-salad!"
After a two year gap, for 2022 we did "Guardians of Ancora: Treasure Seekers", the club running from 8th to 12th August, 10:00-12:30 daily; 33 children and 11 young helpers joining in. Again five lost story treasures were found which enabled five stories about Jesus's life to be told. The Keeper of the Keys set the Best Joke Challenge before leaving on a quest to seek out the best jokes; his assistant the Protector of the Locks took over and it was revealed on the Sunday that Joke of the Week was: "What are you knitting?" asked Mary. "Are they jumpers?" "No, they are the Cardigans of Angora!"
2019's title was "Guardians of Ancora" and the club ran from 5th to 9th August, with up to 38 children. Five lost story treasures were found which enabled five stories about Jesus to be told, and then recreated in art and craft. The puppets danced to gospel songs and the Keeper of the Keys read out the jokes. Joke of the week was: "A man got in a car accident and lost his left arm and left leg. He's all right now!" Poster Group Art Gallery
In 2018 "Mission Rescue" was back, on a secret agent theme, looking at the story of Moses and its relevance to life today. It ran from 6th until 10th August and was free, as usual, for up to 40 children, aged 5 to 10. The children enjoyed games, art, crafts, cookery, stories, jokes, puppets and music based on material from Scripture Union. Jokes were supplied by the children and read out each day by Agent S (S for Smiley - if you see him smile you know you're in trouble). Joke of the week was: "Where does a spy sleep? Undercover!" Poster Group Art Gallery
2017's Mega Makers! ran from 7th until 11th August and was free for over 50 children, aged 5 to 10. The children enjoyed activities and teaching based on material from Scripture Union covering various stories from the Bible, all set in an engineering context. This included the Mega Machine that made things bigger! Pictures and jokes were supplied by the children and read out each day by Brainwave (Boffin's assistant). Joke of the week was: "What's the difference between a soldier and a policeman? You can't dip a policeman in your boiled egg!" Poster Group Art Gallery
2016 Champion's Challenge ran from 8th until 12th August and was free for over 60 children. The children enjoyed material from Scripture Union covering various stories from the Bible, all set in a sporting context. Pictures and jokes, mostly sport-related, were supplied by the children and read out each day by basketball ace Slam Dunk. Joke of the week was: "Why were four five and six scared? Because seven ate nine!" Poster Group Art Gallery
2015 ran from 3rd until 7th August and was free for over 60 children. The club this year was called "Polar Explorers", based on material from Scripture Union covering the stories from the Bible of Peter, Stephen, Philip, Paul and Timothy. Pictures and jokes, mostly polar-related, were supplied by the children and read out each day by former entrepid explorer Mr Bear Feet. Joke of the week was: "What do penguins order for lunch? Ice-Burgers!" Poster Group Art Gallery
2014 - It ran from 4th until 8th August and was free for 65 children, who enjoyed games, art, crafts, cookery, stories, jokes, puppets and music. It was called "ShowStoppers!", based on material from Scripture Union on various stories from the Bible. Best joke of the week in Sid the Stage Manager's bucket was: "Why didn't the two worms go into Noah's Ark in an apple?" "Because everyone had to go in in pears." Poster
2013 - It ran from 5th until 9th August and was enjoyed by about 70 children. It was called "Space Academy", based on material from Scripture Union on the story of Daniel. Poster
Professor Buzzbrain's Space Jokes
2012 - It ran from 6th until 10th August. 81 different children attended over the week. It was called "On Your Marks...", based on the theme of the Olympic games. Poster
2011 - In 2011 the club started on Monday 8th August. It was called "Mission Rescue", on a secret agent theme, looking at the story of Moses and its relevance to life today. Over 50 children joined in the fun. Poster Photo Gallery
2010 - Our 2010 club was set in a fish and chip cafe called "Rocky's Plaice". Overall 90 children took part with 80 most days. It featured daily puppet shows, dvds, jokes, craft, games, cookery and so on.
2009 - Our 2009 club was "ShowStoppers!" with a theatre theme. Fewer children than normal took part this year, but those who did come had a great time learning about God's Great Plan.
2008 - In 2008 the club had a sporting theme: "Champion's Challenge"; 90 children attended the first session, with over 100 children taking part in all.
2007 - In 2007 the club ran with a green theme and the title "Waste Watchers". 101 children (about 80 per day) came. Especially enjoyed were the club song "What a Load of Rubbish", the visit each day by a Wimble (the Woodley equivalent of a Womble) and the cooking of bottle-shaped biscuits.
2006 - The HBC ran from 7th - 11th August 2006 and was called "Pyramid Rock", based on a book from Scripture Union, about the life of Joseph. About 100 children under 11 joined us for free on those 5 mornings. At the Sunday morning service on 13th more than a dozen of the children helped report back to the church what had taken place, with the aid of drama and song and the artwork displayed around the walls. The Elders of the church expressed their appreciation for the adult and young helpers for running this valuable outreach for the children.
2005 - The 2005 summer HBC "Land Lubbers" was very successful with over 100 children joining in. The theme of the life of Paul was studied through a theme of pirates. As well as study and worship, the children enjoyed art and craft, cooking, games and a daily puppet show. A photograph and report appeared in the Woodley Chronicle and we were honoured to have a visit from the mayor of Woodley.
2004 - The 2004 HBC was "Seaside Rock" with a lighthouse and seagulls.
2003 - 2003 was "Mission: Miracle Maker" on a space theme.
2002 - The 2002 HBC was "Desert Detectives" on an Egyptian theme with pyramids.
2001 - 2001's "Ground Breakers" was on the theme of building.
2000 - The 2000 HBC was "Going for Gold" on an Olympic theme. Photo Gallery
1999 - "Y Now?" included all the children receiving a millennium badge "2000: It's about time".
1998 - The 1998 title was "The Story Keepers", set in the Rome of AD64.

The first HBC was believed to have been in 1980 and continued with outside help such as from Youth for Christ. The first of the current format, run purely by the church, was 1984 when Revd Bernard Arnold introduced the story of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" with a real wardrobe, but not a real lion. Newspaper Cutting

Other early editions were also home-written and based on children's literature, such as "The Land of Far Beyond" (the retelling by Enid Blyton of John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress"). 1985 was "The Tanglewoods' Secret".

Page last updated 30th August 2023.

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