GLORIA at ROCKY’S PLAICE

As you know I have occasionally helped in previous years with the Summer Club at Broxbourne URC, being during the first week of the summer holidays. Once I progressively climbed up the inside of the roof, another time I appeared variously in a junk shop.

This year, at their 19th Summer Club, believe it or not I was offered a really starring job; to impersonate five different characters in one week!

Strangely, something to do with a fish and chip shop.

Sunday Afternoon:

Nobody is allowed at Summer Club without a badge, so, arriving direct from my sunny back garden on preparation day, the first thing was to enrol alongside the rest of the Staff.

Apparently all the five days would involve Peter of sainted memory with his colleagues in the early days of the Acts of the Apostles as presented for 7 to 11 year olds by the Scripture Union.

Get this! Simon, a fisherman, was nicknamed by Jesus as Peter, the rock. Petra translates as a rock or rocky place. So the association of Rocky with his fishing role leads to Rocky’s Plaice, what else but a fish and chip shop? Obvious!

You might even believe that for the final barbeque on the parents’ evening of the fifth day the Club abandoned the usual beefburgers in favour of handing around fish and chips!

To business:

Monday found me dressed in a pilot’s flying suit and helmet on stage in the church in front of about 120 youngsters plus lots of staff.

The Codfather (!), looking suspiciously like the celebrated Captain Cod, made his appearance half-hidden in a bushy lip-reader’s nightmare which progressed from black to grey in the course of the week, while sharp eyes might have noticed that more medal ribbons grew on his jacket.

After introducing me, surprisingly he produced another flying connection, a boomerang; something that comes back. He told of Jesus saying goodbye to His disciples, including Peter/Rocky, before being taken up into a cloud leaving the Key word –Hope –of His promised return.

For the record: a friendly snap.

Surprise, surprise, Tuesday saw me as a French Onion-seller. What else? For this purpose I was proudly displaying a string of the biggest and most succulent specimens obtainable - ex Sainsbury’s.

Appreciating my French, bi-lingual skills, the kids all joined to greet me with ‘Bonjour, Gloria’. This led naturally to the speaking in many languages by the Disciples caused by the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon them at Pentecost. Key word –Power.

Can you see my rainbow trout today?

Wednesday was a quick change to being a Nurse; someone who cured. I was holding a mat to associate with Peter and John whose faith in Jesus cured the immobile Beggar sitting at the Temple Gate. Key word – Faith.

In the Drama, which was also developing daily, let me introduce you to the chip shop’s two incompetent trainee chefs, ‘Salt’ (left, with the uncontrollable hat) and long-suffering ‘Vinegar’, apparently moonlighting from the local pantomime.

Salt and Vinegar had their own song with the audience, but there was also the main Club Song which equated Rocky’s Plaice with the Church: House of Hope, Good News, Where People Meet, and so on.

Thursday accorded more to my quiet, saintly style, as a Nun - and a very convincing one too, if I say so myself.

In my hand was a pullover, a garment to associate with those made and lovingly given to the poor by one Dorcas, unfortunately recently deceased to the regret of one and all. Peter was called and, with the power of Jesus, restored her to life. Keyword – Love.

There were also some unscripted loving moments which I may say were not without a touch of doubt on my part.

For the final, fifth, fish shop function on Friday we turned all Military.

I had brought a sheet, the contents of which were what Peter dreamed about, in effect telling him not to reject what God brought to him.

Then, knock, knock, messengers at the door downstairs were requesting him to come and tell his news about Jesus to non-Jews, particularly sent by Officer Cornelius because he also had been given a vision.

Cornelius and his family were also affected by receiving the Holy Spirit, such that Peter realised it was for the whole world, not just the Jews. A momentous break-through! Key word – Tell.

For today’s pose we doffed caps, although I am not quite sure why. See that grey beard!

Through the week, in the Craft areas, I hear that the youngsters had each been making sea-related items, or cooking things like octopus-decorated biscuits, none of which, I may say, came my distance.

As a result of my help all week there was a generous round of applause on friday for Gloria.

(Thinks: Not to mention the Scripture Union).

Well earned, no doubt, but I couldn’t help thinking that if one day a chap called Luke hadn’t met up with Paul and consequently decided to research the Acts of the Apostles (as well as all about Jesus), then we would never have been able to read any of this about Peter, and probably not be gathering here at all, ever. Well done Luke for telling us about Rocky.

Blessings on you all, Gloria..

P.S. You notice that I have carefully preserved the anonymity of Revd David Bradburn.