Author: Philip Howson

Youth Church start: 8th September 4 p.m. Brington, All Saints

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We are pleased to let you know that Youth Church is starting on Sunday 8th at 4 p.m.

We need parents/carers to complete the attached “essential information” form, so we can hold the activity safely. Please download and return to revphiliphowson@gmail.com as soon as possible, or ensure it is complete and submitted on the day.

With thanks, Philip

Download the form here: Essential information Youth Church

Youth work training

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Hi folks,

it may be a bit late for your diary, but Ely Diocese have promoted some youth ministry training called “Catalyst”.

If you’re interested, you would need to contact Revd Philip, there is an application process, candidates would have to be agreed by parishes (or the Joint Council) and we would have to do a proper recruitment. But it does look good.

Details we have are below:

Introduction
Catalyst is a fully funded dynamic training course that aims to equip and connect those who work (in both voluntary and paid capacities) with children and young people in the local church.  It is for those who:
  • Volunteer in a toddler group
  • Help at a youth group
  • Run Sunday morning sessions
  • Run or help at  other groups for children or young people in your church?
  • Are looking to grow their ministry with children and young people?
  • Want to be equipped, empowered, and resourced to serve the next generation?
  • Want to gain new or deepen their knowledge or refresh their practice in their work with children and/or young people.
Over the course you will learn from experts in the fields of children and youth ministry, whilst being supported locally by myself and Mike Kelly (the Development Officer for Youth and Families). The course will benefit you if you are new to children and youth ministry by providing a solid foundation on which you can build. It will also benefit those who have been around a little longer, to renew, refresh and revitalise their existing knowledge and experience.
Have a watch of this short video clip to hear how some of this year’s cohort from Ely Diocese have got on: https://youtu.be/ugnSbbNBwdI?feature=shared.
Commitment – What’s Involved
Catalyst is designed to fit in around other commitments and there is some flexibility in the delivery to accommodate this. Please don’t be put off if you can’t make one of the dates or are worried about the weekend conference (or timings fitting around work/family etc) as we can have a discussion about this and there may be work arounds where personal circumstance means this might be necessary.
  • Induction Day: Ridley Hall Cambridge on Saturday 28th September.
  • Five Local Group Sessions: There are five monthly group sessions where you will meet, for about 2 hours, with other Catalyst participants from your Diocese. For Cohort 1 we met in the evenings at a time and place that worked for the participants, and we would agree with the participants in cohort 2, where and when would be best for them to meet this time around. Prior to each group session, you will engage with topic content through the Catalyst platform from the comfort of your own home. This means that you will be familiar with the topic before you meet as a group, then you will be able to engage with the topic themes by drawing on your own experience. These sessions are once a month and there is approximately 5 hours prep to do for each session in advance – this is online, and you can choose when to do this in your own time (and you can do it in bite sized chunks to work around other commitments).
  • Conference: At the end of January (Friday 31st to Sunday 2nd Feb.) you and all Catalyst participants from other Dioceses are invited to the three-day Catalyst conference at the Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire. All meals and accommodation will be provided, and during the day you will hear from experts in the fields of children and youth ministry.
  • Graduation: You are invited to celebrate the completion of the course and all that you have achieved with your new Catalyst friends at Ridley Hall in Cambridge (Saturday 17th May).
 
Course Content 
At its heart, Catalyst will help you develop approaches with children and young people that fosters a holistic and lively relationship with Jesus. Weaved through the sessions and the conference are the core topics of safeguarding, cultural awareness, working in groups, discipleship, self-knowledge, self-reflection, theology, biblical studies, play, informal learning, mission and evangelism. Over the course you will at the following:
Children, Young People and Culture
Children, Young People and Relationships
Children, Young People and Discipleship
Children, Young People and Growth
Children, Young People and Learning
Children, Young People and Me