Children & Youth
Methodist Children
and Youth |
December 2019
|
|
|
The Well
|
|
 |
 |
Dear Well members
Below are snapshots of information which may be of help to you in your work with children, young people and families...
|
 |
|
3Generate 2019 was the most successful Children and Youth Assembly yet with 1500 young people from across the country gathering in Pontins, Southport over the weekend 22 to 24 November to explore the theme, Where is God in your story?
The picture on the left shows delegates helping to build the manifesto, which will be made available by late January 2020.
You can read more about the event here.
The event’s growth means that 3Generate will be moving to the NEC in Birmingham for 2020, watch this video to find out more!
|
In other 3Generate news, following the elections held during the weekend, it has been announced that the next Methodist Youth President will be Phoebe Parkin, aged 17, from the Telford circuit in the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District.
Phoebe will become the new Youth President at a service to be held in September 2020.
You can read more about her here, or watch her campaign video.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Homegrown was a live-streamed conference from The Well, held in October and exploring how faith is grown at home. How can we encourage families and households to nurture faith together, and to spur each other on as they encounter Jesus and faith in every day life? This event offered opportunities for both theological reflection and practical equipping.
We had hundreds of people from across the Connexion tune in to join us, as well as our live studio audience. If you missed it, watch it again here.
|
Do you know children or young people who are passionate about the environment and climate change?
Would they like to help shape the Methodist Church's response to the climate crisis?
If so, please encourage them to sign-up as Green Agents of Change. Working with the Joint Public Issues Team, in 2020 we want to build a community of young Green Agents of Change to speak to power and influence and inform the Church.
Children and young people can sign-up here now.
|
|
|
Would you, or your children and young people. like to contribute a prayer to the next Methodist Prayer Handbook? The theme for 2020/2021 is the earth is the LORD’S (Psalm 24:1). Human activities are having a major effect on the life systems of our world. Climate change, species extinction, polar ice loss, sea-level rise, land and air pollution and waste disposal are all traced back to aspects of our choices. Tragically, those most affected are the poor who have contributed least to the problem. Prayers of thanksgiving, penitence, intercession are invited so that, with God’s help, we may take responsibility for our actions and, as stewards of God’s gift to us, participate in the healing of creation. Email your contributions by 13 January 2020. Please include your name, postal address and how you would like to be described. Prayers must be no longer than 120 words and should be relevant for use from September 2020 to August 2021. Please also send photographs that will help bring the theme to life. Photographs should be sent in their original size along with a brief description or caption. Before sending contributions, please read the full submission guidelines. We regret that due to the volume of prayers received not all submissions will be published.
Survey on young people's experiences of Christian practices. Have you ever wondered what Christian practices are the most attractive to young people? Or the most powerful for forming Christian identity? Youthscape is looking for paid or volunteer youth workers who can complete this short survey, which should take 10 - 15 minutes and asks about your own practice - what you teach your young people about or invite them to experience. The results will be published in the report, We do God: exploring the role of practice in youth ministry, which will be available to download early next year.
The Resilience Challenge offers churches in 100 different communities in the UK the chance to show the film, Resilience free of charge to parents, health and social workers, educators, police and local government representatives and initiate conversations on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and what, as a community, can be done to prevent or reduce them. Deadline for applications is 31 January 2020.
Theology Slam 2020. Continuing its search for the most engaging young voices on theology and the contemporary world and judged by some of the top communicators in the Christian world, Theology Slam aims to encourage a new generation to think theologically about the world around them - and encourages the Church to listen to what they have to say. The competition is open to those aged 18 to 30. To take part, entrants need to write 500 words about how theology relates to one of 12 topics and provide a short video introducing themselves (entry deadline 5 January). More details can be found here.
|
|
|
CHRISTMAS RESOURCES ROUND-UP
|
|
 |
|
From Methodist Publishing, if you are hosting carol singing or another event in your community and want to invite your neighbours to join you for Christmas worship, these resources will help you get started. On the Methodist website a number of resources for Advent and Christmas have been curated here. The Advent theme for this year is 'Homelessness and Hospitality' and you can download a load of supporting resources, including role play activities and talking points specifically designed to engage children and young people.
From ROOTS, the Stepping Stones Christmas Trail helps very young children to build the Christmas story as they sing, pray and play. The Christmas Celebration resources, telling the Christmas stories with activities and bunting, can be used as the basis for outreach to the community or a Christmas party for children's groups. The Child at the Centre is an all-age service for Christmas Day, with dressing up, banners, stars, prayers and carols. ROOTS is also offering its resources for Advent 3 (15 - 21 December) for free.
For a limited time, Same Boat Music is offering a free download of a digital album, Good News, with seven new Christmas songs recorded by adults and children together.
Also free to download, from Ali Campbell at The Source, is Adventure - 26 family devotions for the lead-up to Christmas.
From Lost Sheep you can download Tonight at the Palace - a retelling of the Christmas story.
Scripture Union has A 95 Christmas, with advice to help churches reach out to the 95% of children who have no connection to a church. You can also order a free copy of the book, God Became Like Me? to help children discover the real meaning of Christmas.
The Church Urban Fund offers a selection of last-minute Advent resources, including reflections for Advent Sundays, service outlines and ideas for all-age worship.
Available from several online retailers, The Christmas Promise from Catalina Echeverri is a beautiful book for 4 - 7s, full of mazes, word searches, colouring activities and puzzles.
The Bible Society's Instant Nativity gives you a hassle-free play if you're feeling pressed for time and resources.
Some great ideas for 'Frozen themed fun' can be found on the Messy Church website and they have also teamed up with Christian Aid to produce this session plan about God's worldwide family.
The Advent campaign of JPIT (the Joint Public Issues Team) - Natwivity - has been gaining support and it's not too late to join in as they tell the story of Advent every day via social media.
Methodist development charity, All We Can, is inviting you to do something extraordinary this Christmas. You can order church resources, download a film and order alternative gifts for friends and family.
And last but not least, Transform Our World has created some great resources to help young people explore the true cost of Christmas for the good of the planet.
|
|
|
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is 18 - 25 January. Materials have been prepared by churches in Malta and Gozo on the theme of Unusual Kindness, with resources from ROOTS for the all-age ecumenical service.
The new JMA (Junior Mission for All) Commissioning Service, on the theme of Mission for Everywhere!, is ready to download. For the first time ever, the service also comes with an exciting range of supporting resources, including videos, a PowerPoint presentation and activity worksheets.
In 2020 Student Sunday (also known as the Universal Day of Prayer for Students) takes place on 16 February. The Student Christian Movement offers a new resource pack, Known By Name, with lots of suggestions for how you can organise a service to pray for students on the day. It also has some tips on how you can engage students in your community.
|
|
|
New places for new people, the new ‘Our Calling fund’ has been launched by the Connexional Team to help start new, Christian communities. Churches and circuits are invited to apply for grants of between £100 and £1500. The New Places for New People grants are available for new types of worship and new churches, to create Christian communities and explore new ideas, especially those that provide outreach to non-Christians and for church planting or pioneering with people from poorer communities or those under 25 years old. Find out more.
Growing Lives from the All Churches Trust is a grants programme that aims to help churches and Christian organisations to connect with children and young people and forge lasting links with families in their area. Find out more.
Sport England - Toyota Parasport Fund has grants are available for not-for-profit activity providers to purchase specialist equipment to help get more disabled people involved in sport and physical activity in England. Applications for current round of funding close 20 December. Find out more.
The Marsh Christian Trust supports around 300 charities every year and focuses on providing funding which could help small organisations pay for various running costs, such as volunteer expenses, training days, equipment maintenance and other core outgoings. Find out more.
CreatedBy Rugby League World Cup 2021 Capital Grants Programme offers funding to organisations developing Rugby League activity in England, for investing in facilities and equipment that create environments that are accessible, welcoming and build a legacy of the Rugby League World Cup 2021 in local communities. Find out more.
Co-op Foundation - Space to Connect offers interest free loans to help community organisations identify, improve and protect community spaces in England where people can connect and co-operate. Find out more.
Million Minutes makes small grants for projects that enable young people to take positive action in line with Catholic social teaching. Find out more.
|
|
|
Part-time Interim Families and Community Coordinator (maternity cover)
at Wesley Hall, Crookes, Sheffield
The church is looking for someone with the passion and expertise to work with them in developing mission and ministry to children aged up to 11. The role is 22 hours a week with a salary up to £13,000 plus the option to join the contributory pension scheme. The start date for the role will be mid-February/early March 2020. It will be a fixed term appointment for 12 months.
Deadline for applications is 18 December 2019 and interviews will take place on 14 January (subject to candidate availability). For information and applications, contact Matt Irons.
|
|
|
|
|
31 January - 1 February 2020, St. Paul's Church, Canterbury
The Conversation (part 3): Hearing Voices
Gathering to talk about how we might reimagine ministry with our younger generations with a lens of rhythm, ritual, encounter and now hearing voices. With speakers from a range of perspectives. Book here.
5 February 2020, London
The ABC of Trauma
A CPD accredited one-day course enabling those working with children and young people to understand the impact of trauma and learn strategies for promoting protective behaviours and developing resilience. Find out more here and book here.
7 - 9 February, Eastbourne
Hand in Hand Conference
For anyone in children's and family ministry, with main stage sessions, seminars and discussion groups to provide ideas for refreshing your ministry. Find out more and book here.
12 - 13 February 2020, Birmingham
Exploited Children and Gangs: Introduction and Awareness Training
Training to empower and inspire practitioners working with vulnerable young people to take a trauma-informed approach. Find out more here and book here.
22 February, Cambridge (first of three events)
Youth Evangelism Conference
Designed to equip and inspire leaders to reach young people. The theme for 2020 is 'for the love of God' - exploring how God's love transforms us, our young people and our communities. Find out more and book here.
29 February 2020, Methodist Church House, London
Exploring Ordained Ministry Day
We are looking for people who are being asked the question "Have you ever felt that God is calling you to become an ordained Minister?" The day will be hosted by the Ministries: Vocations and Worship Team. Book a place here.
7 March 2020, Bristol (second of three events)
Youth Evangelism Conference
See details of event on 22 February or click here.
7 March 2020, Derby
Renewal and Rebellion: faith, economy and climate (JPIT Conference)
Inviting you to join the conversation, looking at the big challenges we all face. Find out more here.
13 - 15 March 2020, Kingswood Activity Centre, Ashford, Kent
Kingdom Revolution (Methodist South East District weekend away)
The first of what it is hoped will be many youth events in the South East District, aimed at those aged 11 to 17. Find out more on the event's Facebook page.
21 March 2020, Manchester (third of three events)
Youth Evangelism Conference
See details of event on 22 February or click here.
15 – 19 June 2020, Sheffield
Liberty, Legacy, Leadership: Global higher education chaplains’ conference
The 6th global conference for chaplains in higher education will be held in Sheffield. More information on their website.
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR 020 7486 5502 (Help Desk) www.methodist.org.uk
Registered charity no. 1132208 |
| |
|
