NEWS FROM THE NORTH WESTERN SYNOD 22 AUGUST 2018

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1 NEWS FROM THE NORTH WESTERN SYNOD 22 AUGUST 2018 From now until the beginning of September the newsletter will be sent out on an occasional basis rather than every week. 1: Ministry Enquirer s Day Saturday 10 th November : Children s and Youth Work News - The Launch Youth event in Burnley 3: Family Ministry a training opportunity for volunteers and workers 4: Pilots Update 5: Summer Playschemes and Holiday Clubs 6: Youth Assembly : Beyond Myself In Exploring Mental Health an opportunity for young people (18-25 years old) 8: Sing! A weekend for young people in the United Reformed Church to explore music in worship

2 1: Ministry Enquirer s Day Saturday 10 th November 2018 Westminister College Cambridge The Enquirer s Conference is for anyone who wishes to explore service in the United Reformed Church such as Stipendiary Ministry of Word and Sacraments Non - Stipendiary Ministry of Word and Sacraments Church Related Community Ministry Lay Preaching

3 2: Children s and Youth Work News - The Launch Youth event in Burnley Looking for somewhere exciting to take your youth group? THE LAUNCH is an opportunity for youth groups from across the North West of England, to gather together to be energised and inspired to change the world they live in. To live fearlessly for Jesus where they are: school, street & social media! We are hosting the first ever 'THE LAUNCH' on Friday 7th Sept at 7pm in Burnley at Life Church Lancashire. There will be... worship led by the The Noise Band, DJ set from NetroAki, footy cage, chip spaces and an inspirational message from Matt Brunton. Matt is one of the best communicators in the North West, he has been communicating to young people for over 15 years and has a razor sharp focus on creative missional living. 3: Family Ministry a training opportunity for volunteers and workers We are the family of God. But how effectively do we work with the families with whom we have contact? Core Skills for Family Ministry is a new user-friendly modular training course for volunteers, and workers, involved with children s and family work in local churches. It is an interdenominational modular scheme offering foundational training for all those involved with church-based family ministry. It offers six stand-alone sessions on: Biblical, historical and contemporary understanding of family Family ministry today Seasons of family life Role of family relationships Family well-being and wholeness Faith in families

4 Each module is creative, thought-provoking, interactive and designed to inspire and refresh children's and family workers at all levels of expertise and experience. Leo Roberts, the synod Children and Youth Development Officer, is looking to run some pilot sessions this autumn. If your church is interested in being a host venue for one, or all, of the sessions please contact him on cydo@nwsynod.org.uk 4: Pilots Update North West Pilots are all gearing up for our summer camp at Quinta Hall in Shropshire next month. And it made us think about how Pilots can be developed further in our Synod. The question we most often get asked is What is Pilots? Well Non-uniformed, but firmly faith based, Pilots is the United Reformed Church's primary organisation for work with children and young people from Does your church have a mission to children and young people but you're not quite sure how to go about it? It may be that Pilots is the answer you have been looking for. A number of churches have closed Pilots Companies in recent years - not because there aren't the Pilots, but because there aren't the Pilots Officers. Maybe Mission partnerships can work together to run a Pilots Company, with Pilots Officers coming from a number of partnership churches serving the needs of children and young people in a particular area. The Regional Pilots Officer, Anne Hatch, and the Synod Children and Youth Development Officer, are hoping to run a series of taster sessions in Mission partnerships this Autumn. We will showcase the materials that are produced to help you lead Pilots sessions, show you some games, explain how Pilots works and answer any questions you may have. If YOUR church would like to host one, please contact Leo on cydo@nwsynod.org.uk 5: Summer Playschemes and Holiday Clubs Leo was invited to a number of churches to see them in mission action with children and young people over the summer. Bamford Chapel and Norden were using material (free of charge) from The Church of Scotland. Professor Potty was on hand to introduce the day s theme (The day Leo visited it was friendship and vision ). The United Reformed Churches in Blackburn were running a joint Holiday Club at Westbury Gardens URC. Led by their Church Related Community Work Minister, Mal Breeze, they were looking at the environment and waste. The churches had worked with local people and schools to tidy up a patch of waste land near the church which, with the local council s help, they are hoping to turn into a community green space. They made a litter robot which a Community Arts Worker is going to replicate as a metal statue. Children from local schools had also written poems and prose about litter.

5 Worsley Road URC had an activity day for nearly 40 children. Like the churches in Blackburn, they had adapted material provided by Scripture Union. Their theme was Being Part Of God s Team There were four zones: science, sports, craft and thinking and the children could do them in any order they wished. North Western Pilots had kindly lent some of their equipment in the form of garden games. What was most noticeable in all the visits was not just that the children were having a great time, but that the adult volunteers were, too. Children had brought with them non-church friends and it was a fantastic mission opportunity. The churches were using the skills and talents of adults (and young people!) who are involved with church to provide fun and meaningful activities for the children of the local community. If you have a playscheme or holiday club activity planned, please let Leo know on cydo@nwsynod.org.uk. He would love to come along and see what you are doing. If you have already run your event send your photos and a write-up to the Synod Office so that we can share your good news in the newsletter!

6 6: Youth Assembly 2019 Yes, it s that time of year again applications for a place at the annual United Reformed Church Youth Assembly are now open! The synod will pay the conference cost of young people attending (at the early bird rate) so get your applications in now. Details can be found at html Please encourage young people (year 10 and above) in your church to come along and support them in doing so. 7: Beyond Myself In Exploring Mental Health an opportunity for young people (18-25 years old) Organised, and paid for, by the Council for World Mission this event (run over two weekends) is for young people (18-25 years old) to explore issues relating to mental health and wellbeing amongst young people a growing issue that has been in the headlines recently. Further details, and a booking form, are available here: All expenses will be paid by CWM. The deadline for bookings has been extended but please apply as soon as possible!

7 8: Sing! A weekend for young people in the United Reformed Church to explore music in worship The cost for the weekend is For more information contact children.youth@urc.org.uk