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25/07/2008
New Secondary Schools Online Survey More...

18/07/2008
Appointment Announcement - The Revd Pam Abraham More...

18/07/2008
Appointment Announcement - The Revd Canon Fiona Brampton More...

18/07/2008
Appointment Announcement - The Reverend Christopher Barter More...

17/07/2008
Departure Announcement - The Revd Stephen Taylor More...

14/07/2008
Prince Charles bestows agricultural fellowship on Bishop of Ely More...

03/07/2008
Consecration of Bishop of Huntingdon More...

01/07/2008
Northstowe New School Competitions More...

30/06/2008
Consecration of new Bishop of Huntingdon More...

30/06/2008
Diocesan Children's Work Adviser More...

29/06/2008
Petertide Ordination 2008 at Ely Cathedral More...

24/06/2008
Appointment Announcement - The Revd Jutta Brueck More...

24/06/2008
Appointment Announcement - The Revd Fiona Windsor More...

24/06/2008
Announcement - Rural Dean Fordham & Quy Deanery More...

06/06/2008
The Venerable John Sanderson Long More...

05/06/2008
Bishop’s Lent Appeal raises £17,000 More...

02/06/2008
New Bishop of Huntingdon appointed More...

02/06/2008
The Revd Canon George Christopher Stead More...

20/05/2008
The Revd Mark Mills-Powell More...

17/05/2008
Children's Holiday Clubs More...

28/04/2008
Licensing Details - The Revd Sheila Anthony More...

18/04/2008
Announcement of Rural Dean Appointment - The Revd Canon Wim Zwalf More...

18/04/2008
Announcement of Rural Dean Appointment - The Revd Canon Shamus Williams More...

18/04/2008
Announcement of Rural Dean Appointment - The Revd Canon Dr John Binns More...

14/04/2008
Announcement of Appointment - The Revd Sheila Anthony More...

11/04/2008
Retirement Announcement - The Revd Christopher Strong More...

11/04/2008
Parish of Trumpington More...

09/04/2008
The Parish of Trumpington More...

01/04/2008
Departure Announcement - The Revd Anna Hult More...

01/04/2008
Retirement Announcement - The Revd Geoff Turner More...

01/04/2008
Retirement Announcement - The Revd David Spencer More...

18/03/2008
Appointment Announcement - The Revds Alan & Jane Hulme More...

11/03/2008
St Catharine’s College Girls’ Choir More...

01/03/2008
The Launch Of 'Breathe' More...

20/02/2008
Retirement Announcement - The Revd Richard Bunyan More...

15/02/2008
Licensing Details - The Revd Kylie Hodgins More...

04/02/2008
Appointment Annnouncement - The Revd Margaret Ann Gurner More...

04/02/2008
The Revd Stanley Brown More...

25/01/2008
Institution Details - The Revd Matthew Bradbury More...

24/01/2008
Licensing Details - The Revd Dr Paul Andrews More...

23/01/2008
DIOCESE OF ELY PRESS RELEASE - Trumpington Tribunal More...

18/01/2008
Bishop’s Lent Appeal to support people affected by leprosy More...

16/01/2008
Diocesan Children's Work Adviser More...

11/01/2008
Appointment Announcement - Chair of the Diocesan Youth Council More...

10/01/2008
Bishop Anthony backs sustainable initiatives for local democracy More...

05/01/2008
New Year's Honours Awards More...

04/01/2008
Appointment Announcement - The Revd Matthew Bradbury More...

03/01/2008
Appointment Announcement - The Revd Kylie Hodgins More...

03/01/2008
Appointment of New Honorary Canons More...

13/12/2007
Four new Honorary Canons to be installed early next year More...

11/12/2007
Departure Announcement - The Revd Dr Giles Kendall More...

10/12/2007
Bishop takes seat in House of Lords More...

03/12/2007
Appointment Announcement - The Reverend Dr Paul Andrews More...

02/12/2007
Hundreds say fond farewell to Bishop John More...

25/11/2007
Hundreds of local parishioners expected at Bishop's farewell More...

24/11/2007
FAREWELL TO BISHOP JOHN More...

19/11/2007
The Reverend Nigel Cooper More...

16/11/2007
The Reverend Professor Dan Hardy More...

13/11/2007
Appointment Announcement - The Revd Annabel Shilson-Thomas More...

05/11/2007
Departure Announcement - The Revd Dale Gingrich More...

01/11/2007
Appointment and Licensing Details - The Revd Rachel Nicholls More...

29/10/2007
Bishop’s Adviser for Music appointed More...

29/10/2007
A day of prayer for the Armed Forces More...

25/10/2007
Lent Appeal More...

22/10/2007
Presentation Gift for Bishop John More...

22/10/2007
Departure Announcement - The Revd Dr Diana Sanders More...

22/10/2007
Appointment Announcement - The Revd Val Fernandez More...

20/10/2007
Provincial Tribunal - Trumpington More...

17/09/2007
Bishop John's Farewell Service More...

17/09/2007
Departure Announcement - The Reverend David Deboys More...

16/09/2007
55 Lay Ministers commissioned More...

12/09/2007
The hidden world of labour slavery in Britain More...

03/09/2007
Retirement Announcement - The Revd Canon Fred Kilner More...

17/08/2007
Church thefts More...

17/08/2007
Flood appeal More...

10/08/2007
Retirement Announcement - The Revd Colin Backhouse More...

09/08/2007
Announcement of New Rural Dean Appointment : Keith Johnson More...

09/08/2007
Announcement of New Rural Dean Appointment : James Blandford-Baker More...

09/08/2007
Announcement of New Rural Dean Appointment Annette Reed More...

03/08/2007
Retirement Announcement - The Revd Canon Jeremy Pemberton More...

30/07/2007
Flood Appeal - closing date & gift aid More...

25/07/2007
From Bishop Anthony: the recent flood disaster More...

12/07/2007
Lent Appeal raises over £10,560 to challenge poverty More...

10/07/2007
Bishop John Inge to become Bishop of Worcester More...

06/07/2007
Licensing Details - The Revd Stuart Mews More...

05/07/2007
Licensing Details - The Revd Nick Devenish More...

04/07/2007
Attempted car bombings More...

01/07/2007
Bishops ordain record number of clergy this year More...

11/06/2007
ELY DIOCESAN SYNOD 9.6.2007 - A STATEMENT BY THE BISHOP OF ELY More...

08/06/2007
Licensing Details - The Revd Keith Jeffries More...

22/05/2007
Appointment Announcement - Honorary Rural Officer More...

16/05/2007
Appointment Announcement - The Revd Nick Devenish More...

13/05/2007
Christian Aid Week More...

08/05/2007
Retirement Announcement - The Revd Canon Roger Arguile More...

08/05/2007
Licensing Details - The Revds Michael Banyard & Kate Peacock More...

08/05/2007
Licensing Details - The Revd Dr Robin McKenzie More...

30/04/2007
Retirement Announcement - The Revd Canon Christine Sindall More...

19/04/2007
New Schools' Bulletin launched More...

18/04/2007
Appointment Announcement - The Reverend Dr Robin McKenzie More...

09/04/2007
Diocesan Children's Work Adviser More...

03/04/2007
The Reverend Richard Kenneth David Watkins-Wright More...

03/04/2007
Appointment Announcement - Honorary Assistant Directors of Ordinands More...

30/03/2007
Appointment Announcement - The Revd Michael Hore More...

29/03/2007
Institution details - The Revd Nick Moir More...

27/03/2007
Mission Shaped School Study Day 20th April More...

20/03/2007
Living with climate change in the Fens More...

19/03/2007
Appointment Announcement - The Reverend Kate Peacock More...

16/03/2007
Licensing Details - The Revd Gareth Rowlands More...

15/03/2007
Licensing Details - The Reverend Jim Mynors More...

28/02/2007
Licensing Details - The Reverend Michael Matthews More...

27/02/2007
Appointment Announcement More...

21/02/2007
Challenging Poverty More...

21/02/2007
Appointment Announcement More...

09/02/2007
For England and Saint George More...

08/02/2007
Rave in the Nave 2007 More...

29/01/2007
Chaplaincy to People at Work More...

27/01/2007
Four new Honorary Canons installed More...

22/01/2007
Schools Service Level Agreement More...

12/01/2007
Schools Admissions Guidance Issued More...

11/01/2007
The Young Ones More...

09/01/2007
Website More...

23/12/2006
Former Archdeacon of Ely celebrates 70 years in the ministry More...

18/12/2006
Diocesan Children’s Adviser More...

12/12/2006
Good News for Church Schools in League Tables More...

12/12/2006
Education Sunday materials online More...

07/12/2006
Church of England New Chief Education Officer appointed More...

06/12/2006
December Thoughts by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Willams More...

23/10/2006
Making your voice heard More...

21/10/2006
Diocesan Fresh Expressions Advisor licensed More...

15/10/2006
81 Lay Ministers commissioned More...

09/10/2006
Appointment of four new Honorary Canons More...

30/09/2006
New lay minsters licensed More...

27/09/2006
High Sheriff’s Justice Service More...

02/09/2006
Downham Market High School More...

29/08/2006
Bishop supports CEN Hospice at Home campaign More...

18/08/2006
England’s first vicar sub-postmaster? More...

03/08/2006
John Eddy More...

13/07/2006
Archdeaconry of Cambridge More...

01/07/2006
Clergy numbers in Ely Diocese boosted More...

24/06/2006
Diocesan Schools Team posts More...

23/06/2006
Resignation of the Revd John Coombs More...

16/06/2006
Diocesan website wins national award More...

14/06/2006
Recent appointments and departures More...

12/06/2006
new Priest-in-Charge for Stanground More...

05/06/2006
Departure of the Reverend Anne Haselhurst More...

20/04/2006
New Chaplain among Deaf People More...

20/04/2006
Networking among Faith Groups More...

19/04/2006
Low flying Screaming Swift Survey More...

16/04/2006
The Bishop of Ely's Easter sermon More...

07/04/2006
Retirement of the Revd Frank Fisher More...

03/04/2006
Imagine! -- an outdoor children's party at Anglesey Abbey More...

02/04/2006
Appointment of Diocesan Fresh Expressions Advisor More...

31/03/2006
Ground-breaking appointment for fresh approaches to Christian mission and ministry More...

30/03/2006
Licensing of new Curate for East Leightonstone Group More...

30/03/2006
Licensing of new Assistant Priest for Haddenham and Wilburton More...

20/03/2006
Licensing of new Area Dean of Cambridge Deanery South More...

14/03/2006
New Secondary School for Downham Market More...

01/03/2006
Church schools affirm broadening RE teaching More...

01/03/2006
new Area Dean of Cambridge Deanery South More...

01/03/2006
2005 Annual Report on the diocesan schools' work More...

01/03/2006
'See It Like It Is' photo exhibition More...

10/02/2006
Institution of new Vicar of the East Marshland Benefice More...

06/02/2006
St Mary's, Godmanchester More...

06/02/2006
new Priest-in-Charge of St Mark's, Newnham More...

02/02/2006
Oarsmen celebrate historic link with Church More...

30/01/2006
Diocese launches Lent Appeal 2006 to support AIDS victims in Vellore More...

23/01/2006
Licensing of new Priest-in-Charge of Great Gransden with Abbotsley & Little Gransden and Waresley More...

05/01/2006
new Chair of the Diocesan Children's Council More...

04/01/2006
Church thefts More...

17/11/2005
Churches embrace new hi-tech opportunities with their latest website More...

27/10/2005
Local Ecumenical Partnership with North Elbe parish More...

 
 
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chadvice

 

Suggestions for children’s workers and children’s ministers

 

Needless to say, it is essential for child protection guidelines and rules to be observed when working with children, whether individually or in groups

 

 

Children and vocation

Very young children have shown vocations to ministry, including vocations to ordination. Sadly, children are often not listened to or taken seriously, and this can lead to frustration and disillusionment with church.

Children have a great deal to offer to the church as they are, and not just as future adults. It is worth reflecting on how your church engages children in its worship and ministry, and whether this can be developed for instance by including children in the welcome team, in the offertory procession, as readers and/or intercessors, in choirs and music groups, and in many other ways. In some churches children are involved in healing ministry.

Nurturing children’s vocation

If children are encouraged to take a full part in the life of the church, they will discover gifts and callings that will be fruitful for them and for the church community as a whole. This is the single most important thing we can do to nurture children’s vocation.

Role models are also important. If children get to know their ministry team personally, they will be more likely to take an interest in what they do, to ask questions, and to find out what ministry is really like.

Resources are currently being developed to address a gap in the market including a story book about gifts, and a Godly Play session on vocation. More details on these resources will be posted here in due course.

Role play can be helpful – what provision is there in your church for children to use ‘liturgical toys’ such as mini-altars, age-appropriate orders of service, soft toy ‘vicars’ (try adapting a knitting pattern for an angel minus the wings – vestments can be made from coloured felt). Many churchgoing children already play church at home, using biscuits and ribena.

Children may enjoy planning a whole service themselves, on a theme that is important to them. Alternatively, it may be possible to encourage them to contribute to an all age or other service by choosing and presenting readings, prayers, drama or similar. Even quite young children can be encouraged to think about the issues surrounding worship-planning (who is the service for, what resources are available, who will do what, how long should it be, etc).

Vocation is not just about ordination; there are many ways of helping children discover and use their gifts and skills in the service of God and of others. Elsewhere in this section are some suggestions for activities to use with children’s groups addressing the theme of vocation in different ways.

When a child identifies a gift, try to make sure that that gift is used and affirmed, for instance if a child reveals a talent for creative writing or drawing, offer them a slot in the parish magazine (such as a report or illustration for a major service or local event).

Working with individuals

Take their experience seriously. God does speak to children and young people, and Samuel is a good Biblical model for this (1 Sam 3.1-10). Ask them what happened, what they heard or thought, how it made them feel, etc. Is it a scary thing or an exciting thing for them? Do they believe it’s for real? Try not to say ‘yes, you are clearly meant to be a priest’ or ‘no, give up now’. It can take time for a sense of vocation to grow and develop.

Allow them to experiment – let young people and children experience ministry eg by helping to plan services; taking part in the liturgy as servers; collection takers; in offertory procession etc; as assistants to the sidespersons; giving testimony (if they’re up to it); doing readings; leading intercessions; involvement with healing ministry. Help the young person to understand what is happening in the services – make sure they get a seat where they can see what’s happening, and encourage them to ask questions about what’s going on behind the scenes.

Children and young people love to learn – don’t be conned into watering down theology, but concentrate on finding striking images that the young person can relate to.

Offer work shadowing and work experience, within pastorally appropriate limits. Encourage children to look at the totality of the job, not just the Sunday up-front bit.

Finally, bear in mind that the youngest age at which a person may attend a selection conference for ordained ministry in the Church of England is 18, but most people wait longer, perhaps until they have started (or finished) university, or until they have had some experience of secular work. There is no hard and fast rule, because everyone is different, but this is something about which it would be helpful to talk to a vocations advisor before advising a young person on what their next step should be.

 
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