From CYDG....

Godly Play training programme 2012

Discover how Godly Play can help you see things differently and do things differently

CYDG is offering a programme of Godly Play training this year with courses at several levels.

Saturday 29 September & Wednesday 7 November
Getting Started
St John's, Waterloo, 10am-4pm
£15 (including lunch)

A relaxed and enjoyable way of introducing and demonstrating the Godly Play method and how it can be integrated into your work with children.  The day is shaped around a Godly Play session, giving everyone the chance to experience it first hand and reflect on it  and will cover practical issues as well as information about where to get resources and materials

Saturday 23 June
A Closer Look at… Parables
St John's, Waterloo, 10am-4pm
£15 (including lunch)

This day is an opportunity to expand and develop Godly Play storytelling skills and look more deeply at Godly Play practice. On this occasion the focus will be on the parables.

Saturday 12 May
Going Deeper - Celebrating Children’s Spirituality
St John's, Waterloo, 10am-4pm
£15 (including lunch)
With Revd Peter Privett, Anglican priest, Godly Play trainer and published author

An opportunity to explore Godly Play Volume 7, the stories of 12 saints each of which focuses on one particular quality of the Christian life and encourages children (and others) to explore their own vocation.  There will be a “hands on” opportunity to explore the material and make the saints figures.

Numbers are limited so book soon to avoid disappointment.

Details and booking forms can be downloaded here, or contact Caroline Gibson on 020 7939 9412

Cornerstones

Saturday 21 April
Children, Church and You
Trinity House, 9.45 am – 1.30pm
£5

A half day session for those who work with children on Sunday mornings for example in Sunday School/ Junior Church and will be an opportunity to develop and build on your skills and confidence working with children

More information and a booking form can be downloaded here.

30/30 Vision

Saturday 19 May
St John’s, Waterloo, 11am-3.30pm
£5, under 18’s £2 (including lunch)

To mark the 30th anniversary of its establishment, the Association of Black Clergy, along with the Diocesan Children and Youth Development Group and the Diocesan Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns Committee presents '30/30 Vision'. A day for all ages of dialogue, discussion, workshops and worship focusing on the experiences of young minority ethnic people in our church through the years.

It will include an opportunity to hear from those who were minority ethnic young people in the church themselves 30 years ago and young minority ethnic people in the church today.

There will also be a chance to consider the aspirations we have for young minority ethnic peoples’ experience of church in 30 years time.

Download information and booking form here or from Caroline Gibson on 020 7939 9412

Diocesan Youth Work Training Programme -
“Heart for Young People”

Aimed at all those doing youth work in Southwark Diocese, these sessions are designed to inspire, enable and equip whether you are just starting out or have many years experience. Each session is led by an expert – as well as providing an overview of current thinking and best practice. They will be interactive, practical and with opportunities for discussion and networking. All Sessions at St John's Waterloo, 6.30pm refreshments, session 7-9pm.

For details of future sessions, please contact Caroline Gibson on 020 7939 9412

Other events appear here regularly

Youth Pilgrimage to Taize

Erica Wooff, Chair of the Woolwich Area Youth Forum writes,

Dear sisters and brothers,

In this year of Faith Hope and Love - Bishop Christopher's Call to Mission we very much hope young people from across both Southwark and London dioceses will wish to share their faith and the love of God with 5,000 young people from across Europe at Taize this summer.

The 2011 Youth Pilgrimage to Taizé was the biggest yet when 60 pilgrims led by Bishop Christopher came together from parishes in all three Episcopal Areas and two Diocesan Secondary schools, along with young people from London Diocese. It was a real cross-Thames partnership and the demand for places was so high that not everyone could fit onto the Southwark coach.

The response of the Southwark pilgrims to the Taizé way of life was overwhelmingly positive. Blessing Agbasi from the Ravensbourne Team Ministry said, ‘I discovered at Taizé that a lot of young people are just like me and it is not a problem to doubt or ask questions.’ Gael Bouyer from Holy Trinity, Upper Tooting said, ‘I enjoyed it all much more than I thought I would. Praying and sitting in silence in church three times every day felt very natural.’ Vincent Atigla from Croydon Minster said, ‘The space between heaven and earth is very thin at Taizé. It is the most peaceful place I have ever been.’

Of course, any pilgrimage is as much about what we ourselves give to others as what we receive and the Southwark pilgrims certainly made their mark. Our gifts included helping to wash up 4,000 plates and bowls, serving snacks, cleaning toilets and deterring the ubiquitous Taizé wasps, which outnumbered the pilgrims about ten to one. But where we truly excelled was at football and gospel singing. Southwark pilgrims won most of the football games they played, but were careful to allow other groups to excel occasionally in the Taizé spirit of peace and reconciliation! And students from Trinity Lewisham and St Andrew’s, Croydon schools raised the roof of the village church with their impromptu gospel choir, bringing everyone to their feet to dance during the Anglican Eucharist presided over by Bishop Christopher and the Bishop of Oxford.

This year we hope to take even more pilgrims to Taizé .
The 2012 pilgrimage will take place from Saturday 25 August – Sunday 2 September and is open to anyone between 15 -29 years. The cost will be around £150 per person. The pdf brochure and consent form can be downloaded here. Demand is already high so book early!

N.B. As the numbers of leaders are restricted by the Taize Community and, in order to take as many young people as possible, we do not expect each parish to provide their own leader. If you are a leader wishing to come, please contact me directly. You must be willing to share in the responsibility of all young people under 18 on the pilgrimage.

Thanks and best wishes,

The Revd Erica Wooff

Ministry Matters 2011/12

Ministry Matters, the brochure of Diocesan Training courses has just been published. Whilst mainly directed at Clergy, Readers and SPAs, those working with children and young people may be interested in the following courses:

More details in the latest CYDG newsletter here or the brochure can be found here