CandY dates for 2011-2012

Dates for the coming year: 

Children only: 

Saturday 12th November 2011 3.00pm - 4.30pm 

Venue tbc 

Church of England Youth Council 

Friday 18th-Sunday 20th November (2 Worcester reps) 

High Leigh conference centre, Herts 

Young people & young adults only: 

Monday 5th December 7.30pm 

The Great Hall, The Old Palace, 

Deansway, Worcester, WR1 2JE

Children only social: 

Saturday 17th December 2011 3.00pm - 4.30pm Venue tbc

Young people & young adults only social: 

Saturday 14th January 2012 Activity & Venue tbc

Children only: 

Saturday 14th January 2012 3.00pm - 4.30pm Venue tbc 

Children only: 

Saturday 4th February 2012 3.00pm - 4.30pm Venue tbc 

Young people & young adults only: 

Monday 6th February 7.30pm 

The Great Hall, The Old Palace, 

Deansway, Worcester, WR1 2JE 

Children and Youth: 

Saturday 10th March 2012 FULL SYNOD: VISITORS WELCOME

9.30am - 4.30pm Venue tbc

Children only: 

Saturday 28th April 2012 3.00pm - 4.30pm Venue tbc 

Young people & young adults only: 

Monday 21st May 7.30pm 

The Great Hall, The Old Palace, 

Deansway, Worcester, WR1 2JE 

Young people & young adults only: 

Monday 18th June 7.30pm 

The Great Hall, The Old Palace, 

Deansway, Worcester, WR1 2JE

Children’s Weekend away: 

Saturday 23rd June 2012 - Sunday 24th June timings and venue tbc 

CandY at the Diocesan Synod

It was a fantastic day on 12th March when the Diocesan Synod was joined by children and young people from across the diocese for their own exciting sessions based on the same issues being discussed by the adults. Members of the youth council welcomed other teenagers and Emma Pettifer guided a group of children in looking at Future Ministry in the church. As well as creative prayers which helped the children and young people together look at their own gifts and talents they decided what building blocks you need for a church (in addition to those we had suggested such as people, a building, worship, etc they added love and reflection). There was a silent debate for the teenagers which led into discussions about being a Christian at school, taking an active part in serving the church as a young person and sharing your faith with other teenagers. The children drew pictures of their dream church and ran around to different coloured dots to show whether they agreed or disagreed with various statements like “Children and young people should worship with the adults” and “Children should be able to take communion”. As well as all that the children and young people wrote some prayers and prepared some worship for the WHOLE synod who came and joined them in their space. The teenagers went on to discuss topics from a national youth event called the Regeneration Summit when Bishop John signed a pledge including these words:

“We are excited by all the positive work with young people across our nation. We rejoice that so many young people are involved in the life of our Church, yet we yearn for more. As Bishops and Church leaders we pledge ourselves to find new ways to listen to the voices of young people, and encourage them in their Christian walk. We will work to enable young people’s voices to be heard better both within our Diocese and the national Church. We will seek to find new ways to empower young people both in leadership and ministry. We will endeavour to work with colleagues to enable new mission initiatives with young people, and consider if new financial resources can be made available to support these.”

Reflecting on these words and the fantastic day which we had with children and young people from across the diocese, we’re looking at a new start for our diocesan youth council to encompass three distinct but collaborating councils of children, young people and young adults. We would like you and your children and young people to be a part of forming how it will all work and so want to invite you to bring up to four children/young people from your parish to our tea party called CanYou? on Sunday 19th June at St Stephen’s Barbourne in Worcester from 3pm-5pm.

CandY in the future

CandY

Hi all

Following a really exciting day of CandY at Diocesan Synod, we're going to be reforming the way we run youth council. From September there will be a Children's version of youth council for school years 3 - 7, a youth council for school years 8-13 and a young adult council. Emma Pettifer (the Diocesan Children's Officer) and I will be working to bring children and young people together some time in June or July to look at how it will all work so keep your eyes peeled on the wdyou page for details of that.


I'd appreciate it if you would all keep this transformation in your prayers. It is an exciting time of possibilities for getting children, young people and young adults from across the diocese working together and working with the adult leadership of the diocese to ensure that the voice of children and young peopel is heard and acted on to drive change in our diocese.

Yours in Christ


Sarah

Salt ‘n’ Light

If you loved Rock the Cathedral, you’ll be pleased to hear that the youth council are running an event on 12th September this year. Salt ‘n’ Light is a day (4-9pm) to encourage young Christians through workshops, prayer and worship. The Relentless Craving who were so popular at Rock the Cathedral are coming down to us again and the new line-up of Formal Affair will also be playing. Bishop David will also be joining us to share some wisdom.

Rock the Cathedral

On Saturday 6th September we had over 350 people rocking the cathedral to the music of Formal Affair, The Fans of Faye, Dan Haynes, The Relentless Craving and Finchley. When they weren’t listening to the awesome music, young people were able to chill out at Breathe in the Chapter house, get active in the juggle zone, re-energise at the café or find some space at the prayer zone. Adults who came along also had the benefit of the Adult crèche complete with mini golf and newspapers. In between the bands we also had some compelling drama from the young people of Matchborough and some wise words from both Jon Pedley, vice-chair of the youth council, and Bishop John.

There’s now a commemorative video of photos taken on the night. If your group were there and want to remember one fabulous night in September or if they weren’t and they want to know what they missed, get in touch with me and I can send you a copy in exchange for a small donation of £3 to the funds for Rock the Cathedral Again 2010.

If you have or know a kicking Christian band locally and would like to be considered for Rock the Cathedral Again 2010, get in touch with the youth council via their revamped
website at where you can see their review of the event.