Details of children’s ministry training announced

Wednesday August 10th 2016

A series of children’s ministry training events organised by the Church of Ireland Board of Education, Children’s Ministry Network and the Sunday School Society, takes place from September 12-16.

Sessions will be held in Dublin, Belfast and Omagh, with the Belfast training in St Patrick’s Parish, Jordanstown on Wednesday September 14 from 10.30am-1pm and Belvoir Parish Church that same evening from 7.30-9.30pm.

These training sessions will equip leaders to lift Bible stories off the page and into the hearts and minds of children’s groups or all–age congregations.

Full details are as follows:

Session 1 – Storytelling the Bible (open to all)

Bible storytelling is definitely back in fashion with its long and rich tradition that has so much to offer children and families in the 21st century. Drawing on Martyn Payne’s 13 year experience of working with the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF), this session will introduce a host of practical tools and techniques that will equip leaders to be able to lift Bible stories off the page and into the hearts and minds of children’s groups or all–age congregations. Leaders will feel inspired and equipped for their own context, be it Sunday Clubs, services or other ministry among children.

Monday 12th September
7.30–9.30pm
War Memorial Hall, Rathfarnham Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W (beside the rectory)

Wednesday 14th September
7.30–9.30pm
Belvoir Parish Church, Dunseverick Avenue, Belfast

Thursday 15th September
7.30–9.30pm
Omagh Methodist Church Hall, beside St Columba’s Church Hall (Church of Ireland), Church Street, Omagh (please park in the Church of Ireland car park)

To book a place, contact:

Dublin
Revd Ruth O’Kelly, Rathfarnham Parish
Tel: 086 0813126
Email: revruthokelly@gmail.com

Belfast and Omagh
Peter Hamill / Claire Geoghegan, Board of Education
Tel: 028 9082 8860
Email: edunorth@ireland.anglican.org

Session 2 – The Challenge of All–age Worship (for clergy and worship leaders)

A growing body of current research has affirmed the importance of intergenerational faith sharing and nurture within a church. In this session Martyn Payne will explore this thinking and the biblical rationale for the all–age approach, offering practical advice and sharing stories and ideas from his work with Messy Church team of the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF).

Messy Church is an intergenerational, missional congregation of a church where the presence of children is welcomed alongside young adults, singles and grandparents. It is founded on the belief that, for faith to be caught and nurtured, the young need the old so that they can hear and learn from those with experience of what it means to trust God through all the circumstances of life; and the old need the young, who bring a lively spirituality and eager sense of adventure when it comes to exploring the wonders of God’s creation and what faith in Jesus means. Faith grown in this sort of all–age soil is much more likely to put down deep roots and produce lasting fruit.

Tuesday 13th September
10.30am–1.00pm
Church of Ireland Theological Institute, Braemor Park, Dublin

Wednesday 14th September
10.30am–1.00pm
St Patrick’s Parish Hall, Jordanstown Road, Jordanstown

Friday 16th September
10.30am–1.00pm
St Columba’s Parish Hall, Church Street, Omagh

To book a place, contact:

Dublin
Lydia Monds, Sunday School Society for Ireland
Tel: 01 4125 610
Email: lydia.monds@rcbdub.org

Belfast and Omagh
Peter Hamill / Claire Geoghegan, Board of Education
Tel: 028 9082 8860
Email: edunorth@ireland.anglican.org

All events are free. There will be a retiring collection for anyone who wishes to contribute.

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