Children and Youth
How Mersey Synod can help with your children’s and youth development
Lead all ages services
Speak at elders meeting about the trends and issues around children's and youth work
Help plan and lead holiday clubs or other local events
Run filmmaking workshops with children and young people
Give talks or run activities at children's or youth groups
Plan and lead bespoke training around working with children and young people (working with under 5s, working with teenagers, new children's and youth work resources, general volunteer training etc)
Organise and lead young leaders training.
The Mersey Synod Children's and Youth Development Officer is Steven Mitchell.
His role is to support, develop and celebrate the children’s and youth work of the Synod.
Whether you have or don't have children or young people in your church, Steven would love to come and visit you and find out how we can develop things further.
Tel: 07387 580834
Children and Youth Development Resources
Service of dedication for Children, Family and Youth Workers
Have you ever thought about commissioning the children and youth work volunteers in your church?
The URC Children and Youth Department have produced a service of (re)dedication for volunteers (and children and young people) that would fit well into any service.
Click here to download the service.
Engaging with schools
Steven Mitchell, Children and Youth Development Officer, URC Mersey Synod, spoke to three churches about the work they do with schools and how they got started. The video is a way of encouraging churches to make the step to reach out to their local schools.
How to engage with local schools (youtube.com)
Messy Church is a way of being church for families and others. It is Christ-centred, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration.
Free resources and ideas for children and youth workers to help support their roles and activities the national United Reformed Church.
Faith Adventures for Children Together (FACT)
Faith Adventures for Children Together is a free weekly Bible-based resource for church children's groups. It provides a structure with stories, activities, prayers and challenges for ages 12 and under, the age range covered by URC Children. It is designed to support employed workers and volunteers in their engagement with children and families.
Join the new Facebook group to keep in touch and network with others using the resource
One Way UK are passionate about providing resources and training in puppetry and creative ministries but do what they can to help churches connect and stay connected with children and families.
ROOTS is a partnership of denominations and other Christian organisations and has been publishing lectionary-based worship resources online and in print since 2002. ROOTS resources help you to: plan inspiring worship; encourage discipleship throughout the week and nurture children and young people in their faith.
Talking Faith with Families
The Kitchen Table Project have a produced a podcast series called 'Talking Faith'. It is a series of conversations with Christian parents about how they have inspired faith in their children. There's lots of great wisdom in these authentic, honest interviews.
The Lundie Memorial Award Nominations
Do you know a child or young person who is playing their part in the mission of God in their church, synod, local community or the wider world?
The Lundie Memorial Award is designed to highlight and celebrate such individuals who are using their God-given skills, time and talent to good effect. Each month for 100 months the Children's and Youth Work Committee are awarding a medal and certificate to one of the nominated children and young people, along with a financial award of £100 to be spent to benefit children and/or young people in the church, synod or local community, however the award winner chooses. Please get in touch to get the nomination forms.
Read about a URC Mersey Synod Award Winner Emma Jackson, from West Kirby URC
URC Children Together
We took the opportunity to ask some of the children in the synod, what they thought about church and God. Originally shown at March Synod.
