Youth and children’s pastor – job advert

We are looking for a part-time youth and children’s pastor to join our team. Someone who is passionate about developing children’s and youth work within St Katharine’s Church, Holt, Wiltshire and the wider community, and who will build on the excellent work already developed with children and young people.

This is a key role within the life of the church, and is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and passionate youth and children’s pastor to re-start our youth group and develop outreach. The role will equally cover developing the children’s ministry within the church, working with a team of volunteers. You will be a motivated leader who can develop, lead and inspire this team of volunteers. The team is passionate about encouraging children and young people to come to faith, to grow and develop their faith and to share the good news about Jesus.

Recognising that churches have become particularly dependent on links through technology in recent months, it is expected the appointee will have a good working knowledge of on-line technology, social media and digital communications.

The deadline for applications is 26 March 2021

Interviews will be held on 10 April 2021 (although there could be flexibility around this date)

The successful candidate will encourage active participation of children, young people and families in the life and work of St Katharine’s Church and take lead responsibility for organising youth and children’s work, particularly on Sunday mornings and through weekly activities for young people.

Our young people have asked for:

  • “someone who can bring back Friday night Sky 1 as I enjoyed the fun I had there with my friends”
  • “someone interesting and easy to talk to”

The successful children and youth pastor will:

ensure that a youth programme is delivered – this is at minimum Friday nights, but may also include some provision on Sunday mornings.

seek to disciple children and young people into personal relationships with God, in both larger groups and smaller relational settings.

shape a strategy to reach young families in the area, and help them meet Jesus and connect with the church.

seek to grow the children’s and youth ministry by creating attractive and compelling environments to which they can invite their not-yet Christian friends.

Part-time post (0.5 fte – 18.5 hours per week) £22,000 pro rata per annum. Initially for two years.

Start date: As soon as possible after the interview date

It is an occupational requirement that the post holder be a practising Christian.

Requirement for a Disclosure and Barring Service Check

St Katharine’s church is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and considers that their safety and wellbeing is of paramount importance.

The role of Youth and Children’s Pastor will be subject to a safer recruitment process and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check because of the significant and unsupervised contact with children.  This role will also require a Barred List Check as the position constitutes Regulated Activity.

For an application pack please contact Lucy Waterman (PA to the Rector) at the Benefice office.

Email: united.benefice@outlook.com   Phone: 01225 782717

 

 


Outdoor Church @ St K’s

At St Katharine’s we have been making much more use of our churchyard area to have our all age services, Eco church and Covid safe children’s groups.

Our first outdoor St K’s Together was a day that poured with rain but in this case, rain didn’t stop play! Adults and children all gathered around the campfire…. physically distanced but socially connected….as we celebrated being back together again.

With marshmallows toasting and the fire pit burning, we truly felt connected across the age groups.

Inside the church, similar groups worked on craft projects (physically apart but socially linked!) Using clay and chatting about a wide range of topics, there were times of prayer, laughter and a sense of being the church family together.

Our monthly Eco Church session involved using a Kelly Kettle to provide hot drinks. What a revelation! If you’ve never seen one it’s a real mystery until you know how it works! You’ll have to come along and find out! During this session we had great fun moving leaf mulch from the churchyard to the Coach House to plant daffodils in pots. Meanwhile, another group worked hard to rake the grass in the wildflower areas of the churchyard. Yellow rattle seeds were planted ready for wildflower planting in the Spring.

We are seeking to hear the Holy Spirit in these times and bring scriptural truths naturally into our conversations.  The planting of daffodil bulbs led easily to chatting about how prayers can seem to be unanswered but often God is working in unseen ways.

Looking at the amazing fungus on the decaying tree stumps covered how God has the most efficient recycling system, and His desire for us to care for Creation.

Perhaps most importantly of all, this new way of being church – having fun and even getting soaked – spoke to us all of connection and relationship. Connection with our heavenly Father who loves and delights in us. Relationship with each other, working together, being together, sharing together.  This new way of doing church has revealed again something important….WE… the people…are the church.