Starting on 9th September, we are experimenting with some new arrangements for our Junior Church and Crèche.  As part of this process, we are looking for some new additional helpers. If you think you might be able to offer some time and energy to this ministry, please speak to Canon Pete. 

There will be three main changes: 

Starting Together: at present, the arrangement is that those who are taking part in the Junior Church meet up any time after 10.20 am. They only enter the Cathedral at about 11.15 am, at the Peace.  From 9th September, the whole Church family will be gathered together for the opening hymn and opening prayer. Those involved in Junior Church will leave for their own activities just before the prayers of confession. They will rejoin us at the usual time. We think it is important, both for the children and for the whole congregation, that we are all together as our worship begins.

A New Place: at present, Junior Church and Crèche meet in the VSC. This is a long way from the main act of worship. In the case of the Junior Church, it takes up time that could better be used teaching the children; and in the case of the Crèche, it makes it difficult to re-unite a distressed child with a parent. So from 9th September, the Crèche will meet in the Chapter House, and the Junior Church will meet in the Vestibule. We’re not sure how well this will work, but it seems worth the experiment. Junior Church and Choir members will have to be especially patient with one another for a few weeks. 

A New Youth Group: finally, we are going to try to tighten up the age bands around which our Crèche and Junior Church operate. Crèche will serve only pre-school children, aged 0-4. Junior Church will serve only primary school ages, 5-11, and since we have a number of young people who worship with us, aged 11-18, we are intending to start a Cathedral Youth Fellowship. 

We need more hands on deck to sustain this work, and would welcome your assistance. The youth work will not be possible unless we have at least two female helpers willing to offer a fortnightly commitment each. But the crèche and junior church could also use some additional support.