1. Children and Community

2. To explore ways of working among children in a variety of contexts beyond the local church. Aim

3. Learning outcomes To reflect on stories from different contexts and distil principles of good practice To develop strategies for developing new areas of work with children in a variety of contexts To explore an understanding of what it means to be ‘church’ To advocate the active participation of children in mission and ministry.

4. Opening thought When you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me. (Matthew 18:5)

5. Church or not church? ChurchNot Church ??

6. Where are the children? Not in church Not with you on a Sunday/your meeting day So where are the children?

7. Aims for reaching new children Which three of these would you choose as the aims of your group? Which would be your main aim? Are there any of these aims that your church needs to discard deliberately?

8. Working among children in different contexts What makes these activities successful? What are the principles underlying them? What principles could you take and apply to your own situation?

9. Working among children in different contexts What things are not applicable to your situation and why not? How are these activities an expression of ‘church?’ What is already happening or could happen where you are, which is a new expression of being church?

10. A strategy for new work in church communities Identify the needs of an area Acknowledge the skills of the church community Identify strengths and weaknesses of church community Plan aims and strategy Achieve the goal.

11. Reflection on learning What concerns and challenges has this session raised for you? What potential benefits do you see for the children in your group and for your church community? What would you like to explore further? What action will you take or encourage your church community to take as a result of this session?