Connor Diocese :: Bishop Alan in the Holy Land

Youth

Youth news and events

Energize worship at Lisburn Cathedral

Young people and youth leaders from across the diocese attended the annual Energize youth worship event on Sunday November 20.

Organised by the Energize committee, this year’s celebration was hosted by Lisburn Cathedral with worship led by Bean Baker and Band. Bean, real name Andrew, works with NGM Bristol and leads worship all over the UK. He and his band lead worship each month at Lisburn Cathedral’s Elevate worship event.

Young people from the different parishes throughout the whole Diocese of Connor attended the event. The speaker was Scott Evans of Elemental Youth Ministries, Diocesan Youth Officer for Cashel and Ossory.

The event attracted more than 120 young people from a range of parishes.

Click here to see photographer John Kelly’s pictures from the event.

Events to look out for:

New Dawn, an evening of worship, praise and teaching for young people will take place in St Nicholas Parish Church, Carrickfergus, on Easter Saturday, April 7. Poster.

Speaker is the Rev Andrew Forster, rector of St Anne’s, Dungannon, and praise will be led by the Mark Ferguson Band.

The event, organised by Connor’s Energize Committee, gets underway at 7pm and all are welcome as we prepare again to celebrate the wonder of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

On Saturday October 6 2012 a Hear Our Voice youth synod will take place in St Anne’s Cathedral when parishes will be invited to send two youth leaders/clergy and three young people to look at the issues, the needs and direction the diocese needs to take to minister in an effective, meaningful and challenging way to a disengaged generation. There will be an evening celebration when clergy, vestries and parents can come along to see and hear some of the findings of the conference and to celebrate what young people have to offer across the diocese.

Connor youth leaders receive certificates from Youthlink NI

A number of youth leaders from Connor Diocese have received certificates from Youthlink NI.

Youthlink recently held three presentations between Omagh and Belfast to celebrate the success of more than 600 young people and youth leaders who achieved accredited qualifications through the organisation.

The successful leaders from Connor were: OCN Youth Work Level 2 – Stefan Berry (Ballyclare), Chris Hackworth (Whitehead), Ryan Moffett (Woodburn, Carrickfergus); OCN Youth Work Level 3 – Annie Kidd (Glengormley), Andrew Neill (Glenavy); OCN Outreach and Detached Work – Gillian Millar (St Paul’s, Belfast), Dianne Rhodes (St Paul’s, Belfast); Kairos Training the Trainers – Catherine Little (Church of Resurrection, Belfast).

TheVen Barry Dodds, Archdeacon of Belfast, represented the Church of Ireland at the event and gave out certificates along with other leaders from Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic Churches.

Young people from St Paul’s, Tigers Bay, performed worship songs as an introduction to the event.

Peter Hamill, Connor Diocesan Training Co–ordinator and vice–chairperson of Youthlink NI, said: “It is great to see so many young people and leaders from across all denominations achieve awards in excellence in delivering youth work.

“It is particularly heartening to see so many from Connor Diocese involved and hopefully they will encourage others to train for leadership roles.”

How we see church – by Connor’s children

A report into children’s ministry in Connor Diocese, conducted during 2009–2010 by diocesan training co–ordinator Peter Hamill, researcher Mrs Margaret Fullerton and Prof Leslie Francis of Warwick University, can be downloaded in full here.

The report was launched at Connor Diocesan Synod on September 9 2010.

Plenty more pictures in our photo gallery.