If you are aged 18-30 why not spend a year serving God through the Ministry Experience Scheme.
The Diocese of Norwich offers a Ministry Experience Scheme (MES) based in parish churches rooted in different contexts in the Diocese.
MES will enable you to give a year to God, and will provide time, space and support for you to reflect on the call of God in your life, and experience life rooted in a parish church. Depending on your interests, you will have opportunities to explore mission and ministry, learn in a supportive and encouraging environment, learn new skills, and develop projects in the parishes.
Crossroads Church Earlham
Tradition: Middle of the road (central)
Earlham is a parish blessed with diversity and a range of opportunities that arise from this. We have a number of services each Sunday covering traditional, contemporary and family-focused styles – outside of this we have a very busy schools ministry where we offer mentoring, chaplaincy and RE/assembly support to local primary schools. We are also involved in many community projects such as Foodbank, family meals, local stakeholder gatherings and more. The University of East Anglia is also in our parish and working with our Associate Vicar who also serves as Chaplain to the UEA, there would be opportunities to get involved there as well. We also have mid-week worship across the parish many days.
Ministry Opportunities:
- Ministry to adults as part of a Sunday service
- Youth work (11s-17s)
- Children’s work (0s-11s)
- Primary school work
- Secondary school work
- Student ministry
- Mid-week adult ministry to church attendees/members
The Benefice of Colegate and Tombland and St Giles-on-the-Hill
https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/10372/
Tradition: Liberal Catholic
We have two rather busy weekly coffee mornings (Wednesday and Thursday) which draw people from all walks of life. At our Wednesday coffee morning we also host a toddler’s music group, as well as a project which teaches people how to clean and preserve ledger stones and monuments. At both coffee mornings we work with people from the Assist Trust, and have a close link with the Matthew Project as well, so can also offer experiences working with people with learning disabilities and those recovering from alcohol and drug dependency.
We have started to greatly expand our outreach in the West Pottergate estate, one of the highest areas of deprivation in Norwich. We have strong links with Douro House sheltered housing there, and are actively involved with the Island Community Group. Just outside the estate we minister at St John’s Care Home.
For St George Tombland and St Giles-on-the-Hill, we offer opportunities for liturgical experiences in a rather high catholic style, but one that is inclusive and accepting of the ministry of women.
All three churches are a part of the Inclusive Church Network, and take turns hosting the monthly Inclusive Church/LGBT Eucharist and supper.
Ministry opportunities:
- Ministry to adults as part of a Sunday service
- Children’s work (0s-11s)
- Mid-week adult ministry to church attendees/members
- Social action (other than foodbanks)
St Peter Mancroft
https://www.stpetermancroft.org.uk/
Tradition: Middle of the road (central), liberal, choral
Experience of ministry in a busy city centre church with a civic role. Participants will be full members of the ministry team comprised of clergy and readers. They will have opportunities to plan and lead worship, preach and teach. Opportunities will be given to develop projects with support. Previous participants established and ran a young adult’s group, developed social activities for the congregation, initiated and ran a Spirituality in Nature Group, led our successful application to become a Church of Sanctuary.
The church has a ministry to tourists, and participants will be involved in welcoming and supporting visitors. We are a silver eco church working towards gold and can provide opportunities to contribute to our application. We have opportunities in music and bellringing. We host and run exhibitions, carol services, and concerts for a range of organisations across the city, host the charity Christmas card shop, and support the Foodbank, Christian Aid, and local refugee charities.
Ministry opportunities
- Ministry to adults as part of a Sunday service
- Secondary school work
- Mid-week adult ministry to church attendees/members
- Ministry to tourists/visitors
- Foodbank
- Social action (other than foodbanks)
St Stephen’s Church Norwich
Welcome
Tradition: Evangelical (open), charismatic
St Stephen’s is a vibrant, open evangelical and gently charismatic church in the heart of Norwich. It operates a popular cafe Monday to Fridays, and would provide a wide range of ministry opportunities to get involved in: leading and occasionally preaching at Sunday services, if musically skilled join a lively worship team, involvement with the children’s work during services and Little Fellowes during the week, accompany vicar and curate to school assemblies (primary and secondary), volunteer in the cafe or as a cafe befriender, to talk with a pray for visitors, support ex-offenders and homeless people in our Hope into Action house and assist in our Renew Wellbeing space on Wednesdays. There may also be an opportunity to start a youth work project.
You would be part of the ministry team which meets weekly to pray together and discuss all aspects of ministry at St Stephen’s.
Ministry opportunities
- Ministry to adults as part of a Sunday service
- Children’s work (0s-11s)
- Primary school work
- Secondary school work
- Mid-week adult ministry to church attendees/members
- Outreach/Evangelism (e.g. Alpha)
- Social action (other than foodbanks)
Theological education will be provided through The Bishop’s Certificate in Christian Learning:
Read more here: The Bishop’s Certificate in Christian Learning – Diocese of Norwich
Accommodation will be provided in a four bedroomed Vicarage adjacent to Crossroads Church Earlham.