	Childrens Worker
	Cath's Course In September 2007, I embarked on the Church College Certificate in Children’s Ministry course (CCCCM for short). It was a one year course run by Chester Diocese and University of Chester, led by David Bell (Chester Children’s Advisor) and Steve Dixon (Manchester Children’s Advisor). The course was run along with Manchester Diocese to make it more viable. The course was based on three separate terms of study, each term involved six Monday night sessions, two full day Saturday sessions and at least two sessions at a placement Church. Norbury paid for me to do the course and any books I needed (which was minimal due to Rob Green’s plentiful supply), I attended all the sessions, study, placements and completed the assignments in my own time. The three study modules were: Understanding Children (if you ever crack this one let me know!) –basically looking at how children develop and interact with each other The Bible and Children – How to use the Bible with children, and also some theology. Children and Worship – Different ways of worshipping with children Each module involved doing two assignments, working with either children at your own church or your placement church. They were very practical assignments involving observing children, planning and leading children’s groups, planning and leading worship. There was also a theoretical element, researching children, cultures and environment, analysing a passage from the Bible, (I now look at the parable of the Good Samaritan in a totally different way), and researching an act of worship. My placement church was St Mary’s, Disley, which when I began had no children! They were starting a story-telling service every Sunday at 9.30am, so my placement was to be part of this. By the time my course finished they had 14 children regularly attending. I didn’t do any of my assignments here but I learnt a lot about the storytelling service based on Godly Play.	Some of you may think that a lot of the course concerns what I am already doing; and yes some of it was. However, I learnt to look at things in different ways, and learnt things from others on the course. I looked at things differently, one thing being the admitting children to communion younger but delaying their confirmation until they are older. This is something I was once unsure about but now I have looked at it from a different viewpoint I can see the reason for it. Also I got the opportunity to try more things out, such as the survey into All Age Worship which many of you helped me with. I have processed the results relevant to the course but am still ploughing through the bits that can help us here at Norbury. When I know the results I will let your know. Another thing I learnt on the course was how lucky we are here at Norbury; we have children, we have people who want to work with the children, we have a variety of services to meet all needs, and we have rooms to meet in. Many of those on the course had very few children in their churches, (4 or 5 each week). They struggled for help, their All Age Service was a normal communion that the children came into (including the uniformed groups) but there was nothing for them, not even a talk or song. Many Sunday groups had to meet in the vestry or the back of church and therefore be silent. (Can you imagine me being silent never mind the children!) Others had thriving groups, so I can see where we have come from but I can also see where we are heading. I have passed the course and achieved 60%. It is a degree standard course, so as it was part-time I now have 30 credits toward another course (you get 60 if you pass the first year of a degree). So for someone who over 20 years ago failed all her A levels, I feel I have achieved something, even if I say it myself. Thank you for your continued support in all I do for the children here at Norbury. I am not taking another course this year, as I will concentrating on getting my daughter Becca through her GCSE’s and my son Daniel through his first year at high school, (if they survive him). Cath Palmer (Childrens worker)
	Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325

Childrens Worker

Cath's Course

In September 2007, I embarked on the Church College Certificate in Children’s Ministry course (CCCCM for short). It was a one year course run by Chester Diocese and University of Chester, led by David Bell (Chester Children’s Advisor) and Steve Dixon (Manchester Children’s Advisor). The course was run along with Manchester Diocese to make it more viable.

The course was based on three separate terms of study, each term involved six Monday night sessions, two full day Saturday sessions and at least two sessions at a placement Church. Norbury paid for me to do the course and any books I needed (which was minimal due to Rob Green’s plentiful supply), I attended all the sessions, study, placements and completed the assignments in my own time.

The three study modules were:

Understanding Children (if you ever crack this one let me know!) –basically looking at how children develop and interact with each other
The Bible and Children – How to use the Bible with children, and also some theology.
Children and Worship – Different ways of worshipping with children

Each module involved doing two assignments, working with either children at your own church or your placement church. They were very practical assignments involving observing children, planning and leading children’s groups, planning and leading worship. There was also a theoretical element, researching children, cultures and environment, analysing a passage from the Bible, (I now look at the parable of the Good Samaritan in a totally different way), and researching an act of worship.

My placement church was St Mary’s, Disley, which when I began had no children! They were starting a story-telling service every Sunday at 9.30am, so my placement was to be part of this. By the time my course finished they had 14 children regularly attending. I didn’t do any of my assignments here but I learnt a lot about the storytelling service based on Godly Play.

Some of you may think that a lot of the course concerns what I am already doing; and yes some of it was. However, I learnt to look at things in different ways, and learnt things from others on the course. I looked at things differently, one thing being the admitting children to communion younger but delaying their confirmation until they are older. This is something I was once unsure about but now I have looked at it from a different viewpoint I can see the reason for it. Also I got the opportunity to try more things out, such as the survey into All Age Worship which many of you helped me with. I have processed the results relevant to the course but am still ploughing through the bits that can help us here at Norbury. When I know the results I will let your know.

Another thing I learnt on the course was how lucky we are here at Norbury; we have children, we have people who want to work with the children, we have a variety of services to meet all needs, and we have rooms to meet in. Many of those on the course had very few children in their churches, (4 or 5 each week). They struggled for help, their All Age Service was a normal communion that the children came into (including the uniformed groups) but there was nothing for them, not even a talk or song. Many Sunday groups had to meet in the vestry or the back of church and therefore be silent. (Can you imagine me being silent never mind the children!)

Others had thriving groups, so I can see where we have come from but I can also see where we are heading. I have passed the course and achieved 60%. It is a degree standard course, so as it was part-time I now have 30 credits toward another course (you get 60 if you pass the first year of a degree). So for someone who over 20 years ago failed all her A levels, I feel I have achieved something, even if I say it myself.

Thank you for your continued support in all I do for the children here at Norbury. I am not taking another course this year, as I will concentrating on getting my daughter Becca through her GCSE’s and my son Daniel through his first year at high school, (if they survive him).

Cath Palmer (Childrens worker)

Childrens Worker

Cath's Course

Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325