Following Jesus Today Series

Following Jesus Today Series

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus in today’s world?

In April and May, we’re asking the question, “What does it look like to follow Jesus in every area of your life?”. We’ll be reflecting on what the Bible says around important areas of life including money, community, relationships and witness.

Here’s what our messages will be looking at each week…

Money Talks
What is your relationship with money like? How can we cultivate positive attitudes towards money and healthy financial practices?

• 14th April: Generosity

• 21st April: Debt & Stewardship

Connected Community
God’s plan from the very beginning was for us to work together in unity and harmony, looking after each other and the world we live in. How can we build thriving communities and feel connected to one another?

• 28th April: Creation Care

• 5th May: Christian Community

• 12th May: Holy Relationships

Discipleship & The Spirit
Are you walking in step with the Spirit? What does it look like to be bold and confident in your witness as a follower of Jesus?

• 19th May: Baptism in the Spirit (Pentecost)

• 26th May: Witnesses

You can also go deeper with the topics using the series notes. Download a copy below.

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MESSAGES FROM THIS SERIES

Vacancy for PA to Senior Leaders

The Woodlands Church Family (WCF) is a vibrant, growing family of churches with six sites located across the city of Bristol and a vision to plant more. As we’ve grown, so too has our team, and we are excited about appointing a new role in order to build our team of senior administrative staff.

We have an exciting opportunity and are looking for an experienced individual to join our administrative team at a senior level supporting key members of our senior leadership team. This new role will be essential in supporting and enabling the mission of the Church as we grow as a church family.

Are you someone who is well organised, can work flexibly using your own initiative and thrives in an administrative setting? If so, we would love to hear from you.

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The Role

To provide personal assistance at a Woodlands Senior Leadership level.  To manage their day-to-day communications and diary and support them in their leadership as they enable the mission of the Church. When undertaking this role there may be times when you come across confidential information, therefore it is imperative that you are highly discreet and maintain confidentiality.

Key Terms

• This is a part time, permanent position contracted at around 24 - 30 hours ideally across 4 days per week.

• The salary for this role is £24k - £26k pro rata, depending on experience.

• The annual holiday entitlement is 25 days pro rata plus 8 days bank holiday pro rata.

• The role will be based at Woodlands Church in Clifton, Bristol.

• We have a legal responsibility to ensure that all our employees have the legal right to live and work in the UK. Therefore, please only apply if you are eligible to work in the UK.

• See full set of terms in the Role Summary.

How to Apply

• Please email Abby Harvey if you have any questions about the role.

• For an application pack please email our HR Lead Julia Shrimpton.

• The closing date for applications is midnight on Tuesday, 30th April 2024. However, this vacancy will close once we have sufficient applications.

• Send your completed application to our HR Lead Julia Shrimpton copying the lead recruiter Abby Harvey.

• If shortlisted, interviews will take place at Woodlands Church from week commencing Monday, 13th May 2024.

Vacancy for HR Administrator

The Woodlands Church Family is a vibrant, growing family of churches with six sites located across the city of Bristol and a vision to plant more. We are looking to appoint an HR Administrator on a fixed term contract basis to cover maternity leave.

Are you someone who is well organised, can work flexibly using your own initiative and thrives in an administrative setting? If so, we would love to hear from you.

The Role
To provide administrative assistance to the HR Lead for Woodlands Church Family and assist with the day-to-day administration of the department.

When undertaking this role there may be times when you come across confidential information, therefore it is imperative that you are highly discreet and maintain confidentiality.

Key areas of work include:

• HR Administration

• Staffing development, training and performance review

• Culture and wellbeing

• Staff recruitment, onboarding and offboarding

• Record keeping

• Visas

• DBS Administration

Terms
This is a part time, fixed term contract to cover maternity leave for a 6-to-12-month period. The part time hours are 15 hours/2days per week with one day office-based working from Woodlands Church in Clifton. Working pattern for these hours to be negotiated.

The salary for this role is £23,550 – £24,500 pro rata, depending on experience. The annual holiday entitlement is 25 days pro rata plus 8 days bank holiday pro rata.

 We have a legal responsibility to ensure that all our employees have the legal right to live and work in the UK. Therefore, please only apply if you are eligible to work in the UK as we will have to verify this before you can start work. See full terms in the Role Summary below.

How to apply

The closing date for applications is midnight on Thursday 25th April 2024. However, this vacancy will close once we have sufficient applications. 

Please contact Julia Shrimpton at julia.shrimpton@woodlandschurch.net if you have any questions about the role.

If shortlisted, interviews will take place at Woodlands Church week commencing 29th April 2024.

For an application form please contact Kristina Crabtree, HR Administration at kristina.crabtree@woodlandschurch.net.

Please send your completed application to our HR lead julia.shrimpton@woodlandschurch.net copying in kristina.crabtree@woodlandschurch.net.

April Prayer Calendar

Pray each day

Each month, you’re invited to pray for church and all that is happening with our monthly Prayer Calendar. You can view and download the calendar below as a PDF.

Bridges for Communities: April's Mission Partner

Each month at Woodlands Central, we have a monthly offering where we raise funds to support our local mission partners.

This April, we’re highlighting the fantastic work of Bridges for Communities, a Bristol-based charity that connects people of different cultures and faiths, enabling them to build friendships, grow in their understanding of one another and live well together.

Bridges for Communities runs a wide range of projects and activities, including ones that bring people together around food, music, language or faith, and others that seek to make Bristol a more welcoming city for people who are displaced by war or persecution.

Find out more on their website:

www.bridgesforcommunities.com

You are also always welcome to give online to our Local Partnership Fund, which supports of mission partners in Bristol.

Vacancy for Senior Youth Minister

Woodlands Central is a large and vibrant, city centre church that serves the city of Bristol as part of one of six church sites in the Woodlands Church Family. Our vision is to see our city transformed by the love and power of Jesus.

Central to our plans to reach this city for Jesus are young people! In Bristol, there are 90,000 young people who don’t have regular contact with church or faith. We would love to see this change!

The Role
We are looking for someone who can work alongside the Youth Director, established youth team and congregation leaders to help our youth ministry double its impact in the next 5 years. Within this role, the youth minister will inspire and equip the Youth Team within Woodlands Central to share faith, disciple and equip young people to live lives of whole-hearted devotion and commitment to Jesus.

Terms
This is a full time, permanent contract at 5 days per week. The salary for this role is £25K - £28K pro rata, depending on experience. We give a generous leave allowance of 33 days including bank holidays. The role will be primarily based at Woodlands Church in Clifton, Bristol with flexible and home working available by arrangement. A job share may be considered for this role. The post is subject to satisfactory references and DBS check. We have a legal responsibility to ensure that all our employees have the legal right to live and work in the UK. Therefore, please only apply if you are eligible to work in the UK as we will have to verify this before you can start work. See full terms in the Role Summary below.

Relocating
If you are moving to Bristol, we can assist with the costs of relocation and will do all we can to help find suitable accommodation.

How to apply
For an application form please email our HR Lead Julia Shrimpton.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday, 14th April 2024. This vacancy will close once we have sufficient applications.

If shortlisted, interviews will take place at Woodlands Church week commencing 15th April 2024.

We aim for a start date within the summer term; June to September 2024.

If you have any questions about the role and would like an informal chat, please email Jack Saunders, our Senior Youth Director.

Please send applications to our Senior Youth Director Jack Saunders and copy them to our HR Lead Julia Shrimpton.

March Prayer Calendar

Pray each day

Each month, you’re invited to pray for church and all that is happening with our monthly Prayer Calendar. You can view and download the calendar below.

Head_Space Course for Young Adults

Are you a student or young adult who could do with having some free wellbeing support?

Then come along to HeadSpace, a 6-week course that looks to create a safe space for people to share their experiences with mental health, learn from one another, understand the role of faith in mental health and develop practical tools to help care for our wellbeing.

The next course is starting on 2nd April 2024! Sign up online for free today.

Got a question about HeadSpace?
Get in touch with Jo Demçolli, our Wellbeing Practitioner at Woodlands Church.

Home for Good: March's Mission Partner

Each month at Woodlands Central, we have a monthly offering where we raise funds to support our local mission partners.

This March, we’re highlighting the amazing work of Home for Good, a charity dedicated to finding a home for every child who needs one by resourcing a network of people, churches and local movements across the UK.

Did you know every 15 minutes, a child comes into care in the UK? Everyone has a part to play to ensure that every child and young person experiences the welcome, stability and care they need to thrive. What part could you play?

Find out more and on their website:

www.homeforgood.org.uk

You are also always welcome to give online to our Local Partnership Fund, which supports of mission partners in Bristol.

Stories from John Series

Stories from John Series

Our series looking at John’s gospel examines key encounters people had with Jesus in the last phase of his ministry as we lead up to Easter.

This March and April, we want you to come on a six-week journey through John’s stories about how Jesus interacts with significant people. We’ll be looking at everything from healing and miracles, to worship and discipleship, how he dealt with deception and despair, then ultimately hope and new beginnings.

Here’s what our messages will be looking at each week…

• 3rd March: Healing the Blind Man

• 10th March: Jesus and Lazarus (Praying for Healing Service)

• 17th March: Jesus and Mary

• 24th March: Jesus and Judas (Palm Sunday)

• 31st March: Jesus in the Garden (Easter Sunday)

• 7th April: Jesus and Peter

You can also go deeper with the topics using the series notes. Download a copy below.

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MESSAGES FROM THIS SERIES

2024 Short Term Missions

Throughout the year, Woodies sends teams of people out on short-term mission and in 2024 we are planning trips to Uganda, Romania, Peru and France.

Missions are made up of small teams of people who are willing to carve time out of their lives to go and support the work of some of our Global Partners and God's global church. Short-term mission enables us to step out and in doing so we are blessed as we seek to bless others.

Find out about the opportunities on offer in 2024 for people to go on missions to:
Uganda | Romania | Peru | France

For more details and to find out how to apply to be part of a mission, visit our Short Term Missions page.

Tiny Treasures Toddlers

We are thrilled to be running our ever-popular toddler group, Tiny Treasures Toddlers, which meets weekly on Wednesdays, 10am to 11.30am during term time.

Note: Tiny Treasures is currently at full capacity, please email the toddler team to join the waiting list and check current availability.

Our friendly and relaxed church-run Toddler group is a great place for parents / primary carers to meet one another and enjoy time with their babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.

We are looking forward to getting to know you and your little one/s better. Our hope is that we can support and encourage you during your mornings with us.

Many of our Tiny Treasures team are volunteers from Woodlands Church and anyone on the team will always be ready to listen and pray for you if you would like that.

At Tiny Treasures toddlers we will:

• Provide a safe and happy environment for children to play, learn and interact.

• Be a welcoming place for all parents and carers to make friends and feel supported.

• Show the love of God in our community.

• Care for the whole child and parent/carer – physically, emotionally and spiritually.

What to expect

Arrival:
On arrival, you will be greeted by a member of our welcome team. If you’re new, they will ask you to fill out a registration form.

A donation of £2.50 per family will be taken by the team to help cover our costs. If cost is prohibitive for you, please speak to a member of the team.

Buggies:
Please park your buggies in the Main hall towards the rear.

Tea and Coffee:
Hot drinks are available throughout the morning - any time you would like! Please bring a keep cup with a lid to keep all the little ones safe, and make sure to have a chat with our friendly refreshments team!

Snack time:
Snacks will be served at 10.45am in the foyer. Please keep snacks out of the main hall and do let us know if your child has any allergies or intolerances. It would help our refreshments team if you could clear your cups and plates after snack time.

Nappies:
Nappy changing facilities can be found in the Disabled toilet at the rear of the main hall.

In case of fire:
In the event of a continuous fire alarm sounding, please leave the building by your nearest exit with your children and assemble at the assembly point across the road.

Eyes Peeled!:
Our team will always keep a watchful eye on children as they play, however children will always remain the full responsibility of their parent/carer at all times.

Tidy Up Time:
It would really help us if you could help tidy the toys when the bell sounds for tidy up time.

Singing Time:
We love singing and dancing! We finish each session with a time of singing and story telling. Once a term we will a focus this around a specific holiday or event and one of our church team will join us.

Join our Parent Team:
We would love some parent volunteers on our team. This may mean that you help with setting out the toys, bake for snack time, facilitate craft, sweep the hall or even help lead the singing. Please speak to a member of the team if you are able to help in any way.

The Last Word:
Wondering why our logo is a pearl, or why we are called Tiny Treasures Toddlers? We believe that your children are treasures – loved and valued by God.

In the Bible, in the book of Matthew, we read about a merchant looking for beautiful pearls, but he found just one single pearl of such value that he sold everything he had just to have it. We believe that there is treasure far greater than we can see here on earth. To find out more, please speak to a member of the team.

Get in touch:
If you have any questions/feedback or prayer requests, please email the toddler team at Woodlands Church.

February Prayer Calendar

Pray each day

Each month, you’re invited to pray for church and all that is happening with our monthly Prayer Calendar. You can view and download the February calendar below.

Grand Designs Series for February

Grand Design Series

"Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential to your success at living the victorious Christian life.”
- Neil Anderson

This February, we want you to come on a journey of well-being and wholeness as we dive into a new series about understanding our identity in God.

The search for identity and belonging is a preoccupation for many people in the 21st century. Exploring ‘who I am’ is a great question for followers of Jesus, but the answer may be different to the prevailing spirit of our age.

It’s a counter cultural idea that our identity is rooted in a relationship with another and a facet of our relationship with God rather than something that we ‘own’ and can shape. Lost at the fall, a new and healed identity is one of the things Jesus came to restore.

Our sense of identity can have a profound affect on our sense of personal value and calling, our ability to overcome life’s challenges and our mental and emotional health.

Over this series, we will be looking at three aspects of the rich identity that God gives to all his people and look at how it helps us to deepen our relationship with God, work out our personal sense of identity and find wholeness, peace and purpose in the world.

Here’s what our messages will be looking at each week…

• 4th February: Child

• 11th February: Citizen

• 18th February: Friend

We are also running our Wholeness course starting on 13th February, which we encourage you to sign up for. Its runs over six consecutive Tuesday evenings.

You can also go deeper with the topics using the series notes. Download a copy below.

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MESSAGES FROM THIS SERIES

Dwell: Monthly Women's Events

Dwell is a monthly event that gathers women of all ages from any congregation together to meet with the expectation of growing faith and friendship.

Women will be inspired, encouraged, and equipped by encounters with the Holy Spirit and through relationships with one another. And all this will be done over coffee & pastries!

No sign up required, just come along to the Crypt at Woodlands.

Dwell happens on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10am - 12pm.

Visit the diary for more details.

Woodlands Church Family Prayer Week 2024

Look to the Lord!

We’re celebrating Prayer Week 2024
from Sunday, 14th January - Sunday, 21st January

As we head into 2024, Woodlands Church Family will be gathering together spiritually in prayer and fasting, bringing to God our hopes for the city, for the world and for His Church.

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All these events are open to the whole Woodlands Church Family!

Here’s how you can join in with Prayer Week 2024:

• Book a slot in the 24/7 Prayer Room
  You are welcome to book a space individually, with a friend or two or come with a group - we’d love to have people praying around the clock all week.

• Join in with Morning Prayer Meetings
  Each weekday morning we’re gathering from 7.15am - 8.15am in the Foyer at Woodlands Central from Monday, 15th January through to Friday, 19th January.

• Come along to an Evening of Prayer & Worship
  Hundreds of us with be at Woodlands Central on Tuesday, 16th January at 7.45pm.

• Download our helpful Prayer Guide
  These are available in hard copy from the Foyer at Woodlands Central.

• Choose a time to fast and pray
  Read some helpful information and guidance about fasting if it’s new for you.

• Follow us on social media for daily prayer posts
  Find us on Instagram or on Facebook.

• Pray with us daily using our Prayer Calendar
  Download and use our monthly guide for January

During Prayer Week, we’d love to hear your stories if you’ve heard from God. Simply email Hazel Askew and tell her how you’ve felt encouraged or connected this week.

TLG: January's Mission Partner

Each month at Woodlands Central, we have a monthly offering where we raise funds to support our local mission partners.

This January, we want to highlight Transforming Lives for Good (TLG), who work to bring hope and a future for struggling children. You can become an Early Intervention Coach, if you can give one child, one hour a week. 

As a Christian charity, TLG are confident in the difference that churches of all shapes and sizes can make in their own communities. Woodlands is a TLG partner church and so we encourage our members to find out more about TLG and how to get involved on their website:
www.tlg.org.uk

You are also always welcome to give online to our Local Partnership Fund, which supports of mission partners in Bristol.

Prayer Series for January

Prayer Series

As we go into the New Year this January, our focus is on seeking to grow in our own personal prayer life. We’ll be celebrating our annual Prayer Week as Woodlands Church Family and our Sunday series will provide guidance on what the Bible says about how to pray, fast and connect with God.

Here’s what our messages will be looking at each week…

• 7th January: Give Yourself to God

• 14th January: Good Habits

• 21st January: Discern, Obey & Pray

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MESSAGES FROM THIS SERIES

Vacancy for HR Lead

The Woodlands Church Family is a vibrant, growing family of churches with six churches located across the city of Bristol and a vision to plant more. As we’ve grown, so too has our staff team, and we now have over 50 employees.

We are looking for an experienced HR professional to join our team and help us as we continue to develop our working practices and culture, so that all staff are supported and encouraged to flourish in their roles.

The Role
The HR Lead will oversee our staff recruitment, development and performance review process as well as working with our Trustees and Senior Leadership to ensure we have a healthy workplace culture and positive staff wellbeing. The HR Lead will also have a key role in compliance, ensuring we reflect current regulations and guidance in our practices and documentation.

Terms
The role will be part time, ideally 3-4 days a week with an FTE salary of £30,000-£35,000 depending on experience and qualifications. The annual holiday entitlement is 25 days pro rata. The role will primarily be based at Woodlands Church in Clifton, Bristol with flexible and home working available by arrangement.

How to apply
Please email julia.shrimpton@woodlandschurch.net for the detailed job description and an application form. The closing date for applications is midnight on Wednesday 31st January 2024. This vacancy will close once we have sufficient applications.

How to apply
The closing date for applications is midnight on Wednesday, 31st January 2024. This vacancy will close once we have sufficient applications.

If shortlisted, interviews will take place at Woodlands Church week commencing Monday, 5th February 2024.

Please contact dave.roderick@woodlandschurch.net if you have any questions about the role.

Please send all applications to dave.roderick@woodlandschurch.net and cc them to julia.shrimpton@woodlandschurch.net.

January Prayer Calendar

Pray each day

Each month, you’re invited to pray for church and all that is happening with our monthly Prayer Calendar. You can view and download the January calendar below.