Here are a selection of messages shared at our 8am services, with the most recent talks appearing at the top of the list…
Vacancy for Early Years Lead
The Woodlands Church Family (WCF) is a vibrant, growing family of churches with eight sites located across the city of Bristol and a vision to plant more. As we’ve grown, so too has our team, and we have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our Children's team as our Early Years Lead with a focus on children aged 0-4 years at Woodlands Central.
As Woodlands Church Family we aim to disciple children and families to be connected, confident and equipped.
1. Connected
We aim to help children and families to connect with Jesus, with one another in friendships, in relationships with the church community and with a sense of belonging.
2. Confident
We aim to help disciple children to be confident in their knowledge of who God is, to have a sense of their own identity in Christ and therefore confident enough to ask questions, explore faith and be curious.
3. Equipped
We aim to equip and support parents as they disciple their children with the help of the Holy Spirit. We aim to equip children with tools to help them to pray, read the bible and experience the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. We want to equip them to own their own faith in Jesus, to obey Jesus and to be empowered ministers to the world around them.
About the Role
This position is a leadership role to oversee and grow how we disciple our early years generation at Woodlands Central. This involves leading, shaping and delivering our discipleship programme for early years. This includes overseeing our Sunday and midweek ministry programmes, as well as events and outreach initiatives throughout the year.
The discipleship strategy will be delivered through a large team of volunteers who you will need to recruit, train and support. You will be responsible for communicating vision to the volunteer teams and wider church. You will also be involved with the wider children’s ministry, with an investment in the whole ministry to all our children.
Candidates should be highly motivated, enthusiastic, able to take initiative, work well in a team and be passionate to see children grow in their faith.
Requirements: This role requires a commitment to be a follower of Jesus and a member of Woodlands Central.
To find out more about this role, download the following documents:
Terms
This is a permanent position contracted at a minimum of 2.5 days per week with a requirement to work on Sunday mornings.
The salary band for this role is £26,000 - £28,000 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 Central in Clifton, Bristol.
The post is subject to satisfactory references.
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.
How to apply
The closing date for applications is midnight on Friday 28th March 2025. However, this vacancy will close once we have sufficient applications.
Please contact Nigel Savage, Senior Leader at Woodlands Central at nigel.savage@woodlandschurch.net if you have any questions about the role.
If shortlisted, interviews will take place at Woodlands Church on the afternoon of Friday 4th April 2025.
For an application form please contact our HR Administrator Jenny Hanley at hr@woodlandschurch.net.
Please send your completed application to Nigel Savage at nigel.savage@woodlandschurch.net and our HR Lead Julia Shrimpton hr@woodlandschurch.net.
Vacancy for Senior Children & Families Lead
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 have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our team as Senior Children and Families Lead at Woodlands Central.
As Woodlands Church Family we aim to disciple children and families to be connected, confident and equipped.
1. Connected
We aim to help children and families to connect with Jesus, with one another in friendships, in relationships with the church community and with a sense of belonging.
2. Confident
We aim to help disciple children to be confident in their knowledge of who God is, to have a sense of their own identity in Christ and therefore confident enough to ask questions, explore faith and be curious.
3. Equipped
We aim to equip and support parents as they disciple their children with the help of the Holy Spirit. We aim to equip children with tools to help them to pray, read the bible and experience the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. We want to equip them to own their own faith in Jesus, to obey Jesus and to be empowered ministers to the world around them.
About the Role
This position is a strategic leadership role to oversee and grow the Children’s and Families ministries at Woodlands involving leading, shaping and building an expanding children's ministry for children aged 0-11.
This includes planning ministry programmes, events and outreach initiatives throughout the year. You will lead and line manage the staffed Children’s Team and through them recruit, train and support a large team of volunteers. You will oversee the Families Ministry including daytime groups and events, equipping parents to disciple their children in the home.
Candidates should be highly motivated, enthusiastic, able to take initiative, work well in a team and be passionate to see children grow in their faith.
Requirements: This role requires a commitment to be a follower of Jesus and a member of Woodlands Central.
To find out more about this role, download the following documents:
Terms
This is a permanent position contracted at a minimum of 3 days per week (22 hours 30 mins) with the possibility of more hours being added and the role potentially becoming a full-time position.
The salary band for this role is £29,000 - £31,000 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 Central in Clifton, Bristol.
The post is subject to satisfactory references.
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.
How to apply
The closing date for applications is midnight on Friday 28th March 2025. However, this vacancy will close once we have sufficient applications.
Please contact Rachel Riddall, Senior Leader at Woodlands Central at rachel.riddall@woodlandschurch.net if you have any questions about the role.
If shortlisted, interviews will take place at Woodlands Church on the afternoon of Friday 4th April 2025.
For an application form please contact our HR Administrator Jenny Hanley at hr@woodlandschurch.net.
Please send your completed application to Rachel Riddall at rachel.riddall@woodlandschurch.net and our HR Lead Julia Shrimpton hr@woodlandschurch.net.
Join us for Lent 2025
As Lent begins we want to invite you to join with us thinking about and celebrating the Easter story.
For many churches around the world Lent is like a journey where we join together with the whole church world wide, including our brothers and sisters in the persecuted church. It’s a time of drawing closer to God and thinking about the events of that one week that changed the course of human history.
In 2025, Lent begins on Wednesday 5th March and ends on Thursday 17th April.
This year, why not choose a bible reading plan that will help you follow the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross? Lent culminates in Holy Week, when as a church we try to find ways of pausing each day to remember the specific events of that week, including our Good Friday service and Easter Sunday celebration at Woodlands.
Nowadays there is a wealth of free digital bible plans available online and in apps.
DIGITAL LENT RESOURCES
The following resources are available through the Bible App which is completely free, with no advertising and no in-app purchases, or access plans direct from their website version of the Bible online.
Lent for Everyone: Daily Devotionals by NT Wright
Following the story in real time can bring even more significance to arguably the most important week in the Christian year. For each day of Lent, there is a reading chosen from the Gospel of Matthew, plus a reflection by NT Wright.Journey to the Cross: 7-Day Bible Plan by Pete Greig
Pause and pray as you prepare your heart for Easter. Join Jesus on His journey to the cross, through the tomb, and into resurrection life.Dreaming the Impossible Bible Plans
DTI have created Bible plans for young people aged 12 - 18. Check out Psalms to Make You Think which is a a 4 day study of different Psalms to help expand deepen your relationship and passion for God. Or try How to Thrive in Teenagehood, written by teenagers for teenagers so that young people would not just survive this season of their lives but thrive in this season of their lives.
Additional free app based daily devotionals from 24-7 Prayer:
Lectio 365
A free daily devotional resource that helps you pray the Bible every day, inspired by Lectio Divina, a way of meditating on the Bible that’s been used by Christians for centuries.Lectio for Families
Free devotional app that helps families read the Bible and explore faith together.Inner Room
A Lent prayer series, available through the Inner Room app. The app has morning, afternoon, and evening prayers designed to bring you back into the presence of God for a few minutes throughout your day. This year their theme is ‘what’s shaping you?’, with an invitation to choose to be shaped by God this Lent.
Vision for Midweek Life at Woodies
Midweek Leaders Gathering:
Did you miss our gathering on 27th January 2025?
Listen to Nigel share our vision for midweek life at Woodies.
Wholeness Course Starts 25th Feb
Wholeness: Explore Identity
Explore how our lives can be established on the sure foundation of our God given identity. This is a course with stories of breakthrough, teaching, including our ‘Spiritual spring clean’ and opportunities for receiving prayer.
Our next Wholeness 1: Explore Identity course will be taking place over 6 weeks beginning the 25th February and running on Tuesday evenings from 8pm - 10pm at Woodlands. To sign up follow the link below.
To find out more about the wholeness course head to the webpage here.
Hear some Testimony’s from the Wholeness Course
Prayer Week: 19-26 January 2025
It’s Prayer Week from 19th - 26th January 2025 - let’s get praying and fasting!
You are invited to join the Woodlands Church Family for a dedicated week of prayer and fasting for our church, city, nation and the world. Let's remember the words of Jesus as we pray. Matthew 6 v 33: 'Seek First His Kingdom'.
As we start 2025, it feels wholly appropriate to gather together in one spirit to fast and pray and cry out to God for his kingdom to come here, as it is in heaven. It is a brilliant way to start the New Year, surrendering ourselves to God's goodness and power and his will for ourselves, our church and our world, which so desperately needs it.
There are a few key ways you can get involved throughout Prayer Week and we’d love everyone to take part.
A Week of Prayer & Fasting
There are lots of ways to join in at home and in person. We’d love it if everyone in our church community got involved…
Book a slot in the 24/7 Prayer Room
You can sign up to pray in hour long slots in our creative Prayer Room space in Woodlands Central. The Prayer Room opens on Sunday 19th January at 7pm.Come to our Evening of Prayer & Worship
Join people from all eight sites of the Woodlands Church Family on Tuesday 21st January from 7.45pm - 9.30pm in the Main Hall at Woodlands Central for an evening of prayer and worship. Our focus is to pray for all areas of the city to be transformed with the love and power of God and to pray for Unity for us and churches across the City.Join in with Morning Prayer Watch from 7.15am - 8.15am
Join us at Central from Monday to Friday, the 20th - 24th January for daily sessions hosted and led by different members of our staff team and church community as we pray for ourselves, our Church, our City and the World each morning.Fast during Prayer Week
The Bible teaches the value of fasting in order to focus on prayer and seek God’s will. We would like for our church family to think about fasting and make a plan for how this could fit into your routine during Prayer Week. It could be that you decide to fast a single meal, or fast for a day or even longer. To learn about fasting, watch this preach from Tim Dobson on Spiritual Disciplines: Fasting & Feasting. If you can only fast one meal or one day, why not fast with others on Tuesday 21st January ahead of the Evening of Prayer & Worship gathering.Pray the Lord’s Prayer at Noon
Set an alarm and say the Lord’s Prayer each day at 12pm along with hundreds of others in our church family.Download our Prayer Guide
Use our handy guide to help you focus and pray throughout the week.
Praying for Our Churches
To help us pray across the Woodlands Church Family during Prayer Week, we asked the leaders of each church to share their prayer requests so that we can pray specifically for each of their needs. We’ll be posting these on Facebook once a day from Monday through Saturday. Please take some time this week to be praying for:
Monthly Men's Breakfast
Commissioning Sunday
This month, Dave Mitchell will be passing on the baton of leadership of Woodlands Central to Rachel Riddall and Nigel Savage. We'll be marking this on a special Commissioning Sunday on the 8th September at all of our services. We’d love everyone to come along to support and pray for them.
Nigel and Rachel have been part of the Core Leadership Team at Central working closely with Dave Mitchell for many years. Practically speaking, Dave Mitchell has been handing over the operational leadership of the Woodlands Central congregations to Rachel & Nigel and their team over the summer. In addition, his Executive Assistant Abby Harvey has also transitioned over to supporting Nigel and Rachel at Central and we’ve recruited Catherine Penn as Dave’s new Executive Assistant.
Here’s what Dave Mitchell, Senior Lead of the Woodlands Church Family, recently wrote in his email to the church:
”My own role as leader of the Woodlands Church Family means I will still maintain a presence and involvement with Woodlands Central but will be released to have time for congregations on the other seven sites that represent the Woodlands Church Family, as well as for our wider connections in the City.
It might be worth reminding you of exactly who Woodlands Church Family is, and some of the nomenclature involved.
Woodlands Central covers the congregations that meet in the Woodlands Christian Centre on Belgrave Road itself. This includes the 8am, 9.15am, 11 am services, the 6.30pm service and monthly Quiet Service also at 6.30pm.
Highgrove is our Sea Mills congregation meeting at 10 High Grove with services at 9.30am and 11am.
The Community Church meets at the Greenaway Centre on Doncaster Road, Southmead at 10.30am.
Branch Community Church meets at Emmanuel Church Satchfield Crescent in Henbury at 4pm.
Southside meets at Victoria Park Baptist Church on St John’s Lane at 3pm.
Woodlands Metro meets at the Cathedral School (Cresswell Centre) at 11am on Sundays.
Hillside will be the name for the congregation meeting in Backwell meeting in Fairfield Primary School at 11 am on 3rd Sundays.
From the end of September Woodlands Church Family will be stewarding Chelsea Christian Centre in Easton, name tbc.
Thanks (I think) to everyone who has congratulated me on retirement, but that is still a little way off though I do become eligible for my state pension at the end of September!”
Prayer Week 2024
At Woodlands Central, we love to pray and each September we celebrate Prayer Week, where we come before God together and offer him what is on our hearts.
Prayer Week is happening from the 15th - 22nd September 2024. It is a lovely time of fellowship, where we look forward and prepare ourselves spiritually for the coming season. The week consists of daily events and a 24/7 Prayer Room that can be booked by individuals or groups.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Pray the Lord’s Prayer at 12 noon every day
Come to Morning Prayer Meetings from Monday to Friday from 7.15am - 8.15am in the Foyer
Come to an Evening of Prayer & Worship event on Tuesday, 17th September at 7.45pm
Fast on Tuesday, 17th September before coming to our evening event (Learn about fasting)
Try using an app to help you pray, such as Lectio 365, Prayer Mate or Inner Room
MentorMe: October's Mission Partner
Each month at Woodlands Central, we have a monthly offering where we raise funds to support a mission partner.
This October, we want to highlight and support MentorMe, a project which enables church members to mentor people with criminal convictions, helping them achieve their goals by providing personal support, friendship and guidance.
You can give financially at our offering or you are also welcome to give online.
Could you offer hope to someone who’s been in prison?
An hour of your time a week could change someone’s life!
If you are prepared to listen, be patient and have your faith put to work, there are people who have a conviction who need someone like you!
Your support would empower someone to reach their goals, give them hope and help them to become all that they were meant to be.
The charity SixtyOne will give you all the training you need, their dedicated MentorMe team will support you throughout your mentoring relationship and will be on hand for advice and support.
You’ll also be invited to join in for celebration events and meals throughout the year!
Upcoming MentorMe training course dates:
Saturday, 14th October from 9.30am-3.30pm
Wednesday, 18th October from 7pm-9pm
Saturday, 28th October from 9.30am-3.30pm
Wednesday, 1st November from 7pm- 9pm
Wednesday, 8th November from 7pm-9pm
To book a place, please email info@sixty-one.org or call 0117 403 7905.
If you can’t make these training dates, please still get in touch so that we can look at alternative dates …
Here’s what some of MentorMe trainees have said:
“Friendly, believed in all of us. You were very skilled in what you do and could see you were passionate and it's not just a job.”
“Engaging trainers…the activities were well designed, appropriate and engaging… the trainers did an excellent job in teaching.”
Alpha starts 4th October
Autumn Alpha 2023
Curious about faith? Try Alpha! This free course offers a chance to ask questions and explore the Christian faith in a fun, no-pressure environment. Each session includes a talk and a discussion where you can chat through your thoughts and questions with a small group of people just like you.
The course is totally free, it will be running on Wednesday nights from the 4th October for 10 weeks. To find out more, including how to register, click the button below.
It is not too late to sign up! Whether it is the first week or the last week, you are welcome to join at any point in the course.
Autumn Alpha 2022
BISC: September's Mission Partner
Each month at Woodlands Central, we have a monthly offering where we raise funds to support a mission partner, either locally or globally.
For September, we want to support the work of BISC, a local organisation offering welcome, hospitality and community for international students - a home away from home in Bristol. BISC is a Christian charity supported by local churches, welcoming international students of all faiths and none.
You can give financially at our offering or you are also welcome to give online.
VOLUNTEER AT BISC WELCOME MEALS
If you’re able to give your time, BISC need volunteers for their Welcome Meals for international students. For two weeks in September, BISC will be running evening meals for international students at their centre (45 Woodland Rd, BS8 1UT).
Every year, students say how these meals help them connect with others, integrate into the local community and discover that they are not alone in Bristol.
BISC welcome meals will be on 19, 20, 21, 22 and 26, 27, 28, 29 September. Meals will be led by a kitchen-trained chef and BISC are seeking volunteers to support them with baking, food preparation, setting up and hosting meal times, as they welcome new students each evening.
Sign up online!
www.bisc.org.uk/welcomevolunteers2023
WHAT WILL VOLUNTEERS DO?
Baking team (12.30-3pm):
We need a couple of volunteers each lunchtime to help us prepare desserts for the evening meals.
Food prep and set up team (3-6pm):
We need a small group of volunteers to help with food preparation, set up and some cleaning.
Hosting team (6-10pm approx.):
Hosting volunteers will be responsible for greeting guests, taking meal orders, serving, enjoying a meal with a table of students, clearing and washing up. This is the ideal slot for church small groups to join us as a ready-made team of up to 12.
Prayer Week 2023
At Woodlands, love to pray and each September we celebrate Prayer Week, where we come before God together and offer him what is on our hearts.
Prayer Week is happening from the 10th - 17th September 2023. It is a lovely time of fellowship, where we look forward and prepare ourselves spiritually for the coming season. The week consists of daily events and a 24/7 Prayer Room that can be booked by individuals or groups.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Come to morning prayer meetings, happening Monday to Friday from 7.15am - 8.15am in the Foyer
Come to an Evening of Prayer & Worship event on Tuesday, 12th September at 7.30pm
Set an alarm at 12 noon every day to pray the Lord's prayer
Fast on Tuesday, 12th September in advance of the evening event (Learn about fasting)
Try using an app to help you pray, such as Lectio 365, Prayer Mate or Inner Room
Woodies @ New Wine in July
As a church, we're heading to New Wine this summer!
You’re invited to join us as we gather together for United 2023 for 'Week A' from 26-30 July 2023 in Maidstone, Kent.
There are still tickets if you'd like to come. Book online and we'll see you there!
My ChurchSuite | All you need to know
My ChurchSuite
The events you have signed up to, the groups you are a part of, the members of your family, these are all things you can manage through a My ChurchSuite account.
With the aim of giving you more control over your personal data Woodlands would like to encourage you to create a My ChurchSuite account. This can be done by emailing data@woodlandschurch.net.
In case you are unsure on how My ChurchSuite works the team have put together some directional videos to help you get acquainted with My ChurchSuite and all it’s helpful features.
If you already have a My ChurchSuite account you can sign in through the button below.
New ID Course: Complete freedom from an eating disorder | Starts 22nd Feb
Struggling around Food?
This course takes place every Wednesday evening for 6 weeks starting on the 22nd of February. To sign up, or to find out more, get in touch through the button below.
My ChurchSuite | Sign up now!
My ChurchSuite
We want to give you more control over your personal data. Create a My Churchsuite account to have better access to:
Your events
Your team rotas
Your personal information
To create an account please email data@woodlandschurch.net.
If you already have a My ChurchSuite account you can sign in through the button below.
Night of Prayer and Worship | Woodies Church Family Prayer Week
Night of Prayer and Worship
As part of our Family Prayer Week we are hosting a Night of Prayer and Worship. All are welcome, join us any time from 7.30pm!
For more information on all of the Prayer Week events head to the webpage here.
Photos of the event
The Family Christmas Cookbook | Week 4 | The Visit of the Magi
Advent Cookbook Week 4
You will find all you need to know below.
Share photos of your creations on instagram with the #WoodiesAdventCookbook
Follow along with us below
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