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Children and Young People

Services

Children and young people are welcome at all our services. Our work specifically aimed at children and young people takes place during the 9.30 Family Communion service each Sunday.

Family Communion & Groups

Groups for children and young people run on most weeks, including the summer holidays, but there are some exceptions, including Harvest Festival, Mothering Sunday etc. and some other non-term times. (See also 3rd Sundays)

All groups operate within the Safeguarding Policy adopted by St. Botolph’s PCC, a copy of which is available on the notice board and via the ‘Information’ heading on this website.

9.30 Family Communion Service on 3rd Sundays

On the third Sunday of each month, we worship together as a whole family, the children and young people remaining for the entire service. We follow our seasonal service books, and our prayer is that all ages will be enabled by the Spirit to enter into the liturgy, to encounter God in his Word, in Sacrament and in blessing. Families are encouraged to sit near the front, where younger children can see what is happening, and there are quiet activities provided nearby. The sermon is accessible to the whole worshipping community, and often interactive. Those who would like to are invited to sit in the Chancel during the Eucharistic Prayer.

Children and Holy Communion

With their parents' agreement, we warmly welcome children in St. Botolph's to receive Holy Communion from the age of 7 following a short preparation course. If your child would like to participate, please speak to one of the children's team for dates of upcoming courses. Children who have been prepared elsewhere will be welcome to receive but we ask that you please speak to the Vicar to let her know your wishes.

Confirmation

It is always a joy to explore the Christian faith with young people. Those who will be aged 12 or more by the date of the confirmation service follow an exploration course of 8 sessions, usually in a group. Towards the end of the course, they are asked to make their own decision as to whether they are ready to make the promises and commitment involved in confirmation. Contact the Rev. Jackie Bullen for dates of upcoming courses. Tel: 01733 263016.

Buggy Buddies (0-4yrs)

We are a very friendly, nicely busy group that meet in St. Botolph’s between 10.30 and 12.00 every Friday morning during term-time. There are toys, playdough and crafts available, together with squash, tea & coffee and with a nice spread of edible goodies. During the last half-hour we have a prayer, story and enjoy a singing session with pom-poms, parachute and more. Mums, dads and all sorts of carers are welcome – you needn’t be churchgoers to come along!

Our Buggy Buddies prayer: ‘Dear loving Lord Jesus, thank you for friends and family and fun. Thank you for helping me to do my best. Thank you for loving me always, even when I make mistakes, and have to say ‘sorry’! Amen.’

Contact Eddie Miller Tel: 07801 436408

St. Botolph’s has informal links with and holds occasional/seasonal services for the following:

Longthorpe Toddler Group

Longthorpe Pre-school

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Uniformed organisations (Scouts, Cubs etc.)

Contact: John Tidy Tel: 01733 266290

Weekly Services

Weekly services are listed in the CALENDAR on the HOME  page

The Church's Ministry of Healing

The ministry of anointing is also included in the Wednesday 10.30 a.m. Eucharist on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.

In his own ministry, Jesus gave high priority to healing the sick. The same concern has always found expression in the ministry of the Church through the Eucharist, the prayers for the sick, and the personal love and care offered to sufferers by individual Christians. This ministry has continued over the centuries at St Botolph's, Longthorpe, as in other churches.

Among other ways in which the Church exercises this ministry are anointing with oil, and the laying on of hands. These are done by a priest or others who are authorized for this particular ministry. They are not 'healers'. They represent the whole Body of Christ, his Church, surrounding you with love and prayer at that moment. Any of us may receive this ministry, for ourselves or on behalf of others, when we believe there is need of the healing power of the Spirit of God.

This ministry is in no sense offered as an alternative to medical care. All healing comes from God, whether brought about by the skill and care of doctors and nurses, through prayer, through sacraments, or through healing words or a healing touch. It is a ministry through which the risen Christ, in the Church, brings his healing to the whole person, body, mind and spirit. Recovery from disease is one aspect of this; another is the possibility of being enabled by God to accept illness or disability. Beyond our quest for individual healing there is a need for healing in human society, scarred as it is by war, injustice and oppression.

The Church's ministry of healing is therefore also one of reconciliation and forgiveness. A confession of sins, of our lack of wholeness, is made before the laying on of hands. Our penitence and God's forgiveness are the necessary condition for recovering wholeness of body, mind and spirit and for healing the bro ken relationships between ourselves and God, and between one another.