Reaching those who engage in youth and children’s work is paramount to the work of Dan Jones, the Youth and Children’s Adviser. ‘Newslink’ is a free newsletter produced by Dan three times a year at Easter, Harvest and Christmas, providing youth and children’s leaders with relevant articles, stories, ideas, new resources and training opportunities in and around the diocese. 
Despite the atrocious icy conditions, over seventy leaders and volunteers braved the elements to worship together and be commissioned and blessed by Mike Hill, the Bishop of Bristol. In his address, +Mike thanked everyone, including the many who were not there, who give up their valuable time to work with children and young people. He entertained the congregation with personal stories that highlighted the importance of their ministry and encouraging statistics that the diocese is seeing a significant growth in children and young people attending church and related activities.
The entire event had a real sense of God’s presence led wonderfully by Revd Simon Tyndal and worship by Dan Jones. With great hospitality too from members of St Paul’s, The Occasion was memorable in many ways, even more so when +Mike devoted time to bless each person individually during the commissioning service.
Plans are already being discussed for another ‘occasion’ in Spring 2012.
