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.
Small is Beautiful
Small is Beautiful
Followers of Jesus are called to make disciples. Discipleship happens therefore in the context of relationship. Christians meet in varied sized groups, but the truth is the larger the context the poorer it is at making disciples. Large gatherings are great for lots of things and play their part in the discipleship process, but the most effective mediums for discipleship are small.
Our evening talks in this series at Woodlands Central will look at the below topics:
Mentoring, Elijah & Elisha - 19th April
Mentoring, Paul & Timothy - 26th April
The Power of a Small Group for discipleship - 3rd May
Small is Church too - 10th May
Download our discussion notes to go deeper with the topics each week.
Small is Beautiful - Discussion Notes
See you on Sundays or catchup on the Livesteam!
Resurrection Life
Resurrection Life
Having celebrated the risen Jesus on Easter Sunday, we want to explore the reality of a resurrected Jesus. What does that mean for us today to know Jesus as our risen Lord? We’re going to look at 3 encounters Jesus had and how his resurrection life changed the lives of those he met. Our prayer is that the same resurrected Jesus will meet us and change us today.
Our morning talks in this series at Woodlands Central will look at the below topics:
Living Faith - 12th April
Living Hope - 19th April
Living Mission - 26th April
Download our discussion notes to go deeper with the topics each week.
Resurrection Life - Discussion Notes
See you on Sundays or catchup on the Livesteam!
Youth Minister Vacancy
Join our Youth Ministry Team!
The Woodlands Church Family (WCF) is a vibrant, growing family of churches with eight sites located across the city of Bristol. Our vision is to transform Bristol through the love and power of God as we create spirit-filled, visible communities of faith in neighbourhoods across the city.
Each congregation is distinct in their style, but we all share the same vision, mission and values to be communities which are welcoming of everyone, authentic in our faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit and expectant of all that God will do in us and through us.
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!
At our Woodlands Central congregation, we have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our team as a Youth Minister reporting to the Senior Youth Director and Congregational Leaders.
The Role
Candidates should be highly motivated, enthusiastic, able to take initiative, work well in a team and be committed to see the church community grow in their faith and reach the city for Jesus.
Key areas of work for the position include:
Outreach to the City
Develop & Deliver Youth Programmes
Youth Discipleship & Development
Champion & Grow Youth Ministry
For full details of the role, please see the Job Description
Terms
This is a permanent, part-time contract at 2.5 days per week. Hours on a Friday evening and Sunday morning will be required.
The salary band for this role is £26,300 - £27,000 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. Travel between the different sites will be required.
For full details, please see the Role Summary and Terms
Occupational Requirement
The role has an occupational requirement that the post holder be a follower of Jesus and to be a worshipping member of the Woodlands Church Family, Woodlands Central (if not already) to ensure protection of our strong Christian ethos and values, and our charitable objective of advancing the Christian faith. We also want to ensure all team members thrive and flourish in this environment.
Right to Work in the UK
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
To apply for this role, please download and complete the Woodlands Church Family Application Form.
Please send your completed application to our HR Team at hr@woodlandschurch.net
If you would like an informal conversation to discuss questions about the role please contact the Lead Recruiter, Jack Saunders at jack.saunders@woodlandschurch.net.
The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 17th May 2026.
If shortlisted, the first interviews will take place online on Wednesday 3rd June 2026.
If you are taken through to the second stage in the interview process, interview dates will be either the 12th or 14th June 2026. We will consider other interview dates for candidates not able to make either of those.
March Bible School with Dr Freddy Hedley (WTC) - OT Covenants and the Last Supper
Here is the audio recording of Dr Freddy Hedley as he takes us through the Old Testament covenants and how they inform Jesus’ words at the Last Supper about a “New Covenant”
Self Sacrificial Love
Self Sacrificial Love
The Way of The Cross
At the heart of Jesus’ ministry is His self-sacrificial love exemplified by the way of the cross that He chose. The challenge to His disciples is to follow the way of self-sacrificial love ourselves. In this Lenten season our Sunday evening series will be exploring what it means to put that into practice. Jesus told his followers to take up their cross daily, and Paul writes ‘offer your bodies to God as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship’. These are hard words but paradoxically point to the pathway of life and freedom.’
Self sacrificial Love is at the heart of the ministry of Jesus and the example he sets us to follow. It is the grounding principle of this sermon series. It points the way to Easter.
Our evening talks in this series at Woodlands Central will look at the below topics:
Sacrifice and Discipleship - 1st March
Sacrifice and Leadership - 8th March
Sacrifice and Worship - 15th March
Sacrifice and Resources - 22nd March
Sacrifice and Salvation - 29th March
Download our discussion notes to go deeper with the topics each week.
Self Sacrificial Love - Discussion Notes
See you on Sundays or catchup on the Livesteam!
Question Mark
Question Mark
Key Questions in Mark that Lead to the Cross
In this new March series, we’re exploring the defining questions in the second half of the Gospel of Mark - questions that lead us step by step toward the cross and the empty tomb. Each question invites us to look again at who Jesus is, what He came to do, and what it truly means to follow Him.
We’ll wrestle with identity, goodness, authority, suffering, and resurrection hope. Along the way, we’ll see how easy it is to think in merely human ways and how desperately we need revelation from God to see clearly.
The aim is to help those who are still exploring faith consider the most important question they will ever answer “Who is Jesus?” while also inviting long-time believers into a deeper understanding of Christ’s mission, His authority, and the life-changing power of His death and resurrection.
Our morning talks in this series at Woodlands Central will look at the below topics:
Who do you say I am? - 8th March
Why do you call me Good? - 15th March
By what Authority? - 22nd March
My God, My God, Why have you Forsaken me? - 29th March
Who will Roll the Stone? - 5th April
Download our discussion notes to go deeper with the topics each week.
Question Mark - Discussion Notes
See you on Sundays or catchup on the Livesteam!
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 as a PDF.
February Bible School "What does the Bible say about Money?"
Ed Marsh takes us through what the Bible teaches us about money
Join us for Lent 2026
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 2026, Lent begins on Wednesday 18th February and ends on Thursday 2nd 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.
Mark: Living the Way of Jesus in the World
A 40-day devotional journey through Mark’s Gospel – designed to help you see Jesus afresh and deepen your wonder at God at work in the world. Each day, there’s a ‘First Thought’ to stimulate your own, a question from the day’s passage to chew over, a prompt to consider your response in your context, and a short prayer to conclude.
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.
Workplace Conference 7th Feb
At the start of the year, it is good to take a review of our lives, reflect on God's love and how we can serve him whole-heartly for 2026.
For many of us, we spend a significant amount of time in the workplace. How is our faith relevant there?
We are running a morning workplace conference on Sat 7th Feb called Illuminate. Illuminate is a short programme to explore how you can be a positive influence in shaping the culture of your organisation in a way that truly reflects God’s Kingdom in your workplaces. It is an opportunity to consider the impact you can have in your organisation, and what God might want to say through you.
Renovation of the Heart
Renovation of the Heart
Unpacking the Power of Repentance
“The quest for spiritual formation (really, as indicated, spiritual transformation) is in fact an age-old and worldwide one. It is rooted in the deep personal and even biological need for goodness that haunts humanity.”
Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart
In this series we are exploring the transforming power of repentance. We want to look at confession, receiving forgiveness, healing, and taking spiritual authority in areas that were once places of defeat. The aim is to ground new Christians in these essential foundational practices but also to offer long-term believers a renewed experience of grace.
Our morning and evening talks in this series at Woodlands Central will look at the below topics:
Repentance and Transformation - 1st February
The Prayer of Confession - 8th February
Repentance and the Heart of God - 15th February
Repentance and Spiritual Revitalisation - 22nd February
Download our discussion notes to go deeper with the topics each week.
Renovation of the Heart - Discussion Notes
See you on Sundays or catchup on the Livesteam!
January Bible School - "Prayer and the Nature of God" with Tim Dobson and Ella Wyse
Join us during the 6.30pm service in the Crypt at Woodlands Central on Sunday 11th Jan
Prayer is the Key
Prayer is the Key
We want to start the new year with a focus on prayer which will include the WCF Prayer Week (18th-25th). During September 25 Prayer Week at Central we felt God say to us ‘prayer is the key’. We want to use this series to unpack what that means. The aim of this series is to encourage, provoke, teach and deepen our corporate and individual prayer life.
Our morning and evening talks in this series at Woodlands Central will look at the below topics:
The Future Now - 4th January
Vision Sunday - 11th January
Keeping in Step with the Spirit - 18th January
Keeping Watch, Keeping Guard - 25th January
Download our discussion notes to go deeper with the topics each week.
Prayer is the Key - Discussion Notes
See you on Sundays or catchup on the Livesteam!
Kingsized
Kingsized
“And He shall reign forever and ever, King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah Chorus by Georg Friedrich Handel
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.
What kind of king is Jesus? In the fear, confusion and division around the world many long for a ‘strong leader’ who will lead us through troubled times, but sometimes leaders are the ones causing the chaos. In bible times the Israelites were led by God through a relationship mediated by spiritual leaders, but in their insecurity they begged God for a king, “a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have” thinking that this would give them status with their enemies, help them to win battles and expand their kingdom. They wanted an impressive, stronger, more visible leader, a kingsized leader! God warns them that that they will lose more than they will gain and true enough, they got their king and it brought them all kinds of trouble! (1 Sam 1: 8). But then God promises them, one day I will send you a king who will lead like no other king. He will be powerful and victorious but also holy and humble. This is the kind of king that Jesus is.
Our morning talks in this series at Woodlands Central will look at the below topics:
A Humble King - 7th December
An Unexpected King - 14th December
A Wise King - 21st December
A Peaceful King - 25th December
See you on Sundays or catchup on the Livesteam!
Bible School with Rachel Riddall
This month Rachel spoke on the interaction of Jesus with Women in John’s Gospel
Preacher's Workshop Resources
Here are the audio recordings of the Preaching workshop run as part of the Woodlands Church Academy.
Disciplines of the Disciple
Disciplines of the Disciple
It is a truism to say that the discipleship life involves discipline. What differentiates it from legalism is about desire. The person with a desire to play a musical instrument or excel at sport chooses to make time to practice and develop skills and disciplines ‘because of the joy set before them’. It is not compulsion but choice.
Of course, sometimes the coach/tutor sets exercises that are demanding and not at first inherently pleasant, but even these become a joy once mastered. This series looks at Spiritual disciplines and picks up some areas of ‘discipline’ that we don’t talk as much about.
Our Evening talks in this series at Woodlands Central will look at the below topics:
The Disciplined Life - 2nd November
The Scriptures - 9th November
The Tongue - 16th November
Stewardship - 23rd November
Pursuing the Spirit - 30th November
Download our discussion notes to go deeper with the topics each week.
Disciplines of the Disciples - Discussion Notes
See you on Sundays or catchup on the livesteam!
MESSAGES FROM THIS SERIES
Creativity and the Kingdom
Bible School this month looked at what the Bible story says about Creativity. Meg Nurcombe, who is currently studying for a PhD in Theology and Art, is our speaker
Tough Talk
Tough Talk
Our November morning sermon series looks at some of Jesus’ teaching from the Gospels which can be hard. Hard to understand or hard to put into practice, or both! Jesus’ call to take up our cross and follow him comes at a cost but the benefits are always rich, deep and wide as we surrender every area of our lives to him and learn how to be his disciples.
Our Morning talks in this series at Woodlands Central will look at the below topics:
The Way of the Cross - 2nd November
Friend of Sinners - 9th November
Love Your Enemies - 16th November
Two Masters - 23rd November
Authentic Faith - 30th November
Download our discussion notes to go deeper with the topics each week.
See you on Sundays or catchup on the livesteam!