Latest News:
British Methodist Youth Choir
Hybrid Church planning event
Action for Children Webinar
In case you missed it:
Conference Report from Rachel
A Poem by our DSO
Dial-a-prayer free phone line
District Children's Support Fund update

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British Methodist Youth Choir

 Following a hiatus of 18 months, we are writing to inform you that the British Methodist Youth Choir is now back up and running. You may know that in 2022 the BMYC will be celebrating its 40th anniversary and is now in preparations for rebuilding the choir and the membership.
 
We have recently taken over as administrator and musical director after being elected at the most recent AGM and are keen to try to recruit as many members as possible to restart this choir, so that we can sing throughout the connexion and truly show the Methodist spirit of ‘Born in Song’.
 
We would be very grateful if you could assist us by promoting the choir in your district by asking that this information is disseminated in the circuits and sharing our contact details for people to make enquires. We currently have an age range of 14-27, but we will shortly be increasing this to an upper age of 30.
 
Here are some links to our social media sites.
 
https://www.facebook.com/TheBMYC/
 
https://twitter.com/bmyc?lang=en-gb
 
https://www.instagram.com/thebmyc/?hl=en
 
https://www.bmyc.info/ (the current website is under development and so doesn’t reflect the current status of the choir)
 
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheBMYC
 
Please contact us if you would like any more information. We very much look forward to hearing from the young people in your District who may be interested in joining the British Methodist Youth Choir.
 
Yours in Christ,
 
Judith Laycock (administrator) and Jason McMahon (musical director)
 

Hybrid Church Planning event

 Event Name:   Hybrid Church: Planning for a blended/physical digital presence
 
led by: Kerry Scarlett/Adam Sanders/Jo Yair/Jon Pedley
 
Date:   28th and 30th July 2020
 
Times:   10am on both days
 
Venue:   Online – Zoom (Link to be sent out to all who register through Eventbrite. Same link for both sessions)
 
Description of Event:  
Planning for 'Hybrid Church' - gathering online and in person - is something new for all of us. You are invited to join us for two online sessions, specifically aimed at members and leaders of Methodist Churches in the West Midlands region.
Session Themes:
Hybrid Church: Part 1: - Planning for Gathering Online and In Person [28th July, 10am]

• Identifying the challenges, responding to potential - seeing the possibilities of a new blended way of being and doing church
• The ‘who, what & why’? of planning for hybrid church - exploring some key questions around expectations, resourcing, and sustainability

Hybrid Church: Part 2 - Disability and Inclusion [30th July, 10am]

• The joys of offline arriving online
• Audience and accessibility: Whatever we do, make it accessible

 Please book here:   https://westmidsmethodist-hybridchurch.eventbrite.co.uk   
 

Action for Children Webinar

Action for Children unavoidably had to miss the Methodist Conference this year. We always enjoy meeting up with our Methodist friends and updating them on our work. We would still like to share what is happening through a webinar.  
 
Covid-19: Adapting to the changing needs of our children and families
 
Date:    4 August 2020
Time:    3pm
Venue: Online. Registration required
 
More than 4.2 million children were locked in poverty before Covid-19 hit the UK. It was clear how a pandemic would make things worse for families who were already struggling. So, Action for Children sprang into action.
 
In this webinar, Action for Children staff tell how the charity rapidly acted to ensure that we could continue to support our children, young people and families in spite of the pandemic.
 
Disadvantaged children and families were disproportionately affected by the multitude of challenges that Covid-19 brought e.g. closed schools, loss of income, dealing with existing health conditions. Adapting our services and fundraising activities quickly gave families a lifeline in extremely difficult times.
 
Click here to sign up for this webinar: https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/3WYD-6R7/covid-19-webinar
 
Blessings and peace,
 
Karis Kolawole
 

Conference Report from Rachel

Before heading off on the first half of her Sabbatical, Rachel (District Chair) recorded a video message to summarise what happened at Methodist Conference this year. It lasts around 12 minutes and is posted on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/0p9Plbh7xeU
 

A Poem by our DSO

Together in a Better World?
by Margaret

Unseen foe brought globe to its knees.

Took away our rights to freedom,

social distancing, staying home,

no saying goodbye to loved ones.

A sadder, anxious, frightening world.

Will we remember the good things?

Chatting and helping our neighbours,

clapping for N.H.S. workers,

at the frontline of saving lives.

A more caring though anxious world.

Will we recall the quiet roads,

the clear air, birdsong, country walks,

the beauty of nature that haunts,

stirs memories of different times?

Forgotten dreams in today’s world.

Will we return to hectic lives,

no time to think, pause to reflect?

Or learn from and change to accept

creating new ways of living

together in a better world?

July 2020
NW Quadrant DSOs

Copyright © 2020
by Margaret Reynolds
ISBN: 123-45678-9
Printed in Lockdown
 

Dial-a-prayer free phone line

A FREE phone service to hear prayers and news from the Methodist Church has been launched.

Listen to a prayer: 0808 281 2514

Listen to news: 0808 281 2478

Content is updated weekly on Thursday evening.

 For more information click the following link: https://www.methodist.org.uk/signpostforministry/

District Children's Support Fund

The funding allocated specifically to the support of children and families in the District - particularly those experiencing some form of deprivation - is still open to accept applications at the moment.  Are there projects you might consider which could offer support even during the lockdown?  

The maximum amount of any claim is £500 and a Church can apply at any time using the attached form and send it electronically to Tim Lorimer who will process your application and give a decision within six weeks of receipt. The application will need the support of the hosting Church and circuit superintendent. Church’s cannot apply for retrospective funding.
We would hope that individuals and groups that have contributed in the past to the Holiday Fund will still wish to do so knowing that there money will still be used for Children’s Projects.  For more information please contact Tim Lorimer   on lorimertim@yahoo.co.uk 07971899084. 
 

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