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FOR THE LATEST ADVICE ON COVID 19 FROM CONNEXION
PLEASE CLICK HERE
Dial-a-prayer
free phone line to hear prayers: 0808 281 2514 Methodist News:
0808 281 2478
Latest
News:
Synod deadlines
Evangelism and Growth Video
Job Opportunity: WM Education Chaplaincy Ambassador
In
case you missed it:
Christian Aid Vaccination Wall of Thanksgiving
Launch of ROUNDED for 16-19s
Leprosy Mission Sunday 24th April
Care for the Family free sessions
Rwanda Visit
Vacancy for Birmingham District Chair
New "God is with us" grants
District Children's
Support Fund
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Spring
Representative Synod Deadlines
Please
be aware that the deadline for submissions of Memorials and
Authorisations to Preside must be received by 9th April 2021.
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Video
from the District for Evangelism and Growth Team featuring
W&S District Small grants
Each
month the Evangelism & Growth team is inviting a District
Chair to reflect on a story of mission from their District. This
month Rachel reflects on the projects sparked by the “God is With
Us” grant scheme and explores the models of mission on which they
are based.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B749lIyx3w
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West
Midlands Education Chaplaincy Ambassador Job Opportunity
7.5 hrs
pw for 3 years (fixed term contract), salary £7815. Role
focuses on working with colleges and churches to develop new
chaplaincy arrangements and supporting/strengthening existing
chaplaincies. The ideal candiate will be a practising
Christian (GOR), passionate about the churches' engagement
with the FE sector, a creative thinker, have skills in training
and development of teams, and have excellent interpersonal and
networking skills.
Download an application pack from https://bit.ly/308CgiG or
request from bursar@saltleytrust.org.uk.
For informal enquiries email Ian Jones director@saltleytrust.org.uk
Closing
date: Friday 26 March 2021.
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Christian
Aid Vaccination Campaign
Click here
to see the press release from Lichfield announcing that the
District is joining them in partnering Christian Aid in giving
people an opportunity to give thanks for their Covid-19 vaccine
by helping others in crisis across the world.
Here’s the online giving link here: https://events.tapsimple.org/online/christian-aid/diolichfield
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Launch
of ROUNDED for 16-19s in college
ROUNDED is WM Churches' Further Education Council's new
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development resource for
16-19s in college and beyond.
Six interactive, flexible-format sessions cover different
character dispositions which can help young people prepare for an
ethical and fruitful life.
If you would like to learn more we would love you to join us
for one of the two launch events.
On: Tuesday 16 March 2021, 12.45-1.30 (lunchtime session)
Or: Wednesday 17 March 2021, 18.00-18.45 (twilight session)
On Zoom
The session will include:
- Demo of one of the interactive films
- Introduction to ROUNDED and how to use it
- Hear from ROUNDED's creator, Simeon Whiting
- Time for questions
For further information on the resources or joining details for
the zoom launch please contact District Representative Rosie
Bryant in the first instance, available at rosiebrnt@gmail.com
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Leprosy
Mission Sunday Resources
I’m
excited to tell you about a unique opportunity to journey with
Dame Darcey Bussell to help end leprosy in Mozambique.
You can join with Darcey and The Leprosy Mission to show Jesus’
love in action to rural communities in desperate need. Over half
of these people are Christians and they are living through
poverty, disease and a recent cyclone.
Our God of unconditional love has called us to stand with our
brothers and sisters. And what's more is that until 24 April,
every gift will be doubled
by the UK Government meaning that your churches will have twice
the impact.
If you haven’t already, I would be so grateful if you would
encourage your churches to hold a Leprosy Sunday over the coming
weeks with a Leprosy Mission speaker, whether on Zoom or with a
pre-recorded video.
You can watch the five minute film introduced by Dame Darcey
Bussell here on Vimeo (it can be downloaded too for churches to
use as they wish):
https://vimeo.com/513449308/20d9208628
We also have a Leprosy Sunday service for you to share with
churches – who might like to use it as their own virtual service.
This 30-minute virtual service filmed for Lyndon Methodist church
in Birmingham using their church as backdrop) includes 2 hymns
(performed by Aldridge Parish Church), a talk from me as well as
the film above, with readings and prayers:
https://vimeo.com/516243968/9a1c508f67
Churches may wish to use this within their worship or do get in
touch if you would like me to send particular pre-recorded
elements of it, such as the sermon.
Please do find out more at www.unconditionalappeal.org.uk
They can also order resources for them to hold their own Leprosy
Sunday here. Please do contact me on 01733 516087 to discuss what
would work for your church - I'll be happy to help.
Together we will see an end to the disability, stigma and
transmission of this terrible disease. Together we will see an
end to leprosy in the name of Jesus!
Every blessing
Allister
Allister du Plessis
Regional Manager
P.S. If church would like to book a visit at a Sunday service
when churches open again fully, then please do get in touch.
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Care
for the Family free session on connecting with families and
children
Care for
the family are inviting church leaders and children’s workers to
join them for a free session, hosted by the Kitchen Table Project
and guest speakers, to look at how we can effectively connect
with families and children and explore ideas to help as we move
into a new season.
• Hear from Rob Parsons (Founder and Chairman of Care for the
Family), Andy Frost (Director of Share Jesus International) and
Mike Andrea (CEO of 24 -7 Prayer).
• Expanded findings of the 2020 research from Dr Sarah Holmes (Liverpool
Hope University).
• Case studies and ideas from churches just like yours who are
trying new approaches and seeing opportunities available now.
• How we can involve parents in nurturing their children’s faith.
• Resource ideas and practical solutions.
• Time for discussion and Q&As.
Registering for this event includes a copy of the brand new
leaders’ guide on how to become a parent-equipping church, to be
used at the event and the opportunity to access ongoing support
from the networking team.
Eventbrite is now live so you can book in, places are limited so
please book in as early as possible to avoid disappointment. The
links to book in are as follows:
17 March 10am https://www.eventbrite.com/e/141697867135
17 March 1pm https://www.eventbrite.com/e/141797962523
18 March 7.30pm https://www.eventbrite.com/e/141798875253
23 March 10am https://www.eventbrite.com/e/141799657593
23 March 7.30pm https://www.eventbrite.com/e/141800301519
24 March 1pm https://www.eventbrite.com/e/141800062805
Jo
Yair l Ministry and Mission Coordinator
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Rwanda
Visit
WHEN? Tuesday 18th January to Thursday 3rd
February ( arriving home on Friday 4th February ) 2022
WHAT IS THE COST? £1,500 to include air fares,
accommodation, food and transport in Rwanda
WHERE WILL WE STAY? In Kigali at the Good News Guest House,
Gikondo ( can be viewed on line ) and at the Methodist Mission
Station, Kibogora in the west of Rwanda on the shores of Lake
Kivu.
WHAT WILL WE DO? In Kigali we will visit 2 genocide memorials and
spend time with PHARP (Peacebuilding, Healing and Reconciliation
Programme ) Meeting local people who have partnerships with
PHARP. To include sewing groups, women’s groups and HIV/AIDS
support groups.
We will be able to observe the difference that has been made to
people’s lives by offering our support.
In Kibogora we will spend time with the community on the Shara
Peninsula. Particularly the churches of Ntumba and Murama.
Visiting the school at Ntumba, the ladies of the baskets of peace
initiative and the group of the Ebeneezer Boat Company. Speaking
with the local people. Learning how alternative gifts of health
insurance, hens, pigs and goats have transformed lives.
We will also attend worship at the churches at Shara.
Visiting Kibogora hospital and distributing knitting to the
hospital and the health centres of Nyabinaga and Nyarusange.
WHAT TO DO NEXT?
Contact;
Yvonne Gough ygough@hotmail.co.uk
or call 07773093048
Or Deacon Annie Trembling annietrembling@googlemail.com
to register your interest.
We will organise a zoom meeting very soon for interested parties
so that any questions can be answered.
Looking forward to speaking to you all.
God Bless, please pray for our preparations.
Bishop Samuel, Rachel, Julienne, Anastase and all our friends are
looking forward to welcoming us again.
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New
round of "God is with us" grants
Every
Circuit responded to the District invitation to bless their
communities at Christmas through the availability of small grants
and 27 different projects were enabled. In this short video
https://youtu.be/KDYwJ3Diu7I
a sample of these are celebrated and a new round of grants is
launched to coincide with Valentines Day, Thinking Day and
Mothering Sunday. Anyone with a creative, missional idea
which will bless people on the fringes of, or beyond the usual
congregation* can apply for a grant of up to £150 with the
agreement of the Superintendent Minister. Grants are
limited to 3 per Circuit. It’s essential that activity does
not breach lockdown restrictions nor increase chances of
Coronavirus transmission but, with careful planning, much may
still be achieved.
Click here
for a grant form.
*We recognise the huge importance of offering support and
pastoral care to Church members and recognise the value of the
work that is being done across the District . However these
grants invite churches and Circuits to go beyond that.
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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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