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 4th Lent Reflection for Good Friday
 A sonnet in response to Maggi Hambling’s “Good
              Friday: Walking on Water, 2006 Sure
              ground collapses and I’m all at sea Strong
              fabric’s torn and death has flooded life Relentless
              waves pitch past my sanity No
              still point now but roiling, churning strife No
              end, there is none, all direction’s lost horizon
              featureless ‘neath dirty sky until
              I spy my waves of grief being crossed by
              One whose power this storm cannot deny. Hope
              glimmers, though is still too far to seize, brings
              promise that one day this storm will ease   (John
              6 v.16-21)   The
              title of this work relates not to the events of Good Friday but
              to the day on which Maggi Hambling painted it.  After her
              mother died, Hambling produced a painting in memory of her every
              Good Friday, striving each time for an image which perfectly
              captured both life and death at the same moment.   Reading
              the gospel passage gave me a viewer perspective which is in the
              boat with the disciples looking out to sea, three or four miles
              out from land, darkness all around and with a strong storm
              blowing up on the lake.  The more I looked at the painting
              the more I could hear the storm howling around me, sense the
              heave of the boat below me, feel the cold slap of the wind on my
              face and taste salt spray on my lips.  Prompted by the title
              of the painting, I thought of what it’s like to be bowled over by
              grief;  to feel all at sea, with no landmarks on the horizon
              to give perspective or direction.  This grief may arise from
              bereavement, the diagnosis of illness, the breakdown of a
              relationship or any other factor which dashes our future hopes.   Hambling
              is so skilful in suggesting the figure of Jesus walking on the
              water.  Looking at him, I felt both his nearness and his
              distance.  In
              the gospel story, as soon as the disciples see Jesus come near
              them, their boat suddenly reaches its destination.  If we
              are in the business of drawing parallels between the story and
              our own experience of being all at sea, then this is where they
              fall down.  Grief doesn’t magically depart, even with faith
              as an anchor.  In lived experience, the Holy Saturday that
              follows a Good Friday catastrophe lasts months and years rather
              than twenty four hours.  I wanted to reflect that in the
              poem.  Jesus offers the promise of a future reorientation
              and renewal of life’s torn fabric, but first we need weather the
              storm for awhile.   You
              can find a video of this reflection here: https://youtu.be/O9H_CorMgBY Sonnet
              by Rachel Parkinson - permission given for use with attribution Good
              Friday: Walking on Water, 2006 by Maggi Hambling © TMCP, used with permission. www.methodist.org.uk/artcollection
              The Methodist Church in Britain |  |  |    
         
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 Easter Pilgrimage in Shropshire18th-23rd Aprilled by Rev’d Rachel Parkinson & Deacon Carys Woodley
 
 We’ll be walking around 10 miles per day, from  Church
              Stretton to Ludlow, come rain or shine!  We’ll go at the
              pace of the slowest walker but there are some climbs and stiles
              to negotiate.  Most of the route is on public footpaths.
               We’ll also be praying together at various points of the
              day.
 
 There are two ways to join this year’s Easter Pilgrimage:
 1.  Come and stay for the whole week, or several nights, in
              Methodist Churches in the Shropshire & Marches Circuit.
               We will have a support vehicle so you can bring
              airbed/bedding etc without having to carry it.  We will eat
              communally.  Suggested contribution for the week £110 to
              cover food and donation to churches.  (Sorry - over 18’s
              only for this option due to Safeguarding).
 
 2.  Join us for a day’s walk. Option to share evening meal
              (donation welcome to cover costs).  Need to be able to
              arrange transport back to your starting point.
 
 If you have not made contact already, please contact Rachel at chair@wsmethodist.org.uk for
              more information and to book your option.
 
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 Synod Secretary VacancyThe
              Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District is looking for a
              replacement Synod Secretary. This post could be Lay or
              Ministerial (in the active work or Supernumerary).   The
              Synod Secretary plays a vital role in the life of the
              District.  The post carries the opportunity and challenge of
              becoming familiar with the full scope of the work of the District
              and connecting this with individual Circuits and the wider Connexion.   The
              vital qualities required in this role are: •   
              to be a people person - able to communicate with a variety of
              people and to work in collaboration with lay and ordained
              colleagues •   
              to be able to develop relationships of trust, particularly with
              the District Chair •   
              to be a good planner and to be able to pay attention to detail •   
              to be willing and able to comply with Connexional guidance in CPD •   
              to be willing to gain an overview of the life of the whole
              District.   A
              full role overview is here.   Please
              send an email expressing interest or for more information, to
              Andrew Beattie, synsec28@gmail.com.
              Formal applications should be submitted as above by Friday 15th
              April 2022.   This appointment will be subject to Safer
              Recruiting guidelines. |  |  |    
         
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 Playgroup Manager NeededKingswinford Methodist Church Playgroup
 Stream Road, Kingswinford, DY6 9NP
 
 An enthusiastic, personable and innovative individual is required
              to lead and manage a highly popular and successful Playgroup,
              based at Kingswinford Methodist Church.  The post offers an
              exciting opportunity for a person with the relevant
              qualifications and experience to work with a committed team of
              early years practitioners in sustaining and further developing the
              high levels of care and education provided by the Playgroup,
              which was graded “Good” by OFSTED in October 2019.
 
 The long-established Playgroup provides pre-nursery education for
              children aged 2 to 3 years, operating on a term time only basis
              from 9.15 to 11.45 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
 
 The post offered is a permanent, part time position, with the
              Playgroup Manager working 18 hours per week for 40 weeks per
              year.  On the three days per week when the Playgroup is in
              session, the Manager works from 8.30 to 12.30, with the
              additional hours that are allocated for administrative tasks
              being flexible.
 
 The annual salary, including holiday pay, is £9,560 (figure
              quoted is based on pay rates for 1st April 2022 to 31st
              March 2023).
 
 Further information and an application form are available from
              the Kingswinford Methodist Church website: www.kingswinfordmethodist.co.uk
 
 Completed applications should be returned to secretary@kingswinfordmethodist.co.uk
 
 Closing date for
              applications:          
              Saturday 23rd April 2022
 Interviews to be
              held:                      
              Thursday 19th May 2022
 Start
              date:                                          
              1st September 2022
 
 The Methodist Church is an equal opportunities employer and is
              committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and
              vulnerable adults.  This appointment will follow the
              Methodist Church’s safer recruitment procedures and the
              successful candidate will undergo an enhanced DBS check prior to
              the commencement of employment.
 
 
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 It's ok to not be okMental Health Awareness ResourcesCOVID-19 has affected all our lives and our livelihoods in
              profound ways over the last year. The nation has come together to
              keep ourselves and our loved ones safe, but there has been a
              cost. The virus itself, and the necessary measures to contain its
              spread, have triggered feelings of worry, distress or loneliness
              for many of us. These feelings are a completely normal response
              to an unprecedented period of disruption. As restrictions ease
              and the economy is gradually and safely reopened, many people
              will feel their wellbeing improve as they reconnect with family
              and friends and return to the routines and activities that help
              to keep them well. However, we know that some people’s mental
              health has taken a harder, longer-lasting hit during the
              pandemic. Groups who had the highest risk of mental ill-health
              before COVID, including those living with
              pre-existing conditions, seem to have been worst affected.
              The mental health impacts of the pandemic have also been felt
              keenly by those directly affected by the virus – people who have
              been bereaved, people who have survived an acute illness, people
              living with long COVID, and our amazing frontline and key
              workers. So much of our mental health is shaped by how our daily
              practical, social and emotional needs are met, and by whether we
              can have hope for the future. Good mental health and wellbeing
              are essential assets for individuals, communities and society.
              They can help each one of us to live fulfilled, productive and
              healthy lives.
 Below are a few resources that may help in shaping your response
              to help someone who is struggling with their mental health:
 
  
 
 Reflection
              on discovering hope and grace (from: the connexion • Autumn 2020)
 Until lockdown, a small group of wounded pilgrims would meet from
              time to time at Selly Oak Methodist Church in the Birmingham
              Circuit. The name of our group is PH7. P stands for pain, H for
              hope, and there were originally seven members.
 We are people who live with different kinds of pain and weakness,
              but who also discover surprising strength and hope. Each of us
              has had to let go of some aspect of life before illness, and
              therefore we live with the question: “If life can no longer be
              like that, then what might it become?”
 We live with night questions, those unsettling, searching,
              sometimes terrifying, thoughts that come when sleep is
              impossible. We learn to depend on the love, care and patience of
              others. We become uncomfortably familiar with the possibilities
              and limitations of modern medicine.
 When we meet we leave a chair for the ‘absent-present ones’,
              those who cannot be with us. After a silence, we simply tell each
              other the story of how it has been for us since our last meeting.
              The telling is often bloody and broken. But in the telling and
              the listening we make discoveries. We come to know ourselves and
              each other, the heights and depths of embodiedness, the fragility
              and stubbornness of hope. Today we all face what PH7 has been
              struggling with and celebrating. With the global pandemic, our
              world has been broken open. So much of what we took for granted
              is no longer possible. What might life become now? And are we all
              ‘absent present ones’, a community of separatedness? So perhaps
              wounded pilgrims have a body-wisdom to offer. We suggest the
              following. Leave an empty chair. Tell each other the stories of
              how it has been. Face the pain and fear honestly. And listen for
              the whispers of hope. Hope will not take us back to the way
              things were. Instead it comes to us as a disturbance, something
              new that emerges from the cracks in the old. It comes as grace.
              My own struggle to move into a new kind of ministry, to becoming
              a wounded pilgrim, has opened up a space where the words and the
              silences make poetry possible. When PH7 meets, another member,
              Donald Eadie asks for a ‘Tony poem’ to lead us into the silence
              and the storytelling. I include two here, written initially for
              PH7. Poems are my way of thanking God for both the pain and the
              hope.
 Hope
 Hope is the horizon of the curved world,
 where seen and unseen are joined and divided,
 and suggested hidden lands invite the soul to boundless
              journeying,
 of finding and being lost from sight.
 
 Hope is the seed born in darkness, fragile and unconquerable,
 whose urge toward the unknown light
 will shatter stones and move the earth,
 for an inherited promise of green.
 
 Hope is the distant call of horns,
 the hint of a scent blown on a wind not of this world,
 the memory of a summer dream
 caught in some corner of the heart.
 
 Hope’s a graffiti defiance of grey,
 unsilenced rumour of another way.
 It is the fidget child, the student rage,
 the troubled soul, the eccentric old, the ill-at-ease here.
 
 Hope is faith’s refusal to believe,
 gazing beyond vision, beyond presence,
 always asking the strange question,
 imagining and shaping a world invented and discovered alike.
 
 The Rev Dr Tony McClelland is a supernumerary minister in the
              Birmingham Circuit, whose active ministry was cut short by
              ill-health.
 
 Discoveries
 In the night:
 a word of comfort and a way through fear.
 
 In the morning:
 day that comes as gift,
 a world opening into possibility.
 
 In frailty:
 the slow wisdom of the body,
 the unexpected strength to stay with this, to wait.
 
 In loneliness:
 a surprising solidarity,
 a community of separatedness.
 
 In the tears:
 a freedom of honesty,
 a path to compassion.
 
 In the silence:
 a space where love grows,
 unhurried awareness of depths.
 
 In another’s words:
 something we have known together,
 but could not name alone
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 Food for Thought Conference
 All lay and clergy are welcome to discover
              more about being a disciple of Jesus Christ at this day
              conference. Roger
              Walton will explore discipleship in Mark’s gospel with some
              summary points about the other three gospels and their approach.
 Mark’s gospel is an ‘action movie’.  It presents
              discipleship as learning rapidly on the move. So fasten your seat
              belts for a bumpy, exhilarating ride as we explore discipleship
              in Mark and how that might speak to us today.
 This joint day conference between
              Lichfield Diocese and Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury Methodist
              District on 7th May 2022  features keynote
              speaker Revd Roger Walton. There will be worship, Bible study and
              workshops in which to reflect on different aspects of
              discipleship including joy, rule of life, forgiveness and change.
              It will be held at Yarnfield Park Conference Centre near Stone
              ST15 0NL between 10 and 4pm. The cost is £20 including tea,
              coffee and a choice of lunch from a quality menu. Bishop Michael of Lichfield and the Revd Rachel Parkinson, Chair
              of Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury Methodist District are taking
              part. The workshops are being led by Revd Andrew Roberts, Dr
              Lindsey Hall, Revd Preb Helen Morby and Revd Roger Walton.
              Bookings are being taken now. For more information visit the website or
              contact John Underhill on 07936 300297 or jlunderhill@btinternet.com
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 The Spirit that Crosses Borders
 
 The
              Centre for Faith in Public Life at Wesley House is hosting a
              series of events at Pentecost exploring faith questions arising
              in the context of migration. Our contributors bring to bear
              experience of migration in the Pacific, in Europe and in Central
              America. Join
              us in person or online to explore this pressing topic. Further
              information and to register for this free event can be found here - https://bit.ly/CrossesBorders |  |  |    
         
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 Walking with Micah
 Are you interested in shaping the future of a
              justice-seeking Methodist Church? Are you involved in chaplaincy?
              Then join the conversation! https://walkingwithmicahforchaplains.eventbrite.co.uk/ As
              a chaplain, you have invaluable insights into the world the
              Methodist Church works with and as we look to the future of our
              justice-seeking work, we want to hear from you. |  |  |    
         
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 Ablewell Advice Walsall 10 for 10 We are
              doing things a little bit differently this year for Lent as we
              mark Ablewell Advice's 10 year anniversary of helping the
              residents of Walsall on the 30th April, so today we are launching
              our 10 for 10 appeal.Please have a look at the below for ideas of how you can help us
              during our 10 for 10 appeal.
 We would love it if you could send us photos or tag us in any
              social media posts using #ablewelladvice
 
 
 
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 Unconscious Bias Online Training Unconscious bias refers to a bias that we are unaware of, and
              which happens outside of our control. It is a bias that happens
              automatically and is triggered by our brain making quick
              judgments and assessments of people and situations, influenced by
              our background, cultural environment and personal experiences.'
              Hidden biases have the power to undermine and derail our desire
              to act Justly, and fairly towards other people and lots of areas
              of our decision making. It is possible to be unconsciously biased
              regarding disability, religion, race, gender, age, social class,
              and more. This Unconscious Bias Training session is aimed
              particularly at those engaged in the stationing invitation pro[1]cess, but is also applicable
              for those on circuit meetings and church councils, etc. We will
              be using the video resources for introducing unconscious bias
              which is now available on the Methodist Church Website. The
              resources can be found at: Introduction to Unconscious Bias – for
              church councils, circuit meetings and other groups.
              (methodist.org.uk) The online session will include watching the
              videos and joining in small group conversation/reflection
              following each of the 3 video clips. The reading/study material
              which is required before and after the session will be sent to
              participants once they have booked a place and the booking period
              has closed. When booking your place, please select which session
              you will be attending. To Book:
 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/unconscious-bias-training-tickets-249312128287
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 Methodist Modern Art Collection comes to
              Bewdley INTERNATIONALLY
              RENOWNED ART COLLECTION COMES TO BEWDLEY
 Click here
              for poster.
 
 A selection of art from the internationally renowned Methodist
              Modern Art Collection, one of the UK’s most significant
              collections of modern religious art, will be on display in the
              Wyre Forest Gallery at Bewdley Museum each day from
              Saturday 26 March until Sunday 24 April 2022. Opening hours are
              11.00am to 3.00pm and admission is free.
 
 The total Collection features fifty works, including some by
              well-known artists such as Graham Sutherland, Elisabeth Frink,
              William Roberts, and Maggi Hambling. Some of the artists were or
              are Christian, while others not, but together they offer widely
              differing perspectives on the Christian story.
 An extensive conservation programme has recently been completed
              to return these important paintings to their full glory and to
              ensure they are available for future generations.
 Twenty works have been chosen for the Bewdley exhibition,
              depicting scenes from different stages of the life of Jesus
              before focussing on his crucifixion and resurrection.
 A programme of exciting creative events, including workshops,
              talks and reflections has also been planned over the duration of
              the exhibition. Full details can be found at: www.forallpeoplebewdley.com
 This exhibition has been organised by the ecumenical group
              Bewdley Churches Together, consisting of six local churches, and
              is financially supported by several local organisations.
 
 Jim Ineson from Bewdley Churches Together commented “It is a
              privilege to have this Collection here in Bewdley. The works that
              we have on display offer a thought provoking and sometimes
              challenging perspective on Christ’s life. Whether you are a
              person of faith or not, Christian or non-Christian, you will find
              yourself challenged in intriguing new ways through this
              exhibition appropriately called `For All People’.”
 
 For further information contact Jim Ineson at 01299 405645 or jim.ineson@gmail.com
 
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 All We Can Ukraine Relief FundAll We
              Can - the Methodist Relief and Development Charity - is working
              together with the Global Relationships Team of the Methodist
              Church in Britain to provide critical humanitarian assistance to
              communities facing violence, upheaval and the trauma of war.If you want to do something to help Ukrainians, here's one
              possible route
 
 https://www.allwecan.org.uk/donations/ukraine/
 
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 Fair Trade pop up shop in Wolverhampton Coming soon - Wolverhampton Fair Traid  will be opening
              another pop-up shop in the Mander Centre, Wolverhampton on
              Saturday,  12th March: opening hours:- 10.00 am - 5.00 pm,
              Mondays  - Saturdays.  We will remain open until
              Saturday, 23rd April.
 You will find us next to the YMCA shop in the Victoria
              Arcade - the passage leading from Beatties into Mander
              Square itself. Looking for Mothers' Day gifts? We will have
              plenty of ideas for you. Easter eggs, cards and decorations will
              also be available.
 We look forward to seeing you.
 Further details from Brenda Shuttleworth: brendaks@hotmail.co.uk
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 Learning and Development EventsOver the
              last Connexional Year, there has been a shift in the way that the
              Learning Network have been organising and running events. We are
              increasingly working cross regionally, often in partnership with
              colleagues from other Connexional teams (such as Evangelism and
              Growth), to host online events and webinars which are open to
              anyone who wishes to book in via the Eventbrite link provided. We
              will of course still continue to run some training and
              development events regionally; for example, Advanced Safeguarding,
              and regional support and community of practice groups, such as
              the one for WLP tutors and mentors. To avoid
              sending out multiple emails, I have tried to gather all of the
              events that I am currently aware of into this one newsletter.
              I’ve grouped events by topic, rather than date, since some are
              either ongoing or held on multiple dates. Please do share and
              distribute this to all who may find it helpful. I’ve kept the
              formatting as simple as possible to allow you to cut and paste
              the information into your own newsletters, or copy and share
              individual events with those you particularly want to encourage
              to attend. Any queries or questions about specific events should
              be addressed to the event organizer, not the LN West Midlands
              team.
 Events
              will continue to be advertised via our Learning Network West
              Midlands Facebook page, and Connexional social media and
              newsletters.
 Kerry (scarlettk@methodistchurch.org.uk )
 
 Learning
              and Development Opportunities
   
              
               
                | Would
                you like to train as a Mental Health First Aider? This is a
                vital skill to support people in our churches and local communities
                during these challenging times.At present this is primarily an online course - with four
                sessions plus a need to complete self-learning at home
                for which materials will be provided. You must
                attend all sessions to qualify.  Maximum 16
                per course.
 Cost is £50 per person (payable with booking
                and non-refundable) - this is being heavily subsidised for
                Methodists from the £300 per person fee usually charged by MHFA
                England. Book by clicking the link below or (if having
                difficulties with link) by emailing Howard Wilson – wilsonh@methodistchurch.org.uk
 
 Course C - 26,28 April, 3,5 May 12:30-15:00
                book here
 Course D - 21,23,28,30 June 09:30-12:00 book here
 
 Please note: Having booked via Eventbrite you must
                then use the link on the booking email to register your place
                on the MHFA website to receive your materials.
 
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                 Re-imagining
                     discipleship |  
                |        Tuesday
                26 April 9.30-4.30, Cliff College.Are you interested in exploring how to bring intentional
                discipleship growth into your community? Would you value space
                and time for reflection and conversations with others asking
                the same questions you are? Join Andy Fishburne and Abi Jarvis
                for a day at Cliff College, exploring how ideas like
                discipleship pathways and A Methodist Way of Life can help us
                to re-engineer our churches to grow in discipleship together.
                Register your free place: Register here.
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               Circuit Stewards
                   Training Various
              dates, on zoom. This four -session course will be offered twice in 2022. The
              sessions are based on the material available on the Stewards
              pages of the Methodist website. Sessions will run from 7 till 9
              pm.
 Dates:
 14th, 21st, 28th June & 5th July
 
 To book – www.bit.ly/circuitsteward
 
 4. Social Justice and
              Evangelism Webinar Wednesday 6th April 7-8pm, on
              zoom
 Communities who have struggled for the last decade have been hit
              by the pandemic and now face rising costs. This session aims to
              look at how communities are being affected, who is likely to need
              support and what we as churches and Christians can do to be part
              of positive change.
 Speaker: Paul
              Morrison
 Hosted
              by: Eunice Attwood, Church at the Margins
              Officer
 Register
              here: REGISTER NOW
 
 5.
              Positive Working Together: Bullying and Harassment Various dates,
              on zoom
 For
              training dates for Positive Working Together courses
              (including Growing
              through Change and Conflict, and Scripture,
              Spirituality and Conflict) please visit the following
              webpage and scroll down until you see the section on training
              dates for 2022. https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/guidance-for-churches/introducing-positive-working-together/training-in-positive-working-together/
 
 6.
              Beginning a Church at the Margins: A 3 session interactive online
              course Various
              dates, on zoom
 Aim of
              the course: A space to think about connecting and
              becoming a community of new Christians amongst and led by people
              experiencing poverty.
 For: People
              who are passionate about their community with very little or no
              experience of this kind of work. Whilst you can attend alone
              ideally, we would like you to join as a team (you plus one other
              person from your church or circuit) to share in conversation
              together (if you are an experienced pioneer drop us an email for
              more information).
 Important:
              Each
              session in the course builds on the previous session, so you need
              to be available to attend all three sessions. The sessions are
              designed to be interactive rather than formal presentations and
              will not be recorded. This course is open to all across the
              connexion (not just West Midlands)
 Hosted
              by: Eunice Attwood, Church at the Margins Officer
              and Kerry Scarlett, Regional Learning and Development Officer
 To
              book: please click the links (in blue) below, or
              go to https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-work/our-work-in-britain/evangelism-growth/discover-church-at-the-margins/church-at-the-margins-training/
              and click the links in red beside the dates you wish to attend.
 
 Wednesday
              8th June 7-9pm: Session One:
              Creating connections and spaces where people truly encounter one
              another.
 Wednesday
              22nd June7-9pm: Session Two:
              Nurturing communities in which people with lived experience of
              poverty are recognised as the experts
 Wednesday
              13th July7-9pm: Session Three:
              Sharing the gospel and seeing transformation as people grow in
              faith and challenge injustice.
 If you would be interested in attending this course over two days
              face to face at Cliff College, please email: attwoode@methodistchurch.org.uk
 
 
 New
              Resources for use at Local Church/ Circuit level.
 Walking
              with Micah “Justice Conversations
 These conversations are an invitation to anyone involved in the
              life of Methodist churches and communities to have a conversation
              about what a just world looks like, and to feedback their answers
              to the project.  The answers will help shape the Methodist Church’s
              work to tackle injustice.
 Local Justice Conversations can take any shape or form, but it’s
              hoped that people will encounter three things:
 
               Listening to
                   experiences of injusticeExploring where
                   God isReflecting on
                   what a just world looks like.  There are lots of tools
              available on the Walking with Micah website to support
              conversations – from worship resources, to guided conversations,
              to intergenerational ideas and craftivist sessions.  This 12
              minute film, Speaking from Experience,
              in which people with particular experiences of injustice describe
              what a just world looks like to them.
 You can find out more about the Justice Conversations here.
              At the end of a Conversation, groups are encouraged to feedback
              their answers via an e-survey.  Postcards are also available
              where people do not meet as a group.  Feedback from this
              phase of the project will be looked along with resources from
              other phases
              to work towards the Conference report in 2023.
 
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 Trauma-informed Ministry in a Time of COVID Wednesday
              4th May 2022, 9.30am till 1pm on Zoom
 
 Last year the District offered two repeat sessions of this half
              day course run by the Tragedy
              and Congregations Team.  It was found to be very
              helpful by those who attended and so now - as we reach a
              different stage of the pandemic - we are offering a further
              session.
 The course is designed for those in ordained ministry and will be
              delivered by the Rev’d Hilary Ison.  It offers opportunities
              to:
 •  articulate experience of the COVID crisis
 • make connections between these reactions and trauma theory
 • explore the dynamics of communities after a tragedy
 • look at biblical resources for addressing our current
              situation
 
 Numbers are limited to 12.  To book your place on one of
              these please contact Richard in the District Office admin@wsmethodist.org.uk
                Priority is given to presbyters and deacons on the
              stations and Supernumeraries with oversight of
              churches.
 
 
 
 
 
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 Conference Volunteers URGENTLY needed
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 3Generate 2022We’re
              delighted to let you know that 3Generate, the Methodist children
              and youth assembly, will be taking place at the NEC in Birmingham
              again: the dates are Friday
              30th September to Sunday 2nd October 2022. Tickets go on sale
              from 1st April
              to 31st July so groups can
              register and book tickets during this period but payment isn’t
              required until the first week of September 2022. More information
              can be found here.
 
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 Stationing Training 2022Following
              the positive response to online training sessions last year,
              training in Stationing processes will once again be held online
              and broken down into separate sections.  The training will
              be conducted by the Chair and the District Lay Stationing Rep.Ministers and Circuits expected to be involved in stationing will
              receive individual notification of these sessions.  The
              training is for ministers, spouses/partners, Superintendents and
              Circuit Stewards involved in reviews or moves.
               Training on the process for re-invitation would also be
              very helpful for any other people, such as Church Stewards, who
              may play a part in the review process.
 
 7pm
              Thursday 5th May:  An introduction to the
              Stationing Process*
 
 7pm
               Monday 23rd May:  The re-invitation
              process
 
 6pm
               Tuesday 24 May:  New appointments
              (Ministers)
 7.30pm
               Tuesday 24 May:  New appointments
              (Circuit Invitation Committee)
 
 *NB the District Policy Committee previously arranged for that
              date is being postponed due to other factors)
 
 
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 Children's
              Support Fund
 The above fund has been available to access for about 18 months
              now and I would encourage more applicants to support the young
              and disadvantaged children from our District. As we are now
              coming out of the pandemic I am sure Churches are looking at what
              new activities they might be able to run and this fund may be
              able to help. There is a ceiling of £500 and applications need to
              made on the attached form
              and emailed to Tim Lorimer @ tim.a.lorimer@gmail.com
 
 Some examples of activities we have supported are:
 
 Kingswinford. Purchase of Lego sets for their Full of Spirits
              Project
 
 St John's Bloxwich.  Support for School meals
 
 Fallings Park, Stationary bags to support prayer spaces for
              Children
 
 Stafford.  Tablets to help in school work
 
 Beckminster.  Christingle Bags
 
 Aldridge.  Support for their ECO warriors project
 
 Bourne Methodists.  Support for newly formed Dads and
              Children's Saturday club
 
 Cole Street.. Working with Safer Families Charity providing
              activities for Children
 
 Should anyone want more details of these projects please send me
              an email.
 
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