|
New this week:
Moira Simpson
Rwanda Visit
Dunwell Ghanaian Methodist Church
Editor for Holiness Journal
Action for Children News
Everyday Mission Podcasts
Leadership Courses from Wesley House
Playgroup Manager Needed
Spring Dance Company
Faith Crafting
Unconscious Bias Training
Reimagining Prayer Event
In case you
missed it:
Adult Development Lay Leader
Comedy Magic Night
Circuit Steward Training
Queen's Jubilee and Children's Support Fund - with form
Learning and Development Events
Conference Volunteers URGENTLY needed
3Generate 2022
Stationing Training
Dial-a-prayer
free phone line to hear prayers : 0808 281 2514 Methodist News :
0808 281 2478
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moira Simpson
We are
sad to share the news that Moira Simpson, of the Brownhills and
Willenahall Circuit, died peacefully on 17th May. Moira
will be well known to many people, not least for her role as
District Advocate for MHA. Here’s a photo of Moira taken in
2017 at Engelberg MHA with Mary, then the home’s oldest resident
at 103 years of age and Rev’d Donald Ryan who was at that time
Chair of the Friends of Engelberg. Moira will be missed by
very many people.
Please join us in praying for Moira’s family and friends.
Funeral details will be announced at a later date.
|
|
|
Rwanada Visit
A group
from this and the Bristol District, led by Yvonne Gough and
Deacon Annie Trembling, have flown to Rwanda today to visit our
partners in the Free Methodist Church in Rwanda and PHARP
(Peacebuilding, Healing and Reconciliation Programme).
Please keep our partners and the visiting team in your prayers.
(Photo: arriving by boat at the Shara Peninsula)
|
|
|
Dunwell Ghanaian Methodist Church inauguration
Service
An historic event in the Telford Circuit on Sunday as the
new Dunwell Ghanaian Methodist Church was brought to birth in the
presence of many honoured guests and a congregation which
overspilled the 200 seats.
As we processed in behind a robed choir singing "The
Church's One Foundation" I heard someone comment "It's
very formal!" I think they must have revised their view ten
minutes later as a time of prayer and praise broke out into
singing, dancing and drumming. And this blend of the formal and
reverential with the spontaneous and ecstatic continued
seamlessly through the three hour service, which was followed by
the usual generous hospitality with food and drink.
One thing I'd never seen before was the offering
"competition". People shimmied up to give their
offering in a basket that matched the day of their birth. At the
close of the service we discovered which day had "won".
Fitting that Friday should have emerged victorious since in the
nursery rhyme, Friday's child is "loving and giving"!
Looking forward to everything this new church might bring to the
Circuit and District - and to what we might bring to them.
Read all about it here:
https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/news/the-methodist-blog/dunwell-ghanaian-methodist-church-telford/
|
|
|
Editor for the Holiness Journal needed
WESLEY
HOUSE, CAMBRIDGE
Appointment of Editor for the Holiness Journal
We are now looking for our next editor for this international
journal of Wesleyan theology and practice that promotes scholarly
intercultural conversation amongst the global Wesleyan/Methodist
family. It is published twice a year online, offering free access
to its readership and contains peer-reviewed articles, shorter
articles of a theological and devotional nature, poetry and book
reviews. You can read the journal at www.sciendo.com/journal/holiness.
This is a freelance position, working remotely. Issues are
expected to take 100-150 hours of editorial time and a fee of
£3,000 per published issue is offered.
For further details, including how to apply, please visit www.wesley.cam.ac.uk/holiness/editor
Applications close at the end of 12th June 2022. Interviews will
be held on 7th July
|
|
|
Action for Children News
|
|
|
|
|
News
for your District from Action for Children
|
|
|
|
|
News from Action for Children
|
|
Hello from Action for Children!
I hope you had a lovely Easter. Thank you to
everyone who supported our Lent campaign, 'Count
Your Blessings'. We definitely count you as
one of our blessings; your support means so much.
In March, we launched a new campaign, 'Star in
Every Child', which shines a light on the ways we can
make a positive difference so that every child has
the bright future they deserve. To learn more about
it and how you can get involved:
Here are a few other updates:
|
|
|
|
Brighter
Future Ahead?: Three-generational report into
top challenges children face
To mark the launch of our 'Star in every
child' campaign, Action for Children
published a report exploring childhood across
three generations.
The report, Brighter Future Ahead?,
showed the top challenges and worries
children face growing up in the shadow of the
pandemic amid a growing cost of living
crisis.
Many children are worried about ‘adult
issues’ including family finances. Among
children surveyed from low-income homes, nearly
half (47%) worry about their family’s
finances. Children are also now much more
worried about their own mental health – up
from 29% in 2019 to 42% today, with a sharp
rise in parents and grandparents recognising
this as a growing issue.
Most UK parents and grandparents fear
childhood is getting worse – and just over a
third of children agree.
Read the report https://bit.ly/BrighterFutureReport
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask
the government to tackle the cost of living
crisis
Following cuts to
Universal Credit, soaring energy bills and
prices rising at their fastest rate in 30
years, low-income families are enduring a
miserable time.
We've written an open letter to the
government ministers asking them to act
urgently before this crisis becomes a
catastrophe.
Join us; add your name to our letter here:
actionforchildren.uk/livingcosts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Host
an Action Squad Street Party in June
Get together with your
community and hold a street party this June
in aid of Action for Children. You'll be
helping more children have a safe and happy
childhood.
Organising a street party is easier than you
think, and we’ll be on hand to support you
every step of the way. Sign up now to receive
your handy guide to help you plan and give
you inspiration for what to do on the day.
Click here: actionforchildren.org.uk/streetparty
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sign
up for our Star Jump challenge
The Star Jump Challenge is
really simple: you just need to complete 100
star jumps every day for 30 days! The
challenge is a brilliant way to get fit. And
everyone taking part will get a free Action
for Children t-shirt.
With your help we can make
sure children have the basics – the things
every child needs, like warm clothes and
proper meals. And things that help them to
reach for the stars, like tutoring or
learning a musical instrument.
|
|
|
|
|
Blessings,
Karis Kolawole
Faith Partnerships Lead, Action for Children
|
May mercy, peace, and love
be multiplied to you
Jude 1:2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leadership Course from Wesley House
|
|
|
|
Playgroup Manager Needed
PLAYGROUP
MANAGER
Kingswinford 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:
Monday 6th June 2022
Interviews to be
held:
Thursday 30th June 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.
|
|
|
|
Spring Dance Company Sessions
Springs
Dance Company has available for churches to book this autumn its
exceptional new work A
Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance, plus for Advent,
its much-loved production Journey of the Magi
A live dance event for your church to host.
Bring your community together to watch two exceptional new
dance works performed by a company of five outstanding
dancers.
Based on Ecclesiastes
3: There is a Time for Everything, the performance
sensitively embodies a kaleidoscope of grief and joy through
open-hearted professional dance.
This stirring yet joyous arts event offers the viewer a chance to
feel connected to others as
they reflect on grief and the joy and celebration of life.
“so healing
after this horrible year”
Diana Yong (workshop participant 2021)
“…a
beautiful reminder that I’m not alone...”
Sarah Barnsley (workshop participant 2021)
Springs Dance Company is inviting churches and cathedrals to host
a performance of the premier tour of A Time to Mourn, A
Time to Dance, in
October 2022.
For more information about this project please get in touch by
emailing touring@springsdancecompany.org.uk or
by calling 07876 752 910
Further information can be found on the Springs Dance Company
website
page https://springsdancecompany.org.uk/productions/a-time-to-mourn-a-time-to-dance/
.
Journey
of the Magi – a festive, light-hearted, joyful
event with a moving and profound message.
Share the joy and wonder of Christmas with your church and local
community through this exhilarating, critically acclaimed
performance. The show offers a bridge between contemporary life
and Jesus’s birth, comparing our own personal journey to
Christmas day with the journey that the wise men took. With
sparkle and songs to keep the children entertained and bags of
good humour for the grown-ups, Journey of the Magi delights
audiences of all ages and offers a chance to reflect and refocus.
“Absolutely
fabulous show. Wonderful mix of fun, wit, and meaning. It made me
laugh and it made me cry all in a couple of minutes. (Hope you'll
come back.)” Richard, Poynton Methodist
Church
Springs is inviting churches to host a performance of Journey of the Magi,
which will be available nationally during Advent 2022.
Further information can be found on the Springs Dance Company
website page https://springsdancecompany.org.uk/productions/journey-of-the-magi/,
by emailing touring@springsdancecompany.org.uk
or by calling 07876 752 910
|
|
|
|
Faith Crafting
I would like to invite you all to a brand new version of our
FAITH CRAFTING group.
This is a unique crafting group in that it will be BOTH in person
at St John's, Bloxwich and also online via Zoom so that we can
all interact together.
It will meet every fortnight on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the
month from 10am-11am and will have a different theme every
session. If you are coming to St John's (Victoria Avenue, Bloxwich,
Walsall) you can either bring your own craft ideas on the theme
or you can join in with the ones that I will bring with me.
If you are joining us online, you can show us what you have been
making and join in with our conversations.
Here is the Zoom link for joining online and if you require any
further information please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Vickie Heydon-Matterface is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom
meeting.
Topic: Faith Crafting
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93136028987?pwd=Z3pXWkJ2T3BxUFlma0c4OSs4SnNTQT09
Meeting ID: 931 3602 8987
Passcode: 257497
One tap mobile
+443300885830,,93136028987#,,,,*257497# United Kingdom
+441314601196,,93136028987#,,,,*257497# United Kingdom
Dial by your location
+44 330 088 5830 United Kingdom
+44 131 460 1196 United Kingdom
+44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom
+44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom
+44 203 901 7895 United Kingdom
+44 208 080 6591 United Kingdom
+44 208 080 6592 United Kingdom
Meeting ID: 931 3602 8987
Passcode: 257497
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/a6UE0neOZ
--
Vickie Heydon-Matterface
Methodist Church Pioneer
Brownhills and Willenhall Methodist Church Circuit
Telephone 01922 860917 or 07739 815188
|
|
|
|
Reimagining Prayer Event
On the
16th June Carrs Lane Church, Birmingham are holding a
Reimagining Prayer event from 10am- 4pm. People are welcome to
drop in an any point during the day.
|
|
|
|
Adult Development
Lay Leader
An
exciting opportunity is being offered in this new post.
We are recruiting for an Adult Development Lay Leader to work
with the 25 to 40s age group in our active and outward
looking church, here in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.
You will play a prime role in leading and developing
links and relationships within but also beyond the existing
church community.
You will have a passion and heart to nurture and grow
disciples, and tell the Jesus story in a contemporary and
relevant way including use of Social Media platforms.
Hours: 35 hours per week. The working pattern will need to be
flexible and include some weekends.
Salary: £23,478.00
More details: To receive a copy of the job description and
details of the application process, please visit www.danetrentmethodist.org.uk
or email our administrator, Becky at office@danetrentmethodist.org.uk
Applications close on Thursday 9th June 2022 Interviews
to be held on 20th/21st June
|
|
|
|
Comedy Magic Night
We
have a special treat coming to Trinity Methodist Church,
Codsall, Wolverhampton, on Saturday evening, 11 June, 2022,
and I am just giving you the first 'heads up'. We will be hosting
Tom Elliott: if you have never heard of him, then
please read all about him below:
Tom
Elliott is one of the UK’s most exciting comedy magicians, touring
throughout the year, whilst also being founder of ‘Our Centre
Stage’, a network of nationwide community arts projects coming in
2022. However, the majority of his gigs aren't in comedy
clubs or theatres, they are in churches, of all denominations. He
is a regular on what is known as the 'Christian circuit'.
A
committed Christian, he hopes his brand of comedy can bring
people closer to God.
Once
described by Miranda Hart as ‘Such Fun’, Tom has appeared on BBC
TV & Radio, had a feature piece in the Times Newspaper and
received significant crowdfunding support for his initiatives.
He's also welcomed the likes of Milton
Jones & Rosemary Conley CBE onto his wellbeing
themed podcast.
Tom is
always keen to champion the goals and dreams of others, driving
him to launch the People On A Pursuit Community, that
helps people to pursue ambitious entrepreneurial or creative
goals, increase their productivity and maintain a sense of
wellbeing.
Tickets
- £8 (recommended age 12 upwards)
Please
put this date in your diary now. It would be great if
you could advertise the event over the next few months, bearing
in mind that people have busy diaries, which is why we are
advertising this now. I will be able to send you
some printed publicity in the next few weeks.
|
|
|
Circuit Stewards Training
|
|
|
|
Queen's Platinum Jubilee and Children's
Support Fund
There
is still a good amount of funding still available through the
above fund so if you have any activities celebrating the Queen's
Platinium Jubilee with your Junior Churches then please submit an
application for funding. We can turn these around reasonably
quickly provided all the information and signatories are
complete. Click here for an application
form.
If you have any projects not linked to the Jubilee then please
also consider applying.. any questions please contact me tim.a.lorimer@gmail.com.
|
|
|
|
Learning and Development Events
As I’m
sure you’re aware, all of Reflective Supervision CPD Courses are
now available online.
These courses are delivered by colleagues across the Network, the
wider Connexional Team, ministers in Circuit and external
trainers. Some are even written (and will be delivered) by your
good selves.
The courses are listed at:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/methodist-church-supervision-cpd-courses-39676866413.
These short courses will be repeated and added to over the coming
year.
The LN Calendar will be updated with new learning opportunities
regularly, so make sure you make a habit of checking back using
the link: (the posterboard or tile view may be the most useful to
get a sense of what’s available)
Learning
and Development Events (methodist.org.uk)
Here are a few upcoming courses:
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 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.
|
2.
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
3.
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
|
|
|
|
Conference Volunteers URGENTLY needed
|
|
|
|
3Generate 2022
We’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.
|
|
|
|
Stationing Training 2022
Following
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
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)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
