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New this week:
District email disruption
Presbyteral Synod details
Enquiring Minds Events - update
Wesley House Webinar
Easter Study Retreat Day - update
Church Magazine Competition
In case you
missed it:
Circuit Administrator required
Spiritual Direction Course
Every Church a Growing Church: Mission Planning for all
Re:planting Church at the Margins
Fairtrade Fortnight
Legal and Trust Officer needed (URC)
Easter Pilgrimage Bookings Open
Children's Support Fund
Dial-a-prayer
free phone line to hear prayers : 0808 281 2514 Methodist News :
0808 281 2478
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REPRESENTATIVE Synod date and venue
Representative (and not Presbyteral - thanks to those who
pointed out my error!) Synod will be taking place in person
on Sat
22nd April from 10 am - 3.30 pm at Cannock Chase High
School, WS11 1JT. Each Circuit Representative
will receive Synod Papers by Easter. Please contact Richard
Lockley if you have recently changed your contact
details or have not received the papers by Easter Sunday.
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Enquiring Minds events
There
are two face to face events:
Sunday
12th March 3.30-5.00pm at
Albrighton Methodist Church WV7 3JA and
Sunday
19th March 3.30-5.00pm at Kingswinford
Methodist Church DY6 9NP
And an online event:
Have you ever been in that situation where you don’t quite catch
someone’s name the first time you meet them. Then on each
subsequent meeting you have with them it becomes more and more
awkward to ask? Sometimes it can be a bit like this with our
faith. Maybe something in a sermon or piece of scripture prompts
a question, but we feel awkward and don’t know who to ask about
it. Maybe you lie awake worrying at night and contemplating
big questions about life, the universe and everything. Perhaps
you want to go deeper in to your understanding of faith.
If you have ever had questions about faith, but didn’t know who
to ask, now is your opportunity. This Lent the
Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District will be holding a
number of “Enquiring Minds” events where you are invited to come
and ask questions about faith. As part of this we are holding an
online event for all in the region. The panel will include Rachel
Starr, Director of Studies at the Queen's Foundation for
Ecumenical Theological Education in Birmingham. Along with our
two District Chairs the Rev. Rachel Parkinson and Rev. Novette
Headley.
You will need to book for the online event as places are limited.
Go to Enquiring
Minds Tickets, Wed 22 Mar 2023 at 19:30 | Eventbrite
Why not explore your faith this Lent, with Enquiring Minds.
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Wesley House Webinar
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Church Magazine Competition
How good is your church magazine?
Here's a reminder for the 2023 church magazine
competition!
The
search is on for Britain's best church magazine. Entries are now
invited for the annual competition run by the Association for
Church Editors (ACE), which is an independent, not for profit organisation.
"Judging
from the number of brochures and leaflets that land on our
doormats and the array of magazines in newsagents, other
organisations still value printed material," says Sally
Churchus, Chair of the national organisation, "so we are keen
to encourage church editors everywhere".
For
the coming 2023 competition, which closes on Monday 3rd April,
awards will be made for any
size of magazine using just black and white printing.
The Gold Award winner will receive the John King Trophy, to be
held for one year, while Silver and Bronze Awards will receive an
inscribed trophy to keep, together with a Certificate of
Excellence for display.
A
panel of judges assesses each magazine, giving points for various
aspects including cover design, headlines and clarity of the
Christian message. The prize-giving in the autumn is open to
everyone, and will include a lecture by a Keynote Speaker along
with talks on various ways to improve your magazine. This year's
meeting will be held at Central Hall Westminster on Saturday 30th
September.
Further
information and the entry form can be found at https://churchmag.uk/2023-awards/
www.churchmag.uk
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Cannock Chase Circuit Administrator needed
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Spiritual Direction Course
We
are planning to run a course on Spiritual Direction starting this
May. It’s for praying people who already show an aptitude for
‘prayerful hospitality’ and have some training/experience in
listening. There will be a mix of ordained and those with other
callings and the course will be as much about doing/experiencing
as about hearing/thinking. It’s ecumenical. It’s costly – in
terms of time & commitment, also money (although there can be
help with the latter).
“This
experience will support you to deepen your relationship with God
and equip you to accompany others who desire to do likewise.
Whilst it starts from where you are at, it will help you travel
with God as far you desire and He permits. Once you have overcome
any initial reticence to apply, be ready and available to be both
surprised and delighted!” (comment from previous
participant).
Details at Spiritual
Direction Courses - Diocese of Lichfield (anglican.org)
We would welcome Methodist applicants. Applications by end of
March latest.
Wishing you well
Charles Ruxton
Lichfield Diocesan Spirituality Adviser
(01743) 891636
SpiritualityTeam
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Every Church a Growing Church: Mission
Planning for all
Be
inspired, gain practical tips and receive help tailored to your
context, so that every church might freely share God's love in
Christ.
Date and time:
Sat, 8 July 2023, 10:00 – 15:00 BST
Location:
Online
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/every-church-a-growing-church-mission-planning-for-all-tickets-525626953367
Perhaps you have found yourself asking some of these questions:
How do we do mission when we’re all worn out?
What if we have big ideas and a small congregation?
How do we produce a circuit mission plan?
This online conference seeks to inspire you to
discover the particular gifts your church/es have to offer the
community and to create simple, useful plans for positive action.
Through a mixture of presentations, workshops and team coaching
sessions, we'll explore God's call to share the love of Christ in
word and deed, offering what we have to our community and letting
the Spirit get to work.
Maybe your church has struggled to get started with mission
planning. Or you've made a start, but got stuck along the way.
Perhaps you have a mission plan, but it hasn't yet translated
into positive action. Or maybe you're leading a whole circuit in
mission planning. Wherever you are, this conference will help you
get unstuck and get going. Workshops will explore topics such as
doing mission in small churches, building community partnerships
and mission planning at circuit level.
The conference is aimed at lay and ordained church leaders -
church and circuit stewards, lay workers, ministers and
Superintendents - all those responsible for helping churches live
out their calling. Individuals are welcome, but for an even
greater impact, why not bring a team from your church or circuit?
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Re:planting Church at the Margins
As
part of the visit of the President and Vice-President of
Conference, the Birmingham District has organised a one day event
at Kenilworth Methodist Church on Saturday 11th March called
Re:Planting
Church at the Margins.
There is an excellent line up, with Deacon Eunice Attwood as
keynote speaker and a really good choice of workshops including
one led by our own Ministry & Missions Co-ordinator, Jo Yair.
Worship will be led by an intergenerational team. The
day will be designed to be accessible to all personality types
and learning styles.
The Birmingham District has extended a specific invitation to
members of the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District. For
more information and bookings see here: https://birminghammethodist.org.uk/replanting-church-at-the-margins
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Fairtrade Fortnight
Dear
Friends,
Fairtrade
Fortnight: 27 February – 12 March 2023
Don’t forget that Fairtrade Fortnight is coming up – 27 February
– 12 March. Fairtrade churches undertake to include fair
trade in worship at least once a year and you may want to
consider this if you are leading worship on 5 or 12 March
The Fairtrade Foundation has not produced new materials as far as
I can see but there are ideas at:
https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/resources-library/fortnight-2020-assets/fairtrade-fortnight-church-resource-pack/
If you look for fairtrade worship resources on-line, you’ll find
that several churches have posted materials that they have
prepared in previous years. These may give you inspiration.
If you are based not too far from Wolverhampton, Beckminster
Methodist Church in Wolverhampton Circuit is hosting a fairtrade
themed coffee morning on Saturday 18th March – 10.30am
– 12 noon. Wolverhampton Fair Traid will have a stall there,
giving you the opportunity to buy Easter eggs, cards and gifts.
There will be the usual selection of grocery and craft items and
you would be very welcome to browse over a cup of coffee.
Beckminster Methodist Church, Birches Barn Road, WV3 7BQ.
Wolverhampton Fair Traid is still trading and is steadily
replacing the grocery items that Traidcraft has traditionally
provided with other fair trade brands. If you have been affected
by Traidcraft going into administration and finding it difficult
to source goods, please do get in touch with me as Wolverhampton
Fair Traid offers goods on a sale or return basis to churches and
other organisations and we may be able to help you.
Brenda Shuttleworth
019002 330002
shop@wolvesfairtraid.org.uk
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Legal and Trust Officer needed
Legal & Trust Officer, West Midlands – 28 hours per week
(some evening and weekend work is required)
Salary £44,000 - £47,000 (pro rata)
Key
legal compliance role in small regional charity team to suit
problem solving individual with excellent people and
organisational skills.
We are seeking someone to play a key role in the work of the West
Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church. Based at our office
in Yardley, Birmingham, you will be the principal point of
contact with the Synod’s solicitors and will work with the
Property Officer to take the lead in transactions relating to
land and property matters. You will support the work of local
churches, both in relation to individual matters and by promoting
an awareness of their various legal obligations as local
charities. This role supports the work of the Resources
& Compliance Committee and the Trust Company Board, including
undertaking the role of Company Secretary.
You will need to be an excellent communicator, both verbally and
in writing, with good problem-solving skills, who is able to work
effectively as part of a team and also on your own initiative.
You will have experience of legal and governance matters,
preferably relevant to a church charity, and must be able to
learn quickly about the way the Synod works and be able to
represent it and the wider United Reformed Church in a range of
settings.
Application pack available from Helen Cavaco, Synod Office,
Digbeth-in-the-Field URC, Moat Lane, Yardley, Birmingham B26 1TW
Tel: 0121 783 1177 E-mail: moderatorspa@urcwestmidlands.org.uk
We do not accept CVs as we use an application form to evaluate
people on the same basis.
INFORMATION
FOR APPLICANTS
Applicants should state any involvement with church matters and
the United Reformed Church in particular where this is relevant.
A statement setting out the reasons why they are interested in
the Legal & Trust Officer post must also be included.
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Golden Valley Easter Pilgrimage bookings open
There
are only 12 places available on this Pilgrimage which is shared
between the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury and Birmingham
Districts, and there’s already strong interest. Dates are
10th to 15th April beginning and ending in Hereford. The
cost is £140, including everything except your return travel to
Hereford (bursaries available if needed).
This is a wonderful opportunity to take time out with God.
However this is a remote area and overnight accommodation
is very basic so please do watch the information video before
deciding to book https://youtu.be/qiNZwAhlCI4
If you decide it’s for you, please contact Richard Lockley admin@wsmethodist.org.uk as
soon as possible.
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Children's Support Fund
There
is still money available from the above and if your Church is
thinking of running any Children's activities, then, please
consider applying for a maximum of £500. The attached application
form needs to be completed.. Any further questions
please contact Tim Lorimer on tim.a.lorimer@gmail.com Many
thanks
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