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New this week:
Black Country Pilgrimage
District Merger Event
Tent of Nations
Mission Enabler Vacancy
Youth President Visits
In case you
missed it:
Stationing Training
Action for Children Report
Online EDI events
Spring Dance Events
Advanced Safeguarding Training
Creating Church and Community: Families with Additional Needs
Every Church a Growing Church: Mission Planning for all
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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Black Country Pilgrimage
The Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District in
association with the Diocese of Lichfield and Diocese of
Worcester are holding an ecumenical pilgrimage event. Open to any
denomination.
The pilgrimage is a chance to witness our faith in Christ to the
world, explore our local Methodist Heritage and to share in
fellowship together.
The Pilgrimage will start with refreshments together at Central Methodist
Church, Wednesbury, WS10 9AD at 10a.m. Here, we
will share some of our Methodist story through a number of
historical artefacts the church possess.
From here we will travel by road and canal tow path through Lea
Brook, Great Bridge, Dudley Port and Tipton, where we will have
lunch at Tipton Green Methodist Church. Bring your own lunch,
or purchase it from the local High Street.
After lunch we will journey to the Black Country Living Museum,
where pilgrims will be granted free admission to see the Gospel
Car and complete our day in an act of worship in the Methodist
Chapel. Ending at 4pm.
If possible, please notify Rosie Bryant in advance if you are
intending to come, so we can book your free place with the
museum. Her e-mail is bryantr@methodistchurch.org.uk.
We are seeking to promote care for creation and recommend where
possible that people arrive via the bus or metro and go home via
bus or train.
To this end, please see some guidance below, but always check
your own arrangements as there may be local roadworks or other
disruptions to services on the day.
To get
to Wednesbury
From Walsall or Dudley catch no 11 bus to Wednesbury Bus Station.
The church is about a 7 minute walk from here.
From Wolverhampton or Birmingham catch the Midland Metro to
Wednesbury Great Western which is slightly closer than Wednesbury
Parkway. It is about a 10 minute walk to the church.
From Telford or Stafford you are advised to catch the train to
Wolverhampton and then get the Metro as per above.
From Lichfield you are advised to catch a train in to Birmingham
and catch the metro from there.
From Cannock you are advised to get the train to Walsall and then
catch the no 11 bus.
From Kidderminster catch the train to The Hawthorns and then take
the Metro to Wednesbury.
When
leaving the Black Country Museum
You can catch the no 11 bus from outside the museum back to
Dudley Bus Station, or to Wednesbury or Walsall.
For most locations the simplest method will be to return home via
train from Tipton railway station which is about a miles walk
away.
For Kidderminster an alternative is to catch the no. 18 bus from
Dudley Bus Station to Cradley Heath and then pick the train up
there.
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District Merger Event
Proposed
District Merger with Birmingham - come and have your say
There was strong support at both Synods in Saturday for
continuing conversations with a view to merger in September 2025.
A next step will be determining a preferred model of
District leadership and any structures flowing from that.
Can you help be the architect of these plans?
You are invited to a joint meeting of both District Policy
Committees which is also open to anyone else in the District at 2.30pm on Sunday
21st May at Walsall Central Hall. Just come
along and have your say. Additionally, any suggestions or
feedback about the merger proposals will be gratefully received
at any time. Please send them via Richard Lockley at admin@wsmethodist.org.uk
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Tent of Nations
Visit of Tent of Nations to Lichfield 27th May
The Tent of Nations is a peace building project
located at Daher’s Vineyard, a family organic farm in the
hills south-west of Bethlehem. The Nassar family, who have
owned the family farm for over a hundred years, have strong links
with the Methodist Church. In 2018 they were recipients of
the Methodist World Peace Prize.
Here is an opportunity to meet members of this inspiring family
in Lichfield on 27th May.
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Mission Enabler Vacancy
Shropshire & Marches Methodist Circuit (Registered Charity No.1139091) are seeking to
appoint a part time Christian
Outreach Mission Enabler in North Shropshire
(areas surrounding Oswestry and Wem) to work with new bespoke
mobile trailer FOR 832 HOURS ANNUALISED OVER THE YEAR (equating
to a flexible16 hours per week)
This is a new and exciting opportunity for pioneering ministry
with the Methodist Church in a new setting, within a new project,
using an untried form of outreach in a brand new bespoke mobile
trailer unit. It is anticipated that the project will enable
people to meet Jesus in diverse and innovative settings as well
as the traditional and familiar.
The Mission Enabler will be responsible for liaising with
volunteers and co-ordinating events to enable a Christian
presence that is both alongside and active in local communities.
The role will suit someone who is passionate to take the gospel
beyond the walls of buildings, who engages well with all ages, is
energetic and dynamic, but also deeply embedded in prayer and
reflective practice.
The successful applicant will work within, and be supported by a
ministerial and volunteer team but will be expected to lead and
co-ordinate outreach events in innovative and resourceful ways.
The role might suit two people sharing roughly16 hours a week,
for the right applicants. We are willing to be flexible as to how
the hours might work but you must be prepared to work some
weekends and evenings. The hours will be annualised to enable
more hours in some weeks, but less in others and to fit around
the commitments of the both church and post holder. An ability or
willingness to learn to tow the trailer would be an advantage but
not essential.
Salary in the range £10.90 - £13 per hour depending upon
experience and qualifications
Closing
dates for applications: 9am on 29th May.
Please apply as below for application form. Interviews will be
held on 14th & 15th June Starting date as
soon as possible.
For more information please contact Rev. Julia Skitt on
07810360778
For application form and information pack please email: juliaskitt@mail.com
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Youth President visits
The
Youth President, James Carver, is currently planning for the
third quarter of his year. If any youth groups would like him to
come and visit over video call, please feel free to contact him
at youthpresident@methodistchurch.org.uk"
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Stationing Training
Stationing Training will again be online, led by the Chair and
Angela Evans, Lay Stationing Rep.
The dates are:
Wednesday
3rd May at 7pm: General overview of
the stationing process. For Circuit Invitation Committee
members and ministers in stationing.
Wednesday
17th May at 7pm: More detailed
training on the re-invitation process for both ministers
considering re-invitation and for CiC members and anyone else who
will be involved in the process.
Thursday
18th May at 6pm: Entering the
Stationing Process, for Ministers only.
Thursday
18th May at 7.30pm: Submitting a Circuit
profile to Stationing. For CiC.
Superintendents, Senior Circuit Stewards and ministers involved
in stationing will receive further information by email
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Action for Children report
Here are
screen shots of the Action for Children Report to Synod (links
available via pdfs)
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Spring Dance Events
At
Springs Dance Company we have been bringing dance with heart and
soul to church and community settings for over 40 years. This
year we have two fantastic performances available for churches to
book – A
Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance in the Autumn,
and Journey
of the Magi in the run up to Christmas. We
would love it if you are able to pass on any of the below
information to the churches in your network.
A
Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance
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.
“Last
night was easily the best experience, the best performance, the
best night. Stunning. Blown away. So grateful.” -
Alan Dunn, audience member 2022
Based on Ecclesiastes 3: There is a Time
for Everything, the performance is an uplifting dance show that
explores the tension between loss and joy. The double-bill
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 seen, understood and connected to others as they reflect on
grief and the joy and celebration of life.
“…it is
one of the strengths of the performance that it does not offer
easy answers or a simplistic message, but relates to universal
emotional experiences. That makes it incredibly powerful and
accessible to people from any background. Thank you and well done
- it was beautiful!” -
Andrea Weigert, audience member 2022
Springs Dance Company is inviting churches and cathedrals to book
now to host a performance of A Time
to Mourn, A Time to Dance in
October 2023.
For more information about this project please get in touch by
emailing touring@springsdancecompany.org.uk or by
calling 07775 628442.
Further information and videos can also 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 2023.
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 07775 628442.
--
Eliza
Reger
Company and Education Manager
(Please note I work part-time. My usual working days are Monday,
Tuesday and Thursday)
Springs
Dance Company
T: 07984
031881
W: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Registered Charity No. 1136487
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Advanced Safeguarding Training
Advanced
Safeguarding Training Dates.
Anyone wishing to book onto one of these sessions needs to email kayredfern@birminghammethodist.org.uk
All of the below are training dates at The Methodist Churches
below:
13th May 23 – Stafford – Trinity Church – face to face
– 9.45 am registration
16th May 23 – Droitwich – face to face – 9.45am
registration
24th June 23 – Pleck – face to face – 9.45am
registration
1st July 23 – Kidderminster – face to face – 9.45
Registration
22nd July – Wednesbury Leabrook – face to face –
9.45am registration
16th Sept – Dudley Wood – face to face – 9.45am
registration
9th Sept – Coventry – Central - Eadon Hall – face to
face – 9.45am registration
14th October – Kenilworth – face to face – 9.45am
registration
25th November – Solihull – face to face – 9.45am
registration
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Creating Church and Community Amongst Families
with Additional Needs
A one hour workshop featuring “The Gate Church”* Experience, led
by Jo Yair (Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District Ministry
& Mission Co-ordinator) and Geoff Bond (Regional Learning
Network Co-ordinator) exploring how to establish, resource and
equip churches for working with families with additional needs
Dates and booking: 24th
May 23, 12th June 23
Eventbrite Link: Church
& Community: Families with Additional needs | Eventbrite
*The Gate Church, founded in 2018 by two lay workers, at The
Storehouse in Brierley Hill, followed a long history of listening
to, and journeying with parents whose children have additional
and complex needs. The Gate Church was a natural step for a group
of parents who were previously supported by circuit children
& families workers, to bring their families to worship. The
group began to Meet once a month on a Friday evening, it enabled
the whole family to come along and connect together as a church
family. The formation of The Gateway discipleship group quickly
followed, enabling adults to meet whilst their children were at
school to explore where God fits into their life.
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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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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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