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New this week:
New District Chair
New District Website
Christian Film in cinemas
In case you
missed it:
Christmas Grants - last chance!
Action against Fossil Fuels
Safeguarding Officer Post
District Children's Activities Fund
Safeguarding Sunday
Two new posts in Hidden River Circuit
Mission and New Communities Enabler Post
Making a link to Bethlehem
Religion and Media Conference
Refresh: Lay Vocation Conference
Methodist Conference - Telford
Latest Safeguarding Training Info
Dial-a-prayer
free phone line to hear prayers : 0808 281 2514 Methodist News :
0808 281 2478
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New
District Chair for new WM District
The
Rev’d Rachel Deigh has been nominated for the role
of Chair of the West Midlands Methodist District. The trustee
bodies of the two current districts voted unanimously as the next
step in a rigorous and prayerful selection process.
Rachel is
currently serving as a mission partner in Sierra Leone with her
husband, the Rev’d Sylvester Deigh. She offers to
the new District the experience of 25 years of presbyteral
ministry in a wide variety of settings, including as a circuit
minister, a Superintendent, and a District Mission and
Evangelism Facilitator. Members of the Nomination
Committee who met with Rachel were impressed by her ability
to articulate a vision for the life of the new District in a way
that values and understands the diversity within it, and models
a collaborative form of leadership. Both
Districts are grateful to members of the Nomination Committee for
their careful work of discernment.
Rachel’s
name still has to come before both Synods and ultimately the
Conference in Summer 2025. However, the strong
support already shown for her nomination gives grounds for
confidence and hope in the emerging arrangements for the new
District. Rachel’s appointment would be for a
period of six years from 1 September 2025. The Rev’d
Novette Headley will remain as a District Chair for the
first of these in order to ensure a smooth transition.
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New
District Website and Socials launched
If you are looking for updates and news of the progress of the
District merger, yesterday saw the launch of the new website and
socials so please click the link below to sign up for news
regarding the new West Midlands District so you don't miss a
thing!
https://www.wmmethodists.org.uk/
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Christian
Film in Cinemas
Three cinemas in Birmingham are showing a Christian Christmas
concert
A
Drummer Boy Christmas Live:
The
Cinematic Concert Experience (U)
on
Thursday
12th December
Showings are:
Birmingham
New Street Odeon at 7.15pm
Birmingham
NEC Cineworld at 7pm
Dudley
Showcase at 7pm
For details, trailer and to book visit:
kovareleasing.com
A 5-minute extract can be viewed here:
youtube.com/watch?v=HFeltEvYfQM
It can
also be seen as a live performance at:
Indigo at the O2, Greenwich
on Wed.
11th & Thurs. 12th December at 7pm
Do welcome in the Christmas season by going to see it
at your cinema!
Please also forward the above to your church youth leader
and suggest that they take the youth group for a Christmas
treat. Encourage your carol service choir to have an outing
to it and bring their spouses.
With many thanks.
Every blessing
In Christ
David Taylor
Christian films at my Cinema
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Hush
the Noise Christmas Grants
Christmas is loud, isn’t it? So much expectation.
So many voices. Telling us how to celebrate, what to wear, what
to eat and drink, what to watch and what to buy. Instead, this
Christmas we’re inviting everyone to hush the noise.
Christmas can indeed be overwhelming, with all the noise and
expectations.
This Advent and Christmas, the Methodist Church is inviting
you to create opportunities for God’s love to shine, focusing on
ordinary acts of kindness that can make an extraordinary
difference. The District is supporting the Connexional “Hush the Noise”
Campaign by making small grants available of up to £200.
Anyone in the District can apply, though you’ll need your
Superintendent’s signature.
Applications will be considered by the District Chair and the
Ministry & Missions Co-ordinator. Rachel and Jo will be
particularly looking for projects which:
- Go beyond giving
gifts away to seeking to build relationship with people
beyond your Sunday congregation
- Communicate the
love of God in Jesus, and make room for people to respond
- Are conscious of
the need to be environmentally friendly
- Include people
who find Christmas overwhelming, noisy or challenging
Connexional resources can be found here.
Please click here for
an updated application form.
Please remember to include the bank account number and Sort Code
in order to speed up payment and send your application to janet@wsmethodist.org.uk
for processing.
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Take
Action Now!
District joins call for major UK high-street banks
to stop financing new fossil fuels
At the most recent District Policy Committee, a decision was made
to join 70 churches and Christian organisations - including the
Methodist Church in Britain - in calling on Barclays, HSBC,
Santander, NatWest and Lloyds to end their financing of new
fossil fuels.
The joint statement which the District has signed raises
concerns over the $556 billion Barclays, HSBC,
Santander, NatWest and Lloyds have provided to the fossil
fuel industry since the Paris Climate Agreement. In 2023,
the hottest year on record, the five banks collectively
financed companies expanding fossil fuels with almost $25
billion. The expansion of oil and gas is incompatible with
limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, according to the UN,
the International Energy Agency and thousands of leading
climate scientists.
More information can be found here: https://justmoney.org.uk/news/churches-call-on-major-uk-high-street-banks-to-stop-financing-new-fossil-fuels/
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Safeguarding
Officer needed
The Methodist Church
Telford Circuit
CIRCUIT SAFEGUARDING OFFICER
Home -based
12 Hours per Week
£7488 (Actual Salary)
We seek a person with ability to lead and instruct on all aspects
around Safeguarding at a Circuit Level and to support local
churches in exercising their Safeguarding responsibilities.
The post is to commence as soon as possible.
Applications will be dealt with as they are received until we
find the right person for the role.
For a full application pack
please contact the Circuit Administrator
email: circuitsupport@telfordmeth.org.uk
Telephone: 01952 505108
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District
Children's Activities Fund
With
Christmas approaching I am sure a number of Churches are looking
to run Children's activities. Want some hep with funding?
So if you have a project coming up please apply for funding
(up to £500) using the application
form linked to this and forward to Tim Lorimer at childrensfunding2024@gmail.com
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Two
new posts in Hidden River Circuit
Lay
Employees (Pastoral and Administration Support) (2 posts)
Hidden River Methodist Circuit (Registered Charity 1134411)
Closing Date: 16 December 2024
Salary: £12 per hour – 12-16 hours a week (negotiated on
appointment) - fixed term contract until 31 August 2027 (due to
funding)
The Hidden River Methodist Circuit, based in the borough of
Walsall and surrounding areas, is looking for two part-time
workers to support our ministers with pastoral care and some
administration within the circuit.
For each post we are looking for someone who:
- Is able to work alongside people of a variety of ages and
backgrounds.
- Is a good listener.
- Is able to provide spiritual support such as prayer, bible
reading and if appropriate, and with training, offer Extended
Communion
- Is adaptable to working on their own initiative and as part of
a team.
- Is organised and self–motivated
- Can offer some flexibility with working hours, taking into
account the needs of the circuit.
- Is able to support ministers and churches in promoting their
work and activities, especially on social media
- There is a genuine need for the applicant to be a Christian.
Interview Date: W/C 6 January 2025
Start date: ASAP after appointment
To request a detailed job description, person specification and
application form, or for any further details, please contact our
Circuit Administrator, Wendy Hawkins, at hiddenrivercircuit@gmail.com
or telephone 07519 473883.
Please note CV’s will not be accepted.
The appointment will be subject to references and an enhanced DBS
check
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Making
a Link with Bethlehem
As
Christmas lights are switched on in towns and cities across the
country, many of us are preparing to tell once more the story of
Jesus' birth. Bethlehem will have a starring role, but for
many listeners it may seem no more than a storybook setting.
This Advent and Christmas the District has decided to make a
tangible link with the real "little town" by ordering
1,500 Christmas decorations carved from olive wood by Palestinian
artisans in and around Bethlehem. They'll shortly be
distributed across the Circuits who will each decide what use to
make of them.
This project hopefully fulfils many aims. Firstly, they are
beautiful, natural and durable gifts. Our hope is that they will
be part of Christmas decorations in 1500 homes across our
geography for many years to come - a reminder of the local
church's generosity and, through that, the generosity and grace
of God displayed in the birth of Jesus. Secondly, our
purchase is helping to support a Palestinian community
impoverished by the collapse of tourism since 7th October 2023.
And last but certainly not least, we hope that these gifts
will remind people to pray for an end to war and violence, and
for a just peace, especially in the land of Jesus' birth.
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Refresh:
Lay Vocation Conference
Come
join us at the Berkswich
Methodist Church for
a day of learning, networking, and fun at our lay leader
conference! Whether you're a paid worker, or a volunteer you're
welcome. It is an opportunity to connect with others and to hear
more about what "God for All" means to you and your role.
It is also a chance to reflect and learn more about your own
vocational calling.
As well as
hearing from our Keynote Speaker - Trey Hall, Director of
Evangelism and Growth. We will have a guest speaker from Care for
the Family and there will be opportunity to speak with Jo Yair,
Mission and Ministry Co-ordinator for the W&S District, Adam
Sanders, Mission Enabler in the Birmingham District and Rosie
Bryant from the Learning Network. So there are plenty of
opportunities to find out more about training and coaching
available through the church. Don't miss out on this opportunity
to grow and recharge with like-minded individuals. Register now
to secure your spot!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1037817468987?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Methodist
Conference 2025 - Telford
Taking place @ Telford
International Centre
26th
June – 2nd July 2025
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED
An
exciting opportunity to support
The METHODIST
Conference
Conference Needs
Stewards/Help
Desk
Collators
and paper distributors
Creche
Memorial
Service Chaplains
Please
make initial contact with YOUR District’s PA
Wolverhampton
& Shrewsbury admin@wsmethodist.org.uk
Birmingham
office@birminghammethodist.org.uk
Chester
and Stoke chester.stoke@btconnect.com
Be
part of the team that makes The Methodist Conference work!
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Latest Safeguarding Training Dates
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