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New this week:
Circuit Stewards Gathering - Sat 8th Feb
Stationing Briefing - save the date!
Wholehearted Monthly Mission Series launches
In case you
missed it:
Hand in Hand Conference
Ecumenical Links
District Secretary Job Vacancy - updated
Easter Pilgrimage 2025
Hymnbooks for Africa
Greenhouse retreats
Advanced Safeguarding Training update
New District Website - reminder
Safeguarding Officer Post
District Children's Activities Fund
Methodist Conference - Telford
Dial-a-prayer
free phone line to hear prayers : 0808 281 2514 Methodist News :
0808 281 2478
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Circuit
Stewards Gathering
At the
in-person Joint Districts - Circuit Stewards Meeting in May 2024,
the 23rd November was set for our next on-line Circuit
Stewards’ Meeting. It was agreed to postpone this meeting
to Saturday
8 February, 10 am – 12.30 pm. This
will also be an on-line meeting, to enable as many people as
possible to attend. Please put this date into your diaries.
Saturday
8th Feb – 10:00 -12.30 on zoom
Topic: Shaping governance support for Circuits in the new
district
Led by: Jo Yair (Mission and Ministry Coordinator, W&S) and
Adam Sanders (Mission Advisor, Birmingham)
Please contact the District Office admin@wsmethodist.org.uk
for the Zoom link.
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Stationing
Briefing 25/26: Save the Dates
The West
Midlands District preparation and training meeting to outline the
stationing process will be held online on 1st May at 7pm.
In Circuits where invitations come to an end in 2026, those
expected to attend are presbyters, deacons, Superintendents
and Circuit and Church Stewards who will be involved in
the process. Spouses/partners or other supporting people are
warmly invited to attend the briefing
alongside ministers.
There will be a follow-up online session on 13th May at
7pm for those who engaging with the
processes of re-invitations. Recognising that this can
be a complex process, this session will go into more details
around the protocols and will give greater space of
questions to be aired.
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'Wholehearted
Monthly' Mission Series Launches
The Methodist Church is thrilled to announce the launch of
wholehearted monthly, a free, online mission series starting in
March on the second Tuesday of each month, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
GMT/BST. People from all traditions and countries are welcome.
What
is wholehearted monthly? Think community
organising rally meets immersive spiritual laboratory. It's
for anyone committed to a vibrant friendship between
"Church" and "World" — and a desire for
both to flourish. Each month, testimony from local innovators,
input from a renowned guest speaker, and wisdom-sharing in
networks around Gospel justice, inclusion, evangelism, and
growth.
Speakers for the first three gatherings are now public!
Nadia
Bolz-Weber is a best-selling author, public
theologian and pastor, and is the founder and church planter of
House for All Sinners and Saints. (Tuesday 11 March)
Rowan
Williams is a theologian, poet and former
Archbishop of Canterbury, and is author of fifty books on
literature, politics, and being Christian. (Tuesday 8 April)
Chine
McDonald is a writer, broadcaster and
author, and is Director of Theos, the religion and society think
tank. (Tuesday
13 May)
Get your seat at the online table here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wholehearted-monthly-tickets-1082365166349?aff=evangelismgrowth
Hosted by The Methodist Church in Britain and open to all.
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Hand
in hand Conference
Hand in
Hand Conference is an excellent opportunity for your children’s
teams to be refreshed, re-inspired and even more equipped by
joining us.
We are now three weeks away….And we’re expecting 500, but there’s
still space for more, so please pass this on to your kids teams
and those in your local area….There are also free spaces for
senior church leaders, you’re very welcome to join us too…
Below is the full seminar programme. Day tickets are now
available also….
Book now for the national children's and family ministry
conference.
Book now! <https://handinhandconference.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b551c84a2169e802168c28792&id=fb7eb34772&e=0b80873c9c>
Key Information:
Who: Children's & family leaders, volunteers, workers and
team members.
When: 7th-9th February 2025
Where: Bethel Convention Centre, West Bromwich, How much:
£115.00 for the full weekend.
Day tickets: £82.
Senior church leaders come for FREE (see below for details).
Please note cost does not include food & accommodation.
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Ecumenical
Links
The
following two websites act as a basic portal to the ecumenical
world, each carrying a few articles of interest and links to
Churches and groups and the two Facebook pages carry news of
people and events locally, regionally and nationally and are
updated at least once per day.
‘Churches Linked Across Staffordshire and the Potteries’ website
(Link HERE) and Facebook
page (Link HERE)
The ‘Black Country Churches Engaged’ website (Link HERE) and Facebook
page (Link HERE)
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District
Secretary Vacancy details updated
The new West Midlands Methodist District is being formed from the
Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury and Birmingham Districts. The new
district is looking to appoint a Senior Manager from Easter 2025.
This presents an exciting opportunity for mission, creative new
ideas and vision, as well as an opportunity to form and grow a
new and dynamic team. The new West Midlands District needs
someone who can lead and line-manage a dedicated and enthusiastic
staff team. You will report to the Chair of District and
ensure the smooth running of the district support organisation.
We need someone who
- can think
creatively and strategically yet works collaboratively
- flourishes in new
situations or uncharted territory and is able to unite the
diversity within a very varied district
- is an experienced
line manager, people developer, team leader
- has project
management skills, and experience overseeing finance, IT and
HR
- can empower
individuals to flourish, and take difficult decisions when
appropriate.
An
application pack and other relevant papers can be obtained
from
https://www.wmmethodists.org.uk/vacancies/district-secretary.html
or
email: info@wmmethodists.org.uk
If you
would like more information and an informal conversation about
the role please contact Andrew Beattie synsec28@gmail.com
Completed
application forms should be returned by 12 noon on 6th
February 2025
and
interviews will be held in central Birmingham on 18th
February 2025.
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Easter
Pilgrimage 2025: 21st - 26th April
People linked to either the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury or
Birmingham District are invited to join a “pilgrim community” of
up to 12 people this Easter week on a route in the beautiful
South Shropshire countryside, gathering at Ludlow on the evening
of Easter Monday and finishing at Church Stretton the following
Saturday. It is possible to get to both the start and the
finish by train. During this six day experience, we will
walk, pray and eat together and share sleeping space in a number
of Methodist Churches. Luggage (including your airbed /
camp-bed and bedding) will be transferred each day. Mileage
will be around 7 to 11 miles, taken at a gentle pace on rural
routes that may include stiles. We share cooking within the
group.
This is now a “tried and tested” formula which has been greatly
appreciated by previous pilgrims. Being willing to be part
of a short-term community is far more important than being
super-fit, providing you can manage a modest amount of walking
over a number of consecutive days, followed by nights on a church
floor! The pilgrimage will be led by a small team of
previous pilgrims, including Rachel Parkinson, Chair of
Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District.
If means allow, we suggest a contribution of £120 to the kitty to
cover food, accommodation and luggage transfer.
Unfortunately, the living arrangements mean we cannot
include children and young people, though they will be welcome to
join us as accompanied day walkers (details later).
Numbers are strictly limited so if you are interested in joining
the group this year, please don’t delay - contact Richard Lockley
in the W&S District Office: admin@wsmethodist.org.uk
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Special
request for Hymnbooks for Africa
Special
request from the Music Association of the Methodist
Church in Southern Africa
Do any British Churches have any old Methodist Hymnbooks hanging
around that aren’t being used, especially music copies with
music or tonic salfa annotation? The tunes in these hymnbooks are
still widely used in Southern Africa and copies would be
much appreciated.
If anyone can help, please contact Andrew Ashdown, Partnership
Coordinator for Africa. E-Mail: ashdowna@methodistchurch.org.uk
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The
Greenhouse at Barnes Close Retreats
This year the Greenhouse at Barnes Close are running six
residential retreats - three led Encounter retreats (Lent,
Psalms, Advent) and three Time & Space retreats (which
are just that).. For further details all the info is here https://greenhouseatbarnesclose.org.uk/events/ including
details about our Lent retreat in March.
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Advanced
Safeguarding Courses - update
If your circuit requires a course please let me
know -
04/02/25
– Chester & Stoke-on-Trent District Centre, Bishops Wood,
Nantwich CW5 7QD 10am start
29/3/25
– Carrs Lane Birmingham 0945hrs registration
05/04/25
– New Road Methodist Church DY4 7DE. – 0945hrs
registration
04/10/25
– Brierley Hill MC Vale of Stour 0945hrs registration
Also
for online courses use this link – its uploaded with new options
regularly – if someone requires on line option can they please
email me so I can create an account with MCBX as there is pre
course work with this option -
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/nottingham-and-derby-methodist-district-32226456073
Online courses –
24/3/25 – 10am x 12pm
24/3/25 – 7pm x 9pm
12/6/25 – 10am x 12pm
12/6/25 – 7pm x 9pm
With on line options there is a requirement to complete the pre
course work via MCBX so anyone wishing to choose online course
need to email myself, Stephanie Bradley at StephanieBradley@birminghammethodist.org.uk so
I can create an account with MCBX as there is a requirement
to complete pre course work on MCBX – some people are just
attending the course without completing the MCBX work. The online
option is far more time consuming than face to face and the
feedback I receive is that the MCBX work is repeated at the on
line session – just for people to consider.
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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, the launch of the new website and socials
has now taken place 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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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
If
your Church is looking to run Children's activities and
want some hep with funding, (up to £500)don't forget to apply to
the District Children's Activities Fund using the application
form linked to this and forward to Tim Lorimer at childrensfunding2024@gmail.com
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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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