District News – 08 August 2023

This Week's News

Christians Against Poverty – CAP Sunday

'CAP Sunday' is bookmarked for 15 October 2023, but plenty of churches use the resources on an alternative day in the year that suits their church calendar. CAP provides everything a church needs to host a Sunday Service. One central resource that all churches use is a video story from a CAP client, this year told by Melinda who has recently journeyed out of debt through the support and care of her local church in partnership with CAP. It's a stark but uplifting story where Melinda not only describes her life after debt, but also her new found faith.
Reas more here

All We Can Harvest resources

Harvest season is fast-approaching, and this remains a really important time for us at All We Can to connect with the people called Methodists all around the Connexion – this year we are sharing exciting stories from our work in Malawi, including a fully planned-out worship service that features a sermon developed in a Bible study with the community where our partners are working in Malawi. We have also included an exciting resource, partnering with the Evangelism and Growth Team of the Methodist Church, to equip you to have a harvest meal filled with intentional, life-changing conversations! You can download the resources to print at home, or order materials to be sent to you and your churches, here: https://allwecan.org.uk/harvest23

District Updates

District Office

Thank you so much to everyone who has already responded to the email sent out to check that the data we are holding is correct. Over 800 emails were sent on Friday and more than 500 folk have already responded. This is an important task to help ensure efficient communications with churches and circuits, so prompt responses are very much appreciated.
A reminder that the District Office will be closed from Monday 21 August to Tuesday 29 August. I will be volunteering at the Greenbelt Festival in Kettering so won't have access to emails during this time.
Katrin – District Administrator

The ONE Opportunity Programme

Calling all 16-23 year olds and their church leaders, you can now apply for The ONE Opportunity Programme.
The ONE Opportunity scheme runs from September to August and applications are welcome from anyone aged 16-23 in the Sheffield District.
The scheme is designed to encourage, recognise and reward the participation of young people within the District in the Church's life and mission. It gives them the opportunity to be involved on a part-time basis in the development of the mission and ministry of their churches at a local level. There are ten places for interns and it offers a salaried position for 3 hours per week.
Find out more and to apply click here.
https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/what-we-do/children-and-youth/one-opportunity-programme.html

Events

District Gathering

Saturday 9 September

Join us for a day of learning, sharing and worship with a buffet lunch provided. It will provide an opportunity for you to renew existing connections across the District and to meet new people.
Within the District Gathering we will hold the life of Methodism across our district in prayer, renew our relationship with our wider Connexional church, and make any formal decisions required of us as a district – the work of the representative synod.
Our five expert speakers will explore perspectives on how we extend Christ's invitation by embedding evangelism in our daily lives through an interactive panel discussion.
"Next Steps in .." workshops will explore practical suggestions and advice for you and your church in more detail. All participants will have the opportunity to attend two workshops.
Full details, including how to get tickets here: https://230909-SteppingOut.eventbrite.co.uk
Some of the workshops have limited capacity, so do book early – and don't forget to invite a friend!

Administrators/Office based workers!

Thursday 14 September

Join the South Yorkshire UCAN Local Group, as we gather to pray, share resources and encourage each other in our ministry!
Our next meeting is on Thursday 14 September when we will be looking at "What works well" – sharing some tips and tricks in word processing (and other office programs)
Arrive from 9.00am for a 9.30am start, at All Saints Church (where we met last time). As before, there will be some pastries, fruit, tea and coffee for breakfast.
Sign up here if you would like to come: https://ucan.churchsuite.com/events/1ixczirb (members and non-members both welcome!)

Appreciating Church conference

Saturday 30 September

Appreciating Church is running a conference on 30th September 2023, with a theme of "Appreciating the tough stuff". It will be a day full of inspiration and wisdom from AI practitioners, including speakers and interactive workshops. It will be a hybrid conference, with an online (Zoom) and onsite (Priory Rooms, Birmingham) conference running in parallel. Much thought has been given to the hybrid nature of this conference, and will be tailored, separately, to both parties of attendees.
The cost of either conference is £130 .
Visit https://appreciating.church/appreciating-church-conference-saturday-30th-september-bookings-open/

Regional Retreat

14-16 November

The next Regional Retreat for Ministers and Lay Employees within the Methodist Church will be on 14-16 November at The Briery, Ilkely.
The theme is Creative Journeying and will be led by Donna Worthington. Donna is an experienced retreat giver trained in Ignatian spiritual direction, labyrinth walking and storytelling. She studied Theology at Cambridge, and completed an MPhil at Manchester University. She has written several plays, two of which explored the Lindisfarne Gospels, and Christian contemplative prayer. She has led retreats and workshops examining the Gospels through theatre, dream-prayer and dance-prayer.
We'll seek to deepen our spirituality, explore different ways of praying, and discover our journey with the divine.
We'll connect Scripture, nature and creative writing with personal reflection and prayer.
We'll explore the dreams we carry, aided by the artist Van Gogh. and we'll seek to be held by God just as we hold others.
To book online via EventBrite https://231114CreativeJourney.eventbrite.co.uk Deadline – 12 September (for viability)

Job Vacancies

Pilgrimage Manager

The Peak Circuit

The Peak Circuit seek to appoint a Pilgrimage Manager who will become the primary public face of the Peak Wesley Way: making it widely known, overseeing all practical arrangements so that pilgrims receive excellent welcome and opportunity for life changing experiences, and co-ordinating our growing team of volunteers and contractors. Bringing an entrepreneurial approach to mission: the Pilgrimage Manager will develop the pilgrimage as a financially self-sustaining way of making a positive impact on the lives of pilgrims, local village communities and the Circuit.
Information Pack and application form available here: Pilgrimage Manager
Closing Date: 13 August

Property Manager

Nether Green – Sheffield Circuit

Nether Green Methodist Church seek to appoint a part-time Property Manager who will be responsible for all aspects of property management on behalf of the church and who will be the agreed point of contact for property related matters.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Maintaining all health, safety, and risk assessment documentation, processes and policies within the church and to update and implement change as necessary and appropriate.
• Ensuring that all mandatory, regulatory, and recommended safety and quality checks are undertaken within the church using certified and established trades people whilst maintaining an up to date and quality checked list of appropriate service providers.
• Supervising the lettings process of the church property increasing usage and income and to be the point of contact for existing premises users and hirers.
• Ensuring all buildings are maintained to a required standard and that they meet all legal requirements relating to public building usage.

Hours: 7.5 Hours per week (Worked flexibly to meet the needs of the project).
Rate of pay: £16 per hour.
Home based with the requirement to visit the church on a regular basis and to attend meetings in person as necessary.
Next steps: For an application form or for an informal conversation about the role please email Philip Godfrey at philip@ashbydental.f9.co.uk
Closing date: 31st August 2023
Interviews: w/c 4th September 2023

And finally ...

A Prayer for Exam Results Days

With exam results coming out later this month, the Youth President of the Methodist Conference, James Carver, has written a prayer for those who are waiting to get their results.

God of knowledge,
You told us not to be afraid.
Earlier this year, many children, young people and adults took examinations and are about to receive their results.
Thank you for the brilliance of young minds and for the staff, friends, and parents who supported them along the way.
Ease their anxieties and lift them up, support those who are discerning what to do next.
And no matter the grade, let them know they are worthy and that you are proud,

Amen.