District News – 11 April 2023

This Week's News

District Gathering/Synod

It is really encouraging that over 100 people have registered so far to attend our Gathering/Synod, but there is still space for more. We have extended the deadline on EventBrite from tomorrow to Friday 14 April, so please do sign-up if you are planning to attend.
Synod members have been emailed a reminder about this separately, but the event is open to all.
Full details can be found here: https://230422-JustChurch.eventbrite.co.uk

New Christian Communities

It's movie time again.... the 2nd in our series of #NewChristianCommunities films will be broadcast at 6pm on Friday on our Facebook page @SheffieldMethodist.
We are in the Peak Methodist Circuit this time, visiting The Hub at Hope.
You can watch the full video on our YouTubechannel @SheffieldMethodistDistrict and catch up on our first video too from the Derbyshire North East Methodist Circuit
If you feel inspired by this video find out more about creating New Christian Communities here https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/what-we-do/new-christian-communities.html

Any spare LEGO?

Do you have any LEGO that you aren't using anymore? Jonathan Hood, Community Pioneer in Derbyshire North East is after some LEGO for the kids clubs he is involved in. If you do have any, please contact Jonathan directly and he can arrange to collect. His number is: 07707 045510.

Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB)

MWiB Quiet Day at Bakewell Methodist Church on April 26th 11am-3pm
Five minutes of Peace Led by Nel Shallow.
Bring your own Lunch, tea and coffee provided.
Please let either Carol Wignell or Pam Meek know by April 23rd at carolwignell@btinternet.com or pammeek48@gmail.com
Do come and enjoy fellowship with us.
Pam Meek

The Gardens at Whirlow

Our team of wonderful volunteers keep the Whirlow gardens looking ship-shape all year round, but there's something magical about Spring flowers. You are welcome to enjoy the gardens even when the centre is closed, we just ask that the silence of Whirlow is honoured. More details can be found via the Quiet Garden Movement website.

New Guidance for Smaller Churches

Each small church has a gift to offer its community, a part to play in God's mission, and a share in God's hopeful future. Sometimes living into this hope will mean joining with another church to share resources. Sometimes it will mean letting go of a cherished building in order to worship in people's homes or in a community centre. Whatever the end result, each small church gets there by starting with its mission: its particular part of God's calling to share the love of Christ with the world. These new webpages offer guidance and resources for circuit mission planning, including different models of merger, and details of all the help that's available.
https://www.methodist.org.uk/mergeformission

District Officers' News

District Safeguarding Update

The charity Refuge has issued a warning over the UK government's new emergency alert system.
The UK government recently confirmed it would be rolling out a new emergency alert system, starting with a test on April 23. Following the announcement, domestic abuse charity, Refuge, has issued a warning, pointing out the dangers it could pose to victims of domestic abuse.

The mobile device alerts have been set up to allow the government and emergency services to send out immediate warnings to the public if they are at risk of life-threatening decisions such as floods and wildfires. The messages, which include a siren sound blasting out, will render phone users unable to use their devices without acknowledging the alert.

Even if your device is on silent, or the volume has been turned all the way down, the alert will still sound. This could put people who live with abusive partners at risk as it could lead to the discovery of secret or secondary phones kept for emergencies.

A tech safety team at Refuge has released an instructional video explaining how to turn off the emergency alert system for both Apple and Android users. Please click here to access the video.

Steps for Android users:
1. Go to the settings app of the Android device
2. Search for 'Emergency Alerts' using the search bar at the top of the screen
3. Click or tap on the first option that pops up
4. Once in the device's Emergency Alerts settings page, turn off Emergency Alerts by pressing all the toggle buttons (blue means on, grey means off)

Steps for Apple users:
1. Go to the settings app of the Apple device
2. Scroll down to find and click or tap on the 'Notifications' tab
3. Scroll all the way down again to find a dedicated section for Emergency Alerts
4. You will see 'Extreme Alerts' and 'Severe Alerts' buttons, but this sometimes varies depending on which iPhone or Apple device you are using.
5. To turn them off, press all the toggle buttons (blue means on, grey means off)

If you are experiencing Domestic Abuse and would like help, please phone the National Abuse helpline: freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 or click here

As ever, if you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call on 07483 362 735 or email me at safeguarding@sheffieldmethodist.org

Many thanks
Alison Hill -District Safeguarding Officer.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Training

Burdensome Task or God-centred Opportunity ?

Some folks reading this will realise that Conference last summer voted to make Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training mandatory for many different office holders in the church.

This is actually a great opportunity within the discipleship journey of all of us, to help us meet Jesus' Second and New Great Commandment – to love our neighbours as ourselves. As we grow closer to Christ at the centre of our lives and our worship and fellowship, so our commitment to show care and respect to people who are different from us, or we find difficult, will grow also. But there are always practical things that we can do better when we realise about how our actions can impact on others. I have certainly learned so much – things about expectations of eye contact for instance – through the years of EDI training I've received, that have hopefully meant that I am better at relating to a wider group of people.

The one-hour online EDI training and the in-person training session(s) in the District later in the year, can be seen as a valuable resource. They will help us know yes, about the things that UK legislation requires of us, but also things which equip us to be better followers of Christ. The on-line training can be accessed through the Methodist Website (or by clicking the address) at: https://mcb.theologyx.com/courses/

And if this all still feels a burdensome thing, please take that to God in prayer, that the Holy Spirit will supply the energy and opportunity to take this up, that our church may continue to grow as a safe and welcoming space for all God's children.

There is also a very helpful, short, booklet – the JDS User Guide – which can be downloaded here, or ordered from the Methodist Church (copies will be available at the District Gathering).

To share your struggles and concerns with this issue or to feel more confident about how to go about working on inclusion, or if this sort of thing is already part of your passion, then come to the District Gathering on Sat April 22nd at Victoria Hall, where you can learn much more. You will also be able to sign up there to join the new District Justice Seekers' Group that will be part of taking things forward across the District.

Erica Dunmow -District EDI Officer (volunteer)
EDI@sheffieldmethodist.org

Events

Dual Transformation webinar

7pm Wednesday 19 April

Many of us, whether involved with new Christian communities or existing church, are looking with hopeful imagination to the future flourishing of the Methodist Church. We recognise that this means we need BOTH to encourage inherited churches to flourish all the more, AND also to create space and safe frameworks for pioneers to take risks and explore all kinds of new Christian communities. Dual Transformation helps us see that these are very different enterprises, each needing their own particular ecosystems. We invite you to a conversation, via this webinar, exploring these issues. Hosted by Eunice Attwood (Church at the Margins Officer) and Matt Finch (Pioneering and Church Planting Officer), this will be a conversation between Leslie Newton, Chair, Yorkshire North and East district and Stephen Lindridge, Chair, Newcastle upon Tyne district.

Book your place here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dual-transformation-webinar-tickets-558562634877

Job Vacancies

Young People's Worker

Barnsley Circuit

This is an exciting role to help develop the children's and youth activities across the North West of Barnsley. With exciting activities already in place that are delivering real value, the circuit know that there is more that can be done. The successful applicant will be someone with the passion, enthusiasm and drive to make this happen.
Full details here: https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/recruitment/vacancies/young-peoples-worker.html
Closing Date: 20 April

Nurture & Pastoral Care Worker

Barnsley Circuit

The Circuit is seeking to appoint a part time worker to provide pastoral support and care alongside the minister in the North West Church. This worker will also play a key role in developing opportunities for nurture and discipleship within the church.
Full details here: https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/recruitment/vacancies/nurture-pastoral-care-worker.html
Closing date 13 April

Cliff College

This is an exciting time to be joining Cliff College as Vision 21, a strategy that takes the College on a journey to become a global centre of evangelism and missiology, is launched.

Commercial Sales Manager

The role will have responsibilities relating to our commercial strategy, commercial activities, initiating and bringing to fruition new onsite projects and maximising what we can do with our site.
Full details here: cliffcollege.ac.uk/news-events/hiring-commercial-manager
Closing date: 17 April 2023

Catering Manager

Cliff College, situated in Calver in the Hope Valley, is a a busy College with a 50 bed conference centre and student accommodation for 30 residential students. We operate a seven day a week operation, catering for a wide range of customers including students, staff, conferences and other guests on our 50 acre site. We also have a number of special events throughout the year including graduation, Christmas and Cliff Festival.
This post of Catering Manager is critical to the continued development of Cliff College's fast-paced and varied catering department that continues to strive for excellence.
Full details here: cliffcollege.ac.uk/news-events/hiring-catering-manager

Details of other vacancies including Chef and Kitchen assistant can be found here: https://www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/about-cliff-college/work-with-us

Mental Health Coordinator

The Sheffield Methodist Circuit are actively seeking a suitably experienced mental health professional to promote and develop mental health expertise amongst circuit staff and local church members; alongside providing expert support and advice in times of mental health related crisis.

As one of the larger circuits in the Methodist Church, with 49 churches and a number of circuit led projects, the church and circuit team of 15 ordained ministers are supported by more than 40 employees, employed on a variety of terms.

Demonstrable relevant experience will be key to success as you will take the lead and be the public face of a mental health matters campaign proactively promoting mental health conversations whilstencouraging engagement and raising awareness with ministers, employees, and office holders.

Once embedded into circuit life it is anticipated that you will be well placed to enable and facilitate mental health missional projects in local churches, forging effective professional working relationships across a broad and diverse range of stakeholders.

Working 20-hours per week, with a negotiable actual salary of between £17680/£20800 depending on experience (Full Time Equivalent Salary of £32708/£38480) on an initial 3-year fixed term contract, informal conversations around this post are encouraged by contacting Jonathan Buckley. (For an application form and job information pack please contact hr@sheffieldmethodist.org)

Closing date for receiving completed applications is 5pm on 4th May 2023.

Events and Administrative Assistant

The Foundry/Victoria Hall, Sheffield

The primary purpose of this role is to support the team with the efficient running of the organisation, acting as the first point of contact at the reception desk or via phone and email to all external stakeholders. The events and administrative assistant will perform administrative tasks such as invoicing customers, updating financial accounting software and taking minutes during meetings, alongside supporting the events team to ensure a satisfied customer from start to finish. The right candidate will be someone who is highly organised and can also demonstrate compassion and empathy to our service users. There will be an element of lone working in this role.

£ 11.55 per hour
23 hours over 4 days

Application closing date is 15th April 2023.
Interviews scheduled w/c 17th April and 24th April.

For an application pack, please contact Rose Durant; rose@victoriahallsheffield.org or contact the office on 0114 3492644. For an informal discussion, please contact Rachel on 0114 2721749.

Other News

Pray in May

Since their humble beginnings, Mary's Meals, named after Mary the mother of Jesus, has been built on a foundation of prayer and the many little acts of love from those who support them.

Throughout the month of May they are inviting churches to pray with them as part of their Pray in May campaign, that their work continues to flourish and grow, and that more children throughout the world will see their lives transformed by receiving a daily meal in a place of education.

Mary's Meals offer talks to churches and church groups and can provide leaflets, posters, prayers and collection boxes if required.

Finally, if there is a member of your parish who would be willing to become a Church Rep or a community volunteer for Mary's Meals, please encourage them to get in touch! The beauty of volunteering for the charity is that it can take as little or as much time as a person wants it to.
You can contact your local Supporter Engagement Officer here with any questions or requests.
Thank you!

And finally ...

Ever loving, ever loyal, everlasting God, You are the source of all our loving, you are indescribable beauty, you are life itself.

Drawing close to you, we are fed, drawing close to you, we are shown what love really is, drawing close to you, we are given food to feed others.

May we draw ever closer to you, the source, with joy, with energy, with intent, for only by experiencing your love can we love your creation, only by touching your heart can we find heart for others, only by feeling your closeness can we draw close to those who are lost. In the security of your love, enable us to love this broken world.
Amen
Sally Jones, probationer presbyter, South Warwickshire Circuit
Methodist Prayer Diary