District News – 15 April 2025

This Week's News

Youth Day 2025

Eighty young people and their leaders came together for our district Youth Day at Hesley Wood Scout Activity Centre in Chapeltown, Sheffield at the weekend.
This years' theme was exploring how to be a justice seeking church and the young people shared in worship together, took part in workshops, crafting, team building activities and had lots of fun.
Find out more and watch our highlights video on the district website.
https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/news/news-stories/youth-day-2025.html

Podcast – Faith, Hope and The Journey – Lighthouse Homes

Our latest podcast is now available to stream online. In this episode we talk to Alistair Sharp, CEO of Lighthouse Homes about this vital Christian charity which exists to relieve poverty, and advance the education of people, particularly those who are homeless in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Lighthouse Homes offer Christian inspired residential communities, providing opportunities for change in both lifestyle and values. It's aims include the advance of the Christian faith, however, all are welcome at Lighthouse Homes, those of all faiths and none.
You can listen to this conversation via our website https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/podcast.html
or where ever you usually listen to podcasts.
We'd love your feedback or if you'd like to be a guest with us then drop an email to Sam Roberts, District Communications Officer at comms@sheffieldmethodist.org

Christian Aid Week

Christian Aid week is rapidly approaching (11th to 18th May) and the Christian Aid website has a wealth of resources to help your church celebrate this annual fundraising event which raises millions for the poorest people in our world. The focus for this year are two inspirational women, Aurelia and Amelia, who live in Guatemala.
Of particular interest to busy preachers and worship leaders are the excellent Worship resources which include background information, full speaker /preachers' notes, editable orders of service, power point presentations and prayers for both all age worship and more traditional worship.
Here is the link: htt ps://resources.christianaid.org.uk/uk/resources/christian-aid-week
Alison Trezise
Chair of Sheffield Christian Aid committee

Admin networking

Thursday 22 May from 9am

Join the UCAN group for a a time of prayer, resource-sharing, and encouragement in your ministry. Whether you're a UCAN member or not, you're welcome to connect with fellow church administrators in your area. Light refreshments will be provided.
Venue: "The Furnival" 199 Verdon Street, Sheffield S3 9QQ
As well as the usual chat and updates, we will spend some time looking at Excel spreadsheets, sharing our experiences and "what works for me!".

Edward Rogers Memorial Lecture

Thursday 5 June, 3.15pm

Join us either in-person or online for the Edward Rogers Memorial Lecture: on the theme The Spirit that Crosses Borders given by Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño on Thursday 5 June 2025. The lecture title is The Virtues of Compassion, Mercy & Justice Must Shape the World We Will Live In.
In 2004, Bishop Carcaño became the first Hispanic woman to be elected to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church, the second-largest Protestant denomination in the USA. Throughout her ministry she has been a consistent advocate for the rights of the poor, the marginalized, and the excluded.
Her lecture will highlight how forced migration continues to inflict great danger and death to many around the world. With some exceptions, countries where migrants land are becoming increasingly hostile towards the migrant. While people of faith and good will continue to work in their communities to welcome the migrant, and to reform unjust immigration policies, the forces of religious and Christian nationalism and political authoritarianism bring further harm to migrants and communities. Given that migration will not cease in our lifetime, how we live together with migrants will depend on our commitments to the virtues of compassion, mercy and justice, and a spirit of welcome to migrants who come our way.
Full details including how to book a place, can be found here:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/wesley-house/the-spirit-that-crosses-borders/e-bvjooy

Open Farm Sunday

8 June 2025

reconnect with your local food producers
Dig out your wellies & head for a Sunday afternoon outing to a farm.
Open Farm Sunday is an opportunity to discover the crucial work farmers do producing food, nurturing nature, and protecting the environment for future generations. Sign up to visit a local farm & have the opportunity to talk with farmers, hear their stories and discover how they are working for a more sustainable future whilst producing food you can trust.
Why not organise a visit & invite your eco-church/ social justice group, toddler group families, warm space users, uniform groups, food pantry team...
For further details and to find a local Open Farm, please visit Homepage – Open Farm Sunday

Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB)

Friday 27 June at 7pm
The 3rd Mary Bosanquet Lecture will be given by Kathy Galloway from the Iona Community with the theme Pay Attention; Be Astonished; Tell About It. This is a Fringe event at the Methodist Conference, Telford.

District Office updates

District Safeguarding Officers Update:

Foundation Module 2024 Handbook – Braille translation

There has been a request for a Braille copy of the FM2024 Handbook, which has been translated and sent out. The process of translation takes time, however, once the materials have been translated, further copies can be created much faster and at minimal expense.
If a Braille Handbook is needed, please email Christine Kennedy (kennedyc@methodistchurch.org.uk)
Just a quick reminder that once you have delivered a Foundation module session, please will you send a copy of the register to Katrin Hackett as the District is now required to keep a record of all training completed at both Foundation and Advanced level.

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.

GDPR Support

A reminder that Katrin will be holding 3 more Zoom sessions on Tuesday 6 May at 10am / 2pm / Tuesday 13 May at 7pm. These are to give support and advice on GDPR and the annual checklist. Please complete the booking form if you wish to attend one of these sessions
GDPR Support
The deadline for completing the GDPR checklist is 31 May. Ideally this should be completed online: https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/.../gdpr-checklist-report.html.
Please get in touch if you have any questions on this.

Events

The Darkest Night Easter Vigil

Saturday 19 April 6:30 pm

The Metal Methodists are joining with St Paul's Church, Norton Lees for The Darkest Night Easter Vigil. Come along on Saturday 19th April for metal music and refreshments, as we turn up the amps to find hope within the noise. Refreshments will be at 6.30pm, with the service starting at 7pm. For further information email Kate on katemetalmethodist@outlook.com

Who Cares? An introduction to pastoral care

Starting on 4 June

In response to Our Calling, Methodist people are to help others to grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care. Who Cares? is a series of four 2-hour sessions, that introduces participants to the possibilities of pastoral care – creating appropriate environments and developing practices that welcome, support and care for others in their role.
More details including booking your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/who-cares-an-introduction-to-pastoral-care-registration-1098782671549

Living Stones Open Day

Saturday 21 June

You are warmly invited to Wesley House's Open Day 2025 in which we will explore the theme of Living Stones. The day will include the last public service in the College chapel, tea and a series of reflections on the life of the College past, present and future as we give thanks for all that the Jesus Lane site has made possible and set out in faith towards the future.
As catering is provided can you please register if you are able to join us. For further information and to register visit – https://livingstones.eventbrite.co.uk

Faith in the City@40

Saturday 12 July

2025 marks the 40th Anniversary of the publication of the influential report of Archbishop Runcie's Commission on Urban Priority Areas. While the Thatcher government rejected it as "naive Marxism, and largely ignored its recommendations to the nation, it was followed by more than a decade of extensive initiatives in urban mission in the Church of England and other denominations.
Much has changed over 40 years, but issues of urban poverty and injustice have not disappeared, and there are few signs that Churches and other Christian activity are flourishing in such places. Indeed there are signs that neither government nor church are making them a priority for action and investment, and that people living there are increasingly feeling left behind.
This conference, one of a series of events across the country, is a chance to reflect on the theology and practice of urban mission, then and now. There will be input from leading practitioners who were involved in the 1980s, and those who are leading mission and church activities today.
It will be of interest to anyone who lives and works in the inner city, or on social housing estates. We hope it will encourage and inform, and be a catalyst for a renewed movement to develop Faith in the City and hope in urban churches and communities.
Keynote Speakers
Alan Billings (one of the original Archbishop's Commission Members)
Sarah Small (Head of the Eden Network)
Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/faith-in-the-city-40-north-tickets-1224760715269

Vacancies

Lay Worker for Hospitality, Pastoral Care and Children

St Andrew's Psalter Lane Church

Are you someone who is passionate about making relationships with families, nurturing children's faith and strengthening connections with the local community?If so, we'd love to hear from you!
We seek an enthusiastic and compassionate person, who can create a warm and welcoming environment, lead our children's work, and play a vital role in our ministry.
Role: Lay Worker for Hospitality, Pastoral Care and Children
Salary: £15,600 for 20 hours/week (+ 6 weeks' paid holiday)
Location: St Andrew's Psalter Lane Church, Sheffield
Closing date: Noon on 22nd April 2025
Interviews: 1st May 2025
For an informal conversation please contact Anna Calvert, Chair of the Ecumenical Church Council: annacalvert1@gmail.com
To download an application form and for more details, please visit www.standrewspsalterlane.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

Nurture and Pastoral Care Worker

Barnsley South (Barnsley Methodist Circuit)

The Barnsley Circuit seek to appoint a Nurture & Pastoral Care Work to work with the Minister to proved effective and ongoing pastoral car to members and adherents of the Barnsley South Chapels. The successful Applicant will nurture and encourage discipleship in these chapels and build relationships with members and visitors in these chapels.
For an informal conversation about the role, contact Ellie Peet at elliepeet59@gmail.com
Closing Date: 30 April

And finally ...

A prayer for our discipleship

Lord, send us out.
Send us out from our buildings, full of history and comfort and meaning, and lead us into your world as your disciples where the story is still being written.
Send us out with our hearts full of love and concern and fear and hope, and lead us into your heart for this blessed and beautiful world where the story is still being written.
Continue to bless places for lonely people to gather; soup lunches and warm spaces; moves and renovations; missions and prayer gatherings; and all the ways we seek to move from where we are to where you want us to be.
Lord, send us out. And remind us – remind me – that the story is still being written. Amen.
Sean Turner, MOCC, Isle of Man