District News – 17 June 2025

This Week's News

Challenging hostility with hospitality:

Refugee Week and Sanctuary Sunday

What does it mean to be part of a welcoming community?
This Refugee Week, 16-22 June, every Methodist church is invited to show a new short film on Sanctuary Sunday, 22 June, during worship.
In the film, Christians from Britain, and people who have sought asylum, reflect on experiences of receiving and offering welcome. They tell their stories of pain, courage, action, transformation and friendship, and encourage everyone to take a first step of connection. Their stories are a reminder that hospitality is a clear challenge to hostility.
You can download the video and other resources from the Methodist Church website here: https://www.methodist.org.uk/action/refugees/

Metal Methodist Worship

Saturday 21 June 3:00 pm at St Paul's, Dronfield

The next Metal Methodist hybrid service is on Saturday 21st June at 3pm.
This will be an in-person service at St Paul's Methodist Church in Dronfield, which will also be streamed online via Facebook and the Metal Methodist YouTube Channel.
Join the Metal Methodists in a spiritual space with metal and alternative vibes!
Please contact Kate, Metal Methodist Development Worker, for further information on katemetalmethodist@outlook.com

Sad News

We were very sorry to learn of the death last week of Deacon Adrienne Nixon, a retired deacon living in the Sheffield Circuit. Please hold her family and friends in your prayers.
We have also been informed of the death of the Revd Brian Jenner, who was a minister in Wath before moving to Denby Dale.
Revd Brian Jenner's Committal Service will be held at Grenoside Crematorium (5 Skew Hill Lane, Grenoside, Sheffield S35 8RZ) on Friday 4th July at 12pm followed by a Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the life of Brian at St Andrew's Methodist Church, Penistone at 1.15pm.
Refreshments will follow in the church hall where all will be welcome. Please hold him and his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers

Whirlow Spirituality Centre AGM

The Board of trustees for the Spirituality Centre are holding an "annual gathering" on Tuesday 24th June from 10.45am-12 noon in the Chapel, following the regular Reflective Communion service. There will be drinks and cakes available from 10.30am. This will be an opportunity to meet the trustees and hear from them about the variety of work and service that happens for and at the Centre. Everyone is very warmly invited to join us for this and ask any questions that you have.

Liberating Liturgy

July 14-17 – Holy Rood House

A Summer School exploring how the language we use in worship shapes our relationship with God.
Contributors include the Revd Dr Mary Kells, Revd Prof Steven Shakespeare, The Venerable Karen Best and Revd Rory Dalgleish.
Visit their website for more information: https://www.holyroodhouse.org.uk/Groups/426712/Events.aspx

Appeal for pre-loved laptops...

Revd Jonathan Gichaara is appealing for pre-loved ( pre-used) laptops, tablets and smartphones for use in the local computer class in Mituntu Vocational Training Centre in Kenya.
He says "When I was in Kenya last , I found an entire class of about 15 students congested around a single computer. The instructor had a had time teaching everyone with a single gadget.
My wife , Elizabeth and I are returning to Kenya at the beginning of July and would be happy to share those communication gadgets with those students.
We would request the donors to clean their items before sending them to me. Alternatively, you could drop your item at the District Office in Sheffield.
I wish to acknowledge with gratitude the previous help with the same gadgets which I was able to give to students reporting to the university.
Many thanks for your consideration."
Rev Jonathan Gichaara; PhD,20, Shardlow Gardens , Bessacarr,Doncaster DN4 6UB

ONE Opportunity Programme

Calling all 16-23 year olds, could you be on our interns from September?
Applications are now open for the ONE Opportunity Programme 2025/26.
Up to ten interns can be selected to for a paid role of three hours per week to create and deliver a project which enhances the mission and life of the church.
Find out more about this exciting opportunity and how to apply on our website.
https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/what-we-do/children-and-youth/one-opportunity-programme.html

District Office Updates

Database updates

A reminder to all church and circuit office holders that you should have received an email from me asking you to check and confirm that the data we hold is correct. I have sent out 3 reminders on this, and am still waiting to hear back from about 80 people. I have been made aware that at least one person has changed their email address, so won't have received earlier communications.
This is the time of year when folk change roles, so if you have recently taken on a new church or circuit role, you can let the District Office know by filling in the appropriate form on our website : https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/contact/forms.html

District Safeguarding Review

All church safeguarding officers on our database have been sent an email inviting them to complete the annual Safeguarding Review. A similar email has gone to Circuit Safeguarding Officers, Circuit Stewards and Superintendents. If you have not received this, please let me know as soon as possible, as I may not have your details on our database.
The deadline to complete the review is 31 July. You can also find full details on the District website: https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/what-we-do/safeguarding/safeguarding-review.html

GDPR Annual Checklist

It is a little disappointing that there are still about 20 churches who have not yet completed the annual checklist. A further reminder will go out to those, and I hope this will encourage them to complete it as soon as possible. Failure to do so means that TMCP may decide to exclude them from their registration with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), which would mean the managing trustees would be solely responsible and accountable to the ICO for their data protection processing activities. This is not a step they would take lightly, so again if you receive a reminder on this, please do not ignore it, but get in touch if you have any difficulties.

Events

Calling Justice Seekers!

An "Act Now, Change Forever" mass lobby of Parliament is being planned for Wednesday 9 July. It is organised by the UK Climate Coalition and supported b y all the major NGOs and bodies such as South Yorkshire Climate Alliance. The aim is to remind MPs that the vast majority of people in the UK are looking to them for leadership on climate change. Are you, or someone from your church, ready, with others from your constituency, to arrange to meet your MP in Westminster?
To register go to https://www.theclimatecoalition.org/act-now-change-forever. Please let Jenny Carpenter jennyc106@btinternet.co.uk know your name and your Parliamentary constituency if you intend going in person. It would be great if each of the South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Notts MPs received a delegation calling for vital funding to communities hit hardest by climate change; reduction in energy bills; secure transition to green jobs; a fairer future for all; restoration of biodiversity. Eco churches especially should be rising to this challenge!
Jenny Carpenter (Justice Seekers)

Christian Aid Night Hike

The 2025 Sheffield Night Hike will be on Saturday 5 July 2025. Starting from Hathersage Methodist Church, Hope Valley, S32 1BB, with check-in from 7:30 pm and walk start at about 8:00 pm.
The route is about 9 miles from early evening to midnight from Hathersage, alongside the River Derwent, up Padley Gorge, through the Longshaw Estate, passed The Grouse Inn, down through Hay Wood and alongside the River Derwent back to Hathersage.
This is a brilliantly well organised and supported sponsored walk through a beautiful part of the countryside, ideal for youth, older uniform groups, or families with older children.
If you would like to walk in 2025, see details and Eventbrite registration below:
https://sheffieldnighthike.org.uk/
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-sheffield-night-hike-for-christian-aid-registration-1298173906099

Northern Retreat October 14th-16th 2025

Let Nothing Disturb You – the spiritual wisdom of Teresa of Avila

A contemplative retreat in the North of England, led by Revd Judith Jessop, Chair of Reflect.
Minsteracres Retreat Centre is a spiritual place providing hospitality. It is a Christian place of prayer with a resident community of Roman Catholic Passionist priests and lay people. The retreat centre is set in a beautiful 110 acre estate in the North East of England.
Reflect has been part of the Methodist Church for nearly 50 years. It is part of the national Retreat Association
Cost £250 Contact Rev Sandie Exley-Watts, sandie@exleywatts.me.uk, 07719 925019, for more details.

Vacancies

UTU needs a new Treasurer

We do need a new treasurer to support us in our work. Andrew, our current treasurer, is retiring at the AGM from the role after about 20 years of service, overseeing a number of major transitions.
He writes, "The task will be less complex as we transition to a more agile form of working. The major decisions of selling properties and closing the office have now all been taken and we can now focus on developing new areas of work."
The key tasks are: –

• To oversee the financial workings of UTU by viewing online our Quick-books accounts and online banking.
• To be the second authoriser for online payments
• To have a good knowledge of spreadsheets
• To provide financial reports to Trustees and to keep under review financial projections.

Andrew will offer support and guidance as and when needed to ensure that the new Treasurer can settle in.
Please contact Andrew at andrewcrowley03@talktalk.net to express and interest.

And finally ...

A Prayer for Sanctuary Sunday

I am many things -
Iranian, an asylum seeker,
a person with disabilities,
a husband,
a charity founder,
a journalist,
a community activist -
though at my core,
I am simply a person
who wants to help others
live independent
and fulfilling lives.

Loving God,
You know all our hardships and especially for those who have to flee war and injustice.
You don't give up on us, even when we let you down.
Thank you for all those people who welcome us, as strangers, into their lives.
Thank you for kindness and hospitality.
Thank you for new homes and new friends.
We ask you to take care of all the loved ones we have left behind.
Amen
Ashkan Rezaei, Lancaster