District News – 19 September 2023

This Week's News

The Samuel Chadwick Lecture 2023

Tuesday 17 October 2023 – on Zoom and at Cliff College

Keynote speaker Dr Ben Pugh, lecturer at Cliff College and author of several books including Pictures of Atonement and The Beauty of God. Dr Pugh will be speaking on how the gospel message might be communicated and received in a Western materialistic culture, and particularly how the Eastern Orthodox theology of 'deification', or participation in the divine, might be good news to those steeped in this culture. The formal response will be from Rev Andre Adefope, PhD candidate at Cliff College.

Further details and registration at https://www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/news-events/samuel-chadwick-lecture-2023

The Cliff Year – a gap year opportunity for 18-25-year-olds

Thanks to some funding from the Methodist Church, those applying to start the Cliff Year at Cliff College in January 2024 will pay just £200 for the entire five-month programme. This is a unique opportunity to explore discipleship and the Methodist Way of Life in a residential community context at Cliff College in Derbyshire
If you know a young person who wants to encounter God, be equipped for ministry and engage in mission, point them to our website: www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/cliffyear

Courses from Cliff College and Place for Hope this autumn

Place for Hope is offering multiple courses with Cliff College in autumn 2023 – so whether you want to study online or onsite at the College in Derbyshire, you can find a course to suit you.

• Faith in Change and Conflict is designed for church leaders and covers conflict transformation as well as facilitation and mediation skills. It runs at Cliff College from 23-26 October and 27-30 November.
• Conflict in Ministry is open to all and explores how we can navigate conflict well and transform relationships in our church contexts. This course runs online on Tuesday afternoons in November.

Find out more and book now on the Cliff College website

District Office News

Communication Support

District Communications Officer Sam Roberts is hosting two online events to find out how she can best help and support the circuits and churches in our district.
Sam's role covers all aspects of communications from social media, to graphic design, creating printed materials and more.
What you say will help Sam tailor the communications support she will offer.
This is a fact finding exercise, but if she can answer any questions in the drop in's or sign post you to other's for information she will.

Register for free today for the either or both of following dates:

• Tuesday 17th October 7 – 8.30pm
• Monday 30th October 11am – 12.30pm

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/communications-drop-in-tickets-719263605807

If you are unable to join Sam for a drop in session please email her comms@sheffieldmethodist.org with what you'd like help and support with.

Property Matters

Those of you who subscribe to Property Matters may have already spotted this item:

Annual Returns Update

Some significant changes have been made to the Annual Returns update to help make it more efficient and relevant to the current needs of the wider Church. One of the most significant changes users will notice is the drastic reduction in the number of questions. The feedback from managing trustees over the years has been consistent: there were too many questions being asked on the portal. The questions now focus on Action for Hope and the mission of churches and circuits. These questions will be fed in to the work that the Connexional Team does and help assess the impact of these initiatives.
The Managing Trustee Annual Returns Checklist is still available as it contains questions that used to appear within the annual returns checklist. This may still assist you in fulfilling your obligations as a managing trustee. Please note that this is not a complete list, merely guidance to ensure that you keep in mind certain areas of responsibility on an annual basis. It is suggested that reference should be made to specific District or Circuit requirements.
More information can be found here: https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/property/schedules-and-forms

Events

Don't forget you can use this space to advertise events taking place in your church or circuit. We do just ask that you follow our guidelines, or use this form to submit details : https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/contact/forms/submit-an-event.html

Circuit Steward Community of Practice

Are you a Circuit Steward, and do you feel you could benefit from being with other Circuit Stewards to share knowledge, experience and learn together?
If so, please be invited to join the Circuit Stewards' Connexional Community of Practice which will meet each last Wednesday of the month from September 2023!
Guests from across the Connexion with specialisms in particular missional areas will join us to share their wisdom and knowledge, to invite discussion and answer any key questions you may have.
You will also have the opportunity to connect with other Circuit Stewards from across the Methodist Connexion!
To book follow this link: CircuitstewardsCOP.eventbrite.co.uk

Vacancies

Lay Pastoral Worker

An exciting part-time opportunity for Christian pastoral ministry has arisen within the newly formed Barton, Brigg and Wolds Methodist Circuit in Lincolnshire.
We are looking for someone to work as part of a team providing pastoral care and funeral ministry across eight of our sixteen churches.
The successful candidate will be enthusiastic, have a personal faith in Jesus Christ and be active in their church community. They will relate and work effectively with people from all walks of life.

Salary £16,455 per annum for a 25 hour working week. The hours worked are week day only with the working pattern to be agreed with the successful applicant, giving scope to take up additional part-time work.

Job share candidates with or without a job share partner considered.
Start date: as soon as possible.
Help given with tenancy start-up costs in appropriate cases.
Full training and professional development offered.

For further information and to get an application pack please contact Mrs Sue Brumptonbartonandbriggcircuit@outlook.com
Closing date: Tuesday 17th October 2023 at 9.00 am.

And finally

From the Methodist Prayer Handbook

Precious Jesus,
in you we have found the treasure the world discounts.
Rather than seek cheap substitutes
in the world's bargain basements,
may your enticing beauty lead us to great sacrifices
so that, having nothing, we may possess everything
as we are embraced by you.
Amen.
Andrew Lunn, District Chair, Manchester and Stockport District

Let us be yours, O God.
Let us not draw back from you, neither from your presence, nor from your cross.
Touch our hearts and make them holy.
Consecrate our lives and enlist them in your service. A
men.
Lucy Herbert (1669-1744)