District News – 2 August 2022

This Week's News

Peak Wesley Way – free trial

The Peak Methodist Circuit preparing an innovative pilgrimage – the Peak Wesley Way. Pilgrims will walk through the beautiful Peak District National Park, sleeping overnight in historic Methodist chapels along the route, discovering local stories and reflecting spiritually, suitable for people with faith or no faith.

To fine tune our ideas we are looking for groups of up to six people to experience a 24 hour pilot pilgrimage in August or September. You will sleep overnight in Baslow chapel, near the magnificent Chatsworth House, undertake a sample five mile pilgrimage walk, and then answer a few questions about your experience.

You get free accommodation – the circuit gets valuable insights. Please share with anyone in or beyond your churches who might be interested. Contact Heather Thomas heatherthomas1@hotmail.co.uk for details.

Is the Cost of Living Support Enough?

Online event 7pm Wed 10 August

We are already experiencing a cost of living crisis. Families in the UK who were just about managing to make ends meet are being pulled into poverty by the rapidly rising costs of living. In the Autumn, fuel prices are expected to skyrocket and food costs mount up whilst the pressures of cold weather increase.

Join the Joint Public Issues Team and Church Action on Poverty for a conversation about the crisis we find ourselves in and what next steps are needed for families to receive sufficient support. We'll hear from people with first-hand experience of poverty, explore how churches are already in the midst of offering emergency provision and discuss the next steps for government in the light of the report.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/392552514137

Piano seeking good home

The mother of a member in the Sheffield Circuit has recently moved into a care home, and needs to find a good home for her beloved piano. It is in good condition and holds special memories. If anyone is interested, either for themselves or for their church, please contact the District Office.

Church Chairs available

Gleadless Valley have about 30 spare chairs that are also seeking a new home. If you are interested, contact Annabel Terry (annabel.1@live.co.uk)

How to make room this Christmas

22 or 23 September

This year the Methodist Church has put together a resource pack to help you plan your Christmas services and community events, along with a digital Christmas campaign you can use to help share good news. In this webinar, The Methodist Church's Director of Digital Engagement, Ben Hollebon, with Holly Adams and Emma Nash from the Evangelism and Growth Team, will offer ideas for planning a Christmas that is good news to your whole community. Book your free place here.

During covid lockdowns some churches across our district successfully adapted Connexional social media campaigns to create local impact. Could your church this year try one new way of engaging new people from these webinars?

"Feeding Britain" conference

organised by the Diocese of York on Saturday 8 October via Zoom.

This event provides an opportunity to come together to raise awareness of a range of food-related issues from a Christian perspective – food security, food production, environment and climate change, food justice, food trade, healthy eating, and geopolitical issues.

More details including registration can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/feeding-britain-tickets-383846915457

District Office Update

Hagg Farm Retreat

19 – 23 October 2022

This is for any children, families, youth or schools volunteer or worker across the Sheffield District. Come for a day, a couple of nights or the whole thing. Whatever you can manage.

At just £15pppn (donation for day visits) it's too good to miss!

Contact Victoria Loveday on cy@sheffieldmethodist.org for more information (apologies for the incorrect email address in last week's mailing)

Events

City Wires and Networks: How Christians Navigate Them.

Urban Theology Union

We are pleased to announce the new date for our postponed third instalment of City Wires and Networks: How Christians Navigate Them.

Join us by Zoom at 4-5.30pm on Wednesday: 28 September 2022 for a rich conversation between:

• Lord David Blunkett, former MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough;
• Councilmember Kristerfer Burnett of Baltimore, Maryland (USA);
• and Rev Zaidie Orr, minister of Central United Reformed Church in Sheffield.

Our conversation will be moderated by the Rev. Dr Rob Hoch, UTU's Director of Theological Exploration.
Our topics will include questions arising from the legacies of slavery in the United States and United Kingdom. We will ask our guests to think with us about the challenges we face and "what works" -- we intend to go beyond "diagnosis" to think about approaches that foster the kind of society where all peoples have an opportunity to flourish in work and life.

Please use the following Zoom link to join the third City Wire's forum: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83289648804

Whirlow Spirituality Centre

Quiet Day With Harlequin Arts – His Banner is Over Me

Saturday September 17th 10.30 – 3.30 £35
An opportunity for creative reflection through the creation of a simple, stitched banner, prayerfully considering the imagery of banners in Scripture and how this might apply to our own faith, today brought to Whirlow by Karen Herrick.
The day will be mostly quiet with some led, Bible-based reflections. All art materials will be provided; no experience required.
Participants are asked to bring a packed lunch.
For details and to book a place visit the Whirlow events page.

Simple Quiet Day

Tuesday 16th August 9:45-3:30pm £10
Intended to provide you with the space to "be"; to relax, reflect and pray and so to renew your spiritual resources. If you are fairly new to spending time in silence, the Simple Quiet Day is a good introduction.
Book through the website

Contemplative Walking

Thursday 4th August 7-8:30pm
Meet at Whirlow for a brief introduction by the leader and then walk slowly and in silence in the local area for about 45 minutes. We will then return to Whirlow for optional sharing our experience.

Gardening

Tuesday 9th August 10:45am
Join other volunteers in keeping our garden a beautiful contemplative space.
Gloves/tools provided or bring your own.
Work as much or as little you wish
Stay as long as you wish

Lay Employee Community of practice zoom gathering

The next online gathering will be held on 19 January from 10am with the theme "What does Good Employment Look Like?". It will be facilitate by Izzy Milburn, the Darlington District Lay Employment Advisor.
You can register to join here: https://230119-LayEmployeeCOP.eventbrite.co.uk
There is a place on the registration form if you have any specific questions around employment that you would like to be looked at,

Yorkshire Plus Regional Retreat for Ministers and Lay Employees

Two retreats are planned each connexional year by the Learning Network team.

Visio Divina: embracing the new normal through creating images on our camera

When: 8-10 November 2022
Where: The Briery, 38 Victoria Avenue, Ilkley LS29 9BW
Cost: £220. A subsidy of £110 is available for those in the Yorkshire Plus region to attend one retreat a connexional year. A deposit is required to confirm your registration.
This retreat will open up the possibility of contemplative photography and show you how to incorporate it into your everyday life. You don't need to be a skilled photographer, but you do need a camera--the one on your phone will do just fine.
It will be led by Stephen Radley, an Anglican priest, trained professional photographer and members' ambassador for the Guild of Photographers.
Register online via EventBrite https://221108visiodivina.eventbrite.co.uk before 28 September

Save the Date:

Lay Employees Retreat – Yorkshire Plus and North East Learning Network Region

When: 5-7 June 2023
Where: Wydale Hall
Cost: £240 There will be a 50% subsidy from the Districts if this has not already been used (see above). There may be an additional reduction for those in shared accommodation.
More details will be sent out in September

Job Vacancies

Circuit Operations Manager

The Peak Circuit

The Peak Methodist Circuit are recruiting for a Circuit Operations Manager (P/T 20-hours per week) to assume operational lead and oversee operational strategies by supporting ministers, circuit stewards, and local churches, with practical management expertise so that the mission and vision strategy can be delivered effectively.

This is both a challenging and broad role where the successful applicant will support the transition to modernised ways of working, releasing resources for mission by supporting the key areas of operations, administration, property, finance, people, and compliance.

Information packs and application forms are available by emailing hr@sheffieldmethodist.org (Closing date 5th August 2022)

If you want to chat further about the role before completing or making an application you can contact the Rev Adrian Perry by at 01629 812195 or via email to revadrianperry@gmail.com

Methodist Women in Britain

Applications are invited for the role of
President of Methodist Women in Britain

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the role and the future of the organisation

Is God calling you?
Closing date: Friday 5th August 2022
For further information contact: thepresident.mwib@gmail.com

Communications Coordinator
This is an exciting, volunteer, mainly home based opportunity, to become a full member of our Executive team as we seek to develop the organisation for the next decade.

The person appointed will ideally be a member of the Methodist Church, have good administrative and communication skills, and enjoy working as part of a team.

For information and details please contactthepresident.mwib@gmail.com

Closing date: 26th August 2022
Interviews: 9th September 2022

and finally

August is the month of moving to new stations.

Prayers for Moving To A New Location

Father, Your Word says that You will perfect that which concerns us. We bring to You our apprehensions concerning our relocation. We ask You to go before us to make the crooked places straight in finding a new home.

Give us wisdom to make wise decisions in choosing the movers and packers best suited to handle our possessions.

Father, we thank You for supplying and preparing the new friends that You would want us to have.

Father, in the name of Jesus, we commit this move to You, knowing that You provide for Your children. We trust You and delight ourselves in You, and You will give us the desires of our hearts.

We trust in You, Father, with all our hearts. We lean not unto our own understanding; but in all our ways we acknowledge You, and You shall direct our paths.

Thank You, Father, for Your blessing on this move.