District News – 21 June 2022

This Week's News

District Youth Take-over

Over 30 young people and leaders from around the Sheffield Methodist District gathered at Hesley Woods activity centre in Sheffield on Saturday for an action-packed day of worship, fun activities and to learn about how a Methodist District is run.
Read more about what they got up to here: Youth Take-over

Witnessing to Memory: A New Course at CCJ

This is an innovative new course being developed by the Council of Christians and Jews which will run from 8th September until November 2022, once a week for seven weeks, on Zoom.
In addition to highlighting the imperative of teaching on the Holocaust, this course also seeks to explore the religious aspects of Holocaust education, both by identifying the religious elements of the Holocaust and an appreciation of the complexities of religious identity.
Full details and an application form can be found here: https://ccj.org.uk/our-work/holocaust-education/witnessing

The Methodist Conference

The Conference is the governing body of the Methodist Church and meets annually to discuss matters affecting the life of the Church, the nation and the world. This year the Conference will meet at Telford.
All the live streamed sessions can be found here for anyone wanting to watch.
https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/the-methodist-conference/conference-2022/conference-live-stream/
Katrin will be attending as one of the District representatives, so the District Office will be closed from Monday to Friday.

District Updates

District Safeguarding Update

This Thursday was to have been the last session of How to Support Your Church Safeguarding Officer considering what should be displayed on the Church Safeguarding noticeboard and how to publicise safeguarding in general.
Unfortunately it has had to be postponed due to illness. We wish Alison a speedy recovery from Covid!

The presentation used in the last session concerning Safeguarding and Lettings is now available to watch on the District YouTube channel. Please click here to watch.

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
Alison Hill -District Safeguarding Officer

Communications

As you may be aware, my email account was hacked on Monday, causing an significant number of emails to be sent from my account. Luckily it was spotted fairly quickly and steps taken to prevent further emails. We are monitoring this issue and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

It is a timely reminder of the need to be vigilant when you receive unexpected emails. Emails with attachments or links and little explanation should be treated with caution. If you have any suspicions, contact the sender by an alternative method such as a phone call or text message to check before trying to open any attachments or following links.
Sam Roberts – Communications Officer

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

At the moment I am concentrating on delivering some Unconscious Bias training (2 hour sessions, in person) at the request of Sheffield Circuit.
I'm happy for other Circuits to invite me likewise.
I'm using a mix of the general materials in the Connexional resources, and some exercises that allow more time for discussion on how to reduce our own biases – which I am offering back to the Connexion. Once refined, the whole package will be available for local churches to run themselves, in full or in part.
If you want to have a look at the Introductory videos and start using them – they can be downloaded from here: Introduction to Unconscious Bias.
Erica Dunmow – EDI Officer

Events

Garden Party

Date: 02/07/22 14:30
Location: St Andrew's Psalter Lane Church
Description: Garden Party at St Andrew's Psalter Lane Church, S11 8YL.
2.30 -- 5.00 pm on Saturday 2nd July.
Come and join us as we say 'Farewell' to our Minister Gareth Jones.
Free hot and cold drinks. cream teas and strawberries and cream; Cake, plant, gift and book stalls.
Free Entrance -- All Welcome!

Oaks of Righteousness

Tuesday 5th July
Join with Inderjit Bhogal and others to reflect on Oaks of righteousness (Isaiah 61:3), Oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18:1-8), and their meaning and relevance today, giving thought also to the value of trees. We will meet in the Woodhouse area at 11.30am for reflection. Following lunch at 12.30pm we will take a short walk beside beautiful trees and a stream (maximum two miles along a flat path) and conclude by 3pm. Please bring own lunch and drink.

Booking is essential. The event will not go ahead if the weather is bad on the day. You will be informed by 09.30am on the day if the event is cancelled.

Bookings and location details via Rev Judith Jessop: judithjessop@tiscali.co.uk (preferred method) or 0114 231 3518

3 Generate

The Children and Youth Assembly will take place from Friday 30 September to Sunday 2 October at the NEC, Birmingham. The team are busy finalising the programme, booking contributors and making sure everything is in place for a memorable weekend. Bookings close on 31st July so if you haven't registered yet, it's really important to not delay!

Volunteers needed

At 3Generate we grow and learn alongside each other as part of a nurturing and supportive team. You can be part of dynamic group of 250 people living out their discipleship in an exciting way at the event as well as helping plan together beforehand.
Find out more about volunteering here: http://www.methodist.org.uk/3Genvols

Job Vacancies

Community Warden

Cliff College, located in the Peak District, has been training people in evangelism and mission since 1903. Today it continues in its mission to equip the church in evangelism and mission through a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, a wide selection of short courses, an annual Festival, partnerships with other institutions globally and churches locally and a busy conference centre and leisure business.

Cliff is now seeking to appoint to the new role of Community Warden. This will be a key role, overseeing the student life of the College, developing community cohesion, supporting the provision of student welfare and shaping the student spiritual formation programme.

We are looking for someone who:

• has relevant training to support the post
• has good knowledge of special educational needs
• is a good listener
• is passionate about developing a creative, bespoke spiritual formation programme for our students
• is willing to play a key role in the life of Cliff College

If this is you then please contact the Michelle Foulkes for more information or download the details from our website: https://www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/news-events/hiring-community-warden

Salary: £25,000 with accommodation provided. All occupants of Cliff College premises will be expected to abide by the Conditions of Residential Occupancy.

Closing date: 12 noon on Tuesday 19th July

Interviews: Wednesday 27th at Cliff College

Unlock Development Worker

Treeton, Rotherham

Are you passionate about:

• Unlocking real life stories about urban people
• Revealing Good News of the Down to Earth Christ
• Releasing life giving skills and confidence

Then this could be for YOU

The successful candidate will:

• work the equivalent of 8 hours per week
• support small groups in churches in Treeton
• explore fresh models of sharing the Bible together

To do the job well you will need to be committed to the Christian faith (The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) regulations 2003 section 7.2 applies and a DBS check will be required), believe in the insights of local Christians, have experience of supporting small groups, be enthusiastic about the relevance and power of the bible to transform, and be committed to working with a wide spectrum of churches.

Salary:£10.00 per hour
Interviews will take place at Treeton Baptist Church; with an anticipated starting date of August 2022. To find out more information, or to submit an application, contact the Unlock National Office, 15 Station Road, Rotherham, S60 1HN, office@unlock-urban.org.uk, 01709 380 318, before the end of
July 15th 2022

Funding is secure for one year – through the Unlock Council and Treeton Baptist Church who are supported by a Home Mission Project grant from the Yorkshire Baptist Association.