District News – 23 June 2026

Stories from across the District

First Eclipse Party grant

Our first Eclipse Party grant has been awarded to Emmanuel, part of Barnsley North West multisite church. Their outreach event will include a range of craft activities, themed around light and the impact it has on our lives, plus sunrise mocktails. In the run up to the event, as well as spreading news far and wide, they will hold a weekly time of prayer for the party before their Sunday morning worship.
The solar eclipse will be on Wednesday 12 August. To apply for a district grant for your event see https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/news/news-stories/eclipse-2026.html

Easter Offering Service

The Doncaster MWiB Easter Offering service took place on 15 June, hosted by St Andrew’s Methodist Church. It was an informative service bringing stories from around the world of the work of our Mission Partners. Their guest preacher was Mr Tim Baker who grew up with Missionary parents on the islands of St Vincent and Grenada. To date, the total amount raised is £1800.00 which is a fantastic amount.
Have other circuits got a similar story to share?

Sheffield Christian Aid Night Hike.

For an ideal mid-summer evening walk, try this year’s Sheffield Night Hike on Saturday 4 July! It's a 9-mile countryside walk, chosen by local volunteers to make an interesting dusk till midnight adventure. Starting at Hathersage Methodist Church (check in at 7.30pm), all you need are some good boots, a torch and bring a friend if you can!
Come and join us to raise vital funds for Christian Aid’s work to tackle global poverty and injustice.
Find out more and register https://sheffieldnighthike.org.uk/

Calling all District Youth groups

Sheffield Methodist District is becoming an eco-district – and circuits are following. We want to hear and publicise your great ideas.
As Youth Groups and Brigades, you are probably well ahead of us and could inspire us with your ideas. Can you send us photos
and/or short reports when you:

• Undertake a litter pick
• Have a craft/ maker session using recycled materials
• Do a bird count in the neighbourhood – or make a bird feeder or insect hotel for the church grounds.
• Host a clothing exchange
• Hold a sustainable /vegetarian cooking session (anyone know a good beetroot brownie recipe?).

Potential activities are, we are sure, limitless, but if you are wanting more ideas please try Youth – Eco Church.
We could send you a certificate to recognise and thank you for your great ideas, and your local host churches and others will learn more about what you are already doing. You may discover adults in your local churches who share your passion and undertake joint activities.
Please send any contributions to Katrin at admin@sheffieldmethodist.org

Pride Month at Hathersage Methodist Church

Pride month is marked across the world each June to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture, history and civil rights. Hathersage Methodist Church is marking Pride month throughout June with a display of books on LGBTQ+ themes in the second-hand bookshop, a Pride-themed jigsaw on the go, a Pride prayer tree and a children's rainbow trail around the church – proudly sharing the message that God's love is for everyone. Church and bookshop open daily 9am to 5pm.

District News and Updates

Second Art of Welcome grant award

Parson Cross Methodists will be working in partnership with a local artist, Art for All group, PXI charity and other local community organisations to create a multilingual welcome sign. This will be incorporated into a new Garden of Welcome at Mount Tabor chapel, which is already known locally as a space where people feel welcomed “as they are”.
For more details on how Art of Welcome could bring people together in your neighbourhood go to https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/theartofwelcome.html

Methodist Conference 2026

We pray this week for the Methodist Conference, the governing body of the Methodist Church. Meeting once a year, it provides a forum for prayerful reflection and decision-making on issues that shape the life of the Church, as well as matters that impact the wider community, the nation, and the world. We pray for all those attending and participating in various ways, and we pray for the discussions and decisions that will be made.
All public sessions of the 2026 Methodist Conference will be live-streamed from the Conference Hall and can be viewed on this page. 

https://www.methodist.org.uk/about/structure-and-governance/the-methodist-conference/conference-2026/watch-live/

All sessions will be available to watch again, business sessions being available only until 2 August 2026.

Appeal for Laptops and Smartphones

Revd Jonathan Gichaara is again appealing for used Lap-tops and Smart phones for Students of his Village Kianjai, in Kenya.
Students from poor families in our village who qualify to go to the Universities and other tertiary institutions are terribly disadvantaged since they cannot access information on the Internet. Lap -Tops and Smart phones would greatly help them in their academic work.
Could those able and willing to donate such gadgets to please do so, either to the Doncaster Circuit office or to the District Office
Please make sure that the machines are cleaned of previous work and be ready for use by the next person.
He is returning to Kenya early July

Regional Officer for Safeguarding Update:

Broken Rites

Broken Rites was established in 1983 principally on the initiative of the Right Honourable Frank Field MP who had a particular interest in the social and emotional problems facing separated and divorced clergy spouses and partners. Broken Rites is an interdenominational support and campaigning organisation that provides help to people affected by the breakdown of marriages or relationships involving clergy and recognised ministers. Its primary focus is on supporting separated and divorced spouses and partners who often face unique and complex challenges following relationship breakdown within a church context.
The organisation offers confidential, peer-based support from individuals who have lived experience of clergy marriage breakdown. This includes one-to-one support, local and online support groups, practical information, and signposting to legal, financial and housing assistance. Broken Rites recognises that those affected may experience not only the loss of a partner, but also the loss of home, community, identity, financial security, and, in some cases, faith or employment.
In addition to direct support, Broken Rites continues to act as an advocacy and campaigning body, raising awareness within church institutions about the systemic issues faced by former clergy spouses and partners. This includes engagement around matters such as housing rights, pensions, safeguarding concerns, and fairness in church processes following separation or divorce.
Contact Broken Rites by email: enquiries@brokenrites.org

As ever, if you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call on 07483 362 735 or email me at hilla@methodistchurch.org.uk
Many thanks
Alison Hill

Other News

Navigating Influencer Culture Online

Thursday 9 July 2026, 6.30pm to 8pm (online)

Girls' Brigade England and Wales and the Methodist Church are offering a free webinar to explore, discuss and understand how to talk to our young people about the joys and challenges they face in our rapidly evolving digital age.
The webinar will explore how to stay safe online, the possibility of a social media ban (and young people’s opinions on the subject) and the effects social media has on young people's mental health.
Book your place here

Action For Hope Corner

Cool Spaces
With heatwaves happening more often, some local authorities are asking for “cool spaces”, where people can go to avoid the hottest part of the day. Churches may wish to register with their local authority as a cool space to provide that space for their local community, in the same way they offer warm spaces in winter.

Deputy Chair of MCPOC

The Methodist Church is seeking a committed and compassionate Lay volunteer to serve as Deputy Chair of the Ministerial Candidates and Probationers Oversight Committee (MCPOC). This role supports the Chair in providing oversight of candidates, student ministers, and probationers, ensuring process are fair, consistent, and pastorally sensitive and that decisions are made in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Methodist Church.
https://methodist.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/4232160?cid=1885(Full details can be found here)
Closing date: 26 July

BBC YOUNG CHORISTER OF THE YEAR 2026 – A SONGS OF PRAISE SPECIAL

Songs of Praise and BBC Radio 2 would love to invite you to a very special recording of BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2026 from the iconic Hallé St Peter's in Manchester.
WHEN:

• Wednesday 8th July 2026 – Junior Semi-Final (doors open 10:30am)
• Wednesday 8th July 2026 – Senior Semi-Final (doors open 4:00pm)
• Thursday 9th July 2026 – Grand Final (doors open 11:30am)

Age restriction: there is no minimum age for entry, all ages are warmly welcomed but children aged 17 and under should be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
WHERE: 

• Hallé St Peter's, Audience Entrance on Hood Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BF

Book Tickets here: https://lostintv.com/tv-show?id=1436

Upcoming Events

Screening of The People's Emergency Briefing,

16 July, 7pm, Sheffield Hallam University Adsetts Lecture Theatre, Sheffield S1 1WB

Join us for a special community screening of 'The People's Emergency Briefing' – a clear and accessible 45 minute film exploring the latest evidence on the climate and nature emergency -- and what it means for our landscapes, wildlife and communities.
The screening offers a grounded look at how climate change and biodiversity loss are affecting the UK, and some of the practical steps we can take to protect the climate and restore the natural environment.
After the screening, there will be a short, facilitated discussion offering space to share questions, hear local perspectives and consider how we can strengthen efforts to support nature recovery and climate resilience.
Open to all – we encourage early booking as places are limited.
Reserve your place
Please share with anyone interested in climate action, conservation or the future of our local environment.

Journey of a lifetime...

30 July – 1 August

Got any holiday plans? Come and join us at Bakewell Methodist Church for 3 days at our Intergenerational Holiday Club. Everyone is welcome, adults and children alike. There will be something for everyone. Join us for all or some of the days.
Contact Chloe Donoghue (07540 110 199 / email donoghuefamily45@gmail.com) – to find out more and book your place

Vacancies

Youth Worker wanted

Bents Green Methodist Church are looking for a Youth Worker to maintain their successful clubs for primary-age and secondary age children and to play an active part in supporting and developing other activities for young people, families and the wider church community.
This is a part-time vacancy, 20 hours a week to be worked flexibly.
For more information and an application form email johnwilkins73@gmail.com.
The deadline for applications has been extended to midday on Monday 6 July.

And finally ...

A Prayer from our District Chair

Gracious God,
We thank you for your constant presence, even when we choose to be absent.
We thank you for the rhythm of prayer that anchors us, and for the wider lens through which it helps us to see our lives and our world.
We give thanks for the days when we feel full of joy, purpose and hope, and we bring before you the days when we feel empty, weary or lost.
We thank you for the opportunity to say sorry and to discover, time and again, that we are met not with condemnation but with love.
We thank you that we can bring before you the needs of our world: the things that inspire us, the things that frustrate us, the things that break our hearts, and the things we simply do not understand; and that through it all your ears remain open, your welcome remains constant, and your love never fails.

Help us this day to be mindful of the constancy of this holy rhythm: praise and thanksgiving, confession and forgiveness, concern and compassion, blessing and hope.
When we become fixated on one part of the story, lift our eyes to see the whole of life. Through praise and thanksgiving, confession and grace, prayer and hope, remind us that your presence is woven through every season and every circumstance.
May we walk through this day with grateful hearts, open eyes and renewed hope, knowing that we are held in your love.
Amen.
Vicky