District News – 24 September 2024

This Week's News

Urban Theology Union

Theology Reading Group

If you're thirsty for some deep reading in small portions with supportive community, consider joining the new Theology Reading Group which will be meeting on the second Tuesday of the month, beginning on Tuesday, 8th of October, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. by Zoom.
To start, we will be reading, during the session itself (no advance reading required) from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Ethics. If you do wish to buy a copy, the ISBN is 0800683269, available from Amazon or AbeBooks.
This is for anyone who wants to take seriously the reality of Christ and Christ's reconciling work in our world.
We will read aloud as a group and then share our reactions (as we are willing) to the reading in about 3 minutes or so each, before opening to more general conversation. Interested? Please confirm your planned attendance by emailing me, Rob Hoch-Yidokodiltona at robhoch@utusheffield.org.uk.
Our Zoom address is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87627415144?pwd=fqqIZa8wq7urkRYSGPFIlXrAZhbRxJ.1
Meeting ID: 876 2741 5144;Passcode: 476014

Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy

The Autumn/Winter 2024 edition of DRC News has just been released. It is a fascinating read, including articles on traditional hedge laying, some rural wisdom and robotic milking! You can download a copy from their website here: https://derbyshireruralchaplaincy.org.uk/drc-newsletter-autumn-winter-2024/

Agricultural Shows

We will be at the West Hallam Ploughing Match this Sunday 22nd September and at Brailsford Ploughing Match on 2nd October – please do feel free to call by our stand to say hello.

One World Choir Concert

Friday 18 October 7:30 pm

The One World Choir is performing in a concert at Stephen Hill Methodist Church Manchester Rd on Friday 18th October starting at 7.30pm. there will be supporting acts including some comic verse. The concert is scheduled to finish at 9.00pm
There will be a collection during the concert, which will be split between the choir and charities supported by Stephen Hill.
Membership of the choir is open to all refugees and asylum seekers. The Choir aims for positive social change through the development of a welcoming and vibrant community choir, primarily for asylum seekers and refugees in Sheffield. They meet weekly to rehearse and socialise, and perform regularly at Community events.

Church Action on Poverty

Urban Poverty Pilgrimage

This year's pilgrimage is a linear walk taking place on Saturday 19th October. We shall explore community issues and church social action with a number of churches. We assemble between 9.00am and 9.30am at St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Broomhall, Upper Hanover Street, where we shall hold our opening service and learn about projects in Broomhall. Then we shall walk, via Ben's Centre, to St Mark's Church, Broomhill, where we shall discuss this church's social projects over tea and coffee. Then we shall walk to St Mary's, Walkley, for a similar discussion, while we eat our packed lunches ( tea and coffee will be provided). Our last visit is to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Hillsborough, with discussion and final prayers ending around 2.30 pm. From there, it is an easy tram or bus ride back to Broomhall or to the City Centre.
The total walk is around 2.7 miles. It is urban but picturesque with some uphill and downhill stretches.

MWiB Quiet Day

The Sheffield District MWiB Quiet day will be on Monday November 25th at Gleadless Methodist Church 10am for 10 30am

I Am Mark

I Am Mark is a one man word-for-word dramatisation of Mark's gospel. Stefan Smart, who plays the titular role and a host of other characters, still has a number of dates free if you are looking for something different as an event at your church.
More information can be found on his website: https://iam-mark.com/

District Office News

Properties Fit for Mission grant – Broomhill

At its September meeting our District Leading Team approved a £20,000 grant towards redevelopment of the former chapel at Broomhill in the Sheffield Circuit to include an imaginative play centre and other facilities. Once developed Broomhill Methodist Centre will be fit to both meet community needs and in time become the venue for new forms of Christian community for those who gather to use the facilities. This vision has been shaped by meeting with local families, potential partners, holding test events, and learning from Sam's Space Methodist soft play centre in Firth Park, Sheffield.

Events

Being Still: A Quiet Revolution

Sunday 29 September 6:30 pm

An evening of poetry, music, and reflection at Whirlow Spirituality Centre.
In this unique event, Aaron Shah will be sharing readings from his poetry book, "Being Still – A Quiet Revolution", as well as performing a selection of songs he has written over the last twenty years. The evening will be a time of quiet reflection, where through the poems, songs, and moments of stillness, we will be making space to receive the hope and healing that God offers us.
This is a free event, but please book your ticket in advance at https://www.whirlowspiritualitycentre.org/whats-on/being-still

UTU – Mental Health Day

5 October 2024

Listening to Ourselves & Listening to Others
Central United Reform Church, Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 2JB
10am – 3pm
Speakers & Discussion/Reflection Leaders:

• Rich Andrews
• Zadie Orr
• Ruth Weston
• Jackie Wright

If you enjoy being creative, come and spend some time with artist, Naomi Gordon McKibbin in a friendly, informal setting.
All welcome!

The Samuel Chadwick Lecture 2024

Cliff College is delighted to be hosting the seventh annual Samuel Chadwick Lecture on Wednesday 16 October 2024. This year the keynote speaker will be Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, former Principal of Cliff College and former President of the British Methodist Conference. Rev Dr Atkins will be speaking on The Marks of Methodism: Mission Potency for Today.
You are invited to attend the lecture either online or on campus at Cliff College in Derbyshire. For further details and booking, please visit the Cliff College website.

Sustainable Flowers

26 October- St Luke's Lodge Moor, S10 4LS

Helen Chambers NSDF Floral Designer, qualified tutor and experienced NAFAS Area Demonstrator specialises in sustainable sourcing and flower arranging. She will share top tips on arranging flowers sustainably with a demonstration in the morning session, followed by an optional hands on workshop after lunch (all materials, tools, flowers and foliage provided).
Tickets are £20 for the morning demonstration 09:30 to 12:30; £40 for the full day with workshop 09:30 to 16:00.
Full details here: https://stlukeslm.churchsuite.com/events/beko28q4

Vacancies

Development Worker – "Metal Methodists"

'Metal Methodists' seek to appoint a Development Worker via a part-time twelve-month fixed term
contract, at a rate of pay of £15 per hour.

About Metal Methodists:

'Metal Methodists' grew out of a Methodist presbyter's sabbatical in 2020 which included time in Whitby learning more about St Hild, Abbess of Whitby, and Caedmon.
Metal Methodists is an online, and a developing onsite, Christian community located in the Sheffield Methodist Circuit of the Sheffield Methodist District.
The community is open to everyone, but it may primarily appeal to people from alternative music subcultures (punk, grunge, hard rock, metal, and associated subgenres) and/or those who may feel on the margins of mainstream culture and inherited church.
This feeling may be because of how others preconceive and respond to how a person chooses to present and express themselves for example through their outward appearance.
Click here to learn more about Metal Methodist.
Full details can be found here: Development Worker – Metal Methodists

And finally...

A prayer of protest at inequality

God of all, we praise you for the life that you give us,
even when we cling to it by no more than our fingertips
and, in Jesus' name, we protest the inequality created by human greed. Amen.
Sheryl Anderson, former District Chair, former Liverpool District

A prayer for our fruitfulness

Be fruitful within us, O God
and fill our words with your love,
our lives with your glory,
and our labour with your blessing.
Ann Gilbert, Cornish Methodist preacher (c. 1735-1790)