District News – 27 April 2021

This Week's News

Victoria Hall Creating a New Discipleship Community Fit for Mission

Covid-19 has undoubtedly changed the way we worship and has shown the need to offer alternative ways for people to come to know God.

Revd. Jonathan Haigh is the minister at Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Sheffield and despite his congregation and the mission of the church being affected by the pandemic, there is now fresh hope in the creation of a new discipleship community which is fit for mission. You can read more here

District Safeguarding Update

This years Safeguarding Conference will soon be upon us. Due to having to meet virtually, myself and other DSO's from the North East region, have chosen to do something very different this year.

The week-long event starts on Monday 10th May; we have planned one session for each day – at different times, to try and accommodate as many people as possible. Each session is led by a distinguished Key Note Speaker with time at the end for questions and comments etc.

We wanted to break away from the usually subjects to instead highlight how safeguarding should be a golden thread that weaves through everything we do as church.

Monday 10th May @ 7.00pm: The Gift of Community – Deacon Tracey Hume

Especially relevant to people involved in Community Outreach
How the church is reaching out into community situations in different ways due to the effect of Covid19. How can this be done safely? How do we include the digitally poor and those on the margins of church?

Tuesday 11th May @ 1.30pm: The Gift of Empathy – Deacon Eunice Attwood

Especially relevant to Pastoral Visitors and all who support others
Walking with people of all ages who have experiences loss (bereavement, health, jobs etc). How can we empathise with people without getting drawn in too deep? How to have good boundaries in pastoral practise.

Wednesday 12th May @ 10.00am: The Gift of Place – Rev Richard Teal

Especially relevant to Presbyters, Lay Pastors, Church & Circuit Leadership teams and Trustees
What does a sacred place look like now? Are changes to sacred spaces still safe places? How do people find a sense of place between the physical and online? How do we broaden our identity of what church looks like?

Thursday 13th May @ 7.00pm: The gift of Confidence – Phoebe Parkin & Lynne Norman

Especially relevant for Children, Youth or family Workers and anyone working with under18s in a paid or voluntary role
How do we learn to live with uncertainty and the anxiety it brings? How do we encourage confidence and reliance in times of uncertainty? Children and young people, and many others can face uncertainty about jobs, housing, exams, uni. How can we offer support in a safe way?

Friday 14th May @ 10.00am: The Gift of resilience – Rev Michaela Youngson

Relevant to everyone who has a role in our churches and circuits!
How we nurture our own resilience in order to support others? Can we use creativity to help ourselves help others?

Saturday 15th May @ 10.00am: The gift of togetherness – Lead by the DSOs in the North East Region.

Relevant to Church and Circuit Safeguarding officers.
Drop in & Chat Ministers, CSOs and church safeguarding reps can drop in and chat with others in a similar role from round the region.

You can book onto all or just one session by going to https://bit.ly/giftsoutsidethebox

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

Please be aware that I will be on Annual leave from Monday 3rd to Sunday 9th May.
Carolyn Godfrey, DSO from the Newcastle and Darlington Districts will be covering for me. You can contact Carolyn by phoning or emailing: 07534 346374 newcastle.darlington@dso.methodist.org.uk

Many thanks
Alison Hill
District Safeguarding Officer.

Events

Lay Workers Gatherings

Monday 10 May from 10am

As lockdown eases and we are able to start looking forward to whatever the future may hold, the prospect of going back to what was 'normal' may lead to very mixed feelings.
You may be excited, anxious, exhausted or a combination of the these and other emotions.

Rebuilding will present challenges;

• what do we want to restart,
• what do we want to keep,
• how do we set expectations for those we work with?

During this session we will meet in small groups to consider how we leave lockdown well, what to grieve and what to keep; how do we manage expectations, our own as well as those of other people and what we need to sustain and equip us on this journey
Here is the link to register and get the joining instructions: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdOGqqjwpGt3x5C2_q-PVCZg07dBkORoN

Ministry with Older People – Whole Person Healthcare

Wednesday 26 May : 1-2:30pm

Our next ministry with older people webinar will be 1 – 2:30pm on Wednesday 26 May. This webinar hosted by Sheffield Methodist District is for anyone of any denomination involved in ministry with older people, including volunteers, lay workers and clergy. It will be an opportunity to share experiences, ask questions, and explore new resources and approaches to support you in your ministry in your context.

We will be joined by Revd Jonathan Edwards, Vice Chair and Advocate for Parish Nursing Ministries UK, formerly the General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Jonathan will help us explore the Parish Nursing approach to caring for people's overall wellbeing, incorporating body, mind and spirit.

Book your space by Sunday 23 May at https://bit.ly/Ministry-Olderpeople

Positively Rural – Festivals as Outreach

Friday 18 May from 7:30pm

with speakers Revd Elizabeth Clark and Revd Caroline Pinchbeck

Positively Rural is an online community hosted by the Yorkshire Plus Learning Network, but open to anyone of any denomination involved or with an interest in rural ministry, including volunteers, lay workers and clergy.
We are trying a different time to accommodate those not available during the day.

Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwode6tpzssGtyZH0QZKfrdALCcRw-Cntyk

Eco Church Festival with 'Churches Count on Nature'

Saturday 12th June

The free online festival celebrates God's creation and is linked with 'Churches Count on Nature' week, including sessions for children and young people. It will also provide space to pray and reflect on the climate and nature crises in the lead up to COP26. Interactive workshops and sessions will be of interest to all who wish to actively care for God's creation.
Hosted by Sheffield Diocese, with contributions from Sheffield Methodist District members. Further information and bookings can be found here

JPIT Green Conference

Saturday 12 June

If you think that the Climate Change Crisis really is an emergency, and that the Church has an important part to play in helping people transition to new ways of living more gently with God's world, then sign up for the JPIT Yorkshire online conference :

• Climate Change Emergency: Resources for a Green Church
• Saturday June 12th, 2021, 9.30am-3.00pm
• Registration via sue.cutting1209@gmail.com

Inspiring keynote speakers to stimulate your imagination, develop your understanding of the Bible and reinvigorate your worship life. Engaging workshops with pioneers who are already bringing together faith and action for a better world.
Revd Philip Bee
JPIT Yorkshire Convenor

Evangelism and Growth webinars

The Connexional Evangelism and Growth team have new batch of webinars in the coming weeks.
Further details and booking at https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-work/our-work-in-britain/evangelism-growth/evangelism-and-growth-webinars/.

These combine expert speakers with plenty of opportunities for sharing and learning from each other's experiences- Community engagement through Christian festivals, 28th April

• Churchgoing during the pandemic: Missional opportunities and challenges, 29th April
• Leading your Church into Growth Methodist Conference, 7th to 9th May
• Called to be a teacher, a shop worker, a parent....unemployed? Thursday 13th May
• Implementing a Methodist Way of Life, 19th May
• Evangelism for Leaders, running four times each year

Learning Opportunities

Book Club

Tuesday 4 May – 7pm

In our next book club session we will be focussing on the three chapters (11-13), in which Brian McLaren expresses his views on HARMONY: communities of harmony (we looked at this with him), theologies of harmony and spiritualities of harmony.

We will offer these questions as conversation starters, and may explore them in break out groups depending on numbers of participants.

• How would you define 'harmony'?
• Where/ at what part of your life have you found a community of harmony?
• What do you value most about it?
• If you are still looking for one, what are you looking for?
• What theological thinking has shaped your faith? How does it fit with the theology of harmony that Brian describes?

If you are not already registered, you can do so here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrcuyuqT0sEtG0TCiOgpI2Ame54Fd7lj1L

Job Vacancies

PERSIAN MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT ENABLER

Doncaster, Hull, Sheffield

DEADLINE EXTENDED

We are seeking a development enabler to lead and grow our established ministry with Persian Christians in Doncaster and Hull and emerging community in Sheffield:

• nurturing discipleship and self-sustaining Persian Christian leadership
• equipping partner English-speaking churches & circuits
• fostering the birth of new Christian communities
• building effective networks and partnerships
• preparing the ground for sustainable growth

Our development enabler will be:

• experienced in learning new languages, or fluent in Farsi and English
• committed to working with marginalised communities
• engaged with UK and Persian cultures

As Methodists we are committed to being a growing, evangelistic, inclusive, justice-seeking church – so that new people become disciples of Jesus Christ, faith deepens for everyone, and diverse communities and churches experience transformation.
£30,784 plus contributory pension scheme. Standard terms and conditions apply for an ordained Methodist presbyter or deacon. There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder be a practising Christian.
Further details at www.sheffieldmethodist.org/recruitment/vacancies.html

Closing date for applications: Monday 24 May

Interviews on or around Friday 4 June

News from outside organisations

Action for Children

News from Action for Children – April 2021

Thank you for your continued support throughout the pandemic. You've helped us support more than 20,000 children through our Emergency Response Fund and other gifts.

With lockdown restrictions being gradually lifted, we're feeling positive that we're getting closer to the time when we'd safely resume face-to-face events. In the meantime, I'd like to tell you about two events coming up soon.

Virtual Fostering Information event
Ever thought about fostering? Know someone who might be thinking about fostering? Then, come along to our live Facebook event on 20th May at 7pm to hear from one of our foster carers and our social worker.

There were 78,150 children in local authority care in 2019, and many more foster carers are needed to give them a safe and loving home; that might just be you. We can answer any questions you have.

The online event will be live on our Action for Children Fostering – England Facebook page on the Click here to sign up: https://fb.me/e/bA48w2IME

Boycott Your Bed for Vulnerable Children

On Friday 9 July, join forces with family, friends or colleagues to raise money by spending the night in the most unusual place you can think of.

Will you camp out under the stars or under the stairs? Bunk down in the bathroom or the back garden? Where will you sleep to challenge yourself? Before you settle in for the night, join us for an evening of virtual entertainment packed with famous faces, bringing people together across the UK.

Boycott your Bed and you'll bring hope to vulnerable UK children hit hardest by the pandemic. Because – while happier times are ahead for most of us – this crisis has made things even worse for children and families already in desperate need.

Wherever you sleep, the money you raise can make children's dreams of a safe and happy childhood come true.

How will you Boycott your Bed? Sign up today at: boycottyourbed.co.uk/faith

To receive regular updates about the Action for Children straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/AFCNewsletter-F

MHA (Methodist Homes)

MHA Sunday 13 June 2021 – relieving isolation and bringing hope

By holding your own MHA Sunday service on 13 June 2021, you'll be joining thousands of churches across Britain in raising awareness of MHA, praying for people in later life and those who support them, and kindly donating to support our charity MHA.

The theme for MHA Sunday 2021 is 'relieving isolation and bringing hope', inspired by the book of Mark 5:1-20, which is also the theme of Bible Month. Free downloadable resources and details of a webinar explaining more about MHA Sunday can be found at www.mha.org.uk/sunday.