We were sorry to learn of the death of Glynis Jenner, wife of Revd Brian Jenner who was stationed in our District for several years in the early 90s. Glynis was a faithful member at the former Pitt Street Methodist Church, Barnsley. Her cremation will be on 14 November at 1:30pm at Grenoside Crematorium.
We hold Brian and family and friends in our prayers.
Gerald was a member of Priory Methodist Church and a well-loved Local Preacher throughout the Circuit. Gerald sadly died last year and his service was one of the first to be held at the new Crematorium which was built close to where Gerald had lived and on his farm land. The Crematorium staff decided to create a garden for the community where people could sit and reflect and remember with peace their loved ones. It was only fitting that the garden be dedicated and named after Gerald.
The Dedication Service was held on 17 August and you read all about it here: Gerald Dixon Garden
Baby Basics at SMC (Sprotbrough Methodist Church) has been supporting newborns since lockdown.
Sarah Beckingham explains...
"By providing Moses basket starter packs, prams, and cots we can give families some security in the early months of life with a newborn. It won't solve the financial difficulties some families face, or the uncertainty that a new teenage mum might experience, or the isolation of a refugee finding their place in our community. But we know that we are relieving the burden, giving hope, and expressing the Methodist way of life by caring for those around us, serving our community and challenging injustice."
https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/news/news-stories/baby-basics.html
3Generate are currently researching the impact of children and young people's ministry to establish how they came to faith and how they have continued their faith journey and engagement with the Church into adulthood.
They urgently need your help in finding participants from around the Connexion, who fall into any of these four categories:
If you know people who may be able to help us, then please get in touch with Ian Belcher, Mission Projects Officer – belcheri@methodistchurch.org.uk
Take care not to send their contact details without their permission
We have been shortlisted for the Doncaster Chamber – Business Awards – Charity of The Year 2024, which we are thrilled about.
This is for our work in Doncaster on our Home from Hospital Service supporting vulnerable, older people on discharge from hospital.
Each year Doncaster Chamber get members of the public to vote for The People's Choice Award
We would love to win this.
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP
Please vote for us below, it will take a few seconds to do, and you don't need to sign your life away, we promise.
Search our Sunday name: Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care and not SCCCC.
Vote here
Thank you
The Rural Mission and Ministry Course continues to develop & offers a unique rural, ecumenical focus which we're well-known for here at the Arthur Rank Centre (ARC). All are welcome to book on and join us, whether involved in lay or ordained rural mission and ministry.
Bookings are now open with dates & new venues for 2025.
There is a 50% bursary for all lay/ordained Methodists.
Further information & booking form here: www.tinyurl.com/RMMC25
The Cliff College site in the Peak District is the ideal location for a retreat, whether alone or as part of a small group.
Our next guided day retreat will be on Saturday 23 November, a week before the beginning of Advent, and will give you the opportunity to reflect on and prepare for the season when we celebrate Emmanuel, God with us.
Find more information and booking on the Cliff College website.
As is our custom there will be a Reflective Communion on Christmas morning at 9.45am, followed by refreshments.
We are wondering about hosting a quiet space for the rest of the morning followed by a Christmas lunch, for those who might like to spend Christmas morning here and eat lunch together. There would be a modest cost for this.
If you would like to join us for this or have any questions please contact events@whirlowspiritualitycentre.org as soon as possible, in order that we can see if this is viable.
Might you be interested in joining our pool of host volunteers for events?
In exchange for a free place on an event, hosts are the wonderful people who are responsible for keeping tea and coffee going throughout the day, keeping everyone safe; sharing the "housekeeping" at the start of sessions (fire alarm procedure, location of toilets etc), putting out materials, and assisting the leader if required.
If you might be interested in a further conversation about this, please do be in touch – we'd love to hear from you!
As of 1 February 2024, charities can benefit from 0% VAT on solar panel installations, a significant reduction that will last until 31 March 2027. This change extends to solar battery systems, providing a substantial financial incentive for charities to invest in sustainable energy solutions. The reduced VAT rate applies to buildings used 95% or more for charitable purposes, meaning that facilities like church halls, village halls, and leisure centres that are often rented out but owned by charities also qualify.
For further details on how to apply and understand the full scope of the relief, please refer to the official guidance from the UK government here: VAT on Energy-Saving Materials and Heating Equipment (Notice 708/6).
This is a unique opportunity for circuits to decarbonize buildings, aligning with both environmental sustainability goals and cost-saving efforts.
With thanks,
Thomas Rattigan (TECHIosh, FeNebosh)
Missional Property Enabler – MPE@sheffieldmethodist.org
My normal working days are Wednesday and Thursday.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales was an inquiry examining how the country's institutions handled their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse. It was announced by the British Home Secretary, Theresa May, on 7 July 2014. It published its 19th and final report on 20 October 2022.
The Methodist Church submitted information to the enquiry, and Director for Safeguarding, Tim Carter, continues to be involved. The most recent IICSA Changemaker event, held a couple of weeks ago, focused on hearing from survivors who had reported to the Truth Commission.
Tim shared information from the event with DSOs, which included the following video: Child sexual abuse is spoken about within its content. Link to Video (5 mins 20 secs). The video introduces 3 people, all adults now, talking about the changes they hoped they would see in society.
One of the speakers, Aunee Bhogaita, said: "We hear the statistics, so casually now, 500,000 children every year are believed to be affected by Child Sexual Abuse. We shouldn't casually accept this. We should be outraged. We should be disgusted".
I think Aunee makes a very good point. I think we have become complacent, me included, in accepting such statistics. Are we outraged? Are we disgusted? It's easy to dismiss such statistics, thinking there is nothing we can do that could make a substantive difference. Watching the video, however, is a powerful reminder that there is always something we can do.
Watching the video compelled me to write this article: if you watch the video, what could you feel compelled to do? Like a stone dropped into water, the ripples start small but spread wide.
I am disgusted and outraged that children are sexually assaulted, and it's appalling that over half a million children are abused in this way each year. If you join me in feeling this way, one thing you can do is update your knowledge and basic understanding on the subject.
The NSPCC have an ongoing campaign called Listen up, Speak up. On their website we are reminded that 'It takes a village to raise a child. And it takes a community to keep children safe'.
That's why they are encouraging every adult in the UK to take their 10-minute digital training and learn how to listen up and speak up for children.
If I meet Aunee Bhogaita, I would like to look her in the eye and honestly say the statistics do disgust me and I have done something about it – will you join me?
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
Many thanks
Alison Hill
District Safeguarding Officer
Next Saturday morning, 2 November beginning at 11am there will be a Climate Vigil at St. Oswald's Church, Sheffield (Bannerdale Road/Abbeydale Road).
This is in advance of COP 29 to be held later in the month at Baku, Azerbijan.
Abtisam Mohammed, MP for Sheffield Central will be attending, as will Sophie Jelley, the Bishop of Doncaster.
We all know that the climate crisis is affecting countries in the global south disproportionately and is a major cause of migration.
This initiative came from Stephen Pennells, a Christian Aid and Global Justice Sheffield supporter who is a Church Warden at St. Oswald's.
Please join the vigil if you can, or spend a few minutes on Saturday morning silently praying for real progress to be made at COP 29.
All Lay Employees are invited to join the Yorkshire North and East District's Community of Practice day. The morning session will be exploring how we care for ourselves, followed by a light lunch (provided) and then a chance to support each other in community of practice groups.
Booking is essential (for catering purposes). Please contact Victoria Etherington victoria@methodistyouth.org.uk if you want to attend.
These days are great time of networking and mutual support.
Offering Hospitality – openness to others and to God
Zoom link provided when booking by emailing 2tonges317@gmail.com
Reflect is the Methodist Spirituality and Retreats group . The events are open to everyone of any tradition/denomination.
Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) have two fundraising events coming up.
A Murder Mystery evening on 9 November at Glide House, Sheffield and an evening of music and song on 15 November. See the posters for details.
The Peak Methodist Church is a newly formed multi-site church which has brought together nine congregations and also works closely with a Methodist/URC Local Ecumenical Partnership. This is a new merge of churches who are working closely together particularly in terms of governance and finance whilst local mission and ministry is led by the local congregation leadership. (One church on nine sites).
They seek to appoint an Administrator on a part-time permanent contract to provide an efficient level of administrative support to the Peak Methodist Church office with PA support as necessary to the Superintendent Minister.
Full details can be downloaded here: Peak Administrator
Seeks an enthusiastic person to join the font of house team to help deliver a growing community service whilst developing fresh expressions of church.
Full details on the poster
Prayer for the day from the Methodist Prayer Handbook
If we see the world through your eyes, Lord,
then we see a vision of our world as your love would have it:
a world where all who are weak are protected and none go hungry;
a world where your riches of creation are shared for everyone to enjoy them;
a world where mutual respect is expressed between different races and cultures and harmony descends;
a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.
Give us the inspiration and courage to build it how you see it Lord!
That all may praise together and the only power exerted is the power of your love. Amen.
Gwynn Bamford, supernumerary deacon, Bromsgrove and Redditch Circuit
Registered Charity no. 1129363
admin@sheffieldmethodist.org
0114 270 9990 / 0114 430 0255
Sheffield District Office
Room 47, Victoria Hall Methodist Church
Norfolk Street
Sheffield
S1 2JB