District News – 3 June 2025

This Week's News

Appeal for pre-loved laptops...

Revd Jonathan Gichaara is appealing for pre-loved ( pre-used) laptops, tablets and smartphones for use in the local computer class in Mituntu Vocational Training Centre in Kenya.
He says "When I was in Kenya last , I found an entire class of about 15 students congested around a single computer. The instructor had a had time teaching everyone with a single gadget.
My wife , Elizabeth and I are returning to Kenya at the beginning of July and would be happy to share those communication gadgets with those students.
We would request the donors to clean their items before sending them to me. Alternatively, you could drop your item at the District Office in Sheffield.
I wish to acknowledge with gratitude the previous help with the same gadgets which I was able to give to students reporting to the university.
Many thanks for your consideration."
Rev Jonathan Gichaara; PhD,20, Shardlow Gardens , Bessacarr,Doncaster DN4 6UB

New Bishop of Doncaster

The next Bishop of Doncaster will be the Revd Leah Vasey-Saunders. Leah is currently the Vicar of Lancaster at Lancaster Priory, a role she has held for four years. Leah has supported a significant growth in lay ministry, and in exploration of vocation to ordained ministry. The highlight of the last four years was chairing the 'Facing the Past' project – a city-wide project addressing Lancaster's historic legacy of transatlantic slavery.
Read more here

Whirlow Grange Limited AGM

Tuesday 24th June

The Board of Trustees who are responsible for Whirlow Spirituality Centre, in partnership with All Saints Ecclesall, are holding their AGM on Tuesday 24th June at 10.45am until 12 noon, at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit following the regular Reflective Communion service. They wish to encourage everyone who considers themselves part of the "Whirlow community", or who would like to know more about the Centre, to come along and hear about our work and worship in the last year, and our plans and hopes for the year ahead. There will be an opportunity to meet and hear from Board members, ask questions, make suggestions and, of course, have some coffee and cake together! No need to book, please just join us for communion or come to get a drink and cake at 10.30am before we start the meeting. Please be aware that parking can be limited and you may need to park on adjoining roads (but not on Whirlow Grange Close which is a private, no parking road).

Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy (DRC)

DRC have just released their Annual Review for the year ending March 2025 which contains a summary of their work over the past 12 months including their events, services and shows. It also contains information about the DRC and their team, details of their funding and expenditure, plus lots more.
You can read it on their website here https://derbyshireruralchaplaincy.org.uk/drc-annual-review-2024-25

Messy Momentum

Messy Momentum is an exciting new Messy Church project from the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF), funded through a grant from the Church of England's People and Partnerships Funding. The aim of the project is to enable Messy Churches across the UK to grow in their engagement with young people and to establish 300 new Messy Churches in three years.
BRF is hosting a series between 3 June – 11 July where you can hear about the six fresh approaches being piloted with 25-30 Messy Churches all over the UK. You'll also find out what this could look like for your Messy Church and what training and resources are available to support your team.
Register your interest here

Action for Children

Annual Supporter Survey

We're inviting our valued Action for Children supporters to take part in our annual survey. With your feedback, we can improve the experience of those who support us. Your opinion truly matters to us, so we would love it if you could spare 15 minutes to fill out our survey.
By completing the survey, you can also enter our prize draw to win one of two Love2shop vouchers worth £50, which you will be able to spend at over 95 top brands on the high street, on dining out, holidays, music or even experiences. Enter the prize draw* at the end of the survey for a chance to win!
There will also be a chance to sign up to focus group sessions taking place in July with a guaranteed £30 Love2shop voucher for anyone who attends – but be quick, because spaces are limited!
Take the survey here

District Office News

Database Checks

Many thanks to all those who have responded to the emails I sent out to check that the data we hold in the District is correct. Over 750 emails were sent out on 15 May and a reminder sent out on 30 May, and to date I have had over 630 replies. It would be lovely to get replies from the rest before the 13 June, so that I don't need to send any more reminders.

GDPR Checklist

There are still about 30 churches who have not yet completed the GDPR checklist. I did send out a reminder last week, as this is something that is a requirement from the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP) to ensure that we continue to benefit from their being the Data Controllers.
If you have any questions about this, please do get in touch.
Katrin Hackett
District Administrator

Events

"What in the world is going on?"

"Understanding different faith perspectives onIsrael/Palestine"

Saturday 7th June 2025 : 9:30am – 12.30pm at Killamarsh Methodist Church, Sheffield
Dr Chris Hewer returns for the second session of our Study Mornings on the theme 'What in the world is going on?". This time he is taken us into deeper understandings of the competing narratives that are involved in the conflicts in Israel / Palestine. This is part of our commitment as Christian disciples to be lifelong and whole life learners.

All are welcome. Entry is free. Donations to support the costs of this and future events are welcome.

Open Farm Sunday

8 June 2025

Reconnect with your local food producers-dig out your wellies & head for a Sunday – afternoon outing to a farm.
Open Farm Sunday is an opportunity to discover the crucial work farmers do producing food, nurturing nature, and protecting the environment for future generations. Sign up to visit a local farm & have the opportunity to talk with farmers, hear their stories and discover how they are working for a more sustainable future whilst producing food you can trust.
Why not organise a visit & invite your eco-church/ social justice group, toddler group families, warm space users, uniform groups, food pantry team...
For further details and to find a local Open Farm, please visit Homepage – Open Farm Sunday

Urban Gospel Coffee Time

Monday, 9 June 2025, 10.30-11.30am

You are warmly invited to UTU's next Urban Gospel Coffee Time. Make yourself a drink, pull up a chair and get comfortable...Hosted by Andrew Crowley(RC Deacon, Chair of Sheffield Interfaith)/Erica Dunmow (Methodist Local Preacher).
This group meets monthly online, usually at 10.30am – 11.30am on the 2nd Monday of the month, where the conversations will be on the coming Sunday's common lectionary Gospel reading.
Join Zoom Meeting here:
Meeting ID: 218 233 6614
Passcode: 492244

Christian Aid Night Hike

The 2025 Sheffield Night Hike will be on Saturday 5 July 2025. Starting from Hathersage Methodist Church, Hope Valley, S32 1BB, with check-in from 7:30 pm and walk start at about 8:00 pm.
The route is about 9 miles from early evening to midnight from Hathersage, alongside the River Derwent, up Padley Gorge, through the Longshaw Estate, passed The Grouse Inn, down through Hay Wood and alongside the River Derwent back to Hathersage.
This is a brilliantly well organised and supported sponsored walk through a beautiful part of the countryside, ideal for youth, older uniform groups, or families with older children.
If you would like to walk in 2025, see details and Eventbrite registration below:
https://sheffieldnighthike.org.uk/
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-sheffield-night-hike-for-christian-aid-registration-1298173906099

Vacancies

Minute taker

Who is Your Neighbour? facilitates community about difficult things such as race and immigration where people are able to be honest and there is also space for reflection. These conversations can help people be more open to the beliefs and opinions of others. We were originally set up as a project within Sheffield Methodist District and are now an independent charity.
We're looking for someone to take the minutes at our Board meetings. We hold four a year, each two hours long. Most, nearly all, are on Zoom and we record them, so the minutes can be taken at the time or afterwards from the recording if that feels easier. We can pay 14/hour. The next meeting is 1.00pm 12th June.
For further details, or to arrange a chat about the role please contact Cath on cath@whoisyourneighbour.org.uk

And finally...

A prayer for the elderly and their carers

Dear Lord,
We pray for elderly, housebound individuals, who are often very lonely.
We praise and thank you for their carers, who come into their homes and brighten their days by showing tenderness, kindness, and giving much needed practical support.
Make us more sensitive to the needs of both groups and move our hearts and minds to seek ways in which we may become involved.
Increase our awareness of the conditions under which carers do their work; often earning so little for such a valuable contribution and help us seek social justice for them.
Amen.
Eileen Simmons, chaplain and local preacher