District News – 30 November 2021

This Week's News

Advent 2021

The children and young people from around the District are creating digital Advent resources. Each week there will be a prayer, a bible reading and a reflection for you to enjoy and share with family and friends.
Each week we will be focussing on each of the Advent themes, Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.
You can find them on our Advent Youtube playlist
and also via our social media channels
Facebook.com/SheffieldMethodist
Twitter.com/SheffMethDist
Instagram.com/SheffieldMethodist
Give us a follow or subscribe to our youtube channel to see what they have created.

New Places for New People

We are delighted to learn that our project submission has been approved by SRC (. Thanks to all who have been involved in the planning and preparation. More information will be shared in due course

Write an Extra Christmas Card to support MHA

Support MHA this year by writing an extra Christmas Card which will be shared with an older person in one of the MHA care homes, retirement living communities or Live at Home schemes. All MHA projects celebrate Christmas so no resident or scheme member will be without company.

Send your card to Kirsty Millward at MHA, Epworth House, Stuart Street, Derby DE1 2EQ. If you use a stamp, they'll be able to direct as many of our resources as possible towards the vulnerable older people in their services.
https://www.mha.org.uk/news/latest-news/news_archive/give-gift-friendship-christmas/

Memorial Service for those who have experienced loss through Suicide

Broom Methodist Church – 7pm 15th December.
Download the order of service here.

Urban Theology Union

You can read their latest newsletter here: Autumn News.
Do get in touch with them if there is anything you would like to know more about.

World Day of Prayer (WWDP)

The World Day of Prayer (Women's World Day of Prayer) takes place on the first Friday in March. This year, in addition to the service on 4 March 2022, we are inviting women from Germany and England/ UK to come together in three online encounters. Each one stands alone and offers a different focus. We hope that they will enable encounters across geographical barriers and offer a (spiritual) impulse to the question: "Where do we find hope and how do we share it with others?"

Each session will include short devotions, introductory talk and conversation in small groups. Translation and bilingual facilitation will be available.

• Monday, 13.12.2021 6-7:30pm "Women"
• Wednesday, 26.01.2022 6-7:30pm "Climate Crisis"
• Tuesday, 08.02.2022 6-7:30pm "Ecumenical links"

These three sessions are exclusively for women and you can register for one or more via this online form: https://forms.office.com/r/AmrdA67j7D

For more information, please contact Revd Debora Marschner (debora.marschner@methodist.org.uk)

Methodist Women in Britain

You can read their Winter Newsletter here: MWIB News and download a prayer diary
It is the time where they are seeking to appoint their next President, more details are included in the newsletter. Please consider if God is calling you, or someone you know, to apply for this important role.

District Safeguarding Update

Online Safeguarding Conference:

Tuesday 1st February to Thursday 3rd February 2022

Building on the success of this year's conference, we are planning a similar event next year. We have brought the conference forwards to the beginning of February and we have shortened the programme to just 3 sessions. The conference will focus on some of the themes explored in the Theology of Safeguarding report presented to the Methodist Conference in the summer of this year.
For more details please click here.

Online safety – update from the NSCPP

Thinkuknow has launched #AskTheAwkward, a resource for parents and carers of secondary-aged children to help them have regular conversations with their children about online relationships. The resource includes three short films and a series of help sheets covering themes raised in the films including: exploring sex, sexuality and identity online; starting new relationships online; sharing nudes and semi-nudes; and unwanted sexual contact online.

Access the resources: #AskTheAwkward
See also on NSPCC Learning
> Social media and online safety

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.

Events

Whirlow Spirituality Centre

Seasonal Quiet Days online and onsite – 1st, 4th & 21st December
Space to be – Silent meditation on Sunday mornings
Reflective Communion on Tuesday mornings
Reflective Evening with Sacred songs – 5th December
Choral concert – 10th December
Praying without words – 16th December
See their website for full information on all of these events: What's On

CYF Gatherings (workers with Children / Youth / Families)

• Are you a Children/Youth/Family worker?
• Feeling isolated or fancy having a chat with others in the same work?

Victoria Loveday, the District Children & Youth Co-ordinator is setting up a monthly Zoom drop-in sessions on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, starting on 15 December at 10am.

To join the Zoom Meeting, follow this link:
https://zoom.us/j/92610139736?pwd=OW05S0lUUUtCbi94OFRQdGRKYnpYZz09
No need to register in advance

Contact Victoria (cy@sheffieldmethodist.org) if you would like to know more.

Job Vacancies

Circuit Evangelist & Enabler

Rotherham and Dearne Valley Circuit are looking for a Circuit Evangelist & Enabler.

Are you a disciple of the Lord Jesus who can communicate with different people in different contexts? A 'natural' when it comes to talking about God?

If so, the Lord may be calling you to Rotherham. We're a Circuit committed to evangelism and investing out resources into our people.

Interested?

Hours of work: 37 hours per week
Contract: Fixed term contract for 3-years
Rate of pay: £24-£27K, depending on qualifications and experience
Location: Rotherham, with office space provided.

For an application pack email Circuit Superintendent Minister, Rev Jo Archer-Siddall via joanne.archersiddall@gmail.com

Closing date: 10th December 2021.
Interview dates: 16th & 17th December 2021.

Assistant Hospitality Manager

Cliff College

The College provides accommodation for students, conferences and leisure customers and we are seeking to appoint an Assistant Manager to join our Hospitality Team.
Please contact the Michelle Foulkes for more information or download the details from our website.

• Closing date: 12 noon on Monday 6 December 2021
• Interviews: Monday 20 December 2021

Other News

Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy

The Winter edition of their newsletter is available to download here: DRC Winter 2021
They will be sharing a Thought for the week throughout Advent. You can read the first one here:
Advent 1