District News – 5 November 2024

This Week's News

Let's End Poverty – the Dreams and Realities exhibition

Dreams & Realities is a powerful new art exhibition, telling the stories and aspirations of people in poverty.
Stephen Martin, a local Sheffield artist, has painted acrylic portraits of nine people living in poverty in Sheffield, including himself.
Each picture shows the person, something that depicts their economic reality, and something that represents the dreams and ambitions they would pursue if they were not held back by poverty and unjust systems.
The exhibition is currently on tour and will be coming to The Grove Methodist Church in Retford, DN22 6LB next week.
You can view the exhibition:

• Monday 11th November between 4pm-6pm
• Thursday 14th November from 10am-1pm
• Saturday 16th November from 10am – 1pm

Or at other times by arrangement
Contact Rev'd Julie Coates julie.coates@methodist.org.uk 01777 702573 for more information about the special events planned around this exhibition.

Celebrating 3 years of the Repair Café

During the last three years the Repair Café at Hathersage Methodist Church he repaired almost 1,000 items, offering them a new lease of life and saving them from landfill.
https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/news/news-stories/repair-cafes-3rd-birthday.html

Statistics for Mission

The site is now open for the collection of data on the membership and attendance at churches. This can also be a time for churches and circuits to check that the data on office holders, local preachers and worship leaders is also accurate. If you have difficulty accessing the site, contact your circuit office in the first instance, or Katrin in the District Office.
You do have until the end of January to complete this, but why not follow the example of some of the Doncaster churches, and get it done now.

Climate Jobs, Climate Justice – One Day Conference

Saturday 9th November, at Sheffield Hallam University, S1 1WB, from £3

The jobs we do in South Yorkshire need redesigning for the Climate and Nature Crisis. Join SYCA and trade union and community activists for a day of learning and organising together.
We need Climate Jobs that make our lives zero carbon, and that care for people and planet.
We must not push the costs onto workers and communities in the Global South.
We need secure, well-rewarded work for all who want it, that builds real wealth for communities.
Join us for a day conference and a year-long process, to organise for the changes we need.
More info and to book: https://linktr.ee/climatejobssheffield

A requiem for Gaza

Kairos Sheffield welcomes The Amos Trust's Christmas tour "Steal all the flowers"
Thursday 5th. December, 12.30.--2.30. p.m.
Including a light Palestinian lunch
Philadelphia Conference centre, 110, Portland st. Sheffield. S6 3HD
Music Film, poetry, local performers & conversation with special guests from Palestine.
Pleases join us! Booking is essential.
There is no charge, but contributions to Amos Trust's Christmas appeal supporting their work in Gaza, & towards the cost of the event, are welcome.
To book please visit amostrust.org/Christmas-2004
For more information contact kairossheffield@gmail.com

District Office News

Remembrance Day

This week many churches are creating Remembrance displays, knitting & creating poppies and offering local communities a place to remember all those who have given their lives in service.
We'd like to share are many photos as we can from our the district to mark Remembrance Day – email them to our District Communications Officer, Sam, at comms@sheffieldmethodist.org or tag @sheffieldmethodist on social media

Our Stories – 2025 Safeguarding Conference

The theme chosen for the Regional Safeguarding Conference this year is based around the Justice, Dignity and Solidarity (JDS) strategy which was adopted by the Methodist Conference of 2021.
There are four sessions planned which we hope will draw out some of the lessons learnt and how to apply them in the context of safeguarding and our church life and ministry. We will be using our stories to explore the JDS strategy through the lens of Safeguarding.
You can book on one or more of the sessions when you register to reserve a slot. The sessions are also recorded and will be available after the event.

• Stories of Journeys – 3 Feb at 1:30pm -Where have we come from as a church? Who have been the pioneers, what lessons have been learned from where it went wrong. Led by Revd Helen Cameron
• Stories of Justice – 4 Feb at 7:30pm -Coordinated by the young people from our districts, sharing stores that have come from 3Generate and the church priorities
• Stories of Dignity – 5 Feb at 10am -The lived reality of inclusion in the church. What a safe space feels like and what it feels like when church is not safe. Led by Pauline Jackson
• Stories of Solidarity – 6 Feb at 1:30pm -Examples of good practice, stories of where things are working well and the positive impact of finding a safe space in church. Led by Revd Mark Rowland

Book your place now!

Lay Employment

A reminder that the District needs to be kept updated about all lay employment, at church as well as circuit level. The easiest way to let us know about a new employee is via the New Starter online form. This should be completed within 1 month of someone starting in role.
It is also important that the District is informed of any changes in the status of a lay employee. There is an online form which you can use to do this : Changes to lay employment.
An annual check is made with line managers to make sure our data is up-to-date.

Events

Journalling with recycled materials

10th November 2024| 1:30-4pm

£12 at Whirlow Spirituality Centre
We will be creating simple journals / journal cards, pockets and tags – all using recycled materials, which can then be used as cards/gifts or as an aid to bible journaling.
All materials provided.
Full details here: https://www.whirlowspiritualitycentre.org/whats-on/2024/journal-crafting

Urban Theology Union

Urban Gospel Coffee Time

16 November 10:30-11:30 via Zoom
Share experiences of the joys and challenges of interfaith conversations and encounters. This group will then meet monthly online at 10.30-11.30am on the 2nd Monday of the month, starting on Monday 9 Dec, where the conversations will be on the coming Sunday's lectionary Gospel reading. This will be hosted by Andrew Crowley and Erica Dunmow (Methodist Local Preacher).

AGM – 2pm

Lower Hall, Victoria Hall, Sheffield S1 2JBor on Zoom
Speaker (via Zoom): Revd Dr Alex Clare-Young
https://utusheffield.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Urban-Theology-Unions-AGM16-November-2024.pdf
If you would just like to come to hear Alex speak, there is a break around 2.50pm to allow people to arrive in person or on Zoom to hear them. You would be very welcome.

UTU Seminar Day

Please join us at UTU Seminar Day on Tuesday, 26 November, 11:30 to 12:30,for thoughtful presentations on topics that challenge as well as inform.
All welcome.
Rob Hoch-Yidokodiltona's will share from a paper he presented at the Societas Homiletica during its June meeting in the Netherlands: "Preaching that Resonates with Fractured Lands and Broken Bodies: An Indigenous Perspective".

Better Buses For South Yorkshire

Workshop -November 16th 2024

Better Buses for South Yorkshire will be holding a face to face Workshop on November 16th at SADACCA
This will provide an opportunity to explore how we can build the biggest possible response to the public consultation on franchising which will run from October 23rd to mid January 2025.
Reserve your place
There will be other consultations taking place across the South Yorkshire area – see the image for more details.
Public transport is in desperate need of a shake-up across South Yorkshire. It is the poorest people in society who rely most heavily on it. Without a reliable, accessible and affordable bus system we are not going to be able to get people out of their cars and reduce air pollution, congestion and climate change. This is an opportunity for churches to be proactive, in the interests of South Yorkshire people and indeed the planet!

Office Worker's gathering

Thursday 21 November – St Thomas' Church, Crookes

The regular gathering for all involved in admin or office work in churches and circuits.
The group have been invited to join the staff team at St Thomas' for morning prayers at 9am. There will then be the usual gathering chat over coffee & croissants (other breakfast foodstuff may be available). The focus will be looking at how we can manage our emails more effectively.
The link to register is https://ucan.churchsuite.com/events/nlofm3fs/i
Whilst these sessions are organised via UCAN (UK Church Administrators Network), they are open to all. Do pass the information on to others who you think might be interested.

New Christian Community Gathering

Saturday 23 November

Our next gathering will be on the morning of Saturday 23 November at Central Methodist Church, Lodge Lane, Aston
Our guest speaker will be Deacon Eunice Attwood, Methodism's national Church at the Margins Officer. If you have ever met Eunice you will already know of her passion for being church with new people who have been marginalised by wider society, through poverty or for other reasons. And her highly engaging teaching style.
Rotherham & Dearne Valley's Family Fun Church will be our hosts. They will share their testimony of being church for families with young children and will lead us in worship. You can hear more about their story in episode 4 of our podcast Faith, Hope and the Journey.
Book your place here

MWiB (Sheffield District) Events

November 25 Quiet Day at Gleadless Methodist Church, 10am for 10:30 start
December 6th at Frecheville Methodist Church -Carols 11am followed by alternative Christmas lunch Fish and Chips followed by Trifle
£12 tickets will be available at the Dedication Service.

Christmas Praise in the City

Monday 9 December 7:00 pm

Start your Christmas celebrations in style with our special Christmas Praise service at Victoria Hall, Norfolk Street, Sheffield. Hosted by Cliff College with special guests, we'll be joining together to sing some carols; hear a Christmas message; and enjoy some refreshments. Our theme is Hush the Noise, and we hope you'll join us in the busyness of December to reflect on the reason for the season. Book your free place now at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-praise-in-the-city-tickets-1029963527637

Positively Rural- A Place to Call Home?

Thurs 16 Jan, 1pm

Exploring rural homelessness and how it manifests itself in rural contexts as so often it is hidden, overlooked and disregarded by many agencies as to its existence.
Book your free ticket here: Positively Rural: A place to call home – 2 Tickets, Thu 16 Jan 2025 at 13:00 | Eventbrite
Positively Rural is an online community hosted by the Learning Network and is open to anyone of any denomination involved in rural ministry, including volunteers, lay workers and clergy.

Lay Employee Retreat

This will be taking place on 2-4 June 2025 at Wydale Hall.
Our theme this year is 'This is me!'
American Quaker, Parker J. Palmer in his book 'Let Your Life Speak', asks the question, 'Is the life you are living, the life you are meant to live?' We want to do explore this by; reflecting on our gifts and skills discerning how we best listen to and hear from God examining what we mean by vocation and calling.
This is an opportunity to consider and celebrate the work we do in intentional ways and ultimately learn to treasure our relationship with God.
The retreat will be a glorious mix of spiritual and social, creative and active, playful and provocative. With time together and space to reflect alone or with others.
Places are going fast, so book early:

And finally ...

A prayer for wisdom

Gracious God, we look to you for wisdom, often we look in the wrong places, missing the opportunity to learn of you from others. Your word, as expressed in the Bible, can be difficult to interpret in this divisive world. Show us your way through those we encounter who exude your wisdom in their love for their neighbours, and who emanate your justice from the very depths of their souls. Teach us to engage with the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, as all are our neighbours and all are precious people to you. In Jesus' name we pray and for his sake, Amen.
David Latter, Chair of Trustees, LWPT