District News – 6 May 2025

This Week's News

New Beginnings grant -

The 3 C's – Coffee, Cake and Companionship

Our latest New Beginnings grant has been awarded to High Green Methodist Church in Sheffield Circuit.
The congregation aspire to be a place of welcome for everyone in their community and the wider area, to come and join on their own, with existing friends, and hopefully to make new friends. A place where people can come and feel that they are entering a space of care, love and compassion. At the end of each session there will be a short time of prayer to which everyone will be invited. The (currently) small congregation have been speaking extensively across the village, and have taken advice and inspiration from many people across the circuit as this vision to try a new way of connecting with people emerged.
For more ideas and details of how to apply visit https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/what-we-do/finance-fundraising/new-beginnings.html

Computer Skills Audit

Most people nowadays will be using computers as part of the life of the church, but how well do you use the technology? We have created a short form to try and gauge what software is being used, for what purpose, and if you would like to be able to do more with what you have.
https://forms.gle/k5hS5zY4sGonTmsC6
If there is enough interest, we will explore putting on specific training, so do complete this if this is something that would interest/benefit you (or your church/circuit).

Urban Theology Union

Gospel Coffee Time

Urban Gospel coffee time is being cancelled on the 12th May due to holidays
The next meeting will therefore be 9th June.

"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.

Broomhill Methodist Centre – Bouldering wall

Could you help Broomhill Methodist Centre build a space for community, wellbeing and faith?
A crowd funding page has been created to raise money to install a climbing wall which can be used by beginners to seasoned pro's and a creative play space and what's even better is that if £15,000 can be raised, Sports England will match it with another £15,000.
At Broomhill we believe that buildings should serve the community and we have the chance to create a hub of activity to promote wellbeing, connections and faith. Please join us in this adventure.
Find out more about these exciting plans and to donate visit this webpage.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/broomhill-methodist-centre-bouldering-wall

Events

Repair Café at St Andrew's Psalter Lane Church

Saturday 10 May 10:00 am

The St Andrew's Psalter Lane Church (Sheffield) Eco Group will hold a Repair Café on Saturday 10th May in church. Volunteer repair people will be on hand to make small repairs and teach people how they can do these themselves, with the aim of reducing waste by re-using and recycling items that would otherwise be thrown away. Please come along with your wonky stuff and get it fixed!
Refreshments and lunches available. There will also be a Fairtrade stall selling a range of fairly-traded products from around the world.
No charge for repairs, but any donations, and profits from the refreshments, will be in aid of Christian Aid Week.

Admin networking

Thursday 22 May from 9am

Join the UCAN group for a a time of prayer, resource-sharing, and encouragement in your ministry. Whether you're a UCAN member or not, you're welcome to connect with fellow church administrators in your area. Light refreshments will be provided.
Venue: "The Furnival" 199 Verdon Street, Sheffield S3 9QQ
As well as the usual chat and updates, we will spend some time looking at Excel spreadsheets, sharing our experiences and "what works for me!"
Book your place here.

Praise Evening

Holy Trinity Church, Thorpe Hesley, are having a Praise Evening on Saturday 24 May.
The evening will consist of Music, led by our live Worship Group, Poems and readings, a time of reflection for family and friends who are no longer with us, prayers and then hot food in our Community Centre, next to church, after the service.
All are welcome (although we do require numbers of anyone attending for catering purposes).
This is a free event.

Cliff Festival 2025 – 23-26 May

Join hundreds of Christians from around the country at Cliff College at the end of May for a weekend of worship, Bible teaching and encountering the living God together. Book your tickets now, either for the whole weekend (there are a limited number of camping pitches still available) or just for a day. Find all the details on the Cliff College website: https://bit.ly/4cKzYel

Living Stones Open Day

Saturday 21 June

You are warmly invited to Wesley House's Open Day 2025 in which we will explore the theme of Living Stones. The day will include the last public service in the College chapel, tea and a series of reflections on the life of the College past, present and future as we give thanks for all that the Jesus Lane site has made possible and set out in faith towards the future.
As catering is provided can you please register if you are able to join us. For further information and to register visit – https://livingstones.eventbrite.co.uk

Faith in the City@40

Saturday 12 July

2025 marks the 40th Anniversary of the publication of the influential report of Archbishop Runcie's Commission on Urban Priority Areas. While the Thatcher government rejected it as "naive Marxism, and largely ignored its recommendations to the nation, it was followed by more than a decade of extensive initiatives in urban mission in the Church of England and other denominations.
Much has changed over 40 years, but issues of urban poverty and injustice have not disappeared, and there are few signs that Churches and other Christian activity are flourishing in such places. Indeed there are signs that neither government nor church are making them a priority for action and investment, and that people living there are increasingly feeling left behind.
This conference, one of a series of events across the country, is a chance to reflect on the theology and practice of urban mission, then and now. There will be input from leading practitioners who were involved in the 1980s, and those who are leading mission and church activities today.
It will be of interest to anyone who lives and works in the inner city, or on social housing estates. We hope it will encourage and inform, and be a catalyst for a renewed movement to develop Faith in the City and hope in urban churches and communities.
Keynote Speakers
Alan Billings (one of the original Archbishop's Commission Members)
Sarah Small (Head of the Eden Network)
Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/faith-in-the-city-40-north-tickets-1224760715269

And finally ...

A prayer for unity

God of all,
Your dream for your people is that we may be one.
In this time of deep divides and damaging insecurity forgive us for the ways in which we have failed to show solidarity,
and failed to see beyond the identity-based fractures that can obscure the bonds of our common humanity.
Renew our commitment to the work of unity,
drawing hope from the promise of your limitless love which embraces all in true belonging.
We give thanks for the courage and commitment of all those witnessing to unity in the midst of fragmentation,
creating spaces for fellowship and accompaniment,
to sustain us on the journey.
Amen.
Dr Nicola Brady, General Secretary, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland