A reminder that as usual, the District Office will be closed from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day Bank Holiday – Friday 24 December to Tuesday 4 January.
It will also be closed next Monday – 13 December.
As preparations for Christmas Services get undersay, it would be lovely to hear what your church and circuit are planning – do let us know!
For those who may find it difficult to take time away from the home, the Learning Network are putting on another one-day Regional Retreat.
Wednesday 23 March from 9:30 to 4:30
Together with Interjit Bhogal we will explore the joys and challenges of working with refugees using biblical themes such as hospitality, welcome and sanctuary.
Registration now open: https://220323hospitalityforall.eventbrite.co.uk
Full details in the flyer here: Online Retreat
If any churches are planning a live-streaming event over Advent/Christmas, would you be willing to put out the Extraordinary Gifts advert, downloadable from WeTransfer in two versions here: https://we.tl/t-ot48qsiSlC. They are just short 30 second videos promoting All We Can's 'alternative gifts' programme, which is an important way people can support their work and also buy meaningful gifts at Christmas time!
This year Christian Aid are focussing on families in South Sudan, specifically mothers that are faced with impossible choices – whether to give their children dirty water or none at all. The Christmas season is full of choices that we make, especially those on what we give our families but most of them are not life changing. Providing a borehole for a community of families and mothers to be able to give their children clean water, better health, is one choice we all can make this Christmas.
You may remember last year the Advent Carols for Christian in YouTube? They have a new selection, with new videos added daily: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCLfCv6DSsiu2ZgDC1Q8Ryg/videos
Do take a look, and give generously to the Christmas Appeal.
Thanks to our friends at the Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy for this reflection on Joy – a little word with a big bang!
The Joy of Christmas
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