District News – 8 April 2025

This Week's News

District Gathering "To Boldly Go..."

Thank you to everyone who came along on Saturday, and to those who made it all possible. We are aware that there were issues with the live stream, for which we apologies. Technology is great when it works....
However, you can watch some of the highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/live/oMaFbgCJmu0?si=Od1wFyNHU7MID7-X

Good Friday Meditation

Friday 18 April 12:00 pm at St Andrew's Psalter Lane church, Sheffield

Our Good Friday meditation, from 12.00 – 3.00 pm on Friday 18th April, will be led by Rev Cheryl Collins on the theme of the Stations of the Cross and will be using images by Sieger Köder. The service will be streamed – you can watch it here: https://youtube.com/live/gfASAD-sXlU?feature=share from 12.00 on Good Friday – but for copyright reasons the images will not be included in the streamed version. However, anyone wishing to participate online can be sent the images in advance so that they can be viewed alongside the service.
Please contact office@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk before Thursday 17th April if you wish to be sent the images.

Sitting Down Service for Rev. J. A Letts

3pm, Sunday 13 July at Hathersage Methodist Church,

The Peak Methodist Circuit warmly invites friends and colleagues of Rev'd Julie Letts to her Sitting Down Service on Sunday 13th July, 3pm, at Hathersage Methodist Church. This will be followed by light refreshments in the church hall. Please do join us in celebrating and giving thanks for her ministry, and to wish her well in the future as a supernumerary minister.
To assist with catering please can you confirm your attendance and number in your party before Monday 23rd June by email to: admin@peakmethodistcircuit.org

GDPR Support

Katrin will be holding 3 more Zoom sessions on Tuesday 6 May at 10am / 2pm / Tuesday 13 May at 7pm. These are to give support and advice on GDPR and the annual checklist. Please complete the booking form if you wish to attend one of these sessions
GDPR Support

District Safeguarding Officers update

Julie's story of forced adoption

Trigger warning: this film contains themes of forced adoption and psychological abuse.

Please see a link to a new video which Jill Moody and Ben Lawrence have made, helping Julie to share her story of forced adoption from a Methodist National Children's Home and her mother's emotional abuse in a Mother & Baby Home in the 1960s.
Julie tells the story of how her birth mother was forced to give her up for adoption in 1962.

Julie's story of forced adoption

If you have been affected in any way through experiences related to any Home, and would like to speak with someone, please make contact with the Safeguarding team in the Methodist Church, who work with victims and survivors of abuse. If you wish to remain anonymous this will be respected.
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7467 5189
Email: Safeguarding@methodistchurch.org.uk

If you prefer not to talk to someone on the phone number / email above, you could always reach out to someone you trust or you can call me – I'm here to listen and help.

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

District Youth Day

Last chance to book in for the District Youth Day at Hesley Woods, as bookings will close tomorrow (Wednesday 9 April) at 1pm!
Join us for workshops, worship and onsite activities including zipline, archery, crate stacking and much more as we explore how to be a Justice Seeking Church. This event is for anyone aged 8 -18, but they must attend with a Youth Leader/Minister. Subway lunch is included.
£10 per person – leaders free.
Book here Youth Day @ Hesley Woods

Journey to Jerusalem

6-21 April, Mon to Sat 10am to 4pm, Bakewell Methodist Church

The Journey to Jerusalem display takes us through the last days of Jesus' life: "From Hosanna to He is Risen".
We see the excitement of the crowds on Palm Sunday and the agony in the garden and on the cross and the joy of the resurrection leading to the truth of the post resurrection experiences that Jesus is alive.
The journey also gives us time for reflection and the opportunity to pray interactively through themes such as justice, peace love, thanksgiving, healing, families and forgiveness. The display is full of life and colour and hopes to bring the story of our Saviour's final days to our hearts and minds.
The journey continues too in our worship services. On Maundy Thursday at 7pm we share in the Tenebrae service – which focuses on the events leading up to the cross and recognises the Light of Christ in the world and his great love for every person. Tenebrae means 'shadows', and in worship we will see the calling and falling away of the disciples. We will experience Jesus's servanthood and share in bread and wine, the Last Supper. Then we are asked to watch and pray with him in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The journey continues on Good Friday morning at 10:45am as we gather around the cross to see those who gathered there over 2,000 years ago and to hear their own experiences in those moments. We too will be "Close to the cross of Jesus".
Please join us on the journey and in the joy of the Resurrection morning on Easter Sunday at 10:30am.

Urban Theology Union

Urban Gospel Coffee Time

Monday, 14 April 2025, 10.15-11.15am (on Zoom only)
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 will meet monthly online at 10.30-11.30am on the 2nd Monday of the month, where the conversations will be on the coming Sunday's common lectionary Gospel reading.
https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/resources/the-lectionary/lectionary-for-this-year/
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/2182336614?pwd=VEVVdmcrbHBmakdxeVdCRWpxSklOQT09&omn=83365615717
Meeting ID: 218 233 6614 / Passcode: 492244
RSVP helpful but not essential.

Cliff College Trek 2025

The Trek is a four-day walk, travelling ten miles a day on foot. In 2025, we'll be travelling through the Sheffield District from 14-17 April, visiting local churches on our route and hosting evening celebration services.

• Monday 14 April from Hathersage Methodist Church to Castleton Methodist Church
• Tuesday 15 April from Clifton Methodist Church, Rotherham to Wickersley Methodist Church
• Wednesday 16 April from St Paul's Methodist Church, Dronfield to Killamarsh Methodist Church
• Thursday 17 April from Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Sheffield to Greenhill Methodist Church

Departure is at 10am each day; arriving at the final church by 5pm, with an evening service at 7pm
The Trekkers team includes a number of students and staff members from Cliff College, who will be joined by members of the churches, circuits and districts through which we're walking.
Full details here : Cliff College Trek

Positively Rural – Pilgrimage

Thursday 1 May at 10am

The next Positively Rural gathering will be looking at pilgrimages; sharing how one circuit developed a pilgrimage using rural churches and exploring possibilities of being a pilgrim for those unable to walk.
As always, there will also be opportunities to share your own experiences in smaller break-out groups.
The deadline to register is 28 April at mid-day : https://250501pilgrimage.eventbrite.co.uk

Cliff Festival 2025:

23-26 May at Cliff College in Derbyshire

We're looking forward to gathering at Cliff Festival 2025 for a weekend of worship, learning, prayer and fellowship.
This year our Bible studies will be taught by Ben Pugh, and we're excited to welcome evening preachers including Andy Fyall, James Alaradin and Rachael Heffer.
Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more – and, as always, entry to Cliff Festival is free for under-18s.
Read more on the Cliff College website.

Vacancies

Nurture and Pastoral Care Worker

Barnsley South (Barnsley Methodist Circuit)

The Barnsley Circuit seek to appoint a Nurture & Pastoral Care Work to work with the Minister to proved effective and ongoing pastoral car to members and adherents of the Barnsley South Chapels. The successful Applicant will nurture and encourage discipleship in these chapels and build relationships with members and visitors in these chapels.
For an informal conversation about the role, contact Ellie Peet at elliepeet59@gmail.com
Closing Date: 30 April

Lay Worker for Hospitality, Pastoral Care and Children

St Andrew's Psalter Lane Church

Are you someone who is passionate about making relationships with families, nurturing children's faith and strengthening connections with the local community?If so, we'd love to hear from you!
We seek an enthusiastic and compassionate person, who can create a warm and welcoming environment, lead our children's work, and play a vital role in our ministry.
Role: Lay Worker for Hospitality, Pastoral Care and Children
Salary: £15,600 for 20 hours/week (+ 6 weeks' paid holiday)
Location: St Andrew's Psalter Lane Church, Sheffield
Closing date: Noon on 22nd April 2025
Interviews: 1st May 2025
For an informal conversation please contact Anna Calvert, Chair of the Ecumenical Church Council: annacalvert1@gmail.com
To download an application form and for more details, please visit www.standrewspsalterlane.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

And Finally...

Let us praise with exultation

A hymn written by Jenny Carpenter and shared at the District Gathering

Let us praise with exultation
God, the fount of all creation,
asking that we may inherit
Christlike insight through the Spirit.

We are part of your creation:
save us from high estimation
of our status on this planet:
let's remember, You began it.

Let us walk with lighter footing,
curb our tendency to looting;
stirred to take on bolder action,
stopping fossil fuel extraction.

May we own our obligation
to the poor of every nation:
cancel debt and help to nourish
all that helps the people flourish.

Recognising climate science,
may we cease to place reliance
on some future tech discovery:
nowwe must effect recovery.

This one earth we all must cherish
Lest we let more species perish.
Lord, convert each man and woman
To your love, divinely human.

Dead to sin, alive and growing,
welcoming your life inflowing,
so may we, in fuller measure
Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform and Treasure.