District News – 9 August 2022

This Week's News

Homes for Ukraine – Trinity Circuit

Deacon Emily Hoe-Crook from the Trinity Circuit, along with her wife Lisa have opened up her home to Ukrainian refugees as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. They now have two young ladies living with them and would appreciate some extra support by way of 'Welcome Home' cards or Sainsburys shopping vouchers please? Emily is also happy to share her experiences of the scheme with churches and circuits.
Read more here

Journey of Faith

Prison Chaplain Jack Key from the Doncaster Circuit appeared on BBC Radio Sheffield sharing his Journey of Faith, and talking about his work as a Prison Chaplain. You can listen again here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0ck4z13 – fast forward to 1 hour 42 minutes.

Church Action on Poverty

The Toolkit for Challenge Poverty Week 2022 in England and Wales is now available! It will help you to start planning how you can be part of the Week between 17 and 23 October this year. The Toolkit introduces their theme 'Living Not Just Existing – Dignity for All'.
More information can be found here: https://challengepoverty.co.uk/resources/

Warm Spaces

We are already experiencing a cost of living crisis. Families in the UK who were just about managing to make ends meet are being pulled into poverty by the rapidly rising costs of living. In the Autumn, fuel prices are expected to skyrocket and food costs mount up whilst the pressures of cold weather increase.

Watch this conversation about Gateshead's Warm Spaces between Deacon Tracey Hume and Neil Harland. It is encouraging to hear of churches already exploring what they can do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCoF2OHWoS0

If you are making plans, or if you want to, please get in touch with Neil mission@sheffieldmethodist.org

Enough to live?

On Sunday Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined with 56 faith groups, charities and politicians to call on the government to take urgent action to bridge the cost of living gap faced by the lowest income families. The call responds to a report, written by poverty expert and Loughborough University Professor Donald Hirsch which reveals the gap between the support the government is currently offering to households and the anticipated rise in living costs. The report concludes that the current flat-rate payments offered by the government will fall at least £1,600 short of making up for recent changes to living costs and benefits faced by a couple with two children.
Read more here
Follow #EnoughToLive on social media.

Wesley Way Pilgrimage

The Peak Circuit are delighted with the response for volunteers to pilot the Wesley Way trail. They now have enough volunteers, and thank all those who have showed an interest.
Watch this space for news of the next steps!

Events

District Representative Synod

10 September – High Street Centre, Rawmarsh

Synod will next meet on Saturday 10th September from 9.30am to 1.30pm, followed by a free lunch, at The High Street Centre, Rawmarsh. Invitations have already gone out to all the Synod representatives.

Our theme will be Nurturing Leaders. This is not about "filling jobs" but instead enabling people to use latent gifts and inhabit vocations. Contributors will include Matt Beckingham and Revd Dr Christine Dutton, Tutor in Evangelism and Leadership at The Queen's Foundation, Birmingham.

Leadership comes in many forms and ur synod will include a visual display of unattributed quotes about nurturing leaders to which we would welcome your contributions. The registration form therefore contains two additional questions you may wish to reflect on:

• I am still growing as a leader because of...
• I became a leader because...

Synod is an open gathering, and we aim to make each one an inspiring and informative event for members and non-members.

Please complete the online registration at https://220910RepSynod.eventbrite.co.uk as soon as possible as this will give us enough time to arrange catering and make any necessary accessibility adjustments.

Learning Network Regional Retreat for Presbyters, Deacons & Lay Employees

Visio Divina: embracing the new normal through creating images on our camera

A lot has changed over the last two years for us. Certainties we held, people we loved, the places we knew may all look different. But we can still find God in all things. The camera we carry in our pocket has the potential to help us slow down, centre in the present moment, and encounter God.

This retreat will open up the possibility of contemplative photography and show you how to incorporate it into your everyday life. You don't need to be a skilled photographer, but you do need a camera--the one on your phone will do just fine.
This will be led by Stephen Radley, an Anglican priest, trained professional photographer and members' ambassador for the Guild of Photographers.
When: 8-10 November 2022
Where: The Briery, 38 Victoria Avenue, Ilkley LS29 9BW
Cost: £220 A subsidy of £110 is available for those in the Yorkshire Plus region to attend one retreat a connexional year. A deposit is required to confirm your registration.

Register online via EventBrite https://221108visiodivina.eventbrite.co.uk before 28 September

Vacancies

Deputy Chair of District

The role of Deputy Chair is an important one in the life of the Sheffield District. It offers the chance to be involved in the leadership of the District and provides opportunities for participation in events and decision making as well as opportunity to represent the District at civic, ecumenical and other occasions. The role is not hugely time consuming but will require the successful appointee to be flexible and responsive as needs and opportunities arise. It could involve the shouldering of particular responsibilities within the District according to the gifts and skills of the appointee.

Anyone interested should complete an expression of interest form and return it to the District Office by 12 Noon on Friday August 26th. For further information, please contact our District Chair, Revd Gill Newton. The successful applicant will be appointed at the September Representative Synod.
If you have difficulty downloading the documents, please contact the District Office (admin@sheffieldmethodist.org)

And finally ...

As exam results come out in Scotland today, our Youth President, Daud Irfan has written a prayer for all those students getting their grades this summer.

We pray together ...

Lord, we come to you remembering all of those students in this country and around the world who went through examinations this year, and as we are now approaching results day for all of those students, we thank you for all the hard work, effort and dedication that they have put in over the past year; for all of the wonderful new skills that they have learnt.

We praise you for being a God who always looks out for us and wants the best for us, in all situations and circumstances. In this period of waiting for exam results, we pray for comfort and rest for all of those who are looking forward to the coming changes in their lives.

Amen.