District News – 04 May 2021

This Week's News

Corrections to last week

My apologies – there were a few errors in the item on the Positively Rural event.
The date is Tuesday18 May ( not Friday )
The link to register is : https://bit.ly/PositivelyRural

All We Can – India Appeal

As India grapples with the devastating impact of a Covid-19 second wave, please support vulnerable communities by giving generously to the joint Emergency Coronavirus Appeal.
All We Can and the Methodist Church in Britain will be scaling up their response in India through All We Can's local partner in Odisha to the unfolding crisis, helping rural communities in the state to pull together, and providing vital help at this most desperate moment.
To find out more and give now, visit: https://www.allwecan.org.uk/indias-coronavirus-crisis-urgent-support-needed/

Christian Aid Week

Busk Aid Sheffield

2021 is now live! From 10 May onwards until May 31st there will be daily music videos posted on our new channel; https://youtu.be/Y-ysmrk5AJ4
This truly will be the most eclectic set of musical performances you will ever see, so subscribe today to make sure you don't miss anything!
The Justgiving page for donations is here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/christian-aid-sheffield-busk-aid-2021
We hope you enjoy the daily musical treat but don't keep it to yourself – please share widely to anyone you can think of.
Following on from the enormous success of the carols we have set an ambitious target of £2021 so
please do all you can to get the word out there
Many blessings
Alison(Chair of Sheffield Christian Aid committee)

Picture framing equipment and easels

Following closure of the 35 Chapel Walk gallery in Sheffield, we are left with a set of equipment and stock for making bespoke picture frames and half a dozen artists easels. If you know of any projects or community groups that might be able to put any of these to good use, or individuals interested in buying them, please contact Neil Harland mission@sheffieldmethodist.org
For photographs of the framing equipment CLICK HERE.
We can provide tuition on how to use the framing equipment.

District Safeguarding Update

The damaging effects of the problematic use of pornography – Farrer & Co / The Reward Foundation

In December 2020, Maria Strauss and Sophia Coles, lawyers in the Farrer & Co Safeguarding Unit, held a webinar with Mary Sharpe, Advocate, Co-Founder and Chair of The Reward Foundation, about the harmful effects of the problematic use of pornography on children and young people.

As a number of delegates commented, the webinar was an eye-opening discussion and it starkly brought home the severity and scale of the problem.

The Reward Foundation has developed a set of seven (free) lesson plans for schools on sexting and on internet pornography to help pupils make informed choices about the use of porn:
Free Lesson Plans – The Reward Foundation – School Lesson Plans
The Reward Foundation also has a free guide specifically tailored to parent s.

New Quarterly Safeguarding Blog

The DSO's from the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire Methodist Districts have started a new quarterly Safeguarding Blog. You will find a link to this blog, together with the London District Safeguarding Blog by Grahame Snelling, on the Blog page of the main Safeguarding website: Blog (methodist.org.uk)
The first blogpost in the series: 'What the eye cannot see...', is a personal reflection on Domestic Violence from BEH DSO Pauline Jackson.

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
Please be aware that I will be on Annual leave from Monday 3rd to Sunday 9th May.
Carolyn Godfrey, DSO from the Newcastle and Darlington Districts will be covering for me. You can contact Carolyn by phoning or emailing: 07534 346374 newcastle.darlington@dso.methodist.org.uk
Many thanks
Alison Hill
District Safeguarding Officer.

Events

Gifts outside the Box

10 – 16 May – online

There is still time to register for some or all of the on-line events being held next week looking at how safeguarding is a golden golden thread that weaves through everything we do as church.
You can book onto all or just one session by going to https://bit.ly/giftsoutsidethebox

Join us for A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Cliff College

Jan 4th – 13th 2022.

Our trip will include the sites where the most important events in the life and ministry of Jesus took place: in Jerusalem and further north in Galilee. To have the chance to meet the 'living stones' the local Palestinian and Israeli Christians who are the ongoing, living church in the region is humbling.
"Five gospels record the life of Jesus. Four you will find in the books and the one you will find in the land they call Holy. Read the fifth gospel and the world of the four will open to you" (St Jerome)
Full details in the booking form which can be downloaded here:

Learning Opportunities

Living Library

22 May, 10 – 12 noon

This is an online event where people in various church roles make themselves available to answer questions about their work. This can be a great opportunity for someone who might be considering taking on a role but is unsure of what is actually involved.There are 'books' committed from groups such as Local Preachers, Worship Leaders, Administrators, Stewards (circuit and church), Presbyters, Deacons, Children Youth & Families Workers, Global Mission Partners, Pioneer or Planters, Chaplains, Youth Reps, Youth President and other young adult leaders.
'Readers' visit the 'books' in breakout rooms, and the 'books' share their stories, and the 'readers' can ask questions and together they engage in a conversation.
Further information can be found here

Kingdom at Work

'Transforming Work' Saturday 5 June, 2021, 9.30-3.30

Organised by the Kingdom at Work Project, in association with St. Peter's Saltley Trust
The purpose of the Kingdom at Work Project is to develop a new approach to transforming the world of work through a process of discernment and intervention, informed and empowered by a communal theology of the kingdom.
Full details can be found here

News from other organisations

Thought for the Month from the Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy

The reflection for May is written by their lead chaplain, Rev'd Alan Griggs and can be downloaded here