District News – 12 October 2021

This Week's News

Eco Church Open Evening

6:30 – 9:30pm Tuesday 2 November

This open evening hosted by St Andrews Psalter Lane Church and Sheffield Methodist District is for churches of any denomination interested in considering, getting started, or already involved in the Eco Church movement.
An opportunity to ask questions, hosted by a local church holding an Eco Church Silver Award. What difference does being an Eco Church make in practice? How to get started? How to overcome common challenges? How can we better support and encourage each other?
Further details and booking at https://211102-ecochurch.eventbrite.co.uk

COP26 – Sheffield Climate Campaign Umbrella group

Sheffield Climate Campaign Umbrella Group brings together trade unionists, direct action networks, climate justice groups, students and youth, migrant and racial justice networks, and community groups to organise and collaborate for actions in Sheffield.
There are a number of events planned over the next few weeks – visit their facebook page to find out more: https://www.facebook.com/SCCUGCOP26Coalition

Open letter to COP25 President

Climate Justice for All (CJ4A) have released their Open Letter to COP26 President Alok Sharma ahead of the climate conference in November. This letter comes from consultation sessions they held with Methodists in Britian earlier this year and calls on him to take direct and meaningful action. Now the letter has been released, they are trying to gather as many signatures from Methodists across Britain as possible.
Here is the link to the letter: https://bit.ly/CJ4Aletter

Sight Loss Friendly Church Tasters

Every 6 minutes someone in the UK starts to lose their sight. Sight Loss Friendly Church (SLFC), from Torch Trust, the UK Christian sight loss charity, are pleased to announce further dates of our popular Tasters. These 30 minute Zoom sessions offer the opportunity to hear all the benefits of SLFC, meet the SLFC team and ask your questions. Sessions available are-

• Tuesday 26 October at 2:00 PM
• Wednesday 10 November at 2:00 PM
• Tuesday 16 November at 11:00 AM
• Wednesday 12 January at 2:00 PM
• Monday 24 January at 2:00 PM

To register please visit https://www.sightlossfriendlychurch.org.uk/taster.
For more information please email SLFC@torchtrust.org.uk

Ministry with Older People

Online webinar -Understanding needs : Auditing my community

What is a community audit? What is the point of one? Where do we start?
An opportunity to explore some practical and effective tools for understanding better the varied needs of older people living in your community, what is already being provided, and who might be willing to minister alongside you. Including opportunities to share experiences and hear stories of real-life community audits.

Book your place by Sunday 31 October via this link: https://211103opcop.eventbrite.co.uk

Want to know what you can do within your organisation or as an individual to improve your support and interaction with BAME older people?

SCCCC were delighted to be host as virtual event to highlight how loneliness and isolation impacts BAME older people as well as the impact Covid-19 has had on them.
You can watch the recorded parts of the webinar here: https://youtu.be/q07dQ5-0OSY

Christian Aid YouTube Carols

Last year a number of individuals, groups and churches were kind enough to contribute videos for our wonderful Advent calendar of Carols on YouTube during December 2020. We raised over £3000 for Christian Aid, which was fantastic, so we are going to do the same thing again this year!
If you would like to take part for December 2021 please contact Alison Trezise, jandatrezise@virginmedia.com, who will give you more information about what is required. The deadline for videos to be submitted is 10 November.

Learning & Development Grants Group Member

We are seeking new people to join the small team awarding learning & development grants on behalf of our district. Helping people become, learn and grow into confident disciples of Jesus is a core part of our mission. One of the ways we equip growing disciples is through provision of grants to access or deliver learning and development opportunities.

Being a member of this group gives opportunity to nurture, equip and support growing disciples through access to learning, and to gain exposure to a wide variety of emerging resources.

The grants group usually meets three times per year on Zoom, with more straightforward applications being dealt with by email between group members. The role would suit someone who is passionate about the importance of training and education within Christian discipleship and comfortable dealing with email correspondence between group members and occasional Zoom meetings. It will require an average two hours per month.

The majority of current group members live in the city of Sheffield, so we are particularly keen to add members from other parts of the district. If you are interested in this role or for further information contact Katrin Hackett admin@sheffieldmethodist.org

District Safeguarding Update

Supporting your Church Safeguarding Officer

Being a Church Safeguarding Officer can be lonely, and sometimes, frustrating. Churches Council members understand the need to have a safeguarding officer but often don't appreciate that a little support could make the world of difference between having a safeguarding officer that is proactive and empowered as opposed to struggling and overwhelmed.

As the District Safeguarding Officer I feel as responsibility to make sure Church Council Members know how they can support their Safeguarding Officer. Therefore, I'm pleased to announce 7 bespoke information sessions for Church Council members. The sessions, all on Zoom, will last for 1 hour and look at individual aspects of the Church Safeguarding Policy. Hints and tips will be given on how to support the Safeguarding Officer with that particular aspect. There will also opportunity for people to share successful approaches and to brainstorm problems.

I suggest that a different Council Member attends each session; not only does that share the work load but it also means more than one council members will have a greater understanding of safeguarding.
Whilst the sessions are aimed at Church Council members they may also be useful for new in post or struggling Church Safeguarding Officers. We will be unpicking best practise expectations which would provide an excellent foundation on which to build.
Please click on this link for more information and to access time, dates and booking details.

Making out churches more Dementia Friendly

On Tuesday 30th November 2021 at 11:00am the Connexional Safeguarding Team will be hosting a webinar called 'Making our Churches more Dementia Friendly'.
Areas covered will include:

• Dementia awareness raising
• The theology of personhood and spirituality in dementia
• Safeguarding vulnerable adults with dementia
• Practical tips on making our church buildings more dementia-friendly
• Advice on understanding 'challenging' behaviours and
• Positive stories from Methodist churches who already are leading in this area.

If you would like to attend please email Kate Little from the Connexional Safeguarding Team (littlek@methodistchurch.org.uk) or phone 07854 247 546.

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

Urban Theology Union AGM 2021

20 November from 2-4:30pm

This will be a hybrid event – you can join in person or on Zoom. More details to follow shortly.

Job Vacancies

Church & Community Support Worker

Do you have excellent administration skills but long for a role that involves meeting and connecting with people?
Do you have a passion for helping local churches and communities find common ground in helping each other?
Do you enjoy working in a varied team of employees and volunteers towards a shared goal?

If so, please consider applying for this newly created role at St Columba Anglican and Stephen Hill Methodist Churches, Crosspool, Sheffield.
The churches are looking to appoint a Church & Community Support Worker for 16 hours a week for a fixed term until 31 December 2023. We can offer flexible hours but do require some evening and weekend working.
Please click here to visit our website and download Job Description and Person Specification.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to: Clare.Fowler@stcolumbacrosspool.org.uk. For any enquiries please contact: Clare.Fowler@stcolumbacrosspool.org.uk.

Closing date for applications is 1 November 2021 . Expected interview date 12 November 2021.

Manager – The Foundry Sheffield

30 hours per week, £30,000 per annum
Overall responsibility for the leadership and efficient and cost-effective operation of the Victoria Hall building, enabling the realisation of the business/development plan through a programme of income generation and effective project management. Acting as The Foundry's principle representative in external relations and communications, having regard to the centrality of the charity's relationship with the Methodist Church.

Full details of the role can be found via the following link
https://www.varotherham.org.uk/job/manager-the-foundry-sheffield/

Closing date for applications is 12 noon, Wednesday 20th October 2021.

Community Outreach Worker (part-time)

at Stocksbridge Christian Centre

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and committed Christian to work with our small, friendly, forward thinking church to expand outreach in Stocksbridge and the surrounding area.

The post is part-time for 15 hours per week and is a fixed term for 12 months.

Purpose:
The employment of a part-time Community Outreach Worker for 15 hours per week for 12 months is a key part of plans to develop and continue a project called 'Sowing Seed on the Whitwell Estate', a concerted effort to reconnect the Stocksbridge Christian Centre with the younger families, children and youth who comprise the most significant portion of the population of the Whitwell Estate in Stocksbridge.

Main Responsibilities:
The broad remit of the Community Outreach Worker will be the following:

• to be the liaison between the church and the local community.
• to work creatively to make new disciples of Christ.
• to develop new forms of outreach to the local community including work with younger
• families, parents with pre-school children and middle-aged and older adults
• to work co-operatively with the minister, congregation and staff at the Stocksbridge Christian Centre.

Main Terms
Hours of work: 15 hours per week.
Contract: Fixed term for a period of 12-months.
Rate of Pay: £9.50 per hour.
Next steps: Please email hr@sheffieldmethodist.org for an application pack (or if you like to have an informal conversation about the role before making an application, please contact
Rev. James Grayson at j.h.grayson@sheffield.ac.uk).
Closing Date: 31 October, 2021.
Interview Date: Week commencing 15 November, 2021 (TBC).

Childrens and Youth Worker (part-time)

at Stocksbridge Christian Centre

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and committed Christian to work with our small, friendly, forward thinking church to expand outreach in Stocksbridge and the surrounding area.

The post is part-time for 15 hours per week and is a fixed term for 12 months.

Purpose:
The employment of a part-time Childrens and Youth Worker for 15 hours per week for 12 months is a key part of plans to develop and continue a project called 'Sowing Seed on the Whitwell Estate', a concerted effort to reconnect the Stocksbridge Christian Centre with the younger families, children and youth who comprise the most significant portion of the population of the Whitwell Estate in Stocksbridge.

Main Responsibilities:
The broad remit of the Community Outreach Worker will be the following:

• to be the liaison between the church and the local community.
• to work creatively to make new disciples of Christ.
• to organise and oversee community programmes aimed at young people
• to have oversight of and develop the existing work of the uniformed and youth groups.
• to work co-operatively with the minister, congregation and staff at the Stocksbridge Christian Centre.

Main Terms
Hours of work: 15 hours per week.
Contract: Fixed term for a period of 12-months.
Rate of Pay: £9.50 per hour.
Next steps: Please email hr@sheffieldmethodist.org for an application pack (or if you like to have an informal conversation about the role before making an application, please contact
Rev. James Grayson at j.h.grayson@sheffield.ac.uk).
Closing Date: 31 October, 2021.
Interview Date: Week commencing 15 November, 2021 (TBC).

In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, it is a genuine occupational requirement of both posta that the post holder is a practicing Christian.

www.stocksbridgechristiancentre.com