District News – 20 October 2020

This Week's News

District Prayer Diary

In recent years a District Prayer Handbook has been distributed at the September Synod. this year the format has changed to a double-page leaflet. Copies have been sent to all the ministers in pastoral charge of churches in our District. It can be downloaded here: 2020 Prayer Diary . Printed copies can be made available as well.

What next? What you did next

Over the summer we asked What Next? and shared some conversation starters for how we and our churches could respond to lockdown. We have produced some very short videos of what just a few of us have done and seen.
Watch Julie Letts talk about multiplying groups in Hathersage, Lauren Rossell on Holiday Club at Home, and Sally Coleman bowled over by who joined in when she sat in her lounge to pray https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/news/news-stories/whatnext-stories.html

I hope you find these encouraging. Please share with your church and ask each other, "what are we being prompted to do now and next?" It doesn't need to be spectacular – some of the most significant things are very simple. Let us know how you get on.
Neil Harland, Mission Development Support Worker

Safeguarding Update

As the Covid-19 pandemic shows no signs of ending anytime soon, more people and their families are becoming vulnerable, many due to financial problems. Staggering statistics are now being produced that highlight the financial strain that people are now under, and so for October's Safeguarding Newsletter I have pulled some information to help those struggling with dept.

Whilst the poorest in society are being hardest hit, many other families have seen their income drop and so are now struggling. I am well aware that many churches already offer help and support around debt management , plus more practical ways of helping such as facilitate Food Banks etc. If churches could let me know the details about any projects they run, I will happily create a District directory and then pop that on the District Website as a resource we can all draw from.

Many thanks
Alison Hill
District Safeguarding Officer

Online Worship Resources Database

The District are looking to create an online database of worship materials that can be used by members of the District that are all copyright approved.
We'd like to know what kinds of resources you would find useful for online worship please? Perhaps recordings of worship songs, graphics or images, short films, prayers or even sermons?
Can you please send any ideas to Samantha Roberts, District Communications Officer on comms@sheffieldmethodist.org by Monday 2nd November.
Many thanks

Christian Aid carol singing is going virtual!

Do you love singing carols? Would you like to become a recording star AND help Christian Aid raise much needed funding this Christmas? Christian Aid in Sheffield are going to have a carol singing YouTube channel during December and would love to have videos of 24 different carols, one for each day leading up to Christmas day – a sort of "carols advent calendar". People watching the videos will be invited to donate to Christian Aid ia a JustGiving Page.

So we need 24 people /small groups to record a video of themselves singing a carol – can you help? If so, please contact Alison Trezise for more details on how to submit the videos on jandatrezise@virginmedia.com or mobile 0790 663 1108. Closing date for submitting videos is 15 November, but please contact me first – we want to avoid repetition!

Ministry with Older People webinar – staying in touch : staying engaged

1 to 2:30pm Wed 25 Nov

• Are you part of your church's ministry with older people?
• Is Covid forcing you to work out new ways to respond to the practical, social and spiritual needs of older people?
• Are you concerned by the prospect of a winter of isolation?
• Would you like an opportunity to speak with others asking the same questions?

This webinar is for anyone – volunteers, lay workers, ministers – involved in ministry with older people. We will share stories, hear from a panel of speakers including Chermayne Bennett (MHA Live at Home Manager, South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw), and speak about what we can do.
Register for this event here https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkdu6opzkvG9FxhBA9gMn3qUyoObmhkyho
Contact admin@sheffieldmethodist.org with any registration queries
Hosted by Sheffield Methodist District – open to all

Events

Liberation Theology Gathering

'I Can't Breathe' 23rd/24th Oct 2020

Victor Jara Liberation Theology Library
We have been bringing together people interested in the field of Liberation Theology in informal and supportive ways for the last 8 years, under the guise of the 'Victor Jara Liberation Theology Library', a collection of 3,000 books and periodicals from Liberation traditions. In 2019 we focussed on Climate Change, and this year we are looking at the inequalities and issues brought up by the pandemic, including the Black Lives Matter campaign. We are sorry we are not able to meet in person this year, but we were determined to offer something online at the very least.
Each session will be around 1 hour on Zoom. Please be respectful of each other and only unmute when asked by the moderator of each session. Please use the chat facility to ask question and make constructive comments.

Please register with chris.howson@sunderland.ac.uk and Zoom sign up details will be sent to you on the week commencing 19th Oct (they will also appear on the Facebook event page on the day, but please, if you can, help us by indicating which day/sessions you can make)

TakeTime Together

Join us on a five week journey to discover the power of Christian mindfulness meditation led by Rachel McCallam and Judith Jessop.
Taketime meditations use your imagination to provide a calm, comfortable space in which to meet God. All are welcomed to enjoy these meditations, which are intentionally inclusive, non-directive and experiential. No faith background or knowledge is needed to attend, enjoy and benefit from this Taketime introduction.

When: Wednesday evening between 19:00 and 20:30
Where: via Zoom
From: Wednesday 4th November 2020
Please contact Judith Jessop on 0114 2313518 / judithjessop@tiscali.co.uk for more details or to register for this course.

Urban Theology Union AGM

Jesus and the Kingdom: sustaining a Transforming Paradigm

Sat 21 November 2020: 2.00pm to 4.30pm

in person at UTU Suite, and/or by Zoom

The Rt. Revd Stephen Platten is not usually seen as an urban practitioner, but as Bishop of Wakefield in the early 2000s he had oversight of the many post-industrial ex-pit villages of West and S Yorkshire, which shared many socio-economic characteristics of areas more typically seen as 'urban'.

He supported clergy in trying to develop innovative approaches, including one who was filmed for a TV documentary, to community engagement based on the living and preaching of the kingdom of God. His is one of the voices within the Church of England encouraging a mixed economy of missional theology, by speaking up from within that paradigm.

He comes to speak at our AGM as part of the Kingdom Evangelism Project, to help people – whose starting point is the Jesus mission to spread news of healing and justice especially for people who are poor or oppressed, rather than focussing just on personal salvation – feel more confident that their approach is an important contribution to the task of growing people in faith and confidence and growing churches, and to equip them with theological and other resources.

After Bishop Stephen's address, attenders will have the chance to engage with him, and with the materials produced by the Kingdom Evangelism Project.

From Susanna's Kitchen...

Monday 30th November, 2.00pm

On-line discussions about women's lives in the story of Methodism
Revd Donna Fowler discusses her new book
"Mothers in Israel: the Methodist Women in the circle of John Wesley
Further information and log-in details from talks@epwortholdrectory.org.uk
or www.epwortholdrectory.org.uk.
You can also download a poster here: Mothers in Israel

Training and Learning Opportunities

Muddy Church introductory evening

Jonathan Buckley has arranged an evening with Lucie Hutson from Muddy Church on Tuesday 27 October 7.30-9pm via Zoom. Contact Jonathan jonathan.buckley@sheffieldcircuit.org.uk 07450 778678 to reserve a space. Muddy Church has grown into a collection of people and groups looking to build worshipping communities and opportunities outside. Intergenerational and unique to each space and event as people connect with the places they are in and others around them, everyone is welcome to journey together, talk, explore, grow, have fun and be.

Lay Leadership Skills

Monday 22 February 2021

A change from the date publicised in the Learning Networks calendar.
Join the Learning Network Yorkshire Plus Team for a day exploring leadership for lay people working in the Methodist Church: youth; children; family; and community leaders; class leaders; lay missioners; and local pastors.
We'll be exploring the themes of:

• Leadership styles and skills
• Leading meetings
• Managing volunteers and Encouraging participation
• Team and group dynamics

Register in advance here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUofuGgrjMsGtY7LFyYHa7gVvtaRin7cza9
Bookings will close 72 hours beforehand

Job Vacancies

URC Synod Safeguarding Officer

East Midlands Synod

17.5 hours per week (home based) Salary: £15,150 – £15,750pa
(FT £30,300 – £31,500 pro rata)

The Synod is looking for a well-qualified and experienced Safeguarding Officer able to deliver the United Reformed Church Safeguarding Strategy in the Synod.

Experience of managing safeguarding and providing training essential.

An application pack, job description and person specification can be obtained from
Mrs Chris Willis on admin@urc5.org.uk

Closing date for applications: Midday on Thursday 26 November 2020.

News from Other Organisations

Remembering

Andy Freeman and the team at Space to Breathe have developed a resource entitled 'Remembering' around grief and has given us permission to share the PDF for us to use with our churches. You can download it here.

Methodist News

Methodist Women in Britain

You can download the September issue of Tree of Life and also the October Call to Prayer