District News – 23 February 2021

This Week's News

Zooming across the District

The Methodist Church is investigating the possibility of a cost effective Connexional deal with Zoom which could bring the cost of alicence down considerably.

In order to find out how much demand there wouldbe and therefore the feasibility, it would be helpful forthe District to know how many existing licenses are currently being paid for in
our circuits and churches. Please let Katrin know as soon as possible if this is something that would benefit your church.

Fairtrade Fortnight

Here is a great little video which explains the theme of this year's Fairtrade fortnight really well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xQP6tVlcxg&feature=youtu.be
And here is a link to other resources: https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/resources-library/current-campaigns/fairtrade-and-the-climate-crisis/

District Safeguarding Update

From the Adult Safeguarding Front Line by Grahame Snelling, Safeguarding Casework Supervisor

Domestic Abuse, self-neglect and financial abuse are still the top types of adult abuse reported in many local authorities. As some colleagues may know I am member of a London Borough Adult Safeguarding Board and at our meeting this week we received the referral data for the quarter ending December 31st 2020. The Head of Adult Safeguarding told us that this was the general position across London as well. Physical abuse has also grown as a type, separate to domestic abuse, in the same period. Again, the profile of a 65-year-old plus, female living in their own home was the most likely victim of abuse.

Drilling down through the figures we also learnt that Adult Safeguarding practitioners are increasingly worried about carer fatigue as a contributory factor in referrals with carers often stating that they are not coping with their responsibilities with the additional strain of the pandemic. This has resulted either in frustration fuelling assaults or a sense of helplessness leading to neglect.

These findings might not seem too surprising, given what we know about the stress in families and communities, but they do remind us to be alert to emerging cases. If you suspect a family may be struggling, and this could potentially lead to Domestic Violence, please bring this to the attention of your DSOs who will then to be able to direct local churches towards the many resources that are available to give advice and support.

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.

District Chair on Sabbatical – advance notice

Gill Newton, our District chair will be on sabbatical from March 23rd – June 22nd and will then be attending the Methodist Conference immediately following that period. Gill will therefore return to the District in her role as Chair from July 2nd.
During Gill's absence, Revd Sean Adair, Deputy Chair of District will be covering Gill's responsibilities and you can contact him on revsean@btinternet.com. Any administrative enquiries should be sent to the District Office on admin@sheffieldmethodist.org.

Get Social with Sheffield Methodist District

We have a range of Social Media sites for you to follow and subscribe to. Why not take a look!

• Facebook @SheffieldMethodist
• Twitter @ShefMethDist
• Instagram @SheffieldMethodist
• YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfhZBkvs2qL7UnUTvgOaYKA

Brave The Shave

A big thank you to all who supported Revd John Simms's Head Shave on Ash Wednesday for Macmillan Cancer. So far, he's raised £430, which is brilliant, but if you still wish to offer some support, you can still do so at https://bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/john-simms.
And to prove that he did it, here's a 'before' and 'after' shot...

Breaking Day – Riding Lights

Riding Lights Theatre Company is pleased to announce Breaking Day – a lockdown Passion Play by Les Ellison.

As day begins to break on Good Friday, the occupying Governor's tenuous grip on authority is slipping. It's festival time in Jerusalem but his wife is plagued with disturbing dreams. Amid the demands of the Sanhedrin and the murderous cries of the mob, the lines between personal and political in Pilate's house start to blur. The teacher at the centre of it all remains silent.

With stark intimacy, Breaking Day casts a surprising light on the death of Jesus from inside the Governor's household, immersing us in the decisions that led to crucifixion. Filmed remotely in an innovative lockdown style, Breaking Day is a virtual passion play for Easter 2021, available to churches from 15 March. Available to pre-order now.

Please see our website for more information on how your community can benefit from Breaking Day in your online or in person events. 10% discount when more than one church books together.
If you have any questions please email Bethan on touring@rltc.org or call 01904 655 317 – the voicemails are being checked every few days, so we will get back to you.

Events

Ministry with Older People

18 March: exploring chaplaincy

Our next ministry with older people webinar will be 1 – 2:30pm on Thursday 18 March.
Open to volunteers, lay workers and ministers, these webinars are an opportunity to share experiences, ask questions, and explore new resources and approaches to support you in your ministry in your context.

We will be joined on 18 March by Julia Burton-Jones who will explore the impact of chaplaincy approaches when working with older people in a wide variety of contexts, speaking from her involvement with the rapidly growing Anna Chaplaincy movement.

Book your space by Fri 12 March at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkcumsrDstHdAf737GPPwTkE9PAV9qpDGn

Bible Month: Pioneer Campfire

10 March 10.30am-1pm

If you're a Pioneer, or someone with a heart for working with the community, why not come to the Pioneer Campfire? We'll be looking at the four themes of this year's Bible Month book, Mark, through the stories of four Pioneers. You'll have to bring your own marshmallows though.....
Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pioneer-campfire-tickets-139550702909

Gifts outside the Box – Save the Date(es)

10 – 16 May 2021

Gifts outside the box is a week of online events brought to you by safeguarding teams across five Districts. It will help with discerning how we can use our gifts from God to serve others in safe and gracious ways.
More information, including how to register, will be coming soon!

Training and Learning Opportunities

There is a wealth of opportunities available and many are free. If you know of any that you feel would be of interest to others in the District, do let us know!
Don't forget that grants are also available to help with costs.

Methodist Schools webinar:

so, you're interested in school chaplaincy?

Every couple of years, Methodist Schools organises an informal session for people to find out more about school chaplaincy and explore whether it might be a calling for them. This year we are running the session by webinar on 3rd March at 2.00pm – 3.45pm. There will be an overview of the nature of chaplaincy from the leader of the Centre for Chaplaincy in Education and reflections on the nature of the work from serving chaplains in the state and independent sectors – and from a headteacher, talking about why it is important to the school.

This session is aimed at people who might be interested in working in school chaplaincy, whether lay or ordained. It's being run by Methodist Schools, so it will be coloured by experience within that sector but will have a more general appeal if chaplaincy is your area of possible interest. It would also be valuable for people about to embark on a school chaplaincy role – maybe someone anticipating a station which includes a school, for example.

All interested people are welcome! If you would like to join us, please send your details to the Methodist Schools office (oolayinka@methodistschools.org.uk) and we will send you joining instructions.

Ideas Exchange for anybody involved in ministry with 11-25 year olds

Thursday 15 April, 10.30-12.00

This gathering for Youth Workers, and others involved in ministry with young people, will be a chance to share challenges and reflections, resources and ideas. Members of the Connexional team will also be present to share initiatives and suggestions. The gathering will use the four areas of 'Our Calling' to look at ideas for worship, learning and caring, service, and evangelism with young people. The time will be interactive, with a chance for conversation, sharing and some activities. This will be a brilliant opportunity to meet others in roles similar to your own and pool ideas and perspectives. We'd love to see you there!
Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqdu-sqDovGtTYdsgOWHAZSXA0gOVTOld-

Job Vacancies

Part time Church Administrators (2)

St Luke's Lodge Moor, Sheffield (LEP) is a thriving Church situated where the City of Sheffield meets Derbyshire's Peak district.

We are seeking two office administrators, one focussing on the areas of Finance & Administration, and the other on Safeguarding & Communications, to work in the office at Church.
Initial 15hrs /wk Salary £8460 p.a. Closing date 5th March

For more info, visit www.slclm.org/jobs or call Rev Chris on 0114 230 3538
St Luke's Church Lodge Moor (Registered Charity No. 1136795) St Luke's is a Local Ecumenical Partnership between the Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches in Lodge Moor

Yorkshire North and East District Safeguarding Group – Independent Chair

Following the recent recruitment campaign, the DSG now has several new members, adding a range of expertise to the team. We are required to have an independent chair of the group and this voluntary post remains unfilled. Please consider whether you, or someone you know, might have the skills to take on this role.

The role of an Independent Chair will include:

• supporting the District Safeguarding Officer.
• contributing to meeting agenda
• chairing the District meetings on a quarterly basis (virtual and face-to-face)
• encouraging and challenging the District where necessary.
• attending and supporting District safeguarding events.
• attending additional safeguarding review/planning meetings.
• option to attend the annual National Safeguarding Conference and District Safeguarding Officer/DSG Chairs meetings in London (2/3 times per year, expenses paid)

Please contact the YNE district office (admin@yorkshirenemethodist.org) for further information.

News from outside organisations

Christian Aid

Giving Thanks for Corona Vaccine

Will you partner with Christian Aid to encourage donations from those receiving the vaccine in Sheffield to support those for whom the vaccine is still out of reach?

You may have seen last week that the Bishop of Gloucester launched an appeal in conjunction with us to give thanks for people's vaccinations from Covid19 here in the UK. This appeal was initiated by the Diocese of Gloucester in support of Christian Aid's work and is being supported by Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit and all donations will support our response to the coronavirus pandemic in affected communities around the world.

As more of our family, friends, and neighbours receive their COVID vaccinations, we rejoice and are glad that our loved ones are protected. We give thanks for all the NHS staff and key workers who continue to save lives across the UK.

For the poorest and most vulnerable communities across the world, there is little hope of a vaccine rollout. These people already face a lack of water, food, and healthcare. Some are homeless. Some are disabled or are living with underlying health issues like HIV.

Christian Aid is already on the ground, helping keep people safe from coronavirus with practical support – but with the support of people in Sheffield District we can do more.

TASTE update

Dear Praying Supporter
I pray that you all well and looking forward to easing of the lockdown restrictions and their eventual lifting. We praise God for protection and peace over these trying months of the pandemic.
I just wanted to thank you again for your prayers and financial support for us, particularly with the purchase of our new drilling rig and to briefly update you on the current status:

• We have now raised just over £82,000 (target £90,000) of which £51,000 are gifts
• We have now made the £55,000 initial payment to secure the rig and can now ship it – early to mid-March is our current target

The inspector we asked to carry out pre-shipping checks has identified some minor repairs which it would be easier to sort before shipping. They say that the rig is in a very good condition this is very good news especially given the state of roads in Nigeria. Following the minor repairs identified and servicing the rig will be good to go.

Please praise the Lord with us for His great faithfulness and please pray for speedy and safe transport of the rig to our team in Nigeria.

God Bless you all.
Ben Udejiofo, Chief Executive, TASTE

Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy

Thought for the week

Back by popular demand is the 'Thought for the Week' produced by the Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy for the agricultural community. This first reflection has been provided by Rev'd Stella Mills and we pray that you are encouraged and uplifted by her words.

Please feel free to share across your own networks