District News – 30 September 2020

This Week's News

September's Safeguarding newsletter – Online Safety

Many apologies for this month's newsletter only coming out at the end of the month.
This month the focus in on Online Safety and there are two newsletters; one for adults and one focusing on keeping children and young people safe.

As the number of new Covid 19 cases continue to rise it looks like we will still be relying on the internet to do as much as possible. Therefore, we need to stay up to date with the latest online advice and to try and keep one step ahead of scammers who are taking this unprecedented opportunity to do their worst.

You can find the newsletters here: Online Safety – Adults / Online Safety – C&YP

Furlough and Job Support schemes

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will come to an end during October and is being replaced by the newly announced Job Support Scheme. Under this new scheme, employees return to work on fewer than their usual hours, with the shortfall in pay being shared between the employer, the government and the employee.
Contact Rob Cooper (lay employment advisor) if you think this new scheme might be relevant to you, are concerned what your church/ circuit will do once furlough grants end, or are considering any changes to employee contracts. Rob's contact details can be found on our new website : Lay employment

Sad News

We were sad to hear of the death of the Revd Keith Burrows earlier in the month. The Funeral Service will take place at
Barnsley Crematorium on Wednesday 7th October at 11:30 – there will be a memorial/celebration service at a later date.

The service will be invite only due to number restrictions – but there will be a live link available for those who wish to watch the service from their home address. The details for this will be published nearer the time.

Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB)

MWiB (Sheffield District) have been asked to produce a piece of bunting for the 10th anniversary of the launch of MWiB. If anyone can help with this it would be much appreciated.
On one side we are representing our project of 2 years ago Toilet Twinning and the present project Children's Air Ambulance.
Contact Carol Wignell (01246 433 2116, email carol.wignell@btinternet.com) or Pam Meek (0114 230 2477, email pammeek48@gmail.com) if you can help in any way.

The programme for the coming year will be emailed round inthe hope that we will be able meet as planned. God bless
Pam Meek – District President MWiB

Events

Samuel ChadwickLecture – Cliff College

Friday 16 October

Rev'd Dr George Bailey and myself are proud to announce our third annual Samuel Chadwick Lecture, to be held on Friday 17 October this year. We are privileged to have as our keynote speaker our very own Rev'd Ashley Cooper, Principal of Cliff College and former minister of the thriving and growing Swanbank Methodist Church in Stoke-on-Trent. The theme for the day
will be the Holy Spirit and church growth, with a formal response from Cliff PhD student Gareth Higgs whose research is in Methodist churches that aregrowing. With so much talk of decline we wanted to give space for the good newsstory of growth to see what may be learned.
Wedo hope you will be able to join us once again. Details are on the flyer here: data-mce-h .

Virtual Simple Quiet Day

20 October, 9:50am – 3:45pm, Whirlow Spirituality Centre. £5.

Motivate yourself to carve out some space to "be"; to switch off, reflect, pray and renew your spiritual resources. Online Simple Quiet Days cost just £5.

The programme is kept simple to provide maximum space. Join via Zoom for an introduction and optional prayers that punctuate the day. Get resources advising you how to make the most of a day of quiet at home.

If you are fairly new to spending time in silence, the Simple Quiet Day is a good introduction.

Booking gives you access to the Zoom meetings and advance materials for the day.

Book here >>

Poetry, Vunerability & Transformation

31 October, 10am – 4pm, Whirlow Spirituality Centre. £10.

Times of vulnerability can open us up to the Divine, the spiritual, in surprising and profound ways.

This virtual event, bookable below and led by Adrian Scott, will use poems, input and periods of space and quiet to explore these pertinent issues.

We do not control when and how we become vulnerable. It can be difficult – even cheapening – to articulate those experiences. Poetry is one way of communicating the inexpressible. Sublime work has been written by poets who were thrown into period of dependence, suffering and survival. And the poems themselves offer a generous vulnerability, in which we can find our own experience validated.

This event will be led remotely, using Zoom, with material circulated electronically.

Book here >>

Leaning Network Regional Retreat

Wednesday 18 November

As previously indicated the next Regional Retreat for presbyters, deacons and lay employees will be an online day retreat on Wednesday 18 November 2020.

We are delighted that Deborah Lewer will be leading our reflections on 'Art, Faith and Transformation' and it promises to be a very enriching experience.

Details and booking information are on the flyer here .
It will be free of charge but booking is essential so please click on the link here to register and secure your place
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAscOCoqD4uHtUtgsfSMPzJ_ZcMln_OGYhN

CAP Virtual Pilgrimage

7 October – 7:30pm via Zoom

This year Sheffield Church Action on Poverty have produced a Virtual Pilgrimage – an opportunity to see a series of videos about work being undertaken by organisations and churches across the city. There will be a gathering on Zoom on October 7th at 7.30 pm when the contributors will talk
about their work and there will be time to discuss some of the issues arising from the videos.

We would be delighted if you could join us and the invitation here gives details of where to find the videos and how to join the Zoom meeting

Training and Learning Opportunities

Lay Orientation Day

6 October 2020

The Lay Employees' Orientation Day comprises training for newly appointed lay employees working in a church context. It is designed to give a better understanding of the role of church worker, both in general and in one's own setting. The day's topics, and the opportunity to share together, will help develop a strong foundation of good practice.

Book your place here

Line Management Training

8 October 2020

If you are new to Line Management, or would like a refresher on what is involved, then this is for you.
Join the Learning Network Yorkshire Plus Team and:

• Identify the key skills and qualities needed to manage lay employees
• Gain clarity on the different functions of line management
• Understand the line manager's role in the employment cycle

Booking in advance is essential

Farming Help

The DerbyshireRural Chaplaincy has organised a 'Zoom' training event on Wednesday
25th November 2 – 4 pmand we welcome Andrew Critchlow, the NFU's County Advisor and Sarah Tomlinson from the TB Advisory Service.

The training will bring us up to speed with the latest concerns facing the agricultural community
in Derbyshire, and nationally, and how we can support the farmingcommunity. Given the sensitive subject material, the training is onlyopen to people who can confirm they are members of Farming Help organisationsand / or clergy and other authorised church leaders given their central role insupporting farmers in rural communities.
See the poster on the left for full details or email Louise Latham – louise.drchaplaincy@gmail.com

Christians on Ageing

Christians on Ageing is once again offering space and time for discussion on some important issues highlighted by the experience of the Churches over the last six months. These discussions are open to all and follow a successful series held in the summer months

Care Home Update – 20 October 2020

As care homes relax some of the visiting restrictions imposed during lockdown, are relatives, friends, ministers and pastoral visitors able to see residents as much as they can reasonably expect? Are homes willing to be more flexible on allowing the visiting of people with dementia who would be distressed by the absence of visitors, as government has advised? What lessons from handling visiting during the March lockdown can we learn for future lockdowns? Our second Conference Call on the important subject of engaging with older and disabled people in care homes will be chaired by Christians on Ageing Executive Committee member and author of How to Handle Later Life, Marion Shoard.

Supporting family carers and friends of people with dementia – 17 November 2020

The effects of the pandemic within society have been many and serious and areas of life often hidden from view have been exposed to the light of day – and fresh scrutiny. The way in which those supporting people with dementia have themselves been shown to have needs for support has been a significant development in how we understand a growing phenomenon. The discussion will be chaired by Julia Burton-Jones of the Diocese of Rochester with a commentary from Dr Albert Jewell, a member of our Executive Committee.

Joining the sessions

All you need to do to join the discussion is to register your interest by e-mailing discussion@ccoa.org.uk giving your name and any useful background information (e.g. your church and the town where you live). You will be sent a link by e-mail which will allow you to join the discussion via the Zoom video-conference facility. You will not need to register to use the facility.

Job Vacancies

CIRCUIT OPERATIONS MANAGER

Trinity Circuit are looking for an operations manager to work in partnership with the Superintendent Ministerand Circuit Leadership Teamto implement the Circuit's Mission Plan,
with particular focus on developing premises,systems and procedures to be fit for their purpose
of supporting contemporary Christian Mission/

Full details at website http://www.trinitycircuit.net/jobvacancies
Salary £30,000
Closing date for application: 12 noon on Monday 19th October
Interviews will be held during week commencing: 26th October
To request further information please contact:-
Rev'd Julie Coates, Grove Street Methodist Church and Centre,
Union Street, Retford, Notts, DN22 6LB 01777 702573
superintendent@trinitycircuit.net

News from Other Organisations

ASSIST Sheffield

ASSIST is a Sheffield charity that supports sanctuary seekers in South Yorkshire. We workwith people who are barred from receiving financial or accommodation support from thegovernment after the refusal of their asylum claim. Although they are temporarily allowedto stay in the UK, many of them face destitution and homelessness as a result. Up to 100people in this situation receive regular financial support, temporary accommodation and arange of other services. Above all we seek to show that Sheffield is a friendly and welcomingplace for sanctuary seekers – not a hostile environment.

ASSIST is currently looking for at least one large property (ideally with 6+ bedrooms) to offer emergency accommodation to sanctuary seekers. This would enable us to offer them safeand secure emergency accommodation for the period of COVID restrictions.

We are not expecting property owners to donate properties for free and would be in aposition to pay some rent, although this would not be in line with market rates. ASSIST isgoing to cover council tax and rates, where applicable. Depending on the arrangementsmade with the property owner we can also also take on aspects of the physicalmaintenance of the property.

If you are interested to find out more, please contact us by emailaccommodate@assistsheffield.org.uk or phone: 0300 2010072 or 07723 724098.
You can also visit our website www.assistheffield.org.uk or follow us on Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram @assistsheffield

Sheffield Church Action on Poverty

Sheffield Church Action on Poverty are pleased to circulate their regular update and an invitation to this year's Virtual Pilgrimage – a series of videos about work being undertaken by churches and organisations across the city. CAP Update

For further information , please contact the Secretary, Briony Broome, email: briony.broome@hotmail.co.uk

CLC Bookshops

GOOD NEWS from CLC Bookshops Sheffield about Communionsupplies and seasonal items!!

Diaries, 2021 calendars and Advent calendars are on display. Christmascards should also be available by the time you read this. If distance or Covid-19 is the problem, a limited selection is available on clcbookshops.com. Or you can contact the bookshop on 0114 27246563 and 0330 8181000 to enquire, order & pay.
Please let your friends know. 99% of those who would benefit from seeing this post, won't see it. Then there are those who do see it... and promptly forget.
Please do us all a huge favour and communicate!

As regards COMMUNION SUPPLIES, wine and altar breads are always instock. And Fellowship Cups are back in stock, both 250 (£79.99) & 500(£134.99). The Fellowship Cup is a ready to serve, prefilled communion cup that contains 100% grape juice and an unleavened wafer for a "one pass"method of serving communion. The cup fits into standard communion cup trays and no refrigeration is needed. Available instore, via 0330 8181000 and clcbookshops.com

And don't forget the benefits of being an EQUIP member for ALL your purchases.
CLC Bookshops, 2 Church Street, SHEFFIELD S1 2GN
sheffield@clcbookshops.com
0114 2724663 0330 8181000