From:                              Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District Office [admin@wsmethodist.org.uk]

Sent:                               03 February 2021 12:11

To:                                   beckminster@talktalk.net

Subject:                          03/02/2021

 

FOR THE LATEST ADVICE ON COVID 19 FROM CONNEXION PLEASE CLICK HERE
Dial-a-prayer free phone line to hear prayers: 0808 281 2514 Methodist News: 0808 281 2478

Latest News:

Youth President Questionnaire
Audio and Video Resources
Action For Children tribute to Rev'd Michael Newman
Coffee Shop Sunday free Zoom sessions
In case you missed it:
Bringing People Together webinar
Vacancy for Birmingham District Chair
Scottish Jesuits Lent Retreat
Action for Children News
Preparing for Synod: The Report of the Marriage and Relationships Task Group 2019
Racial Justice Sunday District Resources
New "God is with us" grants
New Appreciative Inquiry Training Session
District Children's Support Fund

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Youth President questionnaire

A review is currently being undertaken regarding the role of Youth President. There is a questionnaire online and via the 3Gen App to survey children and young people for their opinions. It closes on the 5 February. Children and young people can find the survey  here.

 

Audio and Video Resources

The Methodist Church are pleased to launch a new resource sharing a selection of our video and audio content that can be downloaded and used in online worship, e-newsletters or social media. We are aiming to update the pages twice-weekly with audio reflections and prayers from the President and Vice President and interviews from our weekly podcast. We will aim to give you notice of the podcast topics, although this is not always possible if we are responding to a major story. You can find the page here.

 

Action for Children tribute to Rev'd Michael Newman

by Angela Newey, District Advocate for AfC.
 
It was with sadness that we learned that Rev Michael Newman, a supernumerary minister living in Clun, had passed away. Michael was the last Methodist minister to become Principal of the National Children’s Home.

After training for the ministry Michael served as a Circuit minister and became chaplain to NCH before becoming Principal of the charity. The sweeping changes in society of the 1960’s and 1970’s prompted a re- evaluation of how NCH was working to provide for vulnerable children and the focus moved towards preventative action. It was during his time as Principal he presided over the first crucial steps in the charity’s transformation. From 1990 NCH was headed by a Chief Executive.
Following his time with NCH Michael returned to Circuit ministry working among rural churches in Herefordshire and it was the time spent among the rural communities that prompted him and Elisabeth, his wife, to retire to Clun.
Michael joined the people of Clun in their support for Action for Children and became involved in village life.
We remember Elisabeth, their children and grandchildren in their loss, the people of Clun who will miss his involvement in village life and their support for Action for Children.
 

 

Coffee Shop Sunday free Zoom talks

We are keen to share the story so far of Coffee Shop Sunday – a new expression of church here in Coventry.
 
We would like to offer free Zoom talks including Q an A’s about how the idea of Coffee Sop Sunday was born 18 months ago; how it worked in Costa Coffee for four months before lockdown; and the remarkable online growth we have seen since April 2020. Our CSS Facebook Group membership has increased more than five fold from 72 members to 388 and now includes members from five continents.
 
It would be great to share the story in a Zoom session with groups within UK and of course, well beyond.
 
The PowerPoint presentation and allowing plenty of time for a good question and answer session to learn from each other will take at least an hour.
 
If you would like to hear the story please get in touch with me and we can organise a suitable time and date for a Zoom session.
 
Every blessing.
 
Jesus Christ - My Living Hope
 
Trevor Gay
Local Lay Pastor
Coffee Shop Sunday - “Meeting God in an ordinary place”
Tel: 02476 221719
Mobile: 07966 388195
(Coffee Shop Sunday is part of Coventry and Nuneaton Methodist Circuit)

 

 

Preparing for Synod: The Report of the Marriage and Relationships Task Group 2019


Rev'd James Eaton-Challinor Rev'd Rachel Parkinson Rev’d Jimione Kaci

The Representative Synod meeting on 24th April will vote on the resolutions contained in the God in Love Unites Us report.  Since it is not known what COVID-19 restrictions will be in force at this time, the Synod will be conducted online.  
 
Those planning the Synod want the District to have confidence in the vote that is taken on 24th April.  We recognise that it will be at least twelve months since many Circuits conferred on the report.  Therefore all members of the Representative Synod will receive an invite to three online sessions, the aim of which is to allow people to reacquaint themselves with the report’s content and to raise any questions they may have.  These sessions will be facilitated by the Chair together with Rev’d James Eaton-Challinor and  Rev’d Jimione Kaci.  
 
These sessions will take place on Sunday 21st February, 7th March and 21st March from 4 to 5.30pm.  Personal invites to Synod members will be issued shortly.
 

 

Free Webinar - Bringing People Together to tackle isolation during Lockdown 3


Lockdown prevents groups meeting, which affects us all, causing more people to be isolated affecting their mental health.
Bringing People Together is a network of groups that welcome everyone by telephone, mobile or computer all from the comfort of their own home. There are now over 14 groups meeting weekly or fortnightly in the Black Country, Staffordshire and Shropshire. Each group is run by two hosts and a partner organisation who provide  the safeguarding and GDPR.
On 12th February at 10am we are holding a free webinar called ‘Bringing People Together to tackle isolation during lockdown 3’. When we started in July 2020 Bringing People Together had questions that we needed to answer

  • How do we get people together when our venues are closed?
  • How do we use the new technology when not everyone has the right device or the knowledge to connect?
  • How do we grow in confidence that we can keep people safe online?

The National Lottery Community Fund enabled us to answer these. We will share our learning in this webinar, where there will be an opportunity to have your questions answered. Some of our groups are now very well established, having been running for many months, and we are learning the advantages of meeting online which we hope will continue after the restrictions have lifted.
To book your free tickets bpt-webinar.eventbrite.co.uk
We still have funding to support more groups and to find out more about joining please look at our website http://www.BringingPeopleTogether.org.uk or contact Su Parker 07791044311
I have attached a poster if you that is useful.
 
All the best
 
Su Parker
 

 

Birmingham District looking for a new Chair

Any presbyter who might be considering taking up the position of Chair of Birmingham District, please click on the link below.
 
https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/connect/jobs-volunteering/jobs-around-the-connexion/birmingham-district-chair-closing-date-26-february-2021-at-noon/

 

 

Lent Retreat from Jesuits in Scotland - District Prayer Group

This year the Jesuits in Scotland have organised an online retreat for Lent called “Knowing Jesus".  The Sunday Service on BBC Radio 4 will be linked to this material.  Each day participants are provided with an image, a piece of music, scripture verses, and an imaginative prayer exercise.  These are already available to see here:  https://www.onlineprayer.net
 
The Chair is leading a weekly sharing group for up to ten people who have committed to this daily retreat.  No previous experience of imaginative prayer is necessary to join the group.  Meetings will be on Zoom every Tuesday evening at 7pm beginning with an introductory evening on 16th February.  The purpose will be to share reflections on the week’s experience of prayer and to learn from one another.  If you are interested in joining, please contact the District Office as soon as possible saying, briefly, who you are and why you would welcome being a part of the group.  Priority will be given to people within the District and anyone is welcome to apply, lay or ordained.
 
Otherwise, it’s possible to ask to join a group through the main retreat page, or to offer to be a group leader.
  
Thanks
Rachel


 

 

News from Action for Children

Happy New Year!
Although 2021 started with the lockdown still in place, we’re grateful that we can continue to support children and families through the pandemic. We cannot count our blessings without mentioning our Methodist family. Thanks for your prayers and bountiful support.
 
To read more about what your support has helped us achieve in 2020, visit our blog on our website.
 
All things Christmas – Thank you
Our heartfelt thanks to you for supporting us over Christmas. We marvel at how churches and individuals defied the pandemic and came up with creative ways to raise funds for us.
 
We were delighted to know that so many Methodists tuned in to Starry Night, our first-ever virtual carol service. We’re thrilled to say that overall we sold tickets to 882 households and raised £31,453!
 
Our Secret Santas will also be pleased to know that our 2020 appeal raised over £1 million. By getting festive and supporting our appeal, you’ve made a life-changing difference to children and their families.
 
Our Chief Executive, Trustee and the children we support recorded this video message for you: http://bit.ly/AfCThankU
 
Count Your Blessings
What will you be doing this Lent? We’d like you to join us for 40 days of making life better for children across the UK.
 
We’ve created an inspiring calendar of activities. Each day, you’ll be asked to do something meaningful. It might be giving money to those in need, saying a prayer for a child, or spreading the word about our work. So, download your copy from our website: http://bit.ly/AfC-Lent.
 
  
Blessings and peace,
 
Karis Kolawole
 

 

District Resources for Racial Justice Sunday

“Who is my neighbour?  What is my Calling?”
 
The District is producing resources to mark Racial Justice Sunday thanks to the work of Equality, Diversion and Inclusion (EDI) advisers Rev’d Molly Chitokwindo and Liz Dean.  A full service of worship will be available on Youtube for churches and Circuits to adopt in its entirety.  Separate elements of the service will also be made available for those who would like to incorporate these into their own planned act of worship.  Please contact Richard at admin@wsmethodist.org.uk to find out what will be on offer and to register to receive various elements as they become available.
 
Many people from across the District will be taking part.  The address will be delivered by the Rev’d Dr Paul Nzacahayo and a reflection on the way forward for the Church will be offered by Dr Rachel Starr, a member of the Wolverhampton Circuit and Tutor in Biblical Studies at the Queen’s Foundation.
 
Materials will be available by the end of the month. Separate resources from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) should also be available from the end of January on their website https://ctbi.org.uk
 
Racial Justice Sunday is normally observed on the second Sunday in February.  With this being Valentine’s Day this year, we recognised that some churches may wish to move this to Feb 7th.  However what matters more than the specific date is that churches recognise and reflect upon God’s call to racial justice within the context of worship.
 

 

New round of "God is with us" grants

Every Circuit responded to the District invitation to bless their communities at Christmas through the availability of small grants and 27 different projects were enabled.  In this short video https://youtu.be/KDYwJ3Diu7I a sample of these are celebrated and a new round of grants is launched to coincide with Valentines Day, Thinking Day and Mothering Sunday.  Anyone with a creative, missional idea which will bless people on the fringes of, or beyond the usual congregation* can apply for a grant of up to £150 with the agreement of the Superintendent Minister.  Grants are limited to 3 per Circuit.  It’s essential that activity does not breach lockdown restrictions nor increase chances of Coronavirus transmission but, with careful planning, much may still be achieved.  
Click here for a grant form.
 
*We recognise the huge importance of offering support and pastoral care to Church members and recognise the value of the work that is being done across the District .  However these grants invite churches and Circuits to go beyond that. 
 

 

District Children's Support Fund

The funding allocated specifically to the support of children and families in the District - particularly those experiencing some form of deprivation - is still open to accept applications at the moment.  Are there projects you might consider which could offer support even during the lockdown?  

The maximum amount of any claim is £500 and a Church can apply at any time using the attached form and send it electronically to Tim Lorimer who will process your application and give a decision within six weeks of receipt. The application will need the support of the hosting Church and circuit superintendent. Church’s cannot apply for retrospective funding.
We would hope that individuals and groups that have contributed in the past to the Holiday Fund will still wish to do so knowing that there money will still be used for Children’s Projects.  For more information please contact Tim Lorimer   on lorimertim@yahoo.co.uk 07971899084. 
 

 

 

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