Trauma-informed
Ministry Workshops
THIS
TRAINING IS DESIGNED FOR ORDAINED MINISTERS - last few places!
The District has secured two workshops with the Tragedy and
Congregations team. These are on 20th April repeated on 21st April both
from 9.30 till 12.45pm. Each workshop can
accommodate 12 ministers. These workshops have previously
been offered to all ministers in the Birmingham District and all
priests in the Shrewsbury Episcopal area of the Diocese of
Lichfield. Take-up was very high and the workshop was
greatly appreciated by those who took part.
If you would like to attend, please let Richard know (admin@wsmethodist.org.uk) giving
your preferred date and also an indication of whether you would
be available for the other date in case your first option is
full. If there is excess demand we will attempt to secure
another booking. The District is bearing the costs of these
workshops. With the limit on numbers it’s very important
that you take up your place if you book it. If that
becomes impossible please contact the District Office at the
earliest opportunity so we can offer your place to someone else.
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Dates
for the diary
District
Testimony Service
A service to hear the public testimony of Rev’ds Samantha
Hagerman, Stuart Reed and Josephine Soon and to celebrate their
journey to ordination will be held online on Saturday 22nd May at
6pm. Details of the live streaming will be
available nearer the date, which is both the eve of Pentecost and
Aldersgate Sunday. Sam and Josephine, whose ordination has
been delayed by the pandemic, will be ordained on Saturday 19th
June. Subject to Conference, Stuart will be ordained on
27th June. Please pray for all three of them as they
prepare for ordination.
Stationing
Training Arrangements
All stationing training will take place online this year. The
arrangements will also be different from previous years in that
the information will be spread over several shorter sessions, as
follows:
- Thursday 6th May
at 7pm: Brief
overview for all those involved in stationing. This
marks the start of the stationing process, from which date
conversations with ministers can begin. (45 mins max)
- Monday 24th May
at 7pm: A session
for Circuits and ministers expecting to be involved in
re-invitation. It is very important that everyone who
will be playing an active role in this process attends (1 hr
max)
- Thursday 27th May
at 6pm: A session
for ministers seeking a new appointment (45 mins max)
- Thursday 27th May
at 7.15pm: A session
for Circuits entering a profile into stationing (45
mins max)
Links to
join online will be made available later.
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Good
Friday Resources from the District Chair
A
reflection on Psalm 121 suitable for use on Good Friday worship
or for personal reflection. Feel free to share it in any way
you wish to. If anyone would like the actual video file
please contact the District
Office.
Here is the link to the YouTube clip: https://youtu.be/p-Pv7IVRtm4
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Self
Care and Mental Health Workshop for Leaders and Activists
by
Learning Network - The West Midlands Region
A space for leaders and activists to talk about mental health as
they support communities dealing with unprecedented need, grief
& loss.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/self-care-and-mental-health-workshop-for-leaders-and-activists-tickets-145827850025
Date and Time: Tue,
13 July 2021. 12:30 – 14:00
About
this Event
This has been an incredibly busy and challenging season. Those of
us who invest our lives in loving and serving our communities and
responding to urgent crises can easily become overwhelmed with
the need we see in front of us and daunted by the unknown path
ahead.
On top of the physical deprivation we see, there is also a deepening
mental health crisis as we all deal with collective trauma and
loss in some way. As leaders and activists, it can be tempting to
minimise our own experiences of grief and exhaustion until we hit
a breaking point.
The
Methodist Learning Network West Midlands, in
partnership with Red
Letter Christians UK, invites you to join us for
an online workshop led by Mental Health First Aid Instructor,
Activist & Minister Mick Kane. This is a safe space for us to
re-centre ourselves around some contemplative practices, to share
with others how we are feeling and to consider how we care for
others better by caring for ourselves. We want to draw more fully
on the spiritual resilience that God's Spirit can provide and
make space to support and care for one another as we share a
similar journey.
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Living
Library
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED IF YOU MIGHT VOLUNTEER FOR A LAY ROLE IN
CHURCH LIFE, OR EVEN EXPLORE ORDAINED MINISTRY OR PAID LAY WORK?
- If you have a
sense that God might be nudging you in to a role in church
life, but you’re not sure and you don’t want to make a fuss
at church, then you can come to this event and meet people
from other churches.
- It is a place
where there are no ‘silly’ questions
How it
works:
- We have some
‘books’ committed to be at the event.
Local
Preachers, Administrators, Stewards (circuit and church),
Presbyters, Deacons, Children Youth & Families Workers,
Global Mission Partners, Pioneer or Planters, Chaplains, Youth
Reps, Youth President and other young adult leaders.
- ‘Readers’ visit
the ‘books’ in breakout rooms, and the ‘books’ share their
stories, and the ‘readers’ can ask questions and together
they engage in a conversation.
- The event is
10-12 on 22nd May
- There will be up
to 3 breakout room opportunities, and 3 times of prayer all
together (we will be engaging with 3 different styles of
discernment prayer)
- If people only
want to ‘read’ one book, they can visit that book 3 times,
or they can head off after they have ‘read’ the book. It is
very flexible.
www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/vocations/living-library/
Please contact Alison Ransome if there is anything else it would
be helpful to know ransomea@methodistchurch.org.uk
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TMCP
new email address
TMCP is
currently carrying out a major upgrade to its IT systems and
moving towards more online ways of working. One change to
note is that it has a new e-mail address: finance@tmcp.org.uk.
Although its original e-mail address will be active for a
short while, this will be taken out of use soon, so I would
advise using the new one from now on.
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Palestine
During the Pandemic Q & A
Thursday
25th March 10am
Three speakers from Palestine each with fifteen minutes to
describe what life has been like for them during the Pandemic,
followed by an interactive Q+A
For more information and booking details click here.
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Q
& A Covid 19 Vaccines Webinar
You are
invited to join us on Thursday
25th March (6pm) for Q & A
Covid 19 Vaccines Webinar, the third in this series. We will have
an experienced panel of speakers including Dr Masood Ahmed who is
the Chief Medical Officer and people from a variety of EEA
grassroots organisations sharing. The sessions will have a BSL translator.
Bookings are FREE and can be made via https://vaccine-and-faith3.eventbrite.co.uk
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UK
Christian charity invites you to March for Myanmar
#marchformyanmar
The peace-building charity, Cord, is launching 3 weeks of action
to support the people of Myanmar. For the rest of March, people
are invited to pray, post photos on social media, write to their
MP and donate to a fundraising appeal.
Cord’s Patron, The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth,
Bishop of Coventry said:
“Myanmar and its people have been on my heart for many years and
especially now as they stand on the precipice of disaster. I pray
for peace, for restraint, that the situation won’t spiral into
violence and chaos. I invite you to join me in praying for
Myanmar and its people. Taking part in March for Myanmar is one
way we can add our voices to those calling for a lasting
solution.”
The Military Coup on February 1 saw Myanmar’s democratically
elected government arrested and detained. Millions have taken to
the streets to peacefully protest only to be met with flash bang
grenades, smoke bombs, water cannons, rubber bullets and live
ammunition. To date over 80 innocent people have been killed and
over 1,500 arrested. But the people won’t be silenced. Many have
said that they would sooner die than return to the dark days of
military rule.
Nick Thorley, Cord’s Fundraising Manager said:
“We’re encouraging people to take some really simple actions that
will send a powerful message to our sisters and brothers in
Myanmar. We want them to know that we are thinking and praying
for them, that we stand with them and that we don’t accept what
has happened.”
People are encouraged to post photos of themselves on social
media wearing red or red ribbons - the colour worn by protesters
in Myanmar. They can tag Cord and use the hashtag
#marchformyanmar.
It is hoped that constituents will write to their MPs to express
their concern. Cord says that the UK Government can play their
part by introducing an arms embargo, targeted sanctions and
banning trade with military-linked businesses.
Donations can also be made to Cord’s Myanmar appeal which will
raise vital funds for their ongoing peace-building work.
Cord’s Chief Executive Andy Pask said:
“We’ve been working in Myanmar for a decade and in that period
there have been huge steps forward. This is a time to redouble
our efforts on behalf of the people of Myanmar, not a time to
step backwards.”
People wishing to participate in March for Myanmar can find all
the information by visiting cord.org.uk/marchformyanmar,
following Cord on Facebook and using the hashtag
#marchformyanmar.
Andy Pask, Cord’s CEO, is available for interview.
Nick Thorley, Cord’s Fundraising Manager is available for
interview.
To arrange interviews or for more information contact Nick
Thorley:
nthorley@cord.org.uk or
07482 236 792
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Don't
be fooled online free training
Online scams are increasing but would you know what to do? TCT’s
Just Finance team are working with Nat West Group to run this
FREE short online Zoom webinar to equip and empower you. Please
register at https://dont-be-fooled-online.eventbrite.co.uk
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Distracting
our Young People for the Better – Approaches to Keeping them Safe
Webinar
TCT are
delighted to be working with the Children's Society to co-host
this exciting Regional Webinar for people across the West
Midlands. Book now at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Jy9ysfyVR76qBZfMLEViKA
Wednesday 14 April 2021, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
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Christian
Aid Vaccination Campaign
Click here
to see the press release from Lichfield announcing that the
District is joining them in partnering Christian Aid in giving
people an opportunity to give thanks for their Covid-19 vaccine
by helping others in crisis across the world.
Here’s the online giving link here: https://events.tapsimple.org/online/christian-aid/diolichfield
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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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