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

Sent:                               26 January 2022 12:26

To:                                   beckminster@talktalk.net

Subject:                          26/01/2022

 

New this week:
Stationing Training
Discover Church at the Margins
Connexional Events open to all
SRC members needed
Children, Youth, Family & Intergenerational Ministry questionnaire
In case you missed it:
Cliff College Holy Habits Retreat
District Pilgrimage Easter 2022
Amplify Youth Event
Methodist Conference Volunteers 
Discover Church at the Margins
Children's Support Fund (email updated)



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

View this email in your browser

Stationing Training 2022

Following the positive response to online training sessions last year, training in Stationing processes will once again be held online and broken down into separate sections.  The training will be conducted by the Chair and the District Lay Stationing Rep.
Ministers and Circuits expected to be involved in stationing will receive individual notification of these sessions.  The training is for ministers, spouses/partners, Superintendents and Circuit Stewards involved in reviews or moves.  Training on the process for re-invitation would also be very helpful for any other people, such as Church Stewards, who may play a part in the review process.
 
7pm Thursday 5th May:  An introduction to the Stationing Process*  
 
7pm  Monday 23rd May:  The re-invitation process  
 
6pm  Tuesday 24 May:  New appointments (Ministers)
7.30pm  Tuesday 24 May:  New appointments (Circuit Invitation Committee)
 
*NB the District Policy Committee previously arranged for that date is being postponed due to other factors)
 
 

 

Discover Church at the Margins

A 90 mins online introductory session
 
When: 7-8.30pm on 1st February 2022
ForWest Midlands Learning Network region
 
Over the following ten months we are holding an introduction to Church at the Margins in each learning network region. Open to all.  
Poverty across the UK is rising with a devastating impact on the lives of individuals and communities. How should we respond? What is God’s invitation to us? This webinar offers an  introduction to the vision and values of Church at the economic margins with stories from local practitioners in urban and rural contexts.
 
Hosted: by Eunice Attwood, Church at the Margins Officer and Sarah Hulme, Rural Officer.
 
Click on the link below to register
 
 
REGISTER NOW

 

Connexional Events open to all.

Divine Online – the monthly meetup for digital practitioners
Are you working in a digital field or interested in how digital is shaping the church? Want to learn more about digital theology and finding God online? This monthly meet up is facilitated by Fiona Fidgin, Digital Training Officer for the Methodist Church.
Meeting monthly on the second Wednesday of each month 2pm – 3.15pm starting Feb 9th. Come and join in the learning and the conversation. Sign up here to register:
https://forms.gle/ZMJ7FrSDC5FXnNVe8
 
ENCOUNTER 2022:  a Methodist exploration of discipleship & vocation
Ever wondered what God is calling you to? Would you like to have a greater impact as a Christian disciple? Make 2022 the year in which you join with others to explore your gifts and faith. ‘Encounter’ is a place to deepen your awareness of God an opportunity to reflect on your faith journey a supportive small group environment for sharing and learning together.
Starts February 2022, ends November  2022. To find out more visit  www.methodist.org.uk/encounter
 
Positive Working Together: Bullying and Harassment
Join a group to explore some basic techniques to create good practices in ministry (lay or ordained) that address negative behaviour. This course takes place over two mornings and is led by Gill Thomas and Kerry Scarlett (Learning Network). Please be available on both Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th February, 09:30 to 13:00, on zoom. To book your place go to:   https://bhfeb2022.eventbrite.co.uk  Bookings close on 9th February 2022. For more information contact Gill Thomas thomasg@methodistchurch.org.uk
For additional training dates for Positive Working Together courses (including Growing through Change and Conflict, and Scripture, Spirituality and Conflict) please visit the following webpage and scroll down until you see the section on training dates for 2022. https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/guidance-for-churches/introducing-positive-working-together/training-in-positive-working-together/
 
 
Beginning a Church at the Margins: A 3 session interactive online course
Aim of the course: A space to think about connecting and becoming a community of new Christians amongst and led by people experiencing poverty.
For: People who are passionate about their community with very little or no experience of this kind of work. Whilst you can attend alone ideally, we would like you to join as a team (you plus one other person from your church or circuit) to share in conversation together (if you are an experienced pioneer drop us an email for more information).
Important: Each session in the course builds on the previous session, so you need to be available to attend all three sessions. The sessions are designed to be interactive rather than formal presentations and will not be recorded. This course is open to all across the connexion (not just West Midlands)
Hosted by: Eunice Attwood, Church at the Margins Officer and Kerry Scarlett, Regional Learning and Development Officer
To book: please click the links (in blue) below, or go to https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-work/our-work-in-britain/evangelism-growth/discover-church-at-the-margins/church-at-the-margins-training/ and click the links in red beside the dates you wish to attend.
When: First Course
Tuesday 15th March 7-9pm: Session One: Creating connections and spaces where people truly encounter one another.
Tuesday 29th March 7-9pm: Session Two: Nurturing communities in which people with lived experience of poverty are recognised as the experts
Tuesday 12th April 7-9pm: Session Three: Sharing the gospel and seeing transformation as people grow in faith and challenge injustice.    
The course will be repeated on the following dates:
Wednesday 8th June 7-9pm: Session One: Creating connections and spaces where people truly encounter one another.
Wednesday 22nd June7-9pm: Session Two: Nurturing communities in which people with lived experience of poverty are recognised as the experts
Wednesday 13th July7-9pm: Session Three: Sharing the gospel and seeing transformation as people grow in faith and challenge injustice.    
If you would be interested in attending this course over two days face to face at Cliff College, please email: attwoode@methodistchurch.org.uk
 
 
 
Covenant Online Retreat Feb 3rd 7pm
Does our covenant prayer inspire you, or make you run for cover? Join this online retreat to hear how some young Methodists made a covenant with God, and prayerfully consider which aspects of a Methodist Way of Life you are being called to explore.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcuirrjwoHNMWW3yBeLVqanmTXuxSBX8t
 
Evangelism in an Interfaith Context Mar 10th 7:30pm
Jesus tells us to ‘go out and make disciples’, but what kind of evangelism, if any, is appropriate in an inter-faith context? Is our ultimate aim to convert our siblings of other faiths to Christianity, or can we be confident Christian witnesses while learning from and celebrating the differences in one another’s religions? We’ll tackle these questions and more in this webinar co-hosted by St Philip’s Centre in Leicester and the Evangelism and Growth team of the Methodist Church. There will be an interfaith panel, a keynote theological address, a chance to discuss, and some practical guidance
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElde-przwuGtFRQYiPJ-GFKRqyQWyeK-Wz
 
 

 

New Members needed for Strategy and Resources Committee

The Strategy and Resources Committee are seeking two new members. Initially this would be for a term up to four years, but with the work on Oversight and Trusteeship continuing this may be reduced.
Expressions of interest are invited from lay and ordained members of the Methodist Church in Britain. If you are aware of anyone that you feel has the skills, proven ability and gifts in governance or strategic thinking and planning to enhance the mission of the Church then please encourage them to complete an expression of interest form.
The deadline for the forms is 12 noon, Friday 11 February 2022 via email -recruitment@methodistchurch.org.uk. 
The interview date is to be confirmed. 
 
If you have any further queries then please contacthr@methodistchurch.org.uk
 

 

Children, Youth, Family & Intergenerational Ministry questionnaire

Tell us about your ministry! We want a snapshot of children, youth, family & intergenerational ministry across the connexion, in order to better support and resource this work in future. If you’re a district, circuit or local church leader or supporter of this ministry, then please complete our short survey before 11 February 2022.
 
You can respond as an individual, or if you’ve got a district/circuit/church meeting coming up then please put it on the agenda and give us a group response – it’s sure to generate some interesting conversations.

 We welcome responses from District Chairs, District Missioners, 3Gen District Ambassadors, members of NPNP Shaper groups, Synod Secretaries, District Policy Committee Secretaries, Superintendents, Presbyters, Deacons, Lay Employees, youth leaders, children's group leaders, Sunday School leaders, families workers, both paid and voluntary leaders, and others – in short, anyone who leads or supports this kind of ministry! We also welcome multiple responses per district/circuit, as this helps to build a richer picture.

Questionnaire for district leaders | Questionnaire for circuit leaders | Questionnaire for local church leaders
For more information, please contact Ella Sibley-Ryan, Mission Team Projects Officer.
 

 

Holy Habits Retreat

4-6 March 2022 at Cliff College
The call to Christian discipleship is a call to adventure. Holy Habits explores this adventure through a rich mix of biblical material and inspiring stories. This weekend retreat from Cliff College is led by the author of Holy Habits, Andrew Roberts, and will include devotions, conversations, creative activities and space for personal reflection. Read more and book here.
 

 

District Pilgrimage: Easter 2022

Celebrate Easter this year by joining a small Pilgrim Community sharing life together as we travel through beautiful Shropshire Countryside (subject to COVID restrictions at the time).  We’ll be using a route tried and tested in 2019, staying overnight at churches in Church Stretton, Stiperstones, Bishop’s Castle, Clun, Craven Arms and Ludlow.
Begins Easter Monday 18th April.  Arrives Ludlow 23rd April with invitation to stay and lead worship together on Sunday 24th April.
Up to around 10 miles walking per day on footpaths with some stiles.  Very steady pace!
Accommodation is on church floors but with support vehicles to transport luggage and bedding of your choice.  Catering will be done communally.  Over 18’s only for overnight stays, but day walkers will be welcome.
Suggested contribution £110 pp to cover food and transport but means to pay should not be exclusive.
To show an interest and for more information please contact the District Office: admin@wsmethodist.org.uk
 

 

Amplify Youth Event

The Birmingham and Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury districts are working together to put on a residential event for our young people called Amplify. Following the success of 2020's event, we are so excited to get our young people back together again.
 
Held over the weekend of the 11th-13th March, young people will gather, with their leaders, at the Pioneer Centre in Cleobury Mortimer for outdoor activities, worship, games and Bible study as well as informal times of fellowship to build friendships around the Districts. 
 
The cost has been subsidised by the Districts, costing £80 for young people and £20 for leaders, to include all accommodation, activities and food for the weekend. 
 
In order to book on to this exciting event, leaders or parents will need to use this eventbrite link to book. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/amplify-2022-tickets-199680829737?ref=estw

Amplify 2022
Weekend away of fun and fellowship for all aged 8-18 in the Birmingham and Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury Methodist Districts.
www.eventbrite.co.uk

 In using this system, the cost is taken up front, although alternative arrangements will be put in place if this is not possible, so please do encourage any young people in your circuits to be involved.
 
If you want to be involved with the planning of the weekend, or have people in your churches who are particularly passionate about this work with young people, then please don't hesitate to be in touch with Melody Jones (layworkermelody@hotmail.com)  - the more varied this group, the better!
 
 
Thank you so much
Melody
 

 

Telford '22 Methodist Conference Volunteers Needed

 

Children's Support Fund

The above fund has been available to access for about 18 months now and I would encourage more applicants to support the young and disadvantaged children from our District. As we are now coming out of the pandemic I am sure Churches are looking at what new activities they might be able to run and this fund may be able to help. There is a ceiling of £500 and applications need to made on the attached form and emailed to Tim Lorimer @ tim.a.lorimer@gmail.com
 
Some examples of activities we have supported are:
 
Kingswinford. Purchase of Lego sets for their Full of Spirits Project
 
St John's Bloxwich.  Support for School meals
 
Fallings Park, Stationary bags to support prayer spaces for Children
 
Stafford.  Tablets to help in school work
 
Beckminster.  Christingle Bags
 
Aldridge.  Support for their ECO warriors project
 
Bourne Methodists.  Support for newly formed Dads and Children's Saturday club
 
Cole Street.. Working with Safer Families Charity providing activities for Children
   
Should anyone want more details of these projects please send me an email.
 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2022 Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District - The Methodist Church, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are a part of the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District.

Our mailing address is:

Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District - The Methodist Church

Beckminster Methodist Church

Birches Barn Road

Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV3 7BQ

United Kingdom


Add us to your address book



unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp