|
New this week:
Last Chance to sign up for Scratch Choir
3Gen Tickets and Grants
New Circuit Numbers for New District
Consultation on New Funerary Methods
In case you
missed it:
Children, Youth and Families Worker needed
Beckly Lecture
New Resources for Church Growth
Dignity Freedom Network
Action for Children News
Single Friendly Church Network
Spring Dance Company
Dates for your diary
New District Synod Secretary needed
Spiritual Companions Course
Advanced Safeguarding Training
New District Website - reminder
Dial-a-prayer
free phone line to hear prayers : 0808 281 2514 Methodist News :
0808 281 2478
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scratch
Choir for launch of WM District - last chance to sign up!
Born
in Song – Come and Sing!
The launch
and welcome service at the end of August is fast approaching! You
can just turn up on the day but do book a ticket on this link to
let us know you are coming and ensure that you are catered for
after the service.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/district-launch-and-chairs-welcome-service-tickets-1420708781209?aff=oddtdtcreator
Last
chance to sign up for the choir… details are available on the
website http://www.wmmethodists.org.uk
and signup by emailing the Birmingham District office – office@birminghammethodist.org.uk
.
The scratch choir will lead the congregational singing and sing a
feature item in the service on 30th August in
Walsall to launch the new West Midlands District and welcome the
new Chair of District.
- No prior singing
experience required
- No expectation on
reading music (printed music will be provided for those who
prefer to read)
- We ask that
people attend at least one rehearsal and then the rehearsal
and event on the day (30th August).
The dates are as follows:
Monday
30th June 7pm - 9pm
St Johns Methodist Hereford
St Owen's St, Hereford HR1 2PR
Saturday
5th July 3pm - 4:30pm
Stratford Methodist Church
Old Town, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 6BG
Monday
28th July 7pm – 9pm
Shirley Methodist Church
257 Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull, B90 3AL
Wednesday
30th July 7pm – 9pm
New Road Methodist Church Stourbridge
29 New Road, Stourbridge, DY8 1PQ
Thursday
28th August 7pm – 9pm
Carrs Lane Church Centre
Carrs Lane, Birmingham, B4 7SX
Saturday
30th August Rehearsal: 11:30am – 12:30pm Service: 3pm
– 4:30pm
Walsall Central Hall
Central Hall, Ablewell St, Walsall WS1 2EQ
|
|
|
3Generate
2025 tickets and grants
3 - 5 October at the NEC, Birmingham
Ticket
sales are now live - click here
3Generate
is back and bigger than ever in 2025! We are looking forward
to welcoming even more children and young people from across
the Connexion to experience an amazing weekend packed full of
fun, faith and discipleship.
There is also financial assistance for all attendees from the
District. Please click here
to access the grant form.
There
are also volunteer roles to suit everyone, no matter your skills,
experience or ability. You’ll join a dedicated team of volunteers
– and a great network of like-minded people! Please encourage
your churches to sign up. Find out more about the different
roles available and how to sign up at the following link: http://www.methodist.org.uk/3Genvols.
|
|
|
New
Circuit Numbers for the New West Midlands District
Please
be aware that the following numbers will apply for Circuits in
the West Midlands Methodist District from 1st
September 2025
3/1
Anchor
3/2 Birmingham
3/3 Birmingham (Sutton Park)
3/4 Birmingham (West) and Oldbury
3/5 The Black Country
3/6 Bromsgrove and Redditch
3/7 Cannock Chase
3/8 Coventry and Nuneaton
3/9 Dudley and Netherton
3/10 Herefordshire (South and East)
3/11 Hidden River
3/12 Kidderminster and Stourport
3/13 Shropshire and Marches
3/14 South Warwickshire
3/15 South Worcestershire
3/16 Stafford
3/17 Tamworth and Lichfield
3/18 Telford
3/19 Vale of Stour
3/20 Wolverhampton
|
|
|
Consultation
on New Funerary Methods
A
consultation has been recently launched by the Law Commission
relating to new funerary methods as alternatives to burial and
cremation. Details can be found by clicking the link below,
Please be aware that the contents may be triggering to certain
individuals.
https://lawcom.gov.uk/project/new-funerary-methods/
The Methodist Church are considering the legal and
theological/doctrinal implications of the proposals to enable us
to submit a response on behalf of the Methodist Church as a
whole. The Churches Legislation Advisory Service will also submit
a response. If you have particularly strong views on the
proposals, please let us know by replying to this email.
You are also free to respond to the consultation individually and
you may also wish to share the link with the Circuits in your
District for their input.
The consultation closes on 4 September 2025. Due to summer
holidays, we expect to submit the Methodist Church’s response
sometime in mid-August.
|
|
|
Telford
Children, Youth and Families' Worker needed.
The Methodist Church Telford
Circuit
Children,
Youth and Families’ Worker
£27,570-£31,320pa depending on qualifications and experience
37.5 hours per week with 30 days holiday per annum, plus
statutory holidays.
• Can
you inspire and support the Telford Circuit and its churches in
our work with children, young people, and families?
• Can you increase engagement with our existing connections
within the circuit and local churches?
• Can you innovate to connect with those not yet involved, using
principles of pioneer mission and the God for All strategy?
• Can you lead efforts to help children, young people, and
families discover and commit to Christian discipleship?
If so,
we would love to hear from you.
Please email super@telfordmeth.org.uk
for an application pack.
Closing Date for applications: Monday 30 June 2025
Interviews expected to be during the week beginning 7 July 2025
Post commences: 1 September 2025
|
|
|
Beckly
Lecture at Methodist Conference '25
Monday
30 June | 6.45pm
You are invited to the Beckly Lecture, at Methodist Conference in
Telford – or join us online.
Anthony Reddie, Professor of Black Theology at the University of
Oxford, will be speaking on the topic: “Whiteness is the
Sea, not the Shark: a postcolonial critique of British Methodism”.
Reserve your free place at jpit.uk/beckly-lecture
|
|
|
New
Resources to Help Churches Grow
A new
edition of ‘Our Church’s Future Story: Guidance and resources for
growth planning’ is being launched at the Superintendents’
Conferences and is available now. Our Church’s Future Story will
help your churches discern a growth plan that will help them
steward their limited resources well, with God’s help. The new
edition can be ordered
free from Methodist Publishing now, and a new suite of
digital resources is available at methodist.org.uk/grow.
Several 60-minute
Zoom walkthroughs of this new pack are scheduled
during June – church leaders can pick the best time for them and
find out how they could use Our Church’s Future Story to see
their churches grow.
|
|
|
Dignity
Freedom Network - speakers available
Dignity
Freedom Network UK, a registered charity based locally in
Stafford, partners with OMIF (a humanitarian initiative of the
Good Shepherd Church of India) to bring dignity and hope to poor
and marginalised people of South Asia.
We strive to live out Isaiah 61:1 with integrity by providing
Education, Healthcare, Economic Empowerment, and Community
Development programmes which impact thousands of disenfranchised
people annually. We particularly serve outcaste women and girls
who often face the additional burdens of gender discrimination
and exploitation. Our work is led and directed by Asian staff to
maximise the impact on communities while maintaining cultural
integrity.
Theologically-trained staff would love the opportunity to raise
awareness among your congregations of our work, be that Sunday
congregations or mid-week meetings including children’s/teens’
work etc. Please get in touch or see our secure website for more
information: https://www.dfn.org.uk
Please feel free to forward/distribute this email and my contact
details to Ministers and other Leaders in your church circuit.
Thank you very much,
Janet
Janet
Carleton
Partner
Communications
DFN UK
DFN UK, PO Box 3560, Stafford ST16 9QP
01785 785068
www.dfn.org.uk
|
|
|
Action
for Children News
|
News and upcoming events
Annual Supporter Survey
We're inviting our valued Action for Children
supporters to take part in our annual survey. With
your feedback, we can improve the experience of
those who support us. Your opinion truly matters to
us, so we would love it if you could spare 15
minutes to fill out our survey.
By completing the survey, you can also enter our
prize draw to win one of two Love2shop vouchers
worth £50, which you will be able to spend at over
95 top brands on the high street, on dining out,
holidays, music or even experiences. Enter the
prize draw* at the end of the survey for a chance
to win!
There will also be a chance to sign up to focus
group sessions taking place in July with a
guaranteed £30 Love2shop voucher for anyone who
attends – but be quick, because spaces are limited!
Take the
survey here
*T&C's
apply
Celebrate Action for Children Sunday
Thank you to the churches
that have told us that they are holding a special
worship service to celebrate Action for Children
Sunday over the coming months. We are so
excited to hear about your plans.
Another way you can celebrate Action for Children Sunday
with family and friends is to host a cream tea or
afternoon tea. To help you plan, we have produced a
booklet with ideas, and templates for a menu and
poster.
Just visit actionforchildren.uk/faithFR
and scroll to 'Action for Children Sunday'
where you will find it along with the worship
material.
Honouring our Heritage
Our Honouring our Heritage campaign to celebrate
the legacy of our rich history is just round the
corner. This June, we will be shining a spotlight
on our wonderful home collection box holders. If
you have a story to share, we’d love to hear from
you! What’s your earliest memory of your home
collection box? Did your parents or grandparents do
it before you? Please get in touch at giftsinwills@actionforchildren.org.uk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Single
Friendly Church Network
My
name is Liz and I am the Church Engagement Officer for
Single Friendly Church Network. I am emailing to let you know
about our free resources and training opportunities for church
leaders, as a perfect follow up to the 2024
Methodist report on Singleness.
What
is Single Friendly Church Network?
We are a Christian charity helping churches to welcome and value
single people at every stage of life. We are research-based and
provide free resources and training for churches and leaders.
We believe listening to single people’s voices is so important to
pastoral care and church growth. You can also watch
our short video to find out more about our work.
Our
free resources and training for church leaders
We would love to work with any staff responsible for mission or
training in your District - to ensure that church leaders and
singles' advocates in your area are aware of our work, such as:
- Why singleness is
such an important issue
- Our seasonal
resources
- Our free training
opportunities
- Our free 5
Step Audit that churches can complete to
become a Single Friendly Church
We would
especially like you to consider featuring our resources and
training opportunities in your communications and events
calendars across the year. Our next
webinar is on Tues 3rd June.
Bespoke
training for your District
We can also offer any bespoke training or presentations tailored
to your District. I would be more than happy to arrange a zoom
with you to discuss this.
Methodist
Conference 2025
If you are going to Telford in June and would like to meet us in
person - we will have an exhibitor stand throughout the
conference and a Fringe event on Mon 30th June.
I appreciate the time you have taken to read this email and look
forward to hearing from you.
Easter Blessings
--
Liz Dunbar
Church Engagement Officer
Single
Friendly Church Network
|
|
|
Spring
Dance Company dates
Springs
Dance Company are delighted to be touring our popular Christmas
production again this advent. Loved by everyone for the
enjoyable, nostalgic, easily relatable story and outstanding
performances by our world class dancers.
Journey of
the Magi is a professional production of dance,
theatre, song and poetry. It is a family show: accessible for
all, fun and thought-provoking, full of warmth, hilarity and
delight. It offers a wonderful opportunity to laugh, reflect and
refocus during advent.
Now available for churches to book between 21st
November – 22nd December 2025.
|
|
|
Dates
for your diary
Some
dates for your diaries:
Revd
Rachel Parkinson's leaving service:
Saturday 26th July 3pm at Berkswich.
The
inauguration service for the new District and welcome to new
Chair - Saturday 30th August 3pm at Walsall
Central Hall
|
|
|
WM
Synod are looking for a Synod Secretary
As we
continue to grow as the West Midlands Methodist District, new
roles and volunteer opportunities will start to be released
throughout March—beginning with senior roles.
Expressions of Interest are invited for the
role of:
Synod
Secretary
This is a voluntary role open to lay and ordained Methodists
living in the West Midlands District.
You will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team of the
District and a District Trustee with particular responsibility
for organising the twice a year Representative Synod meetings.
You will need to:
- be able to think
creatively and strategically and work collaboratively
and
have
- a proven
commitment to Justice Dignity & Solidarity,
- good
administrative and organisation skills,
- knowledge and
experience of several church settings,
- a good
understanding of charity governance particularly in a
Methodist Church context.
The
appointment is for 3 years with the possibility of extension for
a further 3 years.
Click here
for a full role description.
|
|
|
Course
for Spiritual Companions
Birmingham
Forum for Spiritual Directors and Companions are organising a one
year ecumenical Spiritual Accompaniment training course for lay
and ordained Christians from September 2025 to July 2026
It is ecumenical and two of the facilitators are Methodists.
Please click here
for more details.
|
|
|
Advanced
Safeguarding Courses - update
If your circuit requires a course please let me
know -
05/07/25
– Selly Oak MC Bham – 0945hrs registration
12/07/25
– Blackheath & Halesowen Circuit - Blackheath Central
Methodist church, High street Rowley Regis B65 0EH
0945hrs registration
04/10/25
– Brierley Hill MC Vale of Stour 0945hrs registration
Also
for online courses use this link – its uploaded with new options
regularly – if someone requires on line option can they please
email me so I can create an account with MCBX as there is pre
course work with this option – please bear in mind there is pre
work for online course via MCBX
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/nottingham-and-derby-methodist-district-32226456073
With on line options there is a requirement to complete the pre
course work via MCBX so anyone wishing to choose online course
need to email myself, Stephanie Bradley at StephanieBradley@birminghammethodist.org.uk so
I can create an account with MCBX as there is a requirement
to complete pre course work on MCBX – some people are just
attending the course without completing the MCBX work. The online
option is far more time consuming than face to face and the
feedback I receive is that the MCBX work is repeated at the on
line session – just for people to consider.
|
|
|
New
District Website and Socials launched
If you are looking for updates and news of the progress of the
District merger, the launch of the new website and socials
has now taken place so please click the link below to sign up for
news regarding the new West Midlands District so you don't miss a
thing!
https://www.wmmethodists.org.uk/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
