'Hymnal Plus' digital worship music player advice in the Midlands

For any practical advice on the HT-300 Hymnal Plus from a regular user in worship do ring for a chat, or better still, even if just curious, do ask for a demonstration at your church or home, wherever you are in the Midlands.

andrew.emm@start-yesterday.co.uk  or  07770 658450 anytime

or visit  www.start-yesterday.co.uk/hymnal.php

PUBLICISE YOUR NEWS AND EVENTS
There is now a 'Connexional noticeboard' on www.methodist.org.uk, where you can publicise your own news or events.
See what's going on near you, and share your events with a wider audience.
Inspire others with your good news, and be inspired.
The events and news listings have RSS feeds, so that you can keep up with what's going on easily.
See http://www.methodist.org.uk/local

Hospital Chaplaincy

- a request for information

At last year’s Spring Synod, where we focussed on chaplaincies, I was asked to coordinate the group which looked at the work of hospital chaplains.  It soon became apparent that our District records are out-of-date (where chaplains have moved or left the District but perhaps not informed Deborah at the office) and it appears that some hospital chaplains are not being recognised for the work that they do.  Since then I have also received a request from the Free Church Health Care Chaplaincy Group (who function under the umbrella of Churches Together in England) for information to update their records, as they are experiencing similar problems.

If you are doing any sort of ministry in hospital chaplaincy in the District – either full-time, part-time or sessional (eg six hours per week), lay or ordained – I should be grateful if you would be willing to contact me with your details and I can liaise with Deborah to include you in our District directory.  With your permission I can also forward your details to the Free Church Health Care Chaplaincy Group for their register and mailing list.

Please e-mail me on 2tonges@greenbee.net or Lynne.Tonge@gwent.wales.nhs.uk

Many thanks.

Lynne Sylvester-Tonge

One of the contributors to the May-August edition of the BRF Guidelines series of bible reading notes is Rev Dr Peter Hatton. He is commenting on the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis.

The Last Wesleyan – A life of Donald Soper

HARDBACK – 336 PAGES - £17.99

To order a copy please phone Mark Peel on 0131 332 0602 or write to 3/1 North Werber Park, Edinburgh, EH4 1SY

BIRMINGHAM SOUTH-WEST METHODIST CIRCUIT

CIRCUIT ADMINISTRATORS REQUIRED

Job-share opportunity

2 part-timers @ 10 hours each per week

pref. spread over three mornings (flexi-time) at

Circuit Office, Selly Oak Church, Langleys Road B29

Salary £4,000 per person

   Skills required:   

Office & administration management

Computer

Inter-personal

Communication               

                    Ability to work alone and as part of a team

           Website management (training available)

Application form available from superintendent minister Rev Doreen Hare, 17 Churchcroft  B17 0SL

Tel: 0121 427 1747 Email:  doreen.hare@btinternet.com

Application closing date Friday 25 April 2008

V A C A N C Y

Methodist Homes

MIDLANDS REGION

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT

 (Voluntary post – District appointment)

• Are you concerned about the welfare and care of older people in the Church and wider community?

• Do you have an interest in the work of Methodist Homes and the ability to communicate information effectively throughout the District?

• Would you like to be involved with a highly regarded Church-based organisation during an exciting period in its life?

• Have you got time, enthusiasm and skills to offer for this important role as the link between Methodist Homes and the Birmingham District and as a point of contact for the Circuit Representatives?

If you can answer ‘Yes’ to those questions, or you know of someone who could, we should be delighted to hear from you!

Previous involvement with our work is not essential but enthusiasm and commitment are important for this key voluntary post.  You will need to be active and have access to transport to make occasional visits around the District.  All reasonable travel and other expenses related to the role will be reimbursed upon request.  You will receive full support and information to assist you in the role.

For a copy of the role description and to find out more, please contact:

Lesley France (Community Fundraising Manager)

Tel 0113 272 8466

Email Lesley.france@mha.org.uk

Methodist Homes for the Aged  Registered as a Charity – No 1083995 Methodist Homes for the Aged is part of MHA Care Group

YOU CANNOT CONVERT, TRAIN AS DOCTORS OR FILL SCHOOLS WITH

THE UNBORN

Read Kenneth Griffin’s new book.

We! An Endangered Species?

 Commended by Lady Richardson, Tom Stuckey and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

I recommend your book to people in the third world so that they can learn from the mistakes of the past.

Dr Godwin Imandeh;( Nigeria) BSc., MSc.(Jos), Ph.D(Wales)

Price £9.99. Available from Waterstones, on line at trafford.com/06-3323 or from Ken plus £1p&p

Order form to

Rev. Kenneth Griffin BD, 56 Broadmead, Killay. Swansea SA2 7EJ 

Please send me             copy(ies) of We! An Endangered Species at £9.99 each plus £1 P & P for which I enclose appropriate cheque.

Name

Address

The New Fire Safety Regulations and how they affect Your Place of Worship!
                
 The West Midlands Fire Service will be holding a number of events around the Region, with their next one being repeated over two days at the West Midlands Fire Service Training Centre, Dartmouth Road, Smethwick B66 1BG.
 * Thursday 12th June 2008 at 10.00am - 12.15pm (followed by lunch)
 * Friday 20th June 2008 at 2.00pm - 4.15pm (followed by refreshments)
 The events are specifically for Places of Worship, to inform people of the new legislations and how it will apply to their premises and what is required to achieve compliance.
 It is very important that ALL Places of Worship know about this information.
 For further information and to to book a place please go to:
 http://www.wmfaithsforum.org.uk/home/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=51&Itemid=45

A collection for the Methodist Ministers' Children's Relief Association was taken during the Synod. The purpose of the MMCRA is "to promote the welfare of persons who are children of Methodist ministers and are necessitous circumstances". In practice this means grants in instances of disability and in most cases this takes the form of an ongoing payment to the minister concerned.

Pentecost Prayer – Birmingham Cathedral 4.00-5.30pm Sunday 11th May 2008 Hosted by Bishop David Urquhart and Archbishop Vincent Nichols – Further information from Michele Simms

Soul Clinic at the Earlsdon Festival Monday 5th May 2008 10.30am – 5.00pm Earlsdon Methodist Church – Please visit stall at lunchtime for further details

Journey to Justice – Sunday 18th May 2008, 2.30pm, ICC, Birmingham – Celebrating ten years since the Birmingham human chain for Jubilee Debt Campaign, www.journeytojustice.org

A regional Charity Reform Roadshow has been arranged to take place on 14 June 2008. at Coventry Central Hall.  The aim of this event will be

1. To inform Methodist trustees of their obligations under the Act. 
2. To assist trustees to complete a substantial portion of the registration application at the event and offer guidance to the trustees in completing the remaining points of the Form relating to their aims and activities.

Exhibition launch of Palestinian Women on Wed 7 May, 6pm at the The Drum, Potters Lane, Birmingham, B6 4UU. www.the-drum.org.uk