NEWS
Job Opportunities
The Methodist Church and the Priory Church, Leominster Herefordshire The MINBAR Project
Applications are invited for a three year appointment as Family Worker
Click here for more information
Janice and Peter Clark are in Sierra Leone
Peter was in circuit in Shirley in the 1980s and 1990s, then they went to Portugal, and from there to Mozambique. They came home 6 years ago and after a year working at UCA, Peter was stationed in Edinburgh. Janice was working at various things all this time - Habitat for Humanity from Edinburgh, and teaching English quite a lot of the time in Portugal and Mozambique, as well as teaching the Namibian students in Selly Oak while they were in Birmingham. They left for Sierra Leone at the beginning of November, to work in the theological college, an AIDS project
Click here for their blog
Fair Trade in solidarity with the Poor
Lent and Easter 2010 Click here for information
Solihull Methodist Church has approximately 100 (new) Holy Communion Worship Books which are surplus to requirements and free to anyone needing copies.
Contact Linda Innes (0121 705 0600) for further details
Click here for information re Palestinian olive oil and suggestion for use in Chrism Masses/Services and anointing services.
Revd Malcolm Brookes, a 69 year old retired Methodist minister from Hereford, is running the 2010 London marathon for Action for Children Click here for more information
WORLD DEBT NEWS UPDATE
To all who are journeying to justice,
Please take a moment to read Jubilee debt campaign news. Click here
Click here for 2009 accounts Click here for 2009 annual report
The 'Breathe' development project, jointly created by the West Midlands Churches' Further Education Council and Dare2Engage, is seeking a part-time self-employed consultant to organise sessions for young people in further education colleges using the 'Breathe' interactive resource.
Click here for more information Click here for further particulars document
St Andrew's, West Bromwich (an Anglican/Methodist LEP) has a number of bench style pews available for sale at just £30 each. Pews are of open backed design, constructed of pine and are 3m 25cm long. Enquiries to Revd Mike Claridge 0121 553 1871 or mjclaridge@tiscali.co.uk
Carrie Seaton's long awaited folk album Misadventure has finally been completed. On the CD (available directly from her - see below) she sings a wide range of British traditional songs and ballads. The musical arrangements are by Oxford based guitarist and composer John Whitworth. On some of the tracks, including the two instrumental interludes, John's guitar is augmented by flute, violin, harp and keyboards (supplied by Oli and Layla Whitworth).
To listen to sound samples of several of the tracks, visit:
www.oliwhitworth.wordpress.com/audiocredits
To order a copy of the CD, or for more information, email:
carrie.seaton@btopenworld.com
MHA CARE GROUP Chaplin
Allesley Hall, Coventry - 15 hours per week
Aldersgate, Nuneaton - 7 hours per week
Click here for more information
News from the Bible Reading Fellowship
Messy Church,
Foundations21
Paperless Christmas Click here
Latest Methodist Podcast is online.
It has been more than a year since 5,000 Christians lost their homes in a savage attack planned by extremists in the eastern state of Orissa in India.
Karen Burke travelled to India with a World Council of Churches’ Living Letters team (http://www.overcomingviolence.org/) to see how people have begun to rebuild their lives following the violence in August 2008.
Karen also met with social activists from high-profile NGOs in Delhi where she learned about the battles that women in India are fighting today.
This podcast features sound bites from interviews with Premindha Bannerjee from Christian Aid in India; Rama Hansraj from Catholic Relief Services; Sam Naik, director of the Happy Valley Children’s Home in Kandhamal and Ajit Nayak, a Catholic priest living in the town of Berhampur, Orissa.
To listen to the podcast, visit: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.webradio
IS GOD COLOUR-BLIND?
Insights from Black Theology for
Christian ministry by
Anthony G. Reddie
Click here for more information
Agricultural briefing for March 2010 Click here
NEWS from DISTRICT EVANGELISM ENABLER
DISTRICT INTER FAITH ENABLER-
Click here for October news Click here for November news
Click here for December news
Click here for February 2010 News
Click here for March 2010 News
Do you need an organist? Click here for more information
TREE AID
Choose TREE AID this year for your harvest theme and to help with your fundraising activities, we can send you posters and information about the wealth of foods available from trees.
Currently in Burkina Faso they are suffering yet again from the extreme weather conditions that are associated with climate change – see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8235040.stm for details of the recent floods. Over 100,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and find refuge elsewhere until the water recedes.
Please contact Lynne Knight Supporter Fundraising Assistant
TREE AID Brunswick Court Brunswick Square Bristol BS2 8ZZ
Direct Line: 0117 9166 437
email: lynne.knight@treeaid.org.uk
Website: www.treeaid.org.uk
TREE AID supports communities in rural Africa to fight poverty, become self reliant and improve their environment, using trees.
Celebrate the Bounty of Trees this Harvest Festival
Click here for more details of "Tree Aid"
Langleys Community House
Looking for- Accommodation? Christian values? New friends?
This is the Vision we have for the new Christian Community at the Langley's Community House;
We are a group of individuals who seek to express our Christian journey by sharing in an outward looking community. Click here for further information (WORD File) Click here for poster (WORD)
POWERPOINT WORSHIP MATERIALS FOR METHODIST CHURCHES
Click here for more information
Recuperative' Holiday
The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes administers three small funds from which it is possible to make modest bursaries to ministers or lay persons who are in need of a 'recuperative' holiday and whose financial circumstances prevent this. One of the funds is restricted to women only.
If any reader is in these circumstances, or wishes to nominate someone who is, perhaps they would write to me at Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JQ or telephone 0161 235 6770 and ask for an application form which will include a request to forward some personal details as well as the likely cost of the holiday. In order to spread the funds, we are not able to help the same persons in consecutive years.
New resource for faith and daily work
published by the Methodist Diaconal Order's Faith and Work Group
click here for more information
FRESH EXPRESIONS NEWS - Starting Church from Scratch - "On the Edge" DVD
Click here for more information
URBAN THEOLOGY IN ACTION Learning Together for a Change
Click here for flyer from Chris Shannahan
Monthly bulletin of what's happening at Methodist Central Mission, Birmingham.
Click here for WORD File Click here for Mission Web site
DISTRICT TRAINING GRANT Click here for application form (RTF format loadable into most word processors) Please return to District Office.
GODLY PLAY UK
For those of you who may not of heard of it Godly Play is a way of storytelling based on Montessori methods which churches across the Diocese have been using for about 5 years. Godly Play has contributed to many aspects of Church ministry, especially amongst children, since its introduction to the UK in 2001. A number of exciting projects have also pushed the boundaries of Godly Play into schools, prisons and hospital settings (two accredited teachers in Birmingham use it on a regular basis in the school at Birmingham Children's Hospital). In order to support existing Godly Play work across the regions and direct the future development of Godly Play, a national charity has been formed: Godly Play UK. To find out more about Godly Play visit www.godlyplay.org.uk
Witney High Street Methodist Church are developing the 'Catering' side of their Church.
Click here for more information
"Rejoice at the sound of the Organ" "He has put a new sound in my mouth"
Two collections of new music and arrangements available directly from the composer, Tim Attride.
Click here for more information (WORD file)
BBC Wesley material
http://www.bbc.co.uk/hampshire/content/articles/2007/10/11/wesley_feature.shtml
The audio was available to all BBC local radio stations across the county and broadcast by a good number of them. People should check with the BBC before using any of the audio material in services etc.
Operation Noah
Jean-Francois Mouhot
is happy to present Operation Noah and talk about Climate Change and
Christianity to any Churches (individually or as part of connected group)
which might be interested. A screening of "An
Inconvenient Truth" can also be arranged with with a debate afterwards (there might be some small
costs involved - a DVD can be provided free of charge, but there might be
copyright fees to consider if you do not have a Church Video licence) Further details are available from Jean-Francois Mouhot who can be contacted as follows:-
Jean-Francois Mouhot
Operation Noah
www.operationnoah.org
campaigns@operationnoah.org
Tel.: 020 7324 4761
Mobile: 07858 157839
Young Preacher's Network Our purpose is to support, nurture and encourage young preachers
Click here for further information
Presence In 2004 the publication "Presence" described a vision for the future of the rural church. (Copies can be obtained from "The Methodist Publishing House"). This is the first of a number of occasional papers reflecting how the rural church is developing today. Click here for WORD document
MHA fundraising Click here for letter from MHA Head of fundrasing (WORD File).
Birmingham District NETWORK Newsletter Click here (WORD file)
CHRISTIAN DEMONIMATIONS COME TOGETHER TO TRAIN
All those involved in Christian Ministry across the West Midlands will now have access to a wider range of high-quality training opportunities thanks to a new agreement signed yesterday in Birmingham. The Regional Training Partnership will enable training resources to be shared so that they better support both ordained and lay Ministers. Click here for press release
Faslane 365 - Academic Blockade, 7th January 2007 at Faslane Navel Base
Click here for Professor John Hull's experiences
The police finally moved in at about 7.00 p.m on the Sunday. and arrested 17 academics and the same number of students, all of whom were released on Monday
Click here for Professor John Hull's paper
POST OFFICES
Click here for a press release from the Arthur Rank Centre, drawing attention to the ongoing conversations being held between the Post Office, the Church of England, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church about piloting churches hosting post offices. Examples already exist of such arrangements, using various models (click here for examples) but the intention is to draw up national guidelines which can help encourage a more widespread development of these partnerships. The ongoing conversations at national level do not preclude this agenda being pursued in the local context. The people to contact at the Post Office (click here for A4 leaflet) if you wish to do so are the Field Change Adviser and/or the Network Development Manager in your area. The Arthur Rank Centre would be happy to provide more information about the ongoing conversations or the existing schemes, if required and to hear of any new initiatives in your locality
New book by James Woodward and Leslie Houlden - "Praying the Lectionary" from Temple Balsall
Click here for flyer
GWEN BLANDFORD - POEMS
Robert Powell writes:-
Our friend Rev Gwen Blandford, now resident in Cedar Lawn MHA home in
Stratford has written a second book of poems which were published
on 16th December. Click here for a flyer in the hope that it might be made
known in the District where Gwen spent her ordained ministry.
I know the time is short and many will be involved in Christmas shopping
but then a book of poems might be just the right present .......!
COLD WEATHER RESPONSE TEAM Out-Reach to Rough Sleepers in Birmingham City Centre this winter
Click for further information
The Family Friendly Churches Trust
Click here for a recent email to the Chair of District
Committed to making churches places where all are welcomed.
www.FamilyFriendlyChurches.org.uk
October 2006 Newsletter can be downloaded from:
http://www.familyfriendlychurches.org.uk/Newsletter200610.pdf
You can find out more about Residential Courses at:
http://www.familyfriendlychurches.org.uk/resident.htm
For more details of our prices take a look at:
http://www.familyfriendlychurches.org.uk/prices.htm
Learn to play the drums with DRUMSENSE. Click here for flyer or www.jrsdrum.co.uk
JOHN WESLEY KOSI BAY
SCHOOL,
KWA NGWANASE
is a Mission of the local Methodist Church in
rural KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
They urgently need funds for NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS Click here for further information
MISSIONARIES IN CHILE
Chris, Alison, Luke and Bethan have now returned to the United Kingdom.
Marches Energy Agency Congregations for a Low Carbon Future
The objective of this project is to help faith groups in fulfilling this objective, by taking steps to tackle climate change. The project will work with churches, members and in vicarages to deliver significant savings in energy and carbon emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas produced in the combustion of fossil fuels, and is widely acknowledged as being a major contributor to climate change.
TCongregations in the Birmingham District - Click here for paper distributed at Synod
Click here for possible next steps.
Christian Unity - Sermon Preached by Rev David Hewlett
Principal, The Queen's Foundation, Somerset Road, Edgbaston
at Birmingham Churches Together commissioning service on 11th May 2006
Birmingham International Student Homes - Jubilee Appeal
The Jubilee Appeal is to finance the building of extensions at
Asbury Overseas House
and
Wesley International House.
MISSION PARTNERS IN SRI LANKA
Rev Rosemary Fletcher and Mr James Rowley
at Theological College of Lanka, Pilimatalawa, Sri Lanka
Their website is up and running at www.rosemaryandjames.methodistchurch.co.uk
Click here for their latest newsletter which is full of interesting information.
20's - 30's E-GROUP
Following on from a report at conference, this e-group was set up to enable methodists in their 20's - 30's to be in contact with each other, share their stories, pray and encourage one another. This has turned into quite an active e-mail group with people from all different perspectives.
If you're aged between 20 and 40 and would like to be involved, visit the url below and sign up!
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/20s30s-initiative/
For more information, contact Melissa Williams by email.
Asylum Seekers and Refugees - Strangers No More - Drop In
Wednesday 11am - 1pm - Small Heath Methodist Church, Birmingham
This Centre is NOW open
See also Asylum and Refugee Drop In at Selly Oak Methodist Church
Welcome the Stranger - Hospitality Scheme
CARM (Campaigning, Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Media)
ICA - International Community Assist
Help for Asylum Seekers or Refugees Returned from the UK to Albania
ICA works in Eastern Europe primarily in Albania where they help the needy and advance education:
www.ica-uk.co.uk refers.
They help asylum seekers or refugees who are returnees from the UK who have been befriended by.~e,in the UK. They have located returnees, given detailed guidance, moral support, built houses, provided animals, helped with education, exchange of information between the UK and Albania including digital photographs and helped the UK supporters to visit their contacts in Albania.
If you would like ICA to assist please contact:
ICA Church View Patney Devizes Wiltshire,
SN10 3RD
Tel: + 44 (0) 1380 840990 Fax: + 44 (0) 1380 840166 e-mail:
icauk@btopenworld.com
Respect - Understanding Caribbean Christianity by Bishop Dr Joe Aldred
Click here for details of this recently published book.
