Start The Week

Use of Mission Development Funding in 2007

Here's the annual spreadsheet produced by the Church Commissioners and showing the way dioceses spent their Mission Development Funding (= Parish Mission Funding) money in 2007. Have a look - if your imagination is caught by the way other dioceses used their money, why not give their mission staff a call and find out how it worked? (If you need details of any diocese's missioner or equivalent, just contact Paul - paul.bayes@c-of-e.org.uk)

Download use_of_money_in_2007.xls

Is evangelism a sin?

Details of this conference arranged by the Faith to Faith Forum, from Ann Bower:

IS EVANGELISM A SIN?  ETHICAL EVANGELISM IN A PLURALIST SOCIETY

On 10 June, the Faith to Faith Forum of Global Connections presents a challenging day, held at CPAS in Warwick / Leamington Spa, looking at issues concerning ethical evangelism amongst Muslims, Hindus and New Age believers as well as a session on ethical evangelism amongst children and young people.   

For full details and booking information go to the Global Connections website: www.globalconnections.co.uk/faithtofaith08 or contact Ann Bower on 01926 487755 or at faithtofaith@globalconnections.co.uk

Spirituality for Mission conference

Colin Brown has news of this oasis for mission people who want to touch base with God:

Spirituality for Mission

48 hours at Whirlow Grange, Sheffield

Mon 7th -Wed 9th July 200 8

A gathering for those involved in the mission of the Church today

Are you feeling burdened by ministry?
Is your expression no longer feeling fresh?
Wondering where God is? ...where am I being led?
Explore the mystery of how contemplation resources our action Come aside
to a safe space that will hold, refresh, enliven and equip you...

Be energised by the Spirit for your ongoing kingdom life.

This 48 hour gathering is sponsored by Fresh Expressions and Whirlow
Grange Spirituality Centre, facilitated by Revd Nick Helm and Capt Colin
Brown.

Nick is the Bishop of Sheffield's advisor in Spirituality and Director
of Whirlow Grange Spirituality Centre, involved in enabling people to
listen discerningly to God, themselves and others. He has learned
through experience the importance of spirituality as a resource for
action. www.soulspark.org.uk

Colin is a Church Army evangelist and works as part of the Fresh
Expressions core team with particular responsibility for spirituality
and prayer. He is also an artist exploring spirituality and art amongst
other artists in Sheffield.

www.colinsart.org.uk  www.freshexpressions.org.uk

Institute of Evangelism - Wycliffe College, Canada

Wycliffe College Toronto produce online and other resources in evangelism which may spark ideas for where you are.
Check them out here: http://institute.wycliffecollege.ca/

They write:
The Wycliffe College Institute of Evangelism is a service offered by the college to the wider church. It provides a wealth of resources - teachers and practitioners of evangelism, printed and audio/visual materinals, conferences and seminars - to help grow evangelizing congregations. The Institute’s Mission is to encourage and equip the church for the work of evangelism, empowering it to engage in this ministry confidently, joyfully and expectantly. 

Lyfe - Bible Society resource

Rob Hare directs the lyfe programme for Bible Society. Here's his intro for you to pass on:

Living the Lyfe

Do you have a passion for transforming your life? For seeing how it can be fully connected with God?

Then try lyfe.

lyfe (or Life Your Faith Encounters) is all about connecting you with God and your world – with the sole aim of transforming your life.

This new experience from Bible Society is not another study guide or something just for those with a theology degree.

It’s about meeting with your friends in a public place (coffee shop / pub / restaurant), to connect God, us and everyday life. It’s about encountering the Bible with your heart and mind, in a fresh and vital way.

lyfe is based on the radical idea that through Christ everyone can hear God speak. As lyfe groups meet, they follow a simple pattern:

· Read – the Bible passage individually, watching for key words or phrases

· Reflect – share your thoughts and ask questions

· Respond – agree on practical action and pray together

Anyone can start a lyfe group, anywhere!

A good place to begin is at the lyfe website, www.lyfe.org.uk

Register by entering your email address – and you’ll then be able to access information, free resources and help to set up your own group. There are a number of themed Bible passages to start you off, all with helpful background information.

You’ll also receive regular email newsletters about lyfe, new resources you can use and what other lyfe groups are up to.

So why not give it a go? For more information, contact the lyfe team by email at lyfe@biblesociety.org.uk.

HOPE where you live

From Gareth Squire at CEA:

When?
New HOPE film available 2nd May
available for use in your Bank Holiday, Pentecost & other HOPE events
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  Matthew 25 v 37b-39(NIV)

WHEN?
The next Hope 'high point' starting around the May Bank Holiday weekend, "Hope Where You Live", is a great reminder to us to let our activities break out of our church buildings and to get onto the streets where we live.
To mark this, a new short film has been made for Hopeinfo.co.uk which is a snapshot of life on the streets, against the backdrop of the question: When?

How can I use the film as part of what we're planning for May?
It will be available to download from the 2nd May, possibly earlier!  Why not show it at whatever events you are planning?  Why not buy or print materials or t-shirts with the web address on and point people to the film, one of seven?  CPO have a wide range.  Remember the Hopeinfo.co.uk site is a gateway for contact with the Christian Enquiry Agency that provides a range of free literature and services for those who want to know more about what we Christians believe - and what that means for our lives.

Cell UK leadership link

Over at Cell UK Laurence Singlehurst has this:

Dear Friend
Please find our latest leadership link letter here.

Download leadership_link_april_08.pdf

I have taken the opportunity to share a recent leadership thought with you on this occasion and hope that you will find it helpful.
We have some last minute places available on our new format ‘Making Cells Work’ conference at High Leigh, Hoddesdon.
6th-8th May.  I would really recommend you thinking of taking this opportunity to refresh and re-envision your leadership teams with this time away together.
Yours
Laurence 

Laurence Keith - new album

Many STW readers will know Laurence Keith - a colleague of George Lings and the acceptable face of the Sheffield Centre. But LK has hidden depths as he reveals here:

Dear All,

I wanted to let you know - I've released an album!

Its called Harronell, its on a label called Proost (Jonny Baker's alt worship label), its a national but internet only release, and here's what they say about it:

"Harronell is an amazing debut from one of our Unusual Suspects comprising 15 emotional tracks. It's hard to categorise with it's unique sound but think Blue Nile meets Album Leaf or something, layering piano and guitar with soulful vocals. The songs are birthed in Sheffield where Laurence Keith is part of a community in Park that has helped provide the creative spark to bring these songs to life."

Link to the album by clicking here

Tell everyone! I hope you like it. Laurence

Bishops' Mission Orders

Paul, Rachel and Steven Croft are in the middle of a series of regional and diocesan training seminars on the implementation of the new Dioceses, Pastoral and Mission Measure and especially its provisions for Bishops' Mission Orders. Steve and Paul have written a booklet "Bishops' Mission Orders - a beginners guide" which is published by CHP at £6 for a pack of 5 copies.

If you're wanting to suggest a BMO for a mission initiative or initiatives in your area, or if the Bishop has asked you to act as officer or as Visitor for an initiative, we're available at any time if you need advice and help.

 

More resources are available at SHARE - details here from Andrew Wooding at Fresh Expressions/Church Army:

Bishops' Mission Orders have transformed the legal position of church planting in the Church of England, along with a Code of Practice to guide their implementation.
Share has a new page called Bishops' Mission Orders, which gives more information, and will host further materials and resources - including sample orders and skeleton documents as they become available, and a growing list of Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.sharetheguide.org/section5/bmo/
Maybe you have questions of your own about Bishops' Mission Orders (BMOs for short). Is this an exciting development? Is it good finally to have the opportunity to be recognised, supported and accountable? Is it the church giving an official pat on the back - a much-needed affirmation of the good work that so many are doing?
Let Share know what you think by leaving your comments on the Bishops' Mission Orders page.

Rowan Williams on the Spiritual and the Religious

Here's the text of the Archbishop of Canterbury's lecture “The Spiritual and the Religious: is the territory changing?”, given at Westminster Cathedral last week. Typically closely argued, it's hard reading but well worth your attention. Vital for all engaged in mission to our changing culture.

Here's a taster.
To turn specifically to Christian identity – though others may want to spell it out in terms of their own narratives or communal practices – the idea of 'the Christian religion' is a late and weak formulation: what first exists is the Assembly, to give the literal meaning of the Greek word for 'Church', as a fresh configuring of the whole of experienced reality – a new set of human relations, a new horizon for what human beings are capable of, a new understanding of the material world and its capacities.

Download 080417_westminster_cathedr...doc
Also available online at http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/1301