Start The Week

FPE conference

George Fisher has this info re the next Fellowship for Parish Evangelism conference:

Talking the Walk

The 2010 Fellowship for Parish Evangelism Conference is at Swanwick from 25-27^th January on the theme of “Talking the Walk” with Keynote Speaker Eric Delve. For more details and booking form go to: http://www.lichfield.anglican.org/chadnet/DynamicContent/Documents/FPE%202010%20Conference%20Booking%20details.pdf

FPE is a network of evangelical Anglicans whose priorities are to:

·  provide a place for fellowship and mutual support for those involved

in the ministry of evangelism.

·  envision, equip and encourage one another in this ministry.

·  be a catalyst for the exchange of ideas and strategies.

·  mentor and equip new evangelists.

·  explore the exciting developments of contemporary church and

innovative evangelistic endeavour in the UK and around the world.

·  be a prophetic voice on evangelism to the church.

New members are welcome. You can try us out by coming to the Conference before signing up as a member. For more details of FPE go to: http://www.lichfield.anglican.org/chadnet/DynamicContent/Documents/FPE%20Guidelines.pdf

Chris Moyles gets excited about church

Check this out:

Faith in later life

Two new resources from Mike Collyer. He says:

Please find attached my latest document for distribution and publication for those it might interest.

 

Download Discovering Faith in Later Life No. 9 Abbeyfield Kent Society

'Delivery of spiritual care in residential establishments is now an important part of improving the quality of life for senior frail people. Caring for the whole person not just their physical needs is essential. Care homes now have to provide evidence that this is indeed the case. An individual’s care plan forms part of the evidence that is required by the regular inspection of care homes by the newly formed Care Quality Commission (CQC). In this paper Mike explores two examples in Kent where this requirement is taken seriously. It provides some insight of best practice that could be modeled by corers and ministers alike'.

Also we have released Research Bulletin No.4. The idea behind these bulletins is to give people a flavour of what we are discovering in our research, and headlines of what is contained in some of our larger publications.

 

You can download a PDF copy free from our website by following this link: http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/ms/sc/sfc_researchbulletin.asp

 

Here's an excerpt from the introduction:

 

"We are pleased to offer a research bulletin looking at fresh expressions of church among some of the vulnerable people on the margins of our society. Whether issues concern the non-manipulation of children, the reverence of the elderly or the nurturing of the soul within the outwardly-disabled person, our research prompts us to believe that there are significant examples of fresh expressions to counter the accusation that fresh expressions are for the middle-class. Moreover, the fresh expressions movement would do well to note the depth of love, respect and humility needed in working with vulnerable people. In more mainstream mission contexts we overlook them at our peril; these are basic human needs that concern us all."

A fresh expression of amnesia

Reflections from Nick Brotherwood, Team Leader of Fresh Expressions Canada. Read the whole thing at http://institute.wycliffecollege.ca/?p=1075

If we are to become a church shaped by and for God’s mission in this world, the last thing we need is a fresh expression of amnesia. 233 variations of the word “remember” appear in Old and New Testaments. As poet and philosopher George Santayana has it, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” So as we immerse ourselves in talk of being sensitive to the multiplicity of different contexts and cultures around us in Canada, and of the need to connect appropriately with those contexts and cultures, it is salutary to be reminded that we haven’t always thought, much less acted, in this way...

Making sense of C21 mission in a rural context

From Exeter diocese David Muir sends this:

He writes:

A little local attempt to explain the Fresh Expression agenda to more conservative rural communities, who are still genuinely puzzled about why the rural church has seen such whole-scale demise. Done on a shoe-string… Currently playing on a loop at the local museum’s exhibition of the 1100^th anniversary diocesan celebrations.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPilHOYEKeU

 

David

Rev David M Muir 
Pioneer Minister in the Okehampton Deanery 
Course Leader, The Pioneer Disciple 
The Rectory, South Tawton EX20 2LQ 
01837 840867, 07854 845067 
okehamptonpioneer@btinternet.com

The Meaning of Pioneer Ministry

Pioneer ministry is a new initiative by the Church of England and the Methodist Church to make contact with the 70% of the population who have no firm connection with the church. Many people have an interest in Christian faith and values but do not want to express it in traditional ways. Pioneer ministers help to develop new ways of being the church alongside the traditional ones. Hundreds of these ‘Fresh Expressions’ have sprung up across the country, giving people the opportunity to belong to the Christian faith in a different way. The churches in this area have appointed David Muir to help them establish similar opportunities in this part of Devon.

Paul Rush - update for your prayers

In Bristol diocese their missioner Paul Rush is recovering from a major operation. He writes:

I've been having some post-operative complications, including things like pleural effusions and pleuritis (from which I'm still suffering).   So - I'm going to say right now that I won't be going to the missioners' conf this year.  I'm sorry.

 

I hope you all have a great time - don't drink too much.

 

God bless ya

 

Paul

 

PS keep praying from me - I'm rather fed-up with being ill.

Please continue to hold Paul and his family in your prayers. We'll miss him in France.

Missioner vacancy - York diocese

Gavin Wakefield sends details of this post in York diocese. As he says:

If you can think of likely candidates I'd be very grateful if you cd draw this great opportunity (I wd say that of course!) to their attention.

 

Revd Dr Gavin Wakefield, Director of Training, Mission and Ministry, Diocese of York

Diocesan House, Aviator Court, Clifton Moor, York YO30 4WJ. 01904 699500

Download Cleveland Archdeaconry Training Adviser June 09

Cleveland Archdeaconry Training Adviser and

Adviser for Parish Evangelism and Church Growth 

As a member of the Diocesan Training Team, the Adviser will provide encouragement and training in support of evangelism and church growth in parishes, deaneries and, where appropriate, chaplaincies across the diocese.

In collaboration with the other members of the Training Team, (s)he will ensure that the laity and clergy of the Archdeaconry of Cleveland have the appropriate skills and support offered to enable them in Christian mission and ministry.

The training aspects of the post are to be integrated with first-hand involvement in parish ministry, and so the post includes ministry as an associate priest in designated parishes. 

Evangelisation and migration - GfE resource papers

From Jim Currin at the Group for Evangelisation:

Evangelisation and Migration 'Signpost' resource papers x2 

GfE is producing a short series of 'Signpost' resource papers on different topics of key interest and concern in the church today.

GfE members began to consider 'Evangelisation and Migration' 18 months ago. 

Here are two 'Signpost' resource papers which report back what we have found and collated.

You can find Word and pdf versions of the two papers at:

http://www.cte.org.uk/Groups/96554/Churches_Together_in/Themes/Church_Life_Evangelisation/Evangelisation/Migration/Migration.aspx 

ChurchMorph - study day with Eddie Gibbs, July 3

Over at ACPI Bob and Mary Hopkins have news of this study day with Eddie reflecting on the lessons of his new book "ChurchMorph - how megatrends are reshaping Christian communities". 

Only available to the poor benighted souls who aren't coming to the Missioners conference...

Flyer and booking form is here: Download EddieGibbs - BookingForm - Jul 09

The 8 secrets of happiness

Paul Griffiths sends news of this one, written by himself and Martin Robinson and keying into one of the major concerns of English people today.

The website where people can buy a copy is www.the8secretsofhappiness.org.uk They can of course obtain a copy from any bookshop or via amazon, waterstones, tesco etc. If they have a look at the website then they get an idea of what we are trying to do...we are attempting to encourage local conversations about happiness between community leaders and are thinking through what a course on happiness run at a local health club might look like.

There is a video log on the website where Martin is talking about the book and a few quotes. I've included one from Alan Hirsch

In a world marked by endemic depression and escalating rates of suicide, the issue of how to attain happiness takes on the significance of a serious existential quest.  But as contemporary studies conclude, authentic happiness eludes most.  Find out why this is the case and how to pursue ways to become, and to be, a genuinely happy person.

Alan Hirsch

Author of reJesus and founder of shapevine.com

The book is written for those who are at the outer edges, if not off the Engel Scale.....ideal book to give away to people who have no knowledge of Christianity.