Start The Week

Diamond Jubilee

Diamond Jubilee update: 

Nearly all the dioceses have replied favourably about backing the Big Jubilee Lunch and the Big Jubilee Thank you letter.

Check out the website at: www.diamondjubilee.churchofengland.org  

You can embed the video interview by using the url http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UB_J1LDyqk

Each Diocese has its own letter that you can place in the cathedral but also post on the diocesan website for any local church to download and collect signatures.

Please encourage everyone to get involved.

 

Mission Development Officer in Portsmouth Diocese

Mission Development Officer

Do you have a vision for the future of the Church?  Are you good at putting strategy into practice?  Can you help others find and use their strengths?

This exciting new post will work closely with the Bishop and other colleagues to enable the diocese’s strategic framework for the development of ministry for mission. 

Parishes and deaneries have been challenged to re-shape their lives to be communities that are called, trained and structured for growth. Your theological and practical skills will help them develop a sustainable vision and effective practice.

In this front-line role, you will be supported by colleagues working in training and development and receive administrative and professional support as a member of the Mission & Discipleship team.

The post is full-time and open to both lay and ordained applicants on equivalent terms and conditions of service.

Application packs are available from Sherry Sherrington

023 9289 9661

Or http://portsmouth.anglican.org/information/job_vacancies

Completed applications to be received by 10 am on 9 Feb 2012

Interviews over 27 and 28 February 2012

 

Associate Vicar / Mission Priest Job Opportunity

The Diocese of Bath and Wells are looking to recruit a Priest firmly rooted in the Catholic tradition with a heart for mission.

For more information:

Download Advert Yeovil Jan 12

Fresh! Publication

A new publication on an introduction to fresh expressions of church and pioneer ministry ‘Fresh!’ is being published by SCM Press in March 2012. Written by David Goodhew, Michael Volland and Andrew Roberts; the book is available at a pre-publication price of £15 including P&P  (normally £20 + P&P)  until 15^th February 2012 by telephoning 01603 785925 or email orders@norwichbooksandmusic.co.uk quoting the reference FRESH12

 

Asian Mission Day

Asian Mission Partnership Day

an opportunity to build partnerships for reaching South Asians

Saturday 25 February from 9.30 am to finish by 4pm.   

At Woodgrange Baptist Church, 345 Romford Road, Forest Gate, London, E7 8AA 

Christian church leaders and church members all welcome

 Keynote speaker: Steve Uppal

(Senior Leader at All Nations Christian Centre, Wolverhampton)

For more information click below:

Download Jewels SAF Full Publicity flierFeb

Download Invitation letter for Feb 2012 event

 

Pioneer Open Days

CMS are holding open days for the Pioneer Mission Leaders Training Course on:

Thursday 23rd February 10.30 - 2.30

Thursday april 26th 10.30 - 2.30

For more information please go to: 

http://pioneer.cms-uk.org/2012/01/04/pioneer-course-open-days-feb-23-and-apr-26/

Evangelistening: Recovering the Art of ‘Listening’ in Evangelism.

This is the title of a Grove Booklet by Tim Sumpter, Vicar of Oakbrook and a member of The Archbishops’ College of Evangelists.

The booklet (in the Grove Evangelism Series Ev 96), details a style of evangelism called evangelistening, developed over the past few years to encourage all Christians to live more evangelistically as part of their on-going discipleship.

The booklet offers details of a short evangelistening course, plus many practical examples of how some people in one local parish became evangelisteners in their community. 

The Booklet costs £3.95 (P&P free from Grove) and is available now. Wesley Owen in Derby also has copies.

For more information:

Grove Books Limited,

Ridley Hall Road,

Cambridge,

CB3 9HU.

01223 464748

www.grovebooks.co.uk  / sales@grovebooks.co.uk

 

Wesley Owen Books

48 Queen St.

Derby,

DE1 3GN

01332 345936

derby@wesleyowen.co.uk

 

Mike Sares visiting from Denver, USA.

A message from Dave Male:

As part of my work with the Centre for Pioneer Learning we are planning to bring Mike Sares over from Denver, Colorado. Mike has planted over the last 10 years an amazing church in Denver called Scum of the Earth. (see 1 Cor 4 v13)

I have been over a number of times to the church, taking with me a group of students from the UK but I thought it would be great to get Mike over to the UK to share his experiences with us. The church in the UK struggles to connect with very edgy young adults but I have seen it happening at Scum as they connect with punks,skaters, ravers and other groups that are normally left untouched by the church and then I have seen these young adults becoming leaders of the church.

Mike will be in the UK from May 19th-27th 2012 and I am writing to you to see if you would be interested in inviting him to speak about his experiences with Scum and how this might apply to the UK scene. If you would be interesting in booking him please do contact me and we can take it from there ( If possible we would ask for £100 to help us cover travel costs but if this difficult we could discuss this) or contact me if you want to talk about possibilities.

If you want to know more about Mike and the church please do look at Scums website http://www.scumoftheearth.net/SOTEC/Welcome.htm

This is taken from the churches website

WHY SCUM?

It doesn’t sound like a church name … on purpose. We really want to connect with people who have no interest in “church” by society’s definition. There are plenty of churches for “normal people” and we think we have a unique calling to reach out to our otherwise unreached friends. Our name is integral to that process. Whether outcast by society (e.g., punks, skaters, ravers, homeless people…) or by the church itself, many who come can identify with the name “Scum of the Earth” since they have been previously treated as such.

More important to us, however, the name implies that being people of faith does not mean we are better than anyone else. We know many non-Christians who think Christians are out to cast judgment on them. Our name makes it clear that we aren’t about that. We are just aware of our need for God, as Scum of the Earth. Fortunately, God never sees us like that! But the name is humble and we like that.

and Mikes book Pure Scum tells more about the adventure of planting this remarkable church.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pure-Scum-Left-Out-Right-Brained-Grace/dp/0830836292/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323867491&sr=1-1

I look forward to hearing from you,
Thanks
Dave Male 

 

New Pioneer Post based in Chesterfield

The Diocese of Derby are looking for a Pioneer to reach out with the Good News of Jesus Christ to the radically unchurched children and families of South Chesterfield in innovative and imaginative ways.

For more information please see below:

Download Pioneer Minister Advert

Download Pioneer Minister Application Form Dec 2011

Download Pioneer Minister Application Pack Dec 2011

Closing date January 26th

The Ecclesiology and Ethnography Website

The Ecclesiology and Ethnography Website has lots of new things on it.  http://ecclesiologyandethnography.wordpress.com/

Highlights include 

* Call for Papers US Conference Luther Seminary 21-22 May 2012

*  News about the First Volume in the Studies in Ecclesiology Ethnography Series from Eerdmans - you can preorder it at: http://www.eerdmans.com/Products/6726/perspectives-on-ecclesiology-and-ethnography.aspx

* News on new members on the Steering Group

 

Saltmine Theatre Presents . . .

Gideon

BOOM!  WHIZZ!  BASH! WHACK!

The Israelites are under attack!

CRACK!  BANG!  CRASH!  BLAM!

It all comes down to just one man.

Is he the strongest?  Is he the best?  Is he better than all the rest?

ummm... no!

Gideon is the least of his tribe, and his tribe is the least in his country, but God has chosen him to be His Mighty Warrior and free the Israelites from the huge army that faces them.

Can he stand up to his fears?  Can he do the job he’s been called to?

Can God have made a mistake?

Join Saltmine Theatre Company as they take you through the story of Gideon in a fresh and exciting way.  Alongside an accompanying workshop, this forty-five minute play explores a number of themes that face children today, including the process of challenging social stereotypes; looking at what it means to have courage and face adversity; and encouraging self esteem by exploring the idea that everyone is equally important, equally valuable, and we all have an important role to play in our day to day lives.

Available in February 2012.  Ministry gift: £490 per day (during which the play can be performed twice).

From Eden to Eternity

Welcome to the story of everything! See the Bible brought to life on stage in an hour (or so)! Journey with us through tragedy and tears, music and mirth, serpents and salvation.
Between 2009 and 2011, this production was performed to great acclaim at 61 venues throughout the UK.   Suitable for 11 years and over.

‘Wonderfully compelling and touching, with emotions laid bare one minute and humorous the next, with witty banter and slapstick. It was a wonderful witness’

(Audience Member, 2011)

Touring Dates: 31^st March – 8^th April 2012

Ministry gift: £755 -covering show costs and publicity with a contribution towards travel costs

In Their Shoes

Ulfah Arts (a Muslim theatre company) and Saltmine (a Christian theatre company) have collaborated to produce a play that promotes taking part and working together in spite of our differences. This play that promotes unity in diversity is suitable for primary schools and all-age community events.

The Spots hate the Stripes and the Stripes hate the Spots and that’s how its always been. They’re sworn enemies on the racetrack, the football field and the streets they live on. But things may be about to change!  Join one Stripe on her journey to get away from the Spot that lives next door. As she meets people from all over the world and spends some time in their shoes she begins to see life and Spots a little differently!

The project wonderfully models the theme it is promoting as the two theatre companies uniquely combine to produce a play that is itself an example of what can be achieved when two different people come together and use their abilities for the same goal. The available booking dates are 18th June- 6th July 2012.  

Cost: £550 for full day, £275 for a half day.

For more information about any of these productions, or to reserve a date, please contact Joanna Bell, Creative Arts Coordinator on creative@saltmine.org or on 01384 454807.  For more information about Saltmine, please visit www.saltminetrust.org.uk.

 

 

Make Higher Games an Olympic Event for Your Church in 2012

Empowering and equipping churches to share the message of Christ through sports. Higher Games gives churches, looking for the opportunity to reach into their local community, a simple and effective means of attracting interest.

For more information:

Download HG advert

Going for Growth at St John's College Nottingham

GOING FOR GROWTH… is back by popular demand!

The Venerable Bob Jackson at St John’s College Nottingham

Wednesdays 2pm to 5pm - 29 Feb, 7, 14, 21, 28 March 2012

This course about how churches grow today is for all clergy and other lay leaders who wish to see their churches flourish and grow numerically and spiritually. Each session will focus on a different aspect of the general road to church growth, but will also give time for your own particular concerns and situation.

‘Vital to scratch where clergy are itching! This course is timely, relevant and practical’ 

‘A brilliant series of practical ideas and delivered with enthusiasm’

Price: £85 + lunch or supper as required

Booking deadline: Friday 21 January 2012

Places MUST be booked and paid for in advance.

To book: contact Helen Taylor on 0115 968 3221 or 0115 925 1114 or email h.taylor@stjohns-nottm.ac.uk for a booking form or download from

Click here for a leaflet/booking form

Website: www.stjohns-nottm.ac.uk

 

Message from Rachel

Wishing you all a Happy New Year

With best wishes

Rachel and Suzie