Tuesday 3rd November 2009
Edited by Revd Rob Marshall and Sarah Fisher
Welcome to the Diocese of Sheffield Weekly eBulletin. Please send your copy for the next edition to Sheffield@media33.co.uk. Contributions should be no more than 100 words, including a web link for readers to follow for more information. Please use copy from the Weekly eBulletin for your church magazine or weekly newsletter.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Today Richard Hooker, teacher of the faith 1600
Friday 6th November Leonard, hermit 6th century, William Temple, archbishop 1944
Saturday 7th November Willibrord, bishop 739
Sunday 8th November 3rd before Advent, Remembrance Sunday
Monday 9th November Margery Kempe, mystic c.1440
LIFE OF THE DIOCESE
Prayers today for Richard Blackburn as he is consecrated bishop in York Minster.
Tomorrow (4th) Bishop Steven will spend the day in the West Doncaster Deanery
Before visiting the South Yorkshire Workplace Chaplaincy on Thursday.
The Bishop will be at Barnby Dun for a Praise Concert on Saturday, take part in Remembrance Day observations at Sprotbrough on Sunday.
THE BISHOP’S LETTER FOR DECEMBER
Bishop Steven writes a message for Advent/Christmas which is in the appendix below. Please reproduce this in your church magazine for December or on your parish website.
The November letter from Bishop Cyril is also now available and has been posted directly onto the website at www.sheffield.anglican.org
Archbishop visits
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has visited the Diocese as part of the launch of Church Army's Xplore global gap year programme. Bishop Cyril also attended the event. www.churcharmy.org.uk
Putting Sheffield on the road to the future
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/businessnews/Putting-Sheffield-on-road-to.5769199.jp
Christmas stamps for Christmas!
Even if your post is delayed
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8338505.stm
Sheffield: rich and poor contrast
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Sheffield-A-city-split-for.5785752.jp
Doncaster’s Olympic war chest?
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Mayor-attacks-Olympics-war-chest.5785690.jp
Renewal of CRB Disclosure check - a reminder
CRB Disclosures must be renewed every 3 years. It is the responsibility of the individual as well as the Named Person to ensure that CRB checks are up to date. Lay Ministers (Readers, Pastoral Workers and Lay Parish Evangelists) should note this also applies to them. In particular Readers should be aware that they no longer have to wait until their re-licensing for a CRB check, but ensure they renew their CRB every three years.
For further information or assistance please contact Christine Brocklebank at Church House, Rotherham on 01709 309128.
PEOPLE AND PLACES
The Reverend Dr Anna Louise Wallis, Assistant Curate, St Peter Huddersfield; to be Chaplain, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The Reverend Philip David Roderick, Leader, Contemplative Fire and Director, Quiet Garden Trust (Diocese of Oxford); to be Bishop’s Adviser in Spirituality and Chaplain, Whirlow Grange Diocesan Conference and Retreat Centre.
The Reverend Alan Watson to retire as Vicar, St Edwin Dunscroft.
NATIONAL CHURCH AND LIFE
Youth Council anniversary celebration
Westminster Abbey will host the fifth birthday celebration for the Church of England Youth Council (CEYC) on Saturday 28 November. Young people from across the country who have been involved in the development of this national representative body have been invited. The Dean of Westminster, the Very Revd Dr John Hall, will preach, and young people will lead other aspects of the service. Admission to the service is by ticket only. julia.eden@c-of-e.org.uk
PARISH RESOURCES
The Resources Centre will be closed today.
NEW
Church Action on Poverty
Exhibition on Poverty and Inequality in Sheffield and the UK in the foyer of the Central Library in Surrey Street, Sheffield, from Monday 2 November to Saturday 7 November. All welcome.
NEW
National Conference
Church Action on Poverty's National Conference on 'Redefining Prosperity' will be held at St Mary's Bramall Lane from 1030 to 16.00 on Saturday 14 November. For more information, please see www.church-poverty.org.uk/event-items/capconference2009
School of Youthwork for Sheffield and Rotherham Archdeaconry
Led by Gareth Wroe and Joe Houghton
St Mary’s Bramall Lane on Saturday 7 November 9 – 1.00
If you are involved in youth work and want some fresh ideas, thinking of starting a youth group and want some guidance, or wondering how to reach young people in the parish, then come and be part of this action-packed practical morning. Cost £7 per parish. To book please contact Trish Stafford 01709 309147 trish.stafford@sheffield.anglican.org
NEW
Mendelssohn's Elijah
Saturday 21st November 7:30pm St John's Church, Ranmoor Sheffield.
Hallam Choral Society and Orchestra led by Dr. David Milsom. Soloists: Adrian Clarke, Andrea Ryder, Elinor Carter, David Watkin-Holmes. Tickets £10 (Concessions £8). Tickets available from Patricia Cooper - 0114 233 1688
NEW
Multi-Church Ministry
Are you faced with an increasing number of churches to care for, or are you puzzled about how to make sense of the number you already have? Workshops on how to make it better in June 2010 or October 2010, at the Arthur Rank Centre, Warwickshire
024 7685 3073 / 024 7669 6460 katrinas@rase.org.uk
JOBS AND COURSES
Prison Fellowship
Christian Ministries come in all shapes and sizes, but one sadly neglected area is Prison Ministry. Do you have a calling to visit those in our prisons? “I was in prison and you came to visit me…” (Matt 25 v 38). Perhaps we at Prison Fellowship can help you explore the possibility of Prison Ministry. As with all of PF Volunteer ministries, we offer full training and support to enable you to fulfil your calling. Perhaps you would get involved in our Angel Tree or Sycamore Tree programme or join a local prayer group. Whichever it is, a very warm welcome awaits you.
www.pfew.org 01621 843232
Foundations of Faith 2010
Foundations of Faith is the Discipleship Development course in Sheffield Diocese. During 2010 we will be piloting the next four units: Church & Ministry, Mission & Evangelism, Christian Belief, and Spirituality & Vocation, over eight midweek evenings in January-March 2010 in Sheffield; then again in April-July 2010 in Doncaster, and September-November 2010 in Rotherham.
The course has no minimum academic entry requirement.
01709 309147 trish.stafford@sheffield.anglican.org
Deepening Spiritual Growth and Discipleship
An experiential course to explore and deepen relationship with God, grow in faith and develop listening to God, self and others. This Course will be held from January to June 2010 on alternate Wednesdays at Central URC Sheffield. There will also be a weekend retreat. Closing date for applications is November 16, and there will be a taster evening at Church House, Rotherham on Wednesday 4 November from 19.30 to 21.00. Whirlow Grange Spirituality Centre www.soulspark.org.uk spiritualitycentre@whirlowgrange.co.uk 0114 235 3704. To attend the taster evening, please contact Angie Lauener by Tuesday 3 November; a.m.lauener@shu.ac.uk 0114 236 2188 or 07949 403 992
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Occupational Prayer Cycle
We ask you to pray this week (29th October - 4th November) for people from the following occupations – Shop checkout operators and other shop workers.
The Occupational Prayer Cycle, which runs week by week, covers nearly all occupations over the course of the year. It is produced by South Yorkshire Workplace Chaplaincy, and more information can be found on their website at http://www.sywc.org.uk/opc/.
South Yorkshire Workplace Chaplaincy has chaplains in the retail industry in Sheffield and Doncaster.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Binyon
THANKS
Don’t forget to keep us up to date with what is happening:
All contributions to the Weekly eBulletin should be sent to sheffield@media33.co.uk by not later than 5pm each Monday
Sarah & Rob
Communications Office
APPENDIX
THE BISHOP’S LETTER
DECEMBER
This month Bishop Steven writes:
Hope is a virtue not a mood
One of the big lessons I learned from travelling across the Church of England for almost five years was the importance of hope. It’s one of things which makes a difference no matter what the situation. Take two local churches. Outwardly they may look just the same with the same numbers of people attending, the same number of minister and a similar tradition. But suppose one is characterised by hope and full of positive life. The other is weighed down by despair. Where do you think there will be new growth and life?
Hope is essential for change and growth. You could draw exactly the same comparison with two schools or two workplaces. But where does hope come from?
For much of the world around us, hope has become a mood. The world around us feels hopeful when the sun shines; when life is going well; when there is something to be cheerful about. For most people hope is a kind of optional extra: a mood which comes and goes.
Should it be the same for Christians or different?
The right answer is “Different”. For Christians, hope is a virtue not a mood. At the end of his wonderful chapter on love in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes: “And now faith, hope and love abide; these three; and the greatest of these is love”.
We hold onto the idea that as Christians we are called to practise love for God and love for our neighbour. We are to love each day no matter how we are feeling. We hold onto the idea that as Christians we are called to practise faith as a virtue as well: to believe and trust in God’s promises and God’s goodness – sometimes in spite of the way we are feeling.
But somewhere along the way the Church seems to have lost the vital truth that we are also called to be hopeful and to practise hope as a virtue not just when the sun is shining and all is right with the world but on the difficult and troublesome days as well. Hope is a virtue not a mood.
I’m nearing the end of my initial visits to the deaneries. Each one has been fascinating. I’ve been made so welcome in chapter meetings and churches and schools and in visits to the wider community. As this series of visits draws to a close, I have seen so much to be encouraged about in the life of the church in the diocese. There are many, many good things happening and many rich stories to be told. I’ve also caught something of the trials and struggles which are faced on a daily basis by our communities and churches and by our clergy.
At the end of this series of visits I am immensely hopeful about the life of the church in the Diocese of Sheffield. I am hopeful because of what I have seen and heard. But I am hopeful most of all because of the promises of God to love and to grow and to watch over the church of Jesus Christ.
I find in my own life and ministry that hope needs to be nurtured through prayer and through attending to the scriptures to catch the Lord’s perspective. Advent is the key season of the Christian year for nurturing that hope. We look back in Advent to the wonderful ways in which the coming of Jesus was foretold in the scriptures. We look forward in Advent to the end of the ages and to the time when all the promises of God will be fulfilled. As we look back and wonder so we are better able to look forward in hope.
Hope is not a mood for Christians. Hope needs to be a virtue.
May the Lord bless you and those you love as you look forward to the coming of Christ as King.
Parish Events
All Age Service of Remembrance
Sunday 8 November 10.30am St Andrews Psalter Lane
We remember those who have died in war, keep two minutes’ silence, pray for peace and lay a wreath in our Garden of Remembrance. 0114 267 8289 office@sapl.ecclesallmethodist.org
Grand Shoebox Celebration
Sun 8 Nov 17.00
Operation Christmas Child
http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/pages/home
Bring a gift or a shoebox full
Thrybergh St Peter's Whinney Hill, Oldgate Lane Thrybergh Rotherham S65 4JL
Men Who March Away
Tuesday 10 November 7.30pm St Andrews Psalter Lane
A concert with songs, hymns and readings for the Eve of Remembrance Day with the Sheffield Folk Chorale & the choir of St Andrew’s Psalter Lane.
0114 267 8289 office@sapl.ecclesallmethodist.org
NEW
Fabulous Forties Night
Friday 20 November at St Peter’s Church, Barnburgh (between Barnsley and Doncaster)
Featuring TV & Variety Entertainer, Judith Hibbert, plus local Choirs and guest musicians.
Entry £8, including a light supper and drinks. Tickets/more information from Joan Squires (Churchwarden) – 01709 582952
NEW
Art at the Altar 2009
Artists and craftsmen in the East Pennine area are eagerly preparing to deliver Art at the Altar 2009, the 5th annual exhibition and sale of work administered by the creative networking group Hens Teeth. As well as being an annual showcasing of the wealth and diversity of talent in the area, 20% of the proceeds from AATA a donated to a nominated charity every year. To date the event has raised over £8,000 for good causes. This year the event will be supporting The Royal Marines Benevolent Fund. The event runs from the 26 - 30 November. www.hensteeth.org.uk