SHARING THE VISION
throughout the Wessex Synod
Issue 75b : March 2014
People News
Tom Carmichael, presently minister at Port Sunlight in Mersey Synod has accepted a call to serve at Sherborne United Church. He will be moving during the summer - details of the induction to follow.
Alan and Mavis Stanyon celebrate their Diamond wedding on 27th March.
Norman and Sybil Lee - members at Drayton United Church, Portsmouth celebrate their Platinum wedding (70 years) on the 1st April.
Revd Ivy Halden, aged 100, died in her sleep on Friday 21st March. Her internment will be at 1pm on Monday 31st March at Slough Crematorium, followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at 2.30pm at Windsor URC.
If your congregation is planning to commemorate the outbreak of World War 1 then this will be of interest to you. It comes from the Communications Department at Church House.
PLANTING POPPIES FOR PEACE AND REMEMBRANCE
As part of the denomination’s plans to mark the centenary of the First World War, the United Reformed Church is encouraging churches and individuals to plant both white and red poppies during Holy Week, and ideally on Good Friday (18 April) to mark the 100-year commemoration of the declaration of the First World War. The hope is that they will be in bloom on or around 4 August – the 100 year commemoration of the declaration of war.
This initiative was first announced at Mission Council on Wednesday 12 March. The campaign is a joint initiative on behalf of the Mission and Communications committees of the United Reformed Church to mark the beginning of the four years of the First World War commemorations. It is hoped that poppy planting in Holy Week – both white poppies for peace and red poppies for remembrance – will become a feature of the commemorations for the next four years.
If you or your church would like to be part of this initiative then you will find links below to seed suppliers of red and white poppies. The communications department also has a small stock of seeds – enough for 100 churches – and the first 100 churches to email Eve Parker by 10am on Friday 4 April will be sent a small pack of red and a small pack of white poppy seeds. (Make sure your email includes the name of your church and synod, and a full address, including postcode.)
The Communications and Mission departments will be providing further resources for churches taking part in this campaign: a template media release which churches can adapt for use with local media, and a prayer to be used as the seeds are planted. Both will be available by 4 April and will be made available via the URC website.
Suppliers of white poppies:
Thomson & Morgan
Dobies of Devon
Waitrose
Suppliers of red Poppies (all of the above sites have red poppies too):
British Legion/B&Q
Amazon
For further information please contact Gill Nichol or Eve Parker:
; T: 020 79162020
World Church Group
PILGRIMAGE TO ISRAEL/PALESTINE.
Bookings are now coming in for the pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine - February 17 - 26 2015. Come and explore the land and places Jesus knew - visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Massada, Qumran, The Dead Sea, Jericho, the Jordan Valley, Tiberius, Capernaum, Nazareth, Cana and many other places. It’s a journey of a lifetime. Further details from Stephen Thornton, tel. 01252 409494 or email at: .
FROM THE WORLD CHURCH GROUP
The following is an update of the information on the visit of Revd Bertha Lungu and Revd Obed Mutale from the United Church of Zambia (UCZ), who will be with us from 20th March to 1stApril. They will be attending the Ministers’ Spring School at Sarum College, Salisbury from 24th – 27th March and will be hosted by various church members before and after this.
We are delighted that our visitors will be involved in leading worship in their host churches. If you would like to meet either of them, the details are as follows:
Sunday 30th March
Revd Bertha Lungu will be at Chandlers Ford United Reformed Church for the morning service at 9.30 am. Please contact Martin Waldron for further details.
Revd Obed Mutale will be hosted by Revd Mike Shrubsole at Ringwood United Reformed Church. Please contact him for further details.
Contact details for further information:
Ian Simpson : Tel: 01865 248962
Cecil King :
Martin Waldron :
Mike Shrubsole :
GUY’S & ST. THOMAS’ DEPARTMENT OF CHAPLAINCY & SPIRITUAL HEALTH CARE is recruiting for their 5 full day Chaplaincy Training Programme September 29th – 3rd October 2014 from 9am – 5pm. 2014 for Chaplaincy Volunteers and Trainee Chaplains. After the course, those who join either become a Chaplaincy Volunteer for a minimum of six months, or commence their specialist Chaplaincy training on October 20th 2014.
Requirements:
Prospective candidates need to:
· Be a regular worshipper at a Faith Community
· Be able to have a clean fully enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Scheme)
· Be available to visit patients for at least 4 hours a week for a minimum of 6 months after approval and training.
· Be able to attend supervision regularly and attend Chaplaincy Team annual study day.
Cost:
· For those going to be Volunteers with GSTT = FREE
· For Volunteers coming from other NHS Trust = £75.00
· For 2 years Trainee Chaplains course = £700
For further information or to apply please contact the Wessex Synod office or:
Revd Mia Hilborn on: Tel: 02071881186/7 E-mail:
EVENTS
‘Walking with God’ Prayer Walk organised by Churches Together in Dorset.
Led by Bishop Graham Kings this will take place on Tuesday, 8th April 2014 at Maiden Castle, Dorchester, from 10.30am-3.30pm. Those attending will need to bring a packed lunch. More details available from their website http://www.ctdorset.org.uk/
CRCW Roadshow
Saturday 17th May at Castle Hill URC, Northampton. 10.30am-3.30pm.
If you are concerned for communities and their development and want to make the church a place of relevance and compassion, come along. This is a free event but places must be booked in advance by contacting Samara Andrews, on 020 7916 8653 or
A poster is available from Deborah at the Synod Office. If you would like it please contact her.
Surprised by Grace East Midlands Synod Book Day with the Revd Dr Susan Durber
Saturday 6th September 2014 10am—4pm Newport Pagnell URC All are welcome
Please join us for a day of learning, discussion and sharing
Cost: £5 per person which includes lunch and refreshments. To book please email Hannah: for a booking form.
Mission Development News: 11 October 2014 Germinate!
National Conference on Rural Mission, Coventry.
Growing the church in a rural setting? This could be for you!
Be inspired, encouraged and equipped by people who understand the challenges and opportunities of rural church mission and ministry at this major national day conference. It is for lay people, clergy and regional church leaders, and is supported by the main churches and organisations that resource rural churches.
Included in the programme are keynote addresses, workshops, case studies, sharing of resources and creative ideas by delegates, the launch of a new learning & training initiative, opportunities for networking, and a marketplace for exhibitors & contributors.
The Early Booking price of £48 (£40+VAT) is available until 30th June - thereafter it is £72 per person. You can book online atwww.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/events
REMINDERS
Le Weekend 2014 in Dunkirk from 11 to 13 April (organised by the World Church Group)
All details are on the Wessex Synod website, on the World Church page or get in touch with Helen Everard on 01252 516622 or . We look forward to seeing you.
Wessex Spring Festival on Saturday 26th April 2014
An exciting new event for ages 5–18 years, full of fun and fellowship.This will be a day of activities (eg high and low ropes, archery, climbing, inflatable assault course, Base Jump, bouncy castle, face painting, fruit carving, windmill making, balloon modelling and much more), finishing with an uplifting lively worship celebrating and praising God. The event starts at 10.30am, finishing at 7pm. Arrivals and departures can happen throughout the day. Please sign up without delay - the Spring Festival Event Pack and booking form are available from Ruth Heine, email: , tel: 023 8067 4513.
Wessex Synod Family Fun Afternoon on Sunday, 27th April, 2014
Come after your morning service and arrive from 12 noon with packed lunch, food and refreshments will also be available. Depart from 5 p.m. after closing worship.
Venue: Oakwood Youth Challenge, Waterloo Road, Wokingham, Berkshire
RG40 3DA http://www.oakwoodyouth.co.uk/
Cost: £2 per person £5 per family. Only 200 advance places, please book early; additional tickets may be available on the gate on the day, weather dependent.
Activities for all ages: craft activities, face painting, music, workshops, Messy Church experience, find out more about Growing the Church, find out more about social media and local radio, share in worship with others from across the Wessex Synod Bookings via Colin MacBean email address:
Ample car, minibus & coach parking Further details on Synod website, http://www.urcwessex.org.uk/
Safeguarding Training - Saturday 7 June 2014 at London Street URC, Basingstoke. 10am – 4pm
A full days training for all individuals working with children and young people, and important for Ministers and Elders of the Church.
The course covers: The Basics of Safeguarding; Good Practice Procedures; Duty of Care and Pastoral Awareness; Reporting Structures; Exploring Case Studies; Planning The Way Forward. Certificates will be presented to those completing the course.
For more information and to book a place on the course, please contact: Ruth Heine, email: tel: 023 8067 4513
Lay Preacher Training at Westminster College, Cambridge
Theme: Springs eternal: Christian hope and the Church
Choice of Dates: Monday 8th – Wednesday 10th September 2014 or Wednesday 10th – Friday 12th September 2014 or Friday 12th – Sunday 14th September 2014.
Saturday 1st March 2014 Further information and a booking form is available from Ruth Heine, email: , tel: 023 8067 4513.
Wessex Synod Elders Training Dates Please note that the date of Elders 2 (Pastoral Care and Mission) at London Street URC, Basingstoke has been changed to Saturday 17th May 2014. The updated ‘Calendar of Elders & Lay Preacher Training Events 2014, revised’ is available to download from the website www.urcwessex.og.uk
Lay Preachers’ Gathering onSaturday 24 May 2014 at London Street, Basingstoke for Lay Preachers and anybody interested. Please email
Lay Presidency at Communion on Saturday 14 June 2014 at Fleet United Reformed Church for anybody interested. Please email
Core Skills : Training for Children’s and Youth Workers
Core Skills is an ecumenical certificated course for all those who work with children and young people. The following dates have been arranged:
12th April 2014 – 10am Pastoral Awareness; 1pm The Bible and Prayer
17th May 2014 – 10am Working as a team; 1pm Children and Community
You are welcome to attend all or a selection of the above. Please refer to the times above for each subject. Each individual session is 2 hours and will be held at London Street Basingstoke, RG21 7NU. Please bring your own lunch. Drinks and handouts will be provided. For more details or to book your place email:
PLEASE SEND ITEMS FOR THE 1st APRIL EDITION TO THE EDITOR, CAROL ROGERS () by 7th APRIL 2014.
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