LEMnAID 157 Local Evangelism & Mission Network Aid
Helping each other to resource evangelism and mission in the local church
Get this in its best format at; www.lichfield.anglican.org/chadnet/lemnaid
This week:-
- Barrett’s Burblings
- RESOURCES AND OTHER IDEAS
- CHRISTMAS THINGS
- Is Christmas on your church website?
- HOPE Christmas Special
· Big Screen Nativity
· The New Pair Of Shoes
- NON-CHRISTMAS THINGS
· Messy Church Milestone Fast Approaching
· Small Church Music
· HAY-ULP: Banner-Making in North Shropshire
· Engaging with Muslims
· Churches urged to apply to new £10m Government green fund
· ‘Remembering’ the Books of the Old Testament
- Cartoon ‘Fun’
- Saints and Birthdays
- Calendar
- WIDER CHURCH RESOURCES
· The Small Print
Barrett’s Burblings
Hello everybody; I hope that you are getting along ok, and that you are not finding things too manic with everything that I’m sure that you’re needing to get done over these next couple of weeks. What is it about the month of December that days seem to disappear so quickly? Unless you’re under 11 of course!
Not quite such a bulging issue this week as last, but hopefully still plenty of good things. The contribution from HOPE is almost worth a LEMnAID on its own! If you do have a few minutes to spare this week then please do take the chance to update your ‘A Church Near You’ page with your Christmas services; and if you’re running a Messy Church, and have not registered on the national list, then please do so to help to make our day!
Just to also say that if any of you may have the misfortune to be ploughing through Walsall crowds Christmas shopping this Saturday, and you may like a breather, then why not check out the Crossing at St Paul’s next to the bus station. I’ll be on the top floor running a prayer labyrinth of various reflective stations, and if you’d like to see it for yourself, or maybe you’d just like to say ‘hello’, then do please just pop in.
CHRISTMAS THINGS
Is Christmas on your church website?
George writes; For many people, Christmas is one of the few times they will come into a church each year. Right now, there may be those in your neighbourhood who are looking at local church websites to find out about Christmas services.
Make sure that you have a page with all your Christmas events and don't forget to include an invite for people to come.
Also, please don’t forget the excellent new ‘A Church Near You’ visitor-friendly page; www.christmasnearyou.com/. It genuinely looks great, but it only shows up those
churches that get round to uploading their Christmas Services onto ‘A Church Near You’. For instance, I won’t embarrass the churches concerned by saying where I live, but only one of the 3 churches that I know are in my parish appear to be having a Christmas service. If I wasn’t a regular churchgoer, but was indeed looking for a Christmas Service near me; take a guess which two churches I definitely wouldn’t be gracing with my presence!
So please, please put your Christmas services on there this week! If you’d like to know who your ‘A Church Near You’ editor is, or better yet volunteer for the little job drop me an email, or give me a call on 01922 707863.
HOPE Christmas Special
All sorts of things from HOPE; what can I say but ‘enjoy’!?...
Roy’s Christmas message
Christmas is a time to bring hope, to reflect, and to be encouraged. As we move into 2012 we have an unprecedented kairos moment available to us. A kairos moment is an appointed time in the purposes of God; the time when God acts. It’s a window of opportunity that the Church must grasp. The year ahead provides some key kairos moments where God’s people can step up their united mission and make a massive difference – through the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics. Christ came to earth at the Lord’s designated time, the prophecies came together and Jesus became our gift of hope (Isaiah 9:6-7). Roy Crowne is HOPE’s Executive Director
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012
Make a date: Celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with a Big Lunch on 3 June in your street, with your neighbours, at the heart of your community. More at http://bit.ly/sOMKU3 It's an amazing mission opportunity (http://bit.ly/u60YN4). The Queen’s Chaplain is writing a special Grace to say together at the start of this special Sunday lunch. Early in the new year it will be available to download along with a host of other resources and ideas to use in your community, in schools and with senior citizens. (http://bit.ly/tAilFT) Book the date and, in the New Year, start planning to take part on Sunday 3 June, when up to six million people are expected to sit down together for a Big Jubilee Lunch.
Carols on the pitch
Footie fans will replace crowd chants with something slightly more tuneful when they take part in football stadium caroling this Christmas. Carol services can be sedate with candlelight in Cathedrals, but not these events – fun, relevant and in a unique setting. Andy Rimmer, Chaplain for AFC Bournemouth shares about his role and the Cherries’ event - faith and football can mix; http://bit.ly/u0artL
Local mission; national media
In 2011 churches have realised that being part of HOPE as a national movement gives local mission more impact. Our communications team has given national publicity to more than 35 local stories of HOPE in 2011. Monthly press releases, magazine features and radio broadcasts are sharing how HOPE is making a difference in communities. We’ll be stepping up our output in 2012; make sure we can tell your story too by emailing Lucy Cooper at lucy.cooper@hopetogether.org.uk
Christmas Outreach - better together
At this time of year, lots of churches, across the UK, prepare thousands of Christmas hampers for families in difficult circumstances in their communities. This festive season, more churches are working together to make a bigger impact in their area. Rev Yemi Adedeji, Associate Director of HOPE, gives the example of Churches in Barnet who are involved in two Christmas initiatives which are blessing people and building links between churches of all sizes; http://bit.ly/rDodeV
2011 highlight: Textify
A highlight of HOPE this year was the Hope Revolution Textify campaign. We were blown away by the impact it made – helping young people talk about their faith with their friends. Lauren was one teenager who led her friend to Christ as a result of Textify. Read the Textify stories from young people who encouraged each other with this challenge; http://bit.ly/tq6v1V
Share hope this Christmas
Christine from Chelmsford is just one of hundreds using the opportunity to share hope with neighbours this Christmas, (http://bit.ly/ucboq6) writing to each of her neighbours and make a very bold statement in lights! A card, a friendly chat, carol invitation or a free mince pie, can begin friendships and open up moments to share Jesus. Share with us what you are doing by emailing Lucy Cooper at lucy.cooper@hopetogether.org.uk or via Facebook at http://on.fb.me/tRrQeS or on Twitter at http://bit.ly/sdkCvL
Swansea HOPE to launch night shelter
Churches across Swansea are joining together to provide rough sleepers with a hot meal and a bed each night during the coldest spell this winter. For a while the churches have known the needs but it has taken Swansea HOPE (www.swanseahope.org.uk/) to get the project co-ordinated. 7 churches host rough sleepers on one night a week from 3rd Jan. Read more about the Shelter project and future vision at http://bit.ly/twLpTt
Brand new prayer website
Effective words and actions for the Kingdom are embedded in prayer. The HOPE Prayer website will launch by next Friday (16th Dec). Share your contributions with us and join us in making prayer a priority for 2012; http://bit.ly/vM0RRr. Watch our Why pray? video at http://vimeo.com/33408116 to give you a taster of what to expect on the site - more videos plus creative ideas and resources. www.hopeprayer.org.uk
What gives you hope this Christmas?
Amid talk of more gloomy recession and retail stats, gift pressure and Santa overload what is giving you real reason to hope this Christmas? Even if you are facing a tough challenge in life, often it’s those small moments when you realise what life’s about that give you hope. Join the discussion on Twitter at http://bit.ly/sdkCvL or on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/tRrQeS and share it with us!
Have a wonderful Christmas and a hope-filled new year, from the HOPE team.
Big Screen Nativity
Telford Ecumenical Dean Andy Smith had passed on the following ‘creative and effective way of telling the Christmas story’; http://bit.ly/ux1aBZ
I like it, but I think it would take quite a bit of planning, so if you might like to do something similar next year, then maybe you’d better start thinking about it now!
The New Pair of Shoes
Penny Wheble, of St Martin’s in Walsall, has sent in the following seasonal story, written, apparently, by a ‘David L Griffith’;
On a cold day in December, a little boy, about 10 years, old was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"
"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.
By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?"
As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's Wife?"
Hopefully at least a few of you may like it…
NON-CHRISTMAS THINGS
Messy Church Milestone Fast Approaching
‘My sources’ have told me that there are now 997 different Messy Churches listed on the National Website. While that is a fantastic number (the 997 was often the bus I caught home when I was banned from driving!), wouldn’t a four-figure number be so much nicer!
If you’re running a Messy Church and you haven’t registered it on the National website, please do so at; www.messychurch.org.uk/5270. I can’t tell you exactly what, but I also think that there’s a nice bonus waiting for whoever ‘becomes’ Messy Church number 1000! Go on, I promise that it only takes a minute!
Long-term Lemons will have got used to the fact that I love these little milestones, maybe it’s the old mathematician in me. We’ve been hovering just under 600 Lemons for a while now; come on, give me a nice little Christmas bonus of breaking our own little barrier!
Small Church Music
George writes that; David Bickersteth has found this web site – you can download the words and music to organ with words and pictures. This could prove ideal should you ever be without an organist – or just for the words or to check out tunes etc.
As one of my own regular Saturday tasks sorting out words and often music for the following day, I’ll certainly be bearing it in mind.
HAY-ULP: Banner-Making in North Shropshire
On Monday Morning, I had an interesting request from Revd Linda Chapman, based in Cheswardine near Market Drayton;
There’s group of ladies in my village who are hoping to make banners for the church. (I’d like)… to take them to visit churches in the North Shropshire area which routinely use banners within the building. They can then view the sorts of banners and designs that fit in an ecclesiastical setting, perhaps meet other groups who do this sort of thing. …
Can you suggest the names of fairly local churches to us who have banner-making groups, or at least use banners in church?
Are there any volunteers / suggestions? I’m afraid I drew a blank, but I was sure that there might be a helpful Lemon or two out there!
I know that Linda and her colleague Angela see this as a real Mission opportunity, as the various ladies concerned are not Christians; so this is a real opportunity to encourage them into the life of the church through this craft.
Engaging with Muslims
Revd John Barnett, the Interfaith Officer for the Wolverhampton Episcopal Area, has sent in the details for… a day event for Christians to explore why and how to engage with Muslims
At: St George's Post 16 Centre, Great Hampton Row, Birmingham, B19 3JG
10.00 to 16.00, 31 January 2012
Sessions:
· Why is it OK to engage with Muslims?
· What should we know about Birmingham Muslims?
· Christian Responses to Islam
· Mission and Dialogue
Speakers:
· Steve Bell, Director, Interserve
· Sue Fearon, Children’s Team Co-ordinator, Birmingham City Mission
· Places £20 (£10 concessions), lunch included, from
Christian Muslim Forum 0207 820 0444, info@christianmuslimforum.org
Faithful Neighbourhoods Centre 0121 675 1155, jess@nearneighbours.com
Churches urged to apply to new £10m Govt. green fund
David Primrose writes; A fund is being created by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the 'Local Energy Assessment Fund', which gives community groups, explicitly including churches, the chance to bid for about £10m of apparently new money. It will provide grants for around 200 community organisations to undertake energy efficiency projects and renewable energy generation in their area. The first round closes at noon on 22 December 2011 (sic) with successful applicants notified in the week beginning 9 January 2012. The second round will close to applications at noon on 20 January 2012 with successful communities notified at the end January.
Details are available at; www.greencommunitiescc.org.uk/ or contact the Diocesan Environmental Officer Revd Paul Cawthorne at paulcawthorne@tiscali.co.uk or on 01952 510333 to discuss.
‘Remembering’ the Books of the Old Testament
My ‘baby’ sister Hannah (now 28!), has come across this song aimed at helping kids remember all the Old Testament books; www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7GLF9zfXso
Now let’s be honest, I think it’s basically fun, but not actually that useful; but she disagrees, and as a Primary School and Sunday School Teacher, I have to admit she’s probably better qualified to comment than I am! What do you reckon?
Cartoon ‘Fun’
This weekend I suspect that most of our churches will be frantically doing all manner of things to prepare for what can often be our busiest service; might any of the following look vaguely familiar? www.cartoonchurch.com/content/cc/christmas-preparations/
Saints and Birthdays
Saints: For Sunday, how about St Flannan? The 7th century Irish Saint took an interesting life journey from being the son of a chieftain, becoming a bishop, and being regarded as a great preacher.
Birthdays:
A good place to start seems to be with prolific Director Steven Spielberg; he’s due to turn 65, but I for one am pleased that retirement doesn’t seem on his immediate horizon. Regular faces from the big and small screen are Brad Pitt and Robson Green respectively. A glamorous face from the past is Betty Grable, and more recently, the singer Christina Aguilera. But I’ll finish with the prolific hymn-writer and co-founder of the Methodist Church in Charles Wesley, born the small matter of 304 years ago.
Calendar of Events
Sun 18th December. World Carol Singing Record Attempt. Organised by ‘Christmas Starts with Christ’. More details at; http://bit.ly/qy3xXG
NEW ENTRY
Sat 25th December. Christmas Pantomime. 5pm. ‘Cinderella in Rhyme’, in an Urban contemporary situation performed by children of West Bromwich on Christmas Eve, at St Philip’s Church, West Bromwich. Tickets (£3 for over 5s) & further information, contact Revd Pam Daniel on 0121 525 6190.
Mon 23rd – Wed 25th January. FPE 2012 Conference ‘Evangelism at home and away: What would Jesus do?’. The Hayes, Swanwick. With main speakers Robin Gamble and Jim Currin.
The Fellowship for Parish Evangelism has several members from Lichfield Diocese and George Fisher is the Chair. It is made up of people involved in evangelism and includes church members, itinerant evangelists, clergy, bishops, Church Army evangelistic and Missioners.
For more information see; www.fpe-network.org/Conference2012.aspx.
Tue 7th February. Worship 4 Today. An excellent one-day course for Worship Leaders and Musicians, as recommended by Bishop’s Chaplain Peter Walley. St Mary’s Church, Bramall Lane, Sheffield. S2 4QZ. More details at; http://bit.ly/o4eT41
Wed 29th February. Going for Growth Course – St John’s College Nottingham. 2pm – 5pm. The start of 5 week course with former Bishop’s Growth officer Ven Bob Jackson. Cost £85 + lunch or supper as required. Booking deadline: Friday 21 January 2012. Booking via Helen Taylor at St John’s on 0115 968 3221, 0115 925 1114, or h.taylor@stjohns-nottm.ac.uk. Booking form at http://bit.ly/ux8TAX, and more details at http://www.stjohns-nottm.ac.uk/going-for-growth-2/
Thu 1st March. Facilitating Small Groups. First meeting of a short 4-week course at Shallowford House. For people interested in leading small groups in their church or facilitating courses such as The Bishop’s Certificate Course. It will offer some practical tips on facilitating groups and look at best practise in working with small groups. Led by Lindsey Hall, the Director of Lay Development. Cost £18pp, and be held on 4 consecutive evenings. More details are at http://bit.ly/qflXTr. Bookings (and only 16 places) via Sheila Walker on 01543 306223 or at sheila.walker@lichfield.anglican.org
NEW ENTRY
Sat 22nd September. Postponed launch of msm Wolverhampton. Trinity Methodist Church, Histons Hill, Codsall, Wolverhampton, WV8 2ER. Other dates and details at www.missionshapedministry.org/westmidlands12 or from administrator Anne Riddle on 01782 769532, or 07974 197806 or by e-mail at anne.riddle1@ntlworld.com.
For details of more events happening in the Lichfield Diocese and if you want to upload your event please go to www.lichfield.anglican.org/Index.aspx?Page=latest-events
WIDER CHURCH RESOURCES
Global Connections now has a 'Faith to Faith' resource centre which brings together various resources, see www.globalconnections.co.uk/faithtofaithresources/
SION 'Foundations for Mission' weekends
The SION Community are running training weekends for the new evangelisation, see the flyer at http://evangelismuk.typepad.com/files/foundations-for-mission.docx
More dates for Roman Catholic 'outreach to non-Churchgoing Catholics'
A recent regional conference on this topic was 'full house', so more dates are planned, see www.catholicchurch.org.uk/Catholic-Church/Home-Mission/Non-Churchgoing-Catholics
Australian research informs UK evangelism
A research project in Australia has revealed interesting comments like 1 in 2 do not identify with religion and 12 % say they are spiritual but not religious, see: http://bit.ly/s0nVfF
The Evangelical Alliance are promoting the Viral Bible Project aimed to get friends sharing favourite Bible verses: www.viralbibleproject.com
Fresh Expressions have invited various mission leaders to tweet a message in Advent, see www.freshexpressions.org.uk/advent
LEMnAID
is designed to help everyone involved in mission and evangelism in Lichfield Diocese to:
· keep in touch with each other with news
· pray for each other
· keep informed about the latest resources
· share great ideas and top tips
· know what is going on around the Diocese
This email group will work best if you are willing to share your ideas, news and prayer requests with others. Send in your news and views to richard.barrett@lichfield.anglican.org
Resources and Top Tips will be put in our list of Resources on the Diocesan Web Site so will be an ongoing resource. If you wish to comment on any of the items why not visit our Blog Site on http://ldfe.blogspot.com/ and set up an ongoing conversation.
If you know someone who you think would value receiving this, please send us their name and email. If you would prefer not to receive this, let us know and we will remove you from the email group.
George and Richard
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
This message is intended solely for the addressees in the first instance and may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender, delete the message from your system immediately and do not disclose the contents to any other party.
Richard Barrett
Parish Mission Research Assistant
Lichfield Diocese
01922 707863
The Parish Mission Office, The Small Street Centre,
1A Small Street, Walsall, West Mids. WS1 3PR.
www.lichfield.anglican.org/chadnet/mission
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