District Newsletter

District Newsletter – March 2024

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Welcome to the Bolton and Rochdale District Newsletter.

This edition includes details about events, dates for your diaries, training opportunities, vacancies, links and contacts.

If you have any information to share, please contact us so we can include in future editions.

Please share this newsletter around your churches, circuits and contacts.

 

Letter from Rev Shaun Swithenbank, Superintendent of the Wigan Circuit

 

Pilgrimage, Passion and Resurrection

 

“Whoever serves me must follow me,

and where I am, there will my servant be also …...

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth,

will draw all people to myself.”

                                                                                                                                                                John 12v26 & 32

Life in the Desert

Deserts are some of the most inhospitable environments in the world, often seeming bereft of life. Yet even in deserts there is life, sometimes underground, sometimes microscopic, but plants and animals do live in seemingly impossible places: Drought resistant plants; animals that adapt to extreme heat; bacteria which can survive heat and chemicals which should be deadly to life. Our understanding of what defines life is changing as we explore the earth and but the universe: What new understanding of life will future generations uncover?

Early Christians, prophets, John the Baptist, and Jesus spent time in the desert wilderness. They retreated to these desolate places to seek spiritual enlightenment and guidance for the difficult challenges they faced. Just as Jesus faced his temptations during his desert pilgrimage, and found the true direction for the next steps of his life, we too this Lent need to reflect and seek guidance for our new direction as churches, circuits and districts. Jesus’ way and truth and life will lead us to new places and new people.

 

Life with Meaning

If life is merely existence, and religion is only about believing seemingly impossible things, then these are no different to a science which asks me simply to believe that atoms exist and the moon is not made of cheese. I have no problem with believing in something I cannot see - both oxygen and love are invisible but essential to a healthy life. However, religion has to be more than just stories about what we might call ‘supernature’. We serve Christ in others so that poverty and injustice, war and famine are relieved or removed; meaning and security, love, mindfulness and worth are restored.  

So, let us renew our awareness of the miracles in creation around us and God’s spirit within us. Let us show by our words and actions that the purpose, meaning and message which is revealed in the miracle of resurrection, is also the purpose, meaning and message for peace and healing in the world.

 

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10)

 

This is the message of Holy Week as we journey with Christ towards Easter, and the promise is for everyone who is on the pilgrimage. Eternal life is a quality of life which we can know now, a life which uplifts and renews. Jesus’ pilgrimage, passion and death show us that all things are possible with God, and if we share this ‘Life of Life’ with others, then earth and heaven will indeed be made new.

 

May your preparation and celebration this Easter be blessed with the light of God’s love in Christ.

 

Shaun

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,
 

Appointment of senior leader to key role in the new North West England District 

The North West England District Regional Review Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Rev Phil Gough to be the District Secretary in the Ministry and Vocations Hub of the new District.

Subject to Conference approval, Phil, who is currently the Chair of the Lancashire District, will take up his new position on September 1st, 2024, when the new District comes into being as a result of the amalgamation of the existing Districts of Cumbria, Lancashire, Liverpool, Bolton & Rochdale and Manchester & Stockport. 

The District Secretary in the Ministry and Vocations Hub is one of the three senior leadership roles in the new District alongside the nominated District Chair, Rev Dr James Tebbutt, and the District Secretary for Administration and Compliance. Recruitment is currently under way for this last role. 

Phil said, “I am delighted, honoured and excited to be appointed to this role and, with God’s help, will use the gifts and skills I have been given to further God’s work in the new District”. 

James commented, ”Phil brings with him many years of experience in the Methodist Church, as well as the gifts of pastoral sensitivity, empathy and humour. He is a very natural fit for this new role, and I very much look forward to working with him as the new North West England District becomes established”.

More details will follow shortly of a video conversation to take place between Phil and Tori Allen, Digital and Communications Officer for the Manchester and Stockport District. 

Alongside the recruitment process for the District Secretary for the Administration and Compliance Hub, work is continuing to fill the variety of different volunteer roles in the new District and we are very grateful for the large number of people who have submitted Expressions of Interest and offered their gifts and experience.

 

Reminder of the following dates for your diaries:

We have various dates and flyers to share with you all, and hope that you will please circulate these widely in your Circuits and Churches. Please feel free to print and share it with others:

 

1. Equip Series on Zoom

Come along to these information evenings and be equipped as we move towards the launch of the North West England District. 

A flyer is attached for circulation. 

  • Tue 12 March 2024
  • Wed 17 April 2024
  • Thu 16 May 2024 
  • Mon 10 June 2024 
  • Tue 16 July 2024
  • Wed 14 August 2024

 Could you offer local hubs in your circuits/churches to those without internet access? 

 

2. Launch Event - Saturday 31st August 2024

This event is an opportunity to celebrate as five districts become one, to form the North West England District. Starting at 2.30pm, the event will include the welcome service for Rev. Dr. James Tebbutt, our District Chair (subject to Methodist Conference), and will also welcome the wider District Team. The President of Conference will be preaching, along with the Vice-President and Secretary of Conference in attendance.

To be held at Victoria Hall, Knowsley Street, Bolton, BL1 2AS. A save the date flyer is attached for circulation. 

 

3. Video from James Tebbutt 

This video can be shared, and also watched in church councils and circuit meetings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLnRNxKjGq4

In this video Tori Allen interviews Rev Dr James Tebbutt, the nominated District Chair of the North West England District. James tells us: 

- About himself and his background

- Some facts that people may not know about him!

- What is important about our new district

- Why this matters to churches and circuits

- What he hopes to achieve as our new District Chair (subject to Methodist Conference)

- And a word of encouragement to us all. 

 

4. Autumn Synod for the NWE District - Saturday 14th September 2024

More details about this will come to DPC meetings and Spring Synods regarding the Constitution of the new Synod and the arrangements. 

 

If you have any queries or comments, please do email [email protected]

Blessings
Jill Orrell

(on behalf of the Communications subgroup)

 

For your diary - Save the Date.

 

Sunday 14th July 2024 at 2.30pm at Harwood Methodist Church, Longsight, Bolton.

For entry to the car park, off Longsight Lane, set your Satnav to BL2 3JP.

You are all invited to a Service on 14th July to celebrate God's work in the Bolton and Rochdale District.

It will be an opportunity to give thanks and share fellowship together prior to the amalgamation of 5 Districts in the new one District to be called North West England District. (There will be a service for this on 31 August - more details later). 

We, as Bolton and Rochdale District, have made a unique contribution to Methodism over the years, so come and join us at Harwood Methodist Church, where there is room for all and a good car park.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

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Methodist Women in Britain

Bolton & Rochdale District.

Preparing for the Passion

 

An opportunity for gathering together to share reflective time in preparation for Holy Week         

Wednesday March 20th 2024: 11:00 - 2:30

Connections Community Methodist Church,

St Helens Road, Bolton, BL3 3TP

ALL WELCOME

Refreshments will be served including a soup lunch

 

Biblical Justice for Transforming the World - Wesley House - March 2024

Biblical Justice for Transforming the World is designed both for those working in social justice ministry and for anyone else seeking to relate their faith more effectively to public life. Through readings, conversation and reflection on participant’s experience, we will explore a compelling biblical and theological underpinning for justice work in our contemporary world, with a focus on poverty.

Join us for this online course being run throughout March. For further information and to register CLICK HERE

 

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Local Preachers’ Retreat 2024

The Ammerdown Centre, 19th – 21st April 2024

Oh, how I love your law…?

Leader : Bob Bartindale, Connexional Officer for Worship and Local Preachers

Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long. 

So says the author of Psalm 119, several times!

As Christians who emphasise God’s love and grace, how can God’s Law be at the centre of our faith?

On this Retreat, we shall reflect on the relationship of law and grace, and on Jesus coming to “fulfil the Law”.

And on how this might affect our discipleship and our calling as worship leaders and preachers.

A time to think, to reflect, and possibly to discover a new insight to inspire our faith and our calling.

The retreat will be in silence from Friday night to Sunday lunch time and will follow the familiar format of short inputs of approximately 20 minutes, each followed by ample time for private reflection, in the peaceful stillness of the presence of God.

A wonderfully peaceful and comfortable retreat house set in the countryside near Bath, Ammerdown offers space and peace for this time with God.

The cost for the weekend (accommodation and full board) is £250

Click here for the booking form.

 

Cliff College

The days are getting longer and the weather is getting (slowly) warmer – and at Cliff College, that means we’re getting ready for Cliff Festival! We’d love for you to join us from 24-27 May 2024 on the Cliff College site, where together we’ll be exploring the journey of the exodus and God’s faithfulness to his people and his promises. Come and encounter God through a weekend of music and art, Bible studies and seminars, prayer and conversations. Day and weekend tickets are available now at www.cliffcollege.ac.uk/festival.

 

Courses at Cliff College

What skills and knowledge do you need to gain this year? Maybe how to support families in faith development, or how to help your church respond to issues like climate justice and health & wellbeing? Maybe you’re exploring pioneer work or wanting to better navigate change and conflict in your congregations and communities.

Whatever your context and challenge, Cliff College can develop your theology and practice and help you respond to God’s call to mission and ministry in 2024. Find out more on our website or contact us at [email protected].

Cliff College’s new MA Theology and Mission* programme, available from September 2024, equips students to explore missional theology and practice in depth, to inform and enhance their own engagement in the work of God’s Kingdom. Students can choose from a variety of units including biblical studies, chaplaincy, Methodist and Wesleyan identity and leadership, alongside core Missional Theology and Missional Theology in Practice units.

This course can be studied either online or at our College campus in Derbyshire, full-time or part-time. Applications are now open: find out more and apply here.

*subject to approval from the University of Manchester

 

Wesley House - Reflective Pastoral Supervision Courses 2024

Please find attached a flyer and a link to relevant page of the website - https://www.wesley.cam.ac.uk/centre-for-leadership-and-ministy-development/pastoral-supervision/supervision/

 

Safeguarding Training - there are several sessions planned between now and July 2024 in various formats. Have a look at the Events section of our website for more details and to register your place. District Events | Bolton and Rochdale Methodist District (barmd.org.uk)

 

Dates for your diary: visit the District Website: www.barmd.org.uk

 

UPDATES

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Methodist Women in Britain

Please find attached our spring newsletter, prayer diary for March to May and a full advert for our Garden Party in May.

Prayer Diary March to May 2024

Garden Party

Remember that our website www.mwib.org.uk has all the up to date information and news about all things Methodist Women in Britain as well as every Saturday a new Prayer for the Week, regular blogs from our co-chairs and details of our merchandise and upcoming events.

Bronwen Braisdell
Communications Officer
 

Safeguarding Update 

Please find attached the update for March 2024.

 

Could your magazine be this year’s winner?

The search is on for Britain's best church magazine. Entries are now invited for the annual competition run by the Association for Church Editors (ACE), which is an independent, not for profit organisation that celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

"Judging from the number of brochures and leaflets that land on our doormats and the array of magazines in newsagents, other organisations still value printed material," says Sally Churchus, Chair of the national organisation, "so we are keen to encourage church editors everywhere".

For the coming 2024 competition, which closes on Tuesday 2nd April, awards will be made for any size of magazine using colour printing. The Gold Award winner will receive the John King Trophy, to be held for one year, while Silver and Bronze Awards will receive an inscribed trophy to keep, together with a Certificate of Excellence for display.

A panel of judges assesses each magazine, giving points for various aspects including cover design, headlines and clarity of the Christian message.

The prize-giving will take place on Saturday 28th September in Westminster Central Hall, London, and is open to everyone. The meeting will include an address by our Keynote Speaker, Neil Pugmire, (author of 100 Ways To Get Your Church Noticed), and talks on various ways to improve church magazines.

www.churchmag.uk

 

Unbounded Love worship resources now available 

A range of resources that connect the Gospel readings from the Sunday lectionary throughout Lent to weekly themes, each one a line lifted from “Love divine, all loves excelling”.

Charles Wesley's famous hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling talks about Jesus as ‘unbounded love’ – a kind of love that cannot be contained, that works in our lives and in our world to free us and heal us. Unbounded Love is the theme of the Lent campaign of the Methodist Church in 2024 – holding together our commitments to be a justice-seeking church, and a people who experience and proclaim the good news of God’s uncontainable love.

For individuals - Forty daily discipleship prompts, delivered straight to your email inbox every day of Lent, excluding Sundays. Daily emails will include Bible studies, creative activities and challenges to take an action.

For churches - A poster to advertise the email reflections, digital assets to advertise the email reflections, light-touch guidance for either Sunday services or small groups, a social media campaign pointing people to local churches.

Find out more on our websiteUnbounded Love - Lent 2024 reflections (methodist.org.uk)

 

All We Can

Happy March!

With a each new year comes a new campaign! We are excited to introduce you to our new campaign, Charity Begins at Home. In this Newsletter, I hope you will indulge us as we set the scene for Charity Begins at Home and our partner, SHIFSD in Liberia. 

We hope you'll consider supporting our inspiring partner network and do something extraordinary this year. With your help, we're shining a light on truly transformational, community-led projects around the world!

Thank you for being part of our movement,

Mollie Pugmire | Communications and Advocacy Officer, All We Can

Thank you for reading and for your continued support. Have a question or a story? Get in touch: [email protected]  

As we set the scene for Charity Begins at Home, we have three videos to get you up to speed!

First, our Charity Begins at Home campaign film:

Charity Begins at Home

Second, our Acquisition Team answers the question 'what do you think when you hear 'Charity Begins at Home'?':

What do you think when you hear 'Charity Begins at Home'?

Third (and finally), a video that goes deeper into the context of Liberia with the help of our Liberia Country Rep, Benedict: 

Go Deeper: Liberia

You can find all of these videos on our YouTube Channel and we encourage you to use them in your local contexts.

YouTube

The Methodist News

If you don’t already receive this you can subscribe online at:-

https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/news/sign-up-for-newsletters?utm_source=Methodist%20Church%20House&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=11505298_The%20Methodist%20News&dm_i=BVI,6ULJM,35DR8Y,RGULV,1

 

A Methodist Way of Life

A Methodist Way of Life commitment card is available online at www.methodistchurch.org.uk/MWoL. Many people are downloading and finding it useful.

 

VACANCIES

For employment and voluntary opportunities in the Methodist Church Connexionally: http://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/connect/jobs-volunteering/

 

SAFEGUARDING:

Advanced Module Training Dates – please visit the Events section of the District Website to book places on these training days. District Events | Bolton and Rochdale Methodist District (barmd.org.uk)

Policies and guidance – the most recent are now available on the Methodist Church website: https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-ministers-and-office-holders/safeguarding/policies-procedure-and-information/policies-and-guidance/

District Safeguarding Officer: Email address Helen Bolton - [email protected]

Update from Connexional Safeguarding Team:

Managing Trustees are advised that there are now 4 new data protection resources available to them on TMCP’s website:

1. Updated Document Retention Schedule for Managing Trustees - Updated Retention Schedule and other new Data Protection Resources – June 2021 –Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (tmcp.org.uk)

2. The Annual Checklist in a shortened Word version.

3. Guest Wi-Fi Acceptable Use Policy - TMCP has been working with the Connexional team on producing an Acceptable Use Policy (Policy) for guests using Church Wi-Fi. This is available to download from the Safeguarding Forms section of the Methodist Church Website:

The Policy sets out the terms and conditions of the contract between the Managing Trustees and the guest using the Wi-Fi network.

The Policy should be displayed or be accessible to guest users by means of a prominent hyperlink before the user gains access to the Wi-Fi network.

The Policy must be available in a way that allows the user to store and reproduce it. You could do this by encouraging users to print the Policy/ the terms and conditions.

4. Zoom Guidance - New guidance has been produced by the Connexional Team as part of the Digital Communication Guidance for Churches. From a data protection perspective, please bear in mind the implications particularly with regard to recording Zoom sessions, deleting those recordings and locking the meeting to guard against “Zoom Bombing”: How to use Zoom safely and with integrity

 

GDPR: General Data Protection Regulation came into effect on 25th May 2018. Training and resources from TMCP are fine tuned for The Methodist Church context: https://www.tmcp.org.uk/about/data-protection

 

RESOURCES: