Would you sit in front of the television and watch rubbish – literally, rubbish!  Would you pay to go to the theatre and watch rubbish – literally, rubbish?  Well, guess what I was reduced to on the M1 this morning – watching rubbish – literally – all because the traffic going south had slowed to a snail’s pace so that they could gawp at the crane picking up the rubbish on the north bound carriageway.  They risked their lives to watch rubbish – literally!  What are our priorities in this society; are we so discontented with our lives that we are fascinated by rubbish?  What is our focus – good old Lent! J  May yours be filled with joy and renewal.

Blessings,

Deborah   

JUNE SYNOD 2010 is taking place at Bluecoat School  on Saturday 12th June from 10am until 4.00pm and you are all cordially invited. Our theme is Prayer4Life to coincide with the Vision4Life theme for 2010 and the day will be intellectually stimulating, physically reviving and spiritually energising.Our day will begin with a keynote speech from Janet Lees from Vision4Life. There will be three workshop sessions during the day where you can participate in such activities as drumming, dancing and  singing;  enjoy different types of worship events; and consider issues such as the environment, spirituality  and health and healing. The day will conclude with worship to which participants involved in creative writing and performance can bring along what they had created. We are inviting each church in the Synod to participate in the event  by creating something about their church - a verse or something pictorial - which is then brought along on 12th June  to be bound together to create a large display entitled "Our prayer".  More details of this will be provided at March Synod.Do put the event in your diary - we look forward to seeing you there! 

MINISTERS SUMMER SCHOOL – 24^TH – 27^TH MAY AT THE HAYES, SWANWICK

You’re not too late to book in for the Ministers Summer School this year.  Please visit: www.urc5.org.uk/?q=ss2010 for the booking form.  This year the process has changed and we need the £40.00 booking fee in order to reserve a place.  Please complete the booking form and return to Michelle Cropper at the Synod Office, with a cheque made payable to ‘United Reformed Church EMS’.  Thank you. 

SERVICE OF CELEBRATION AND THANKSGIVING FOR FRED KAAN AND HIS HYMNS

Saturday 10^th April 2010 – 2.00pm at St. Andrew’s URC, Cheltenham, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1SP. (20 mins walk from Cheltenham Spa train station, taxis should also be available). The festival will include singing and many of Fred’s hymns collated and presented by Alan Gaunt with recollections of Fred from, among others, Fred’s biographer, Dr. Gillian Warson and Fred’s wife, Dr Anthea Kaan.  The celebration will be followed by light refreshments.

Milton Keynes

NEWPORT PAGNELL CHURCH 350^TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

As part of a full programme throughout the year there are two events in March which may be of wider interest. March 6th to 20^th An Exhibition of Embroideries by Pamela Pavitt on the theme of: “Peace and the Environment”.  March 27^th A lecture by Alan Gaunt on the theme: “Hymns and Hymn writing in the Free Church Tradition”.For more information please telephone 01908 661251 or 01908 217559, particularly for the Embroideries which will not be open every day. 

Nottingham

TALK WITH QUESTION TIME BY DR. KEITH LINDSEY ABOUT HIS WORK WITH ‘ANAMED’

You are invited to listen to a talk with question time by Dr Keith Lindsey about his work with ‘Anamed’ – a small but very active charitable organization based in south-west Germany.He does fantastic work across Africa to the poorest of communities setting up village co-operatives to grow  medicinal plants. He especially promotes the Artemesia Plant which is excellent for the immune system and therefore good for AIDs. & Malaria.  If anyone is interested in this work, please come along.  There will be a talk for 30 minutes with questions afterwards. On Sunday March 14th   5.30 – 7pm at the Boulevard Church & Bridge Centre, 49a Gregory Blvd. Hyson Green Nottingham NG7 5JA  For more information please contact Linda Granville **details available from Synod Office** 

  ONE GENERATION FROM EXTINCTION How can the church connect with the unchurched child?
Are we one generation from extinction as a witnessing community?  In a compelling and thought provoking presentation Mark Griffiths examines how the church reached the unchurched child in the past and details how many pioneering groups are seeking to do the same in the 21st Century. Mark will help you grasp how many are helping to restock the imagination of children with the message of Jesus and planting the seeds for many more generations of witness.  Drawing on material from his new book he will set you thinking with a fast-paced 2 hour presentation taking place at Dunham House, Southwell, NG25 0JL on 18th March 7:30 - 9:45pm.  Entry £5 including refreshments.  Please book in advance online at www.childrenmatter.net 

VACANCY FOR A FULL TIME HATE INCIDENT OFFICER

Council for Equality & Human Rights (Nottingham & Nottinghamshire)

The CEHRNN is an organisation that supports and advocates on behalf of people who suffer from discrimination and prejudice across all equality strands.  We are a countywide organisation serving the City of Nottingham and the County of Nottinghamshire. Salary: £23,500.00 per annum.  Hours: 37 hours per week and will be based at the CEHRNN OfficeTerm: 1 year fixed term contract with potential funding for a further two years. For further information & an application form, please contact: -Afzal Sadiq, CEO on Tel: 0115 9586515 or Email:  ammsadiq [at] nottsrec [dot] comClosing date: Monday 1^st March 2010 by 5.00pm, Interviews: Tuesday 12^th March 2010 

Derbyshire

BUILT FOR GOOD – MONDAY 22^nd MARCH

A conference for all who care about the future of our communities and the places we will call home in the East Midlands. On Monday 22^nd March 10.30 – 3.30 at the YMCA Learning and Development Campus, 770 London Road, Wilmorton, Derby, DE24 8UT. To reserve your place please e-mail emcfadmin [at] btconnect [dot] com  with full contact details and indicating any special needs by 5^th March or call 0777 877 2176 to check availability.For more information please visit: www.emcf.org.uk 

  FIRST AID TRAINING

Our First Aid training for youth and children's work volunteers will cover what you need to do whilst waiting for an ambulance to arrive.  It will cover the aims of First Aid, what to put in a First Aid Kit, how to deal with an unconscious person, resuscitation, treating burns and bleeding, and what to do if a child suffers from asthma, epilepsy or diabetes.  It is essential for anyone who regularly comes into contact with children or young people.  On satisfactory completion an appointed person's certificate will be awarded, valid for 3 years. Venues and dates: Monday 15th March at St. Laurence's Church Hall, Long Eaton NG10 1LT Wednesday 19th May at Stonegravels Parish Centre, Chesterfield S41 7JH
Thursday 15th July at Derby Church House, Full Street, DE1 3DR. Cost £8.  Times: 7:00pm - 9:30pm.
Booking essential.  Please email: alistair [at] ddbe [dot] org or txt/phone 07976 212888. Confirmation will be sent out 1 week prior to the evening. 

LED LIGHTING – REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

St Andrew’s Chesterfield would like to explore the possibility of replacing the lighting in their church hall and externally with LEDs, to improve the lighting, reduce the cost and reduce the carbon footprint caused by electricity consumption.  Has any church done this?  How effective are LEDs in your experience?  Contact Patrick Lidgett on **available from Synod Office**if you are able to help. 

'INTERFAITH – THE NEW ECUMENISM?' THE FREE TO BELIEVE CONFERENCE

At The Hayes, Swanwick, Derbyshire on 27th to 29th May 2010 Keynote Speakers: Raficq Abdulla MBE, Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield, The Revd Dr David Cornick, The Revd Canon Dr Alan Race and Dr Ian Bradley Cost: £140 including ensuite accommodation and all meals.For more information please contact Linda Harrison: linda [dot] harrison [at] pcnbritain [dot] org [dot] uk  

Leicester

COMMUNITY YOUTH PROJECT - EVINGTON ROAD

There will be an open day on Thursday 25^th March for a Community Youth Project taking place at Evington Road church on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm.  The youth organisation deals with the youngsters of the ethnic minorities that live on and around the Evington Road, Leicester area, and have in the past caused concerns of low level anti-social behaviour. Activities include exercises, boxing training, table tennis billiards, football pinball machines, darts etc.We hope that it will cater for a large number of young people in the area around the church.  For more information, please contact the Revd David Howlett: 0116 272 0384 

Lincolnshire

CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE

“A National Fresh Expressions event called ‘Changing the Landscape’ is taking place at the EPIC Centre on Friday 5th March.  The main speakers are Rowan Williams and Martyn Atkins.  Churches Together in All Lincolnshire is able to subsidise a number of spaces for the day.  If you wish to book and take advantage of the discount you need to do so by contacting myself rather than via Fresh Expressions.  I will then be making a block booking with Fresh Expressions.  You can phone or email me to secure your place using the information below.  Please also arrange for a cheque for £10 made payable to Churches Together in All Lincolnshire. For the leaflet giving details about the Changing the Landscape Event please visit: www.ctal.org.uk/fresh%20expressions.html and click on ‘Lincs Flier’ in the centre of the page.”   Simon Dean, CTAL Facilitator.  Tel: 01522 504071  Email: simon [at] ctal [dot] org [dot] uk

CTAL Office, Church House, Off Minster Yard, Lincoln, LN2 1PU

 NEWS FROM ASSEMBLY MISSION COMMITTEE·     

    The Vision4Life 24/7 Prayer Event: this is a URC-wide prayer initiative taking place in Holy Week and organized by Vision4Life and FURY. We are hoping to attract enough churches to cover all hours between 12noon on Sunday 28 March and 1.00pm on Easter Sunday 4 April. Participating churches are asked to spend one hour (or more) in prayer for their community during that week. More information about the event can be found on the Vision4Life website www.vision4life.org.uk   Do consider getting your church to participate. There are still gaps to fill.·       

  Faith in Politics: CBTI have produced a document - ‘Faith in Politics, preparing churches for the general election 2010’. The document can be downloaded from the CTBI website: www.ctbi.org.uk·      

   Mission Grants: A new Mission Grants programme has been agreed, starting next year. Small grants for one-off projects and longer term grants will be available to churches. These grants will be focussed around projects which are working towards Vision2020 mission pledges. Further information about the new procedures and a time table will be sent out as soon as possible.

         Volunteers: Mission Team are looking for volunteers for programmes/groups.

·  Green Apostles Network - one per Synod; contact Linda Mead for more details: lmeadcforl [at] gmail [dot] com);

·  Vision2020 Steering Group;

 ·  Rural Mission Review;

·  Ecumenical Review.

·  Counting the Cost: this is the Lent Appeal to support Commitment for Life. Please promote the appeal. All details are on www.urc.org.uk·       

  Arthur Rank Appeal: there will be an appeal for the work of the Arthur Rank Centre on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 7 March at 7.55am or 9.26pm, or on Thursday 11 March at 3.27pm, or online at bbc.co.uk/radio4 all week. ARC is the base for our Rural Consultant.

Clare Downing 

WEBINAR

You are invited to the United Reformed Church’s 1^st online Webinar – “Who the Heck Are We? Exploring the Identity of the URC.” The purpose of the webinar is to spark conversation about the URC’s identity and the God Is Still Speaking campaign as well as to give everyone a chance to input what they think.  Webinar is a convenient way of hosting a meeting via the internet for up to 1000 people from any location! All you need to attend the online meeting is internet access via a computer or laptop. You will be able to answer questions to a live online poll, talk to the Panel and ask questions. Haven’t used a Webinar before? No problem! You can try this out w/c 22^nd February – w/c 15^th March 2010. Please invite as many as you can to register AND attend from URC congregations. More information is available at: www.urc.org.uk/id including how to get involved/ sign up for this exciting event.  

CHRISTIAN AID COMMITMENT FOR LIFE SURVEY

Christian Aid really values the support given by Commitment for Life for the work of Christian Aid and the World Development Movement.  But they want to improve the quality of service that you receive so that more people become involved in supporting Commitment for Life.  Christian Aid, one of the beneficiaries of Commitment for Life, is therefore carrying out an online Commitment for Life survey.  The survey can be completed in about 10 minutes and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HYHP2VX.  

 YEAR BOOK CHANGES

·       Wendy Pittman, Treasurer at Flore URC (5D09) has a new email address: **available from Synod Office**

AND FINALLY: -   Please send any comments or feedback on this e-letter to Deborah Anderson training [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk

The URC East Midlands Synod, 1 Edwards Lane, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG5 3AA.

Telephone: 0115 960 9241.  Facsimile: 0115 960 9202

Email address for E-Letter Editor: editor [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk

Copy Date for Next E-Letter: 8^th March 2010 

Please forward this e-letter to members of your congregation or anyone who would like to receive it.

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