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E - Letter 84 - JULY 15th 2010

E-LETTER NO. 84 – 15th JULY 2010

EDITED THIS WEEK BY: COLIN UDALL

Next week I will be accompanying a school choir on their trip to Wells Cathedral where they will be leading Evensong each evening and also recording a CD of various works, some of which they have performed on TV, Radio and elsewhere.  It won’t, I am sure, be top of the download charts, but what it will be is a legacy of a particularly successful period in the choir’s history (and of the choirmaster who has been at the school 23 years) and a reminder to all those young people of a particular set of friends and of places they have been together and worked together.  I spoke to one Year 13 student for whom this will be his first and last choir trip and to another who has been with the choir throughout the school and attended many such trips, yet they both had the same feelings about the bonds of friendship and fellowship they have gained from their time with the choir.  It caused me to reflect that quality work with young people can come in many guises.

Colin Udall

2010/2011 Yearbook The new Synod Yearbook for 2010-2011 is now available. A copy will be issued to all ministers; church secretaries; pastoral consultants; finance networkers and property networkers over the next week. If you wish to own your own copy these are available from the Synod Office @ £2 if collected or £2.50 if posted.

For changes to the Yearbook, please visit page 4. 

General Assembly Reflections

Our General Assembly for the United Reformed Church took place 2nd - 5th July at Loughborough University.  We were able to send 16 delegates to represent the East Midlands Synod.  We have asked our delegates to reflect on their experiences of the General Assembly and have pleasure in attaching these to this e-letter.  Please feel free to use any of these in your newsletters. 

 

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

 PUBLIC MEETING

Forty years on from Gay Liberation, LGBT people (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender ) the world over, are still being routinely mutilated, raped, imprisoned and killed, often the victims of state sanctioned murder.   These words are on the opening sentence on the second page of this flier: www.urc5.org.uk/?q=PMDTCO.   LGTB groups are sadly still discriminated against by some people and organisations in our own country. LGTB Sanctuary Seekers are being sent back to supposedly safe countries where they are killed. For gay, or straight people like me  who absolutely abhors discrimination of any kind , especially the kind of discrimination that causes so much serious suffering to individual people, I would strongly recommend this local  PUBLIC MEETING at Gynogly, Gregory Blvd Hyson Green Saturday 31st July 2.30 - 4-30Linda Granville, United Reformed Church Racial Justice Advocate.

 

LINCOLNSHIRE

  CONCERT AT STAMFORD URC ON 26 JUNE 2010

I thought you would like to know that the concert by the Gildenburgh Choir at Stamford URC on 26th June raised (so far on 2nd July) £1,077 in aid of the Willoughby School in Bourne.  This is a school for children with learning difficulties.  Anne Thompson, one of our Elders, is a member of the Gildenburgh Choir and has a grandson aged 19 who has been at the Willoughby School for 15 years.  She is so grateful for the wonderful way in which her grandson has been helped that she asked the Choir if they would do this concert.   Our practice is not to charge admission but to have a retiring collection and this seems to suit everyone very well.  Elizabeth Banks, Church Secretary. 

  

 

MILTON KEYNES

  VACANCY Church of Christ the Cornerstone Business Manager – Closing Date 23 July 2010

Salary: circa £28,000pa. 

Cornerstone Trading Company (MK) Ltd, part of the Church of Christ the Cornerstone, in Central MK, is seeking to appoint an individual who has the depth of knowledge of buildings management and a passion to look after our iconic building, the commercial ability to use the building as an increasing source of revenue, the strength of personality to get to know the individuals in our congregations and the generosity of spirit to deal firmly and fairly with the wide array of situations that occur on a daily basis. 

Further details and an application form are available at www.cornerstonemk.org.uk 

 

 INTERESTED IN GROWING AS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS?

If so, consider joining Disciple Bible Study just as 50 people have over the past 4 years.  Participants have emerged with a greater understanding of the broad sweep and wisdom of the Bible.  When the course came to an end one participant commented, “The end of Disciple has left a big hole in my week, I really miss it.” Interested? To reserve your place or for more information, please contact Rev. Chris Batten, c [dot] r [dot] batten [at] open [dot] ac [dot] uk or 01908 587741.   Further details about the course are available on the Disciple website, www.cokesbury.com.

 

 

DERBYSHIRE

Congratulations to Tom Hackett from Melbourne URC in Derbyshire who has been chosen to be a part of the international team of young people who will spend the next year at the Council for World Mission Mission House in Amsterdam.  After a period learning some basic Dutch, Tom will work on social projects in the city ranging from after-school clubs at a local church, to homeless shelters or working with the Seamen’s Mission based at the harbour.  Tom’s induction service is over the first weekend of September.  Please remember him in your prayers.  As far as I know, Tom is the only representative from the URC and we would love to see more young people from the URC take part in future years.  You can get more information from the CWM website at www.cwmission.org/features/mission-house-amsterdam where there is a video (which can also be found on YouTube) or contact me.  Colin Udall

 

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

 WANTED: CENTRE MANAGER FOR NEWLY OPENED KAIROS CENTRE

 Nine Month Fixed Term Contract.  £19,500 per annum, pro rata.  Part Time:  20 hours per weekWe are looking to recruit a Centre Manager to oversee the day to day running of the Grange Park Church Kairos Centre.  Duties will include line-managing volunteers in the Coffee Lounge, Health & Safety issues, oversight of bookings, procurement and stock control as well as the promotion of the vision and values of Grange Park Church.  

   We can offer excellent team spirit and opportunities for further development.  Some flexibility in days/times of working may be required. 

 Please visit our website www.kairoscentre.co.uk  to view the full job description.

Please apply in writing with your CV to Rev Charlie Nobbs (charlie [at] dunelm [dot] org [dot] uk)

Closing Date:  18 July 2010.  Interviews:   22 July 2010 

 

HANSBURY COMMUNITY CHOIR PRESENTS ‘SUMMER SERENADE’

At 7.30pm on Saturday 17th July at 7.30pm at St. Giles Church

Includes an eclectic mix of well known classics, from ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ and Spirituals to ‘The Impossible Dream’, ‘Hairspray’, ‘Abba’, and many more.

Proceeds shared between St. Giles Church Funds and Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research

Tickets £5.00 Adults, £4.00 Concessions, £10.00 Family Ticket (2 Adults, 2 Children) Available from: St. Giles’ Street Music; The Manna House bookshop; King Richard Court, East Hunsbury, or on the door.   

FAITHFEST. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH 2 P.M. AT CHRIST CHURCH

Churches Together and Worship Northampton are organising another FAITHFEST.  Those who participated or came to share in the occasion last year will recommend it as a great experience which met its aim to enable Christians from different churches to experience a taste of the rich variety of music which churches in the town offer to God week by week - and to get to know new friends.  Further publicity (posters, etc) will be coming nearer the time, but this is to give you some details about this year's Faithfest - and an official invitation for your church or organisation to take part.  The Theme will be World Peace

If your church wants to take part please let the CTN secretary know ASAP Email: halesnorthampton [at] halesnorthampton [dot] plus [dot] com 

 

STRATEGY FOR NORTHAMPTON TOWN CENTRE PARKING

Adina Curtis is representing Churches Together in Northampton on July 23rd at a consultation meeting which will look at a strategy for town centre parking.   Adina would be grateful for any thoughts or suggestions you have.  Please send them direct to Adina: adinacurtis [at] aol [dot] com

 

LEICESTERSHIRE

We have no news from Leicestershire for this issue!  I wonder if we can fix that for the next issue…stories of recent happenings and news of forthcoming events are welcome – please submit them to editor [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk 

 Youth

 TOOLKIT - a day for those who work with young people. If you work with young people, please put the following date in your diary - Saturday 13th November.  We will be running a Toolkit skills day for volunteers in churches with a great opportunity for you to take part in some activities and learn new skills and ideas and meet other like-minded volunteers.  The day will be held at the United Reformed Church in Wellingborough and also the Infuse Youth Cafe in the town.  There will be sessions looking at Challenging Behaviour, Using the Bible with Young People, 101 practical ideas for your group, new ways of being 'church' with young people, praying with young people, and setting up a youth project.  If all that sounds too exhausting, there will also be a prayer walk and a quiet room with prayer stations.  Further details will be sent out in early September, but put the date in your diary NOW.  Colin Udall 

 Year Book Changes 

·       Ray Sowersby now has a new email: ** available from Synod Office**

·       Derbyshire Property Networker - position Vacant 

·       Pastoral Consultant Northants - We now have a second pastoral consultant to work alongside Revd Paul Bedford, his name is Revd Geoff Townsend and his details are: **available from Synod office**

  AND FINALLY: -   Please send any comments or feedback on this e-letter to cydo [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: Monday 26th July 2010

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

Submitted by ichthus on 14 August 2010 - 8:23am