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A major Vision for Action event will take place in St Albans Cathedral on 24 February 2007. The event is in the early planning stages at present but make a note of the date now and more information will follow shortly.
Many groups and individuals across the Diocese have been supported by this fund which aims to support initiatives that promote education, spirituality, witness and service. Projects that are currently under consideration in parishes may benefit from an application to the Fund. For more information: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/finance/verulamfund.html or contact Nigel Benger on 01727 854532.
Please do keep looking at the Vision for Action pages of the website for news and resources. This e-mail is also uploaded each month here: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/visionforaction/linkgroup.htm I would be very grateful if you could also send stories through to me to add to the site and for use in other communications.
Bishop of Bedford in mission mode. The Rt Revd Richard Inwood, Bishop of Bedford, will be spending five weekends with parishes beginning with a weekend in Leighton Buzzard in July. Later in the year he will be with the people of Codicote, Radlett and Stopsley and in January 2007 with Carlton, Harrold and Odell. Bishop Richard will be involved in a range of activities including at Leighton Buzzard, a civic event highlighting the churches' partnership with the community, a family day with the churches of the Ouzel Valley Team Ministry and an open air Eucharist. Bishop Richard would like to hear from other parishes who might wish to organise mission weekends during 2007.
News from the Europe Group. The Diocesan Europe Group is one of the co-hosts of the International Links Evening being organised in May. This follows the Archdeacon's Articles of Enquiry last year which revealed that 26 parishes in the Diocese have a link with a European parish and 17 expressed an interest in a European link. If you are one of the 26 parishes with a link, the Europe Group would like to hear from you! Please email Helen Hutchinson at helenhutchison@btopenworld.com or write to her at 1, Little Heath Spinney, Heath Farm Lane, St Albans, AL3 5AE.
The monthly Bulletin of the Council for Christian Unity carries news of the ways in which various European ecumenical organisations as well as our own unilateral and multilateral partnerships are using and developing new mission initiatives and fresh expressions of church. The Bulletin offers links to resources which they hope will be of practical use to parishes in both traditional and fresh contexts. The Bulletin is downloadable from the Europe Group website and can be found under the heading of Fresh Expressions of Church from Bulletin No 19 (August 2005) onwards. Visit the website at www.stalbans.anglican.org and follow the Mission link.
Caribbean Links. The Revd Canon John Payne Cook, Chair of the Diocesan Caribbean Links Group gave a presentation at Diocesan Synod on the work of the group. The Synod passed a motion welcoming a review of the Companion Links, accepting the challenge to develop them further and noting the strategy to link the three Archdeaconries with different Dioceses. Deaneries and parishes were encouraged to seek appropriate links. For further information contact John on: jaspc@h-i-p.freeserve.co.uk
Christian Aid Week 2006. Churches across the Diocese are being strongly urged to put their full weight behind Christian Aid Week this year. Christian Aid Sunday, 14 May 2006, marks the beginning of a week of fundraising, prayer and action for the world's poorest people, on the theme 'You add. We multiply'. To help your church or school to mark Christian Aid Week, a range of free resources are available for worship, fundraising and education. To order free printed materials please visit www.Christian-aid.org.uk Alternatively, phone Christian Aid on 08080 005 005.
"Christian Aid does such amazing work around the world tackling poverty and suffering," said Jonathan Ellis, World Development Adviser to the Diocese. "You only need to look at their annual report or their website to see how their Christian principles are translated into action on poverty in alliance with their partners in developing countries. I urge all parishes to put their full weight behind this week as it is such an important fundraiser for Christian Aid."
Bishop of St Albans supports Hertfordshire County Council's Foster Care Fortnight. The Bishop of St Albans has written in the May issue of SeeRound of his support for fostering. The Diocese has set up a group to support potential foster and adoptive parents. There will be an opportunity to meet this group of experts in child care and people who have fostered or adopted on June 14 th. For more information call Kemi Akinruli on 01727 851748.
Measuring our Footprint. As part of an increased concern for the environment, The Church of England is to ask Dioceses and parishes to reduce their energy consumption by a measurable amount. Churches will shortly be asked to complete a simple Church Energy Audit - Measuring our Footprint.
Increasing knowledge of sustainable ways of living are at the heart of a conference to be held at St Albans Cathedral on 13 July. Keynote speakers will include David Shreeve and Claire Foster who are developing environmental policy for the Church of England. The whole day is free of charge but delegates are asked to register via the diocesan website: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/news/2006/environmentconference.htm or by calling 01727 851748.
Simon Best, Chairman of the Board for Church and Society gave a presentation at the March Diocesan Synod on the 2005 report of the Archbishops' Council, Sharing God's Planet. Mr Best said that the Diocese was responding proactively in three major areas: by holding a major conference on the subject, by establishing an environment group, and by bringing a debate on the environment before Synod within the next twelve months. If you are interested in being part of the Diocesan Environment Group and can offer some expertise contact the environment team: environment@stalbans.anglican.org
Examine your vocation. May 7 is Vocations Sunday. It is a chance to consider the issue of vocation in general and to focus on specific forms of vocation through accredited and authorised ministry within the church such as the ministry of Reader, evangelist, deacon or priest, whether in a traditional setting or in 'fresh expressions'. Resources are available on the Diocesan website: www.stalbans.anglican.org/xtiandevelopment/vocation.html The Vocations Team continue to be eager to meet Deanery Chapters and will be considering in detail work on younger vocations. If there are projects that parishes would like to discuss with the Vocations Team they are eager to listen.
Some courses and events:
Two resources to consider on ministry:
www.teal.org.uk . This website provides a wealth of resources for exploring leadership in the church, building teams, shaping vision.
www.alban.com This website is a USA website which has very good resources for topics like congregational life, conflict management, planning and vision, managing change.
Prize for most inviting church Ecclesiastical Insurance is running a national competition to recognise those churches that have been most successful in adapting to a modern society and changing local communities. The competition is offering cash prizes for the best entries - first prize is £1,500. The competition is open to churches of all denominations and the deadline for entries is 30 June 2006. Further information: Chris Pitt, Press Officer, Ecclesiastical Insurance Group Tel: 01452 334984 Email to: pressoffice@eigmail.com
English Heritage announces grants English Heritage recently announced that it would be granting £17.5 million for historic places of worship and that it would be launching a new initiative, 'Inspired!' to raise awareness of the need for funds to keep our built heritage alive. The grant scheme is 'The Repair Grants for Places of Worship in England scheme 2005 - 20007' and application packs for this year's grant applications will be available from 1st April from the Heritage Lottery Fund website www.hlf.org.uk or from the English Heritage website: www.english-heritage.org.uk
Grants available for historic churches in Beds and Herts Up to £100, 000 of additional financial help with repairs to historic churches and chapels of all denominations in parts of Beds and North Herts will be available in 2006 as a result of an agreement between the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Historic Churches Trust and WREN, Waste Recycling Environment Ltd. For further information about the agreement, contact: Aymeric Jenkins (Chairman, BHHCT) on 01582 760 891 or Richard Genochio (Secretary, BHHCT) on 01763 287 749 or Stephen Parr (Managing Director, WREN) on 01953 717 165. For information about grants from BHHCT for building repairs to churches, chapels or Quaker meeting houses, contact Archie Russell (Grants Secretary) at Wychbrook, 31 Ivel Gardens, Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 0AN or call on 01767 312 966.
Geoff Fletcher, the Diocesan Stewardship Officer, will be making a Presentation to APCM at Christ Church Little Heath on 25 April.
Football and Pool tournaments. Linda Walker, Youth and Children's worker at St Barnabas Church, Hemel Hempstead would like to set up tournaments for five-a-side football and for Pool. This is a great opportunity for our churches to come together. Please e-mail Linda if you are interested in finding out more: l.c.walker@ntlworld.com
Weekend 4 Young People @ The Chellington Centre. Join the Youth Service and Bishop Chris Foster for a weekend of fun and fellowship with other young people from around the Diocese. 5-7 May for 11 - 14 year olds and 7 - 9 July for 14 - 18 year olds. More information: admin@voicemail.org.uk or tel. 01727 818160.