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I have been following the progress of Vision for Action and the Link Group from a little distance during sabbatical at the end of last year. I'm sorry to have missed the launch events. However, I am now back and am very much looking forward to playing a full part in Vision for Action as it evolves. I will be working with the Diocesan Youth Service later in the year on some events that are planned for the young people of the Diocese. The great news is that we have seen a small increase in the number of young people and children coming to church in this diocese. I hope that we can consolidate this through Vision for Action.
I would be really pleased to hear from Link Group members who may have in mind organising a Vision for Action event on a deanery or local level. I would not presume to invite myself along but would welcome invitations to help support local Vision for Action initiatives. Please do get in touch with me or my secretary, Pip Austin. Our contact details are: Telephone: 01727 866420, Fax: 01727 811426, e-mail bishophertford@stalbans.anglican.org . I look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime I and my colleagues are following the great results that you are already having from your work - keep up the good work!
Thanks for all you are doing to enthuse and support the Link Group and Vision for Action more widely.
+Christopher
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 in consideration in parishes may benefit from an application to the Fund. For more information: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/finance/verulamfund.html or contact Ian Palmer on 01727 854532.
My colleague Rob Williamson will be contacting each of you to ask for some information and a photo so that we can compile a profile of the Link Group. This will help to raise awareness around the diocese of you and your work. I would be very grateful if you could respond when Rob gets in touch as soon as you are able so that we can get the important publication up and running.
As you know Vision for Action has not been introduced with a rigid set of deadlines and targets. The aim is for it to provide a flexible framework for parishes to create and act upon their own vision for the future. However, as with any project it is useful for there to be exchanges of feedback so that we are able to fill gaps and to spread the good news of what is already happening. To this end there are two dates by which we would like some feedback from you. These are:
Please could all Link Group members e-mail John Kiddle (j.kiddle@btopenworld.com) to give a brief report of how your work is progressing and what reactions you have had from the parishes. John would also like to hear of any areas that you consider have not been addressed thus far. John will use your feedback as the basis of a report to a group which includes the Bishop of St Albans and the chairs of the boards.
So that we can keep the dialogue going between the Link Group and the boards and committees it would be very helpful if by mid-2006 each parish had submitted a Vision for Action story via the Vision for Action form and had asked something of the boards and committees, for example, for advice on a building project or on encouraging young people to come to church. From this we will all be able to share our experiences and learn from each other. The form is available from the website: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/visionforaction/v4areportform.doc
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
With over 1,000 Fairtrade products there are so many different things to promote during this period. And it does make a difference - just last year Fairtrade sales across the globe delivered an extra $100m to producers in developing countries. If your parish is able to promote Fairtrade Fortnight, please contact the Fairtrade Foundation on 020 7440 7676 or www.fairtrade.org.uk to request a Fairtrade Fortnight campaign pack. For more information about the diocese's involvement in Fairtade contact Jonathan Ellis: jonathan.ellis@stalbans.anglican.org or visit our website: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/churchandsociety/fairtradefortnight2006.htm Jonathan is making the following visits in February: 7th - Chambersbury PCC, 25th - Fairtrade meeting for Churches Together in Stevenage, 26th - All Saints, Leavesden.
Considering where your individual story fits into God's Story is a fundamental question for all Christians and is one explored in a new course launched at the end of January. The course begins with our stories and then explores God's great story in Jesus Christ. It looks at our corporate life as the people of God, and then honestly faces the difficulties that Christian belief can pose today. Finally, it challenges us to renew our commitment to God, and to serving him in his mission. "God's Story in Action" has been written by a team from the Diocese led by the Bishop of Bedford, the Rt Revd Richard Inwood. The course, which is divided into six sessions, comes with a pack comprising books for twelve participants, a leader's booklet and a DVD. Each pack costs £20 and is available from the Diocesan Resource Centre. Contact Ron Upton on 01727 818158 to reserve your copy.
The Diocese is working with Hertfordshire County Council to increase the opportunities for children in need of adoption, fostering or shared care. We would like to hear from those with a knowledge of caring for children in need whether it be professional social workers or individuals who have adopted children. Please contact Kemi Akinruli, Diocesan Social Responsibility Officer, 01727 851748 or kakinruli@stalbans.anglican.org
This was the message sounded by the newly inaugurated Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu and a group of over 45 church leaders, including the Bishop of St Albans in a statement urging Government to stop the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers who either have failed their asylum claim or are made to live in poverty while they await a decision. The statement called on Government to fully meet its legal obligation to welcome those from other parts of the world fleeing adversity and provide them with social security. It denounced any policy that uses the threat of destitution as a way of pressuring refused asylum seekers to leave the country. The statement was issued in support of Church Action on Poverty's (CAP) Living Ghosts Campaign, which is calling on Government to change two of its current asylum policies: the withdrawal of every form of support two weeks after an individual's asylum claim has failed and the refusal to allow asylum seekers to work while awaiting a decision. If you would like to support the campaign, please visit http://www.church-poverty.org.uk/campaigns.htm or call Church Action on Poverty on 0161 2369321. If you would like to support local projects working with asylum seekers please contact Kemi Akinruli on 01727851748.
Here are some important dates:
JANUARY:
18-25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
"Christ the One Foundation of the Church"
CTBI 020 7654 7254
27 Holocaust Memorial Day
www.holocaustmemorialday.gov.uk
29 Homelessness Sunday
"Homelessness Hurts: Build Homes,
Build Lives"
Housing Justice 020 7723 7273
www.homelessness-sunday.org.uk
FEBRUARY:
26 Poverty Action Sunday
"Prosperity with a Purpose"
CAP 0161 236 9321
The ninth Sunday before Easter is traditionally set aside as Education Sunday. This year it falls on Sunday 12th February. The readings are the standard ones from the Lectionary. The theme is "Prizes that last" and takes up public enthusiasm for sport, particularly following the successful London Olympic bid. The point, however, is to aim not for the transitory success in sport but for the ultimate prize - to be with God forever. A resource leaflet is available from the National Society: http://www.natsoc.org.uk/downloads/educationsun/edsun06.pdf
Up to £1000, 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.
At a recent meeting of rural deans, the subject of diocesan finances dominated with a major presentation from the Chairman of the Diocesan Board of Finance, Peter Griffiths. Three key points came across from the evening:
Geoff Fletcher, the Diocesan Stewardship Officer, will be making the following visits to PCCs / Finance or Stewardship committees: St Mary's Marshalswick, St Albans, St Mary's Ware, Elstow Deanery Standing Committee - considering possibilities for stewardship focus within the Deanery, All Saints Croxley Green - Stewardship Committee, Potton - presentation, King Charles the Martyr Potters Bar PCC and Flitton.
Following the successful course "The Church School in your Parish", the Schools Team will be running a repeat on 31 January 2005 at Holywell Lodge. Led by the Ven Trevor Reader, Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight, and Lilian Weatherley, RE Adviser for the Diocese of Winchester, the course is relevant for those priests with (surprisingly) church schools in their parish. Informative and inter-active, with a good lunch, the course is expected to be popular. Contact Eileen Bigg (01727 818170; schools@stalbans.anglican.org) for further details.
The dates are 3rd - 5th March (14 - 18 yr olds), 31st March - 2nd April (14-18 yr olds), 5th - 7th May (11 - 14 yr olds), 7th - 9th May (14 - 18 yr olds). Each weekend will have a different theme but all will consider mission and God working in our community and in our world. Application forma are available here http://www.voicemail.org.uk/online/voicemail/events/pdf.asp For further detail call the Diocesan Youth Service: 01727 818160.
Create! - a day of workshops for musicians, composers, worship leaders etc to explore creativity in worship. 4th February, Christ Church Baptist Church, Welwyn Garden City. For more information: http:www.mwf.org.uk or 01442 878114.
An ecumenical event for those who feel called to be a young leader - 7pm 24th and 25th February, All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney. For more details call the Youth Office: 01727 818160.