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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.
You should all have received copies of the Link Group profile booklet which is also being distributed via the Diocesan mailing, the Bundle and to Chairs of the Diocesan Boards and Committees.
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.
Together with the Conservation Foundation, the diocese will host a major conference on 13 th July for all who want to know about how to live more harmoniously with the environment. The day comes hot on the heals of the publication in 2005 of "Sharing God's Planet", a report of the Archbishops' Council, which proposes a Christian vision for a sustainable future. The author of the report, Clare Foster, who advises the Council on science, technology, medicine and the environment, will be a keynote speaker at the event. The Conservation Foundation, co-host of the conference, was founded by David Bellamy and David Shreeve to provide a means for people in public, private and non-profit sectors to collaborate on environmental causes.
Conference organiser, the Revd Ruth Lampard, said, "With keynote speakers from organisations such as the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) as well as representatives from agencies involved in waste disposal, farming, the production of food and eco-efficiency in buildings, the conference is set to cover a lot of ground. In addition a number of organisations which provide services to help people to live more environmentally sustainable lives will have 'market stalls' for delegates to browse during the day. And best of all the whole day if free of charge!"
The conference will be held in St Albans Cathedral. Whilst the day is free of charge delegates are asked to register. For a registration pack contact Valerie Geldard on 01727 851748; e-mail environment@stalbans.anglican.org or download a registration form from http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/churchandsociety/environment.htm
expressions: the dvd , a resource for those interested in exploring innovative ways of 'being and doing church', has been launched alongside a booklet offering churches a framework for starting their own 'fresh expression'. The film and booklet offer a detailed insight into the Fresh Expressions initiative - a project led by the Church of England and the Methodist Church to develop and nurture contemporary forms of church alongside traditional ones. The release of the DVD adds to a growing bank of resources for those interested in setting up a Fresh Expressions project, including Moving On in a Mission-shaped Church (CHP, 2005). expressions: the dvd is published by Church House Publishing, priced £12.99. Starting a Fresh Expression is priced £5.00 for a pack of 5 booklets. Both resources are available from the Diocesan Resource Centre on 01727 818158 or resources@stalbans.anglican.org I also have a review copy which I can lend out to anyone who is interested.
The organising Committee for the Easter Monday pilgrimage to the Abbey (this year on Monday April 17th) want parishes to send them a postcard with a Good News Story about mission and ministry in the parish. Selected stories will be read out in the service. Postcards should be sent to the Revd Canon Stephen Lake, Sub-Dean, The Old Rectory, Sumpter Yard, St Albans, Herts AL1 1BY.
Across the length and breadth of the Diocese, parishes are rising to the challenge set by the Bishop of St Albans and Diocesan Synod to embrace Fairtrade. To become a Fairtrade Diocese we need to gain the support of 60% of all the parishes. At the moment we have just over 30% of parishes. You can see a list of Fairtrade parishes here: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/churchandsociety/fairtradeparishes.htm Our World Developemnt Adviser, Jonathan Ellis will be speaking at Berkhamsted Deanery Synod on Fairtrade on the 27th March.
Carers' Week, which takes place from 12 th to 18 th June, will highlight carers and their needs nationwide, but are there carers in your congregation who need more practical support? Now is the time to consider how to help them. The Community Care group of the Board for Church and Society would like to hear from parishes who provide help for carers, for example, transport, in order to share good practice with others.
Representing the Community Care Group, the Revd Barbara Ebeling said, "If you are a carer we would love to hear from you too. Let's just hear what you would like your church to do for you. Would anyone be interested in having a telephone line to connect to for a chat and prayer?" Please ring Barbara Ebeling 01234-870363 or write to The Vicarage, High Street Great Barford Beds.MK443JJ. For general help www. carersonline.org.uk
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 written and produced by clergy from our Diocese. 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 order your copy. Over 50 copies have been sold so far.
The Beds & Herts Churches Media Trust will be holding three courses on website design during 2006. The courses are aimed at all levels from those with no more knowledge other than the need to have a site through to those who want to keep up with the latest trends in design. For more information call Anna McCrum on 01727 818143.
A four day conference specifically designed for clergy and lay leaders from across different traditions and denominations who are looking for help and encouragement in leading their church into growth. Contact: Ann Hemsworth Tel No: 0113 293 7494 Email: ann@elancama.org.uk 12th - 15th June 2006 at All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney
Creating a User Friendly Church 25 April 2006 at Methodist Church House 25 Marylebone Road London, NW1 5JR Cost: £95 Check how "user-friendly" your Church is and how well it is communicating both with its congregation and with those you want to reach. www.commstraining.cofe.anglican.org Tel No: 020 7898 1458/65 Email: comms.training@c-of-e.org.uk -
Here are some courses/open days coming up:
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
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 the following visits to PCCs / Finance or Stewardship committees in March: 14 March: St Andrew's Watford - stewardship committee, 15 March: St Mary's Potters Bar PCC, 22 March: Cople Moggerhanger and Willington - Lent Group on Stewardship as part of Vision for Action series, 25 March: St Mary's Ware: PCC Stewardship workshop, 26 March: St Nicholas Stevenage, - to preach
There will be a workshop on Godly Play at the Diocesan Resources Centre on 25th March with Mary Hawes from the London Diocese. For more information contact Eileen Shaw on 01727 818178 or eshaw@stalbans.anglican.org
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 forms are available here http://www.voicemail.org.uk/online/voicemail/events/pdf.asp For further details call the Diocesan Youth Service: 01727 818160.
On 25 th April 2006 at Putteridge Bury, Luton there will be a day course led by Joyce Mackley from RE Today Professional Services on 'Approaches to Teaching Judaism in the Primary School'. The aim of this course is to help primary teachers develop their subject knowledge and improve their range of teaching and learning strategies in relation to Judaism as part of the scheme of work in primary schools.
On 15 th June 2006 the theme will be 'What is the Role of the Monastery in the Life of the Church and the local community?' To take place at The Priory of Our Lady of Peace, Turvey Abbey, Turvey, Bedfordshire at 6pm.
On 20 th June 2006 at Putteridge Bury, Luton the will be a day course led by Pamela Draycott, Lay Blaylock and Leslie Beadle from RE Today Professional Services on the theme 'Raising the Spirit, R.E. and Spiritual Development'. The aim of this course is to help Headteachers and teachers address spiritual development across the school, in RE and Collective Worship.
On 12 th October 2006 at Putteridge Bury, Luton from 9.30am to 4pm, 'Assessing Primary R.E.' with Lat Blaylock from PCfRE one of the most inspiring RE Consultants in the country. The aim of this course is to provide Primary R.E. Teachers with ideas, methods and confidence to assess R.E. in a way that is manageable.
For further information on the above four courses and to reserve a place, contact: Mrs. Eileen Shaw, Diocesan Office, Holywell Lodge, 41 Holywell Hill, St. Albans, AL1 1HE. 01727-818178; Fax: 01727-844469; E-mail: eshaw@stalbans.anglican.org