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Issued by Anna McCrum, Diocesan Communications Officer.
'A bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other': that was the challenge brought by Dr Carlos Ham of the World Council of Churches to leaders of UK Churches and Mission Agencies at the launch of the Global Mission Network. He stressed the importance of doing theology grounded in life and in the Bible. The meeting marked a significant moment as the ecumenical Churches' Commission on Mission became the Global Mission Network. Global Mission Network (GMN) will be an ecumenical space where the theme is mission. 'We need to listen to different and diverse ways that God is at work and allow that to enrich our new ways of working,' said Janice Price, GMN Executive Secretary. The change reflects the need for new ways of working in response to changed church and social contexts in which mission is developed. More information: http://www.ctbi.org.uk/
SHAREIT! 23- Get OUT More is now out and can be viewed and downloaded from: http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/ChurchArmy/web/site/ChurchArmy/ShareItMagazine/ShareItHome.asp
The 16 page magazine contains a range of feature ar ticles and stories on contemporary evangelism and has been prepared in advance of Church Army Sunday, which this year is on 24 September
The first in a series commissioned to follow the major impact of the Mission-shaped Church report is now available and hopes to extend the visionary influence of the original book to the Church's work with children. Mission-shaped Children: moving towards a child-centred church surveys some of the obstacles currently preventing growth in children's work across the Church - and offers effective strategies to help overcome them. Copies can be ordered from Ron Upton at the Diocesan Resource Centre on 01727 818158.
A new youth work resource from Church House Publishing's Emmaus portfolio has been launched. Youth Emmaus 2 - Big Issues and Holy Spaces offers a bright, fast-moving programme of ready-made interactive sessions tackling the two major themes in the title. Using discussion, film, and music, Big Issues tackles issues including poverty, injustice, forgiveness and reconciliation by looking at Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Holy Spaces encourages young people to find fresh ways of worshipping God from protest to praise. Copies can be ordered from Ron Upton at the Diocesan Resource Centre on 01727 818158.
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.
Diocese calls for end of detention of families. Through work with five Congolese sisters and their parents who were detained at Yarlswood, the Diocesan Board for Church and Society is supporting a Save the Children to campaign against the detention of families. For children, the effects of detention have been shown to be extremely damaging. Children feel they are being punished but don't understand why, often leaving them depressed and traumatised. We invite you to put your voice to the campaign by visiting the campaign website www.noplaceforachild.org.uk or e-mailing A.Callaghan@savethechildren.org.uk to request post cards to send to your MP.
For more information about this issue contact: Kemi.akinruli@stablans.anglican.org or call 01727 851748.
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.
Diocese to promote fostering. The Diocese has set up a group to support potential foster 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. For more information call Kemi Akinruli on 01727 851748 or e-mail her on kakinruli@stalbans.anglican.org
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.
The Diocesan Board for Church and Society is looking for people to join the Diocesan Environment Group. If you are interested in being part of this and can offer some expertise contact the environment team: environment@stalbans.anglican.org
Fairtrade. Jonathan Ellis, World Development Adviser, will be preaching on May 28 at Northchurch on the subject of Fairtrade. There is a list of Fairtrade parishes on the Diocesan website: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/churchandsociety/fairtradeparishes.htm Please contact Jonathan if you would like to add your parish to this list.
The Bishop's Harvest Appeal. This year's appeal will support the Anglican Church in Uganda. Details will be available soon via SeeRound, the Diocesan website and from Jonathan Ellis: jonathan.ellis@stalbans.anglican.org
The Vocations Team will have a stand at the forthcoming Bishop's Conference in July.
We are now pleased to be able to announce the dates, times and venues of these, as follows:
1. Saturday 20th May at St Mary, Redbourn (St Albans Archdeaconry) starting at 10:00 a.m.
2. Monday 12th June at St Mary, North Mymms (Hertford Archdeaconry) starting at 8:00 p.m.
3. Monday 19th June at St Mary the Virgin, Goldington (Bedford Archdeaconry) starting at 7:30 p.m.
The workshop will be led by the Archdeacon, the Chairman of the DAC (Dr Christopher Green), the DAC's Heating Adviser (Mr Brough Skingley) and the DAC Secretary (Mr Jim May). It is expected that each workshop will last for about 2 hours. Please contact Debbie Cochrane ( dcochrane@stalbans.anglican.org) to reserve a place.
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 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, has made over 70 visits to parishes in the last 18 months to help support and grow stewardship programmes in the Diocese. Contact Geoff if your parish needs help with stewardship: gfletcher@stalbans.anglican.org or 01727 818141.
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: 7 - 9 July for 14 - 18 year olds. More information: admin@voicemail.org.uk or tel. 01727 818160.