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This is the first monthly e-mail which will be sent out by the Communications Unit to all members of the Link Group. The aim is to keep you in touch with what officers are planning so that you are then able to ensure that those in your deaneries are aware of what is happening.
The Bishop of St Albans would like parishes to invite him for the day - a mission day. The format of the day will be the responsibility of the parish - do what you will with him (within reason of course!). The idea is that he offers his services to the parish for up to a day. A number of successful visits have already taken place. For more information phone 01727 853305 or e-mail bishop@stalbans.anglican.org. The Bishop of Bedford is offering teaching or mission weekends, either as a contribution to something already planned or as a separate bespoke weekend. For more information call 01234 831432 or bishopbedford@stalbans.anglican.org. The Bishop of Hertford will be involved in working with the Diocesan Youth Service (see below). Please let your parishes know about these Episcopal mission initiatives.
Early in the new year a new course for groups will be launched.
A really useful free resource for people interested in sustainable development is www.conservationfoundation.co.uk from which you can find out about becoming a Parish Pump. This scheme offers resources for communities who want to do their bit for the environment. The Diocese is also organising a conference on 13th July 2006 at St Albans Cathedral on sustainable development. For more information visits our website at: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/churchandsociety/environment.htm
On 8th October 2005 our Diocesan Synod voted unanimously to become a Fairtrade Diocese. Jonathan Ellis, our World Development Officer is encouraging parishes as part of their mission remit in Vision for Action to support this Fairtrade initiative. As a result we have worked to put new resources on the new world development page of the Diocesan website: http://www.stalbans.anglican.org/churchandsociety/worlddevelopment.htm
Jonathan is a regular speaker at Deanery Synods to spread the word and encourage more parishes to respond positively when they receive a letter from the Bishop asking them for their support for this campaign. Fairtrade is not the answer to making poverty history but it is a great place for parishes to make a start! For more information please contact Jonathan by e-mail jonathan.ellis@stalbans.anglican.org
Over 500 people have now taken Canon Robin Brown's Growing Together in Christ course. For those considering hosting/organising one of these courses Robin has put together a 'fools' guide' which contains everything that such people will need to know. This and more information about the course can be obtained by contacting Robin on 01727 818151 or by e-mail on lmo@stalbans.anglican.org
We now have a Vocations Team. This is a group of laity and clergy from around the Diocese who are involved in fostering vocation. They are as follows:
Archdeaconry of Bedford: Roger Collor, 01525 376430; acollor@fish.co.uk; The Revd Joan Crossley, 01234 344536; jwcrossley@aol.com
Archdeaconry of Hertford: Paul Cobb, 01438 869348; paulhcobb@btopenworld.com; The Revd Sally Davenport, 01727 822062; sally.d@fish.co.uk
Archdeaconry of St Albans: Ruscombe Westmacott, 01442 842428; ruswestmacott@onetel.com; The Revd Lynne Fawns, 01727 769797; lynne.fawns@ntl.com
A seminar for the architects and surveyors, who advise our churches, is being held on 8th November. This is entitled 'A Vision for Action for Church Buildings'. About 50 will be attending this event, at Holywell Lodge in the evening. Speakers include representatives from English Heritage, The Council for the Care of Churches, Ecclesiastical Insurance Company and the DAC. The seminar will explore alternative and additional uses for church buildings, with Hexton being used as a case study. Please ensure that those parishes with building projects in mind are aware that this is happening not so that they can attend but to illustrate how the DAC is working with Vision for Action.
Jim May, Diocesan Pastoral and Advisory Secretary is currently advertising through the Bundle a series of workshops entitled 'Making the most of your church building'. Depending on the response, these will be held at various locations in the spring of 2006. Please ensure that parishes considering a building project are aware that a form requesting a register of interest has been distributed to all Incumbents via the November Bundle.
Geoff Fletcher, Diocesan Stewardship Officer, has written in the November issue of SeeRound - please remind parishes to read this. The article will also be available on the web site www.stalbans.anglican.org
Geoff Fletcher will be making the following parish visits in November: Chalgrave, 6th November; All Saints, Croxley Green, 10th November; Potten End, 14th November; Elstow, 15th November; Aston, 16th November; Stopsley, 20th November; Leverstock Green, 27th November; Kempston, 30th November. Please do encourage parishes to speak to Geoff who can provide practical help and offer information about parishes that are doing well with stewardship campaigns.
Deanery presentations. Dave Green, our Diocesan Youth Officer has done recent presentations to Ampthill and at Sharnbrook Deanery Synod. Other deaneries should contact Dave if they wish to receive practical advice or arrange a presentation: 01727 818160 0r dave.green@voicemail.org.uk
Youth Forums. Two Youth Forums are taking place on 8th and 14th November. For more information on these and other possible events contact Dave as above.
Christmas at Chellington. A weekend for young people from small youth groups (max 6 from one place), 9th - 11th December 2005. The Saturday will also include a youth worship event in the evening. For more details contact Dave as above.
Residential Weekends. 4 residential weekends are booked in 2006, involving Bishop Chris Foster. For more details contact Dave as above.
Useful websites. Chellington Youth Residential Centre: http://www.chellington.org.uk/; Reach Out Projects: http://www.reachoutprojects.org.uk/ (Canal boat holidays and Enable Holidays); Diocesan Youth website: http://www.voicemail.org.uk/
"Beyond the Page, Beyond the Porch". 12th November at St Andrew's Parish Hall, Totteridge 10.00am - 3.30pm : "Beyond the Page, Beyond the Porch" led by Martyn Payne from BRF. (Exploring creative ways to bring the Bible to life and also looking at ideas of how to take our Christian story to all the children in the parish). Cost £10.
Training for children's leaders. 21st and 28th November at Holywell Lodge 7 - 9pm : Piloting 2 of the new "Kaleidoscope/Core modules, "Children" and "Community. Free.
Lent. 4th Feb 2006 at Holywell Lodge "The Wilderness Weeks", multi-sensory ideas for Lent for use with children led by Susanna Ainsworth.
To find out more about these events or to ask for specialist advice call Vanesssa Cato on 01727 818176 or e-mail her at childrenswork@stalbans.anglican.org
Useful websites: Vanessa Cato's website: http://www.cwastalbans.org.uk/ Methodist Church Children's site: http://www.methodistchildren.org.uk/ Church of England Children's site: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/education/children/index.html
The Diocese has 133 Church Schools and an active team supporting them and those with whom they have connections. The following events
will be happening in November and December: 1 November 2005 -The Distinctive Christian Character of Church Schools - training for
church school head teachers, governors and clergy on the ethos of being a church school; 4 November 2005 - The Church School in your
Parish - the main areas of concern for clergy linked to church schools; 1 December 2005 - New Heads' Day - an introduction to some of the
special circumstances of VC and VA schools, and the legal implications; 6 December 2005 - Values Education Day - seminar on an educational
philosophy that seeks to empower the teacher and school through a process of reflection emphasising success and quality. For more information call
Eileen Bigg on 01727 818170 or e-mail schools@stalbans.anglican.org