SHARING THE VISION
throughout the Wessex Synod
Issue 106
November (b) 2015
SYNOD INFORMATION
Synod Office Christmas and New Year Closure
Deborah Walker will be on holiday from 1.30pm on Thursday 17th December and returning
9.30am Monday 4th January. Any urgent matters which cannot await her return should be
directed to the Moderator, Clare Downing on moderator@urcwessex.org.uk and please mark
it URGENT in the subject.
Ruth Heine will be on holiday from 12noon on Wednesday 16th December and returning at
9am on Monday 4th January.
Reminder about the Moderator’s Christmas Challenge for young people
Please take a look at our website for: The Moderator’s Christmas Challenge - a challenge to
anyone aged 0-26. We would like you to encourage any children in your church to take part
in this.
Please help us in our quest to find a design for Clare’s 2016 Christmas Letter.
Closing date for receipt of entries: 11th January 2016.
JANUARY 2016 AREA GATHERINGS
Here is advanced notice of the dates for the January Area Gatherings.
South West
Wednesday
13th January
Parkstone
South East
Tuesday
19th January
Portsmouth: Buckland
North East
Wednesday
20th January
Woking
North West
Thursday
21st January
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RACIAL JUSTICE AND INTERCULTURAL MINISTRY ADVOCATE
The Synod Racial Justice Advocate, Mrs Enala Bhebhe has written a report on her work to
date. This is available to read on the Synod website via this quicklink: Advocate’s report
CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVALS:
Guildford (Portsmouth Road) United Reformed Church is delighted to be hosting its first
Christmas Tree Festival from 5th to 16th December. Communities and groups which are
linked to the church will be providing decorated trees to add fun, light, atmosphere and
colour to the festivities this Christmas. Open every weekday afternoon and 10am - 6pm at
weekends for viewing, the church will be filled with colourful Christmas trees and will be
hosting several musical events as well.
All are welcome! Entry is free. Donations will be shared between two local charities: Cherry
Trees, a respite care home for children with severe learning and physical disabilities and
Guildford Street Angels.
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Special events include:
Sunday, 6th December, 4.00pm ~ Community Carols with Godalming Town Band
Tuesday, 8th December, 6.30pm ~ Carols with the XY Strings
Friday, 11th December, 2.30pm ~ Guildford County School choir
Sunday, 13th December, 10.30am ~ Christmas Festival Service
For full details of our Christmas events, please visit www.guildfordurc.org.uk
Wimborne United Reformed Church, Chapel Lane
Christmas Tree Festival
Wednesday 16th December - Tuesday 22nd December 2015
Open each day from 12 noon - 4.00pm (excluding Sunday 20th)
Admission Free. Everyone welcome.
Local charities and clubs will be decorating the trees to promote their causes.
Tea/coffee & mince pies will be served.
St Martin’s United Reformed Church, West Moors is hosting the first West Moors
Christmas Tree Festival from December 3rd to 5th. Some 15 local organisations, including
Verwood United Reformed Church and United Church, Ferndown are participating and the
Festival coincides with the village outdoor Carol Service on December 4 th when the main
road through West Moors is closed to traffic. The church will be open on Thursday
afternoon and evening and most of Friday and Saturday. The trees will remain for Sunday
6th December when the Moderator, Revd Clare Downing is leading worship.
For further information email stmartins@urc-eastdorset.org.uk or phone Muriel Moore on
01202 872045
LOCAL CHURCH NEWS AND EVENTS
Lymington United Reformed Church presents a "Free" Christmas Music Festival
From Friday 11th To Sunday 13th December 2015
A local church with local choirs supporting local charities!
Cantaras Ladies Choir on Friday evening (11th December 7.15pm). Charities benefiting
from exit donations are: New Forest Nightstop & Naomi House/Jack’s Place
Encore Choir on Saturday evening (12th December 7.15pm) Charities benefitting from exit
donations are: Oakhaven Hospice & Naomi House/Jack’s Place
Lymington Town Band woodwind section playing as part of the Carols & Lessons Service
on Sunday 13th December starting at 10.30am.
Hard at Work: Update on St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Walton on Thames
efforts to help their Zimbabwean artist friends showing examples illustrated by colourful
photos of how recent donations were put to good use including ‘The Good Samaritan’
featured in November article. Also a Children’s Section giving them an idea how their
opposite numbers live. See www.standrewsurc.org under Main Menu. Simply click on
ArtPeace Zimbabwe.
LAY WORKER VACANCY AT WOKING UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
The part-time (25 hpw) post of Lay Worker for Church and Community is becoming
vacant shortly due to the current holder, moving away. In the past
year she has contributed so much to pastoral care and to the life and work of the Church
generally, and has built up many links within the community. There is important work for
someone new to continue and develop even further. The salary will be in the range of
£13,000 -£14,500 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience, and is subject to
annual review.
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For a detailed Job Description, Application Form and background literature please use any of
the methods below:
In writing: The Administrator, Woking United Reformed Church, White Rose Lane, WOKING,
Surrey GU22 7HA; emaill: office@wokingurc.org.uk; telephone: 01483 763078. Application
deadline: 30th November. www.wokingurc.org.uk
EVENTS
The designated email to use to book places on Training Events is:
bookings@urcwessex.org.uk
Safeguarding Training
Saturday 6th February 2016 at Shanklin URC Isle of Wight
Saturday 16th April 2016 at Guildford URC
Saturday 14 May 2016 at Hythe URC, SO45 6BR.
A full days training (10am – 4pm) for all individuals working with children and young
people, and important for Ministers and Elders of the Church.
For further information or to book your place on one of these Safeguarding Training days
please contact, Ruth Heine email: bookings@urcwessex.org.uk or tel: 023 8067 4513 or
book via the synod website.
Lay Preachers’ Gathering on Saturday 16 April 2016 at London Street URC,
Basingstoke. 10.30am – 3.45pm.
Theme: Refreshing your Preaching, led by Revd Paul Burden, Programme Leader for
Mission and Ministry, Sarum Ministry Programmes, and College of Preachers.
Lay Presidency at the Sacraments: communion and baptism
on a Saturday in January or February 2016 – date and venue to be confirmed soon.
Red Cross First Aid Courses
We encourage all children’s and youth leaders to keep their first aid skills up-to-date. The
first aid courses are free of charge and open to all in the congregation (over the age of 16
years). Maximum 15 participants. If your church would like to host a Red Cross first aid
course, please get in touch with Ruth Heine, email: development@urcwessex.org.uk or
phone: 023 8067 4513.
Further information about the first aid courses can be found on the new synod website.
Go to Our Work/Children’s and Youth work/Leaders and Workers.
Dates of upcoming First Aid courses can be found on the website in the calendar.
Go to Calendar and search by category. To book your place, please use the booking contact
for the date of your choice.
Elders’ Development days in 2016
For serving Elders, non-serving Elders and anyone who might be interested in becoming an
Elder.
There will be a set of three Elders’ Development days in the New Year at Fareham United
Reformed Church, 10am – 2pm.
Saturday 23 January 2016 - Calling and Functions
Saturday 13 February 2016 - Pastoral Care and Mission
Saturday 5 March 2016 - Prayer, Spirituality and Worship
The development days will be repeated at The Beacon Church, Poole in the summer.
Bookings to Ruth Heine at the address above.
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Please note that the information is posted on the synod website www.urcwessex.org.uk.
Taste Of Appreciative Inquiry At Sarum College In Salisbury
This is a 24 hour event starting with arrivals at 4pm on Tuesday 12 April and finishing with
tea/coffee at 4pm on Wednesday 13 April 2016.
Cost: £180 per person (residential). The fee covers overnight accommodation, meals,
refreshments, and core materials.
Places are limited to 14 so early booking is recommended. Publicity flyer and booking form
are on the synod website www.urcwessex.org.uk
Using Appreciative Inquiry in church related settings, the content will cover an introduction
to:
· AI principles and underlying theory
· AI tools: Appreciative conversations; the 5D cycle (Definition, Discovery, Dream, Design
and Destiny); and SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results as the AI
alternative to a SWOT analysis)
· Crafting appreciative questions
· The importance of generativity.
The course will be led by Appreciating People www.appreciatingpeople.co.uk who are UK
leaders in the practical application of Appreciative Inquiry.
Creating a Culture of Invitation : a day with Michael Harvey. Saturday 6th February
10.00am – 4.00pm at Trinity United Church Ringwood. Details are on the Synod Website.
TRIO resource packs available to loan from the Synod Office.
TRIO is a financial stewardship programme for churches which has proven success in a
wide variety of demographic settings in encouraging generosity in giving.
A TRIO campaign encourages people to consider their financial giving to the church.
...The Responsibility Is Ours
There are two copies of the TRIO pack available to loan from the Synod Office. Please
contact Ruth Heine, Development Team Administrator,
email: development@urcwessex.org.uk Tel: 023 8067 4513.
THE PRAYER CALENDAR has been part of Sharing the Vision since it began. It will
continue to be so and there is now an additional paragraph before the list of churches
designated for each week. These requests will appear in the first issue each month,
alongside the Prayer Calendar. This is an opportunity for churches to request particular
prayers for situations in the life of their congregation. It will not only apply to the churches
listed for that particular week but to any who wish to be remembered for prayer for any
reason. That reason does not need to a celebration or special event, although these will be
welcome for we all like to give thanks, but rather for anything that you feel needs wider
prayerful consideration. Please send all requests to Carol Rogers by the 1st day of each
month. Her email address is carannrog@aol.com (please note the double’n’). Please note
that the list of churches each month is for the following month to enable magazine editors to
include the names.
PLEASE SEND ITEMS FOR THE NEXT EDITION TO THE EDITOR, CAROL
ROGERS (carannrog@aol.com) by 9th December 2015
There will be only one edition of Sharing the Vision in December.
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