SHARING THE VISION
throughout the Wessex Synod
Issue 108
January (a) 2016
AREA GATHERINGS
The January Area Gatherings start next week!
As you may know, we will be looking at some of the practical issues that our congregations have to
deal with, under the title:
“Responsible Elders”
Some of the topics we will be looking at are:
 Property maintenance – especially the new legislation
 Health & Safety
 Having/creating a local church constitution
 Financial Matters (including M&M)
 Risk management
These will be useful meetings for Elders and others involved in property maintenance and
financial management.
We will also be introducing a Checklist and Handbook which we hope will help you with practical
matters.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR ELDERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PEOPLE TO COME
The meetings are as follows – anyone who cannot make the date for their own area gathering is
very welcome to attend one of the others.
South West
Wednesday
13th
6.30 for 7pm
Parkstone URC
South East
Tuesday
19th
6.30 for 7pm
Buckland URC,
Portsmouth
North East
Wednesday
20th
6.30 for 7pm
Woking URC
North West
Thursday
21st
6.30 for 7pm
St Andrew’s URC,
Reading
Commercial Road
Parkstone
Dorset
BH14 0JW
174 Kingston Road
Buckland
Portsmouth
PO2 7LP
White Rose Lane
Woking
GU22 7HA
London Road
Reading
RG1 5BD
Directions and parking details can be found on the Synod website by clicking here
Please let Deborah at the Synod Office know if you plan on attending (office@urcwessex.org.uk),
so we have an indication of numbers for setting up and refreshment purposes.
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Government Response to the Synods letter regarding the Refugee Crisis
You may remember that at our November Synod we passed a Resolution asking Her Majesty’s
Government to take further action to help refugees fleeing war zones. The details of the Resolution
can be found in the Synod Papers (on page 14). We have now received a response from the
Government and the Leader of the Opposition (to whom we also wrote). These replies are on the
Synod website along with the resolution and can be found by clicking here
2016 Meetings of Synod
March Synod will be on Saturday 19th at The United Church Winchester
November Synod will be on Saturday 19th November at High Cross Church, Camberley
LOCAL CHURCH NEWS AND EVENTS
St Andrew’s United Reformed Church Walton on Thames is delighted to be hosting a Bibles
and Threads exhibition on Saturday 30th January from 10am to 4.30pm. Rare historic bibles and
some very special modern embroidery by Eva Lotta-Hansson and Bella Lane will be on display in
their new Gateway. All welcome and admission is free!
The United Church, Winchester Space in the City series of lunch-time talks:
Epiphany 2016 – What we need to know about Syria but are too ashamed to ask
Three lunchtime talks 12.30 – 1.15 (including time for questions):
20th January – Professor Simon Keyes – Fellow in Reconciliation at St.Ethelburga’s Centre for
Reconciliation and Peace;
27th January – The Rev’d Stephen Griffith – formerly of Diocese of Jerusalem and later the
Archbishop of Canterbury’s chaplain and representative, to speak about the current situation for
Christians and other minorities in Syria;
3rd February – Ray Hassan – he holds an overview for Christian Aid’s programmes across the
Middle East and will cover the current situation and humanitarian implications in Syria and how
Christian Aid is addressing those issues.
Refreshments available. Website: www.spaceinthecity.org.uk
Avenue St Andrew's 30th anniversary
In 2015 we celebrated the 29th anniversary of Avenue and St Andrew's churches becoming one
congregation. Those of you who are good at maths will have worked out that 2016 will see the 30 th
anniversary, which we intend to celebrate with even greater joy.
Plans to mark the weekend are already underway with the invitation of the Revd Tony Spring to
preside at the communion service on Sunday 2nd October, which he has accepted. Now we need
your help. If you are in touch with former members and friends of Avenue St Andrew's going back
over the past 30 years, we should be very grateful if you would invite them to this service (and let
us know who it is you're inviting!). We would also be very grateful for the loan of photos of the
original events and/or recollections from those who were there.
If you can help in any of these ways, please contact Sarah Hall on sarah.hall@swhg.org.uk or
02380 768004. Thank you!
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EVENTS
The designated email to use to book places on Training Events is:
bookings@urcwessex.org.uk
Safeguarding Training
Saturday 6 February 2016 at Shanklin URC Isle of Wight
Saturday 16 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 Presidency at the Sacraments: communion and baptism on Saturday 27 February 2016
at Collinwood road URC, Oxford. 10am – 2.30pm. Led by Peter Hurter.
To book your place please contact Ruth Heine , email: development@urcwessex.org.uk or phone:
023 8067 4513.
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.
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.
Please note that the information is posted on the synod website www.urcwessex.org.uk.
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.
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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.
RURAL MINISTRY RESEARCH CONFERENCE – An Effective Christian Presence?
This conference invited rural practitioners to speak about various aspect of rural mission or
ministry. It is hope to publish a collection of essays from a Methodist/URC background around the
concept of rural mission and an Effective Christian Presence. Details of this course on 20-21 July
can be found on the Synod Website by clicking here
SAMARITANS PURSE
Whenever disaster strikes Samaritan’s Purse is ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Previously
this has been internationally but earlier this year that experience enabled us, working with both
local authorities and more importantly church volunteers, to help those affected by flooding on the
Somerset levels, and we have now set up a UK Disaster Response Team.
Natural disasters can hit with little or no warning. In a matter of minutes, the unforgiving power of
wind and storm can destroy homes and rob people of their most treasured belongings, turning
lives upside down. The team, made up of trained Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Responders and Billy
Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Chaplains together with local church members
can show God's compassion through practical support and care. We aim to serve the most
vulnerable victims, typically the elderly, those with low or no income or no insurance. Sometimes
the best help we can give is to take time to talk and listen as they tell of their nightmare
experience - being a light in the midst of their darkness.
We are now seeking churches to partner with us to create a locality-based ability to respond
wherever disaster or need occurs. Our team brings trained assessors, together with tools and
equipment, but its local church volunteers that can provide a volunteer workforce, showing
practical love and care, the ability to connect with victims and be there for them in the long term.
Could your church be part of this exciting project, helping your neighbours and your community if
a local disaster happens?
The local church plays a vital role in disaster responses as we equip others to serve their
neighbours. We call a church that partners with the Samaritan's Purse and Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association Disaster Assistance Response Programme a Lighthouse Church. To
become a Lighthouse Church we are looking for the following support:
 To be our eyes and ears locally to inform us of situations that may be relevant in the
context of a potential Disaster Response.
 To support us with office accommodation and facilities for an initial base of operations
during the assessment phase prior to any deployment.
 To help us in communicating to the congregation and other local churches so that we can
gather volunteer support for a deployment.
 To walk with us during a deployment with volunteer support, local information and
guidance in the context of the local situation.
 To follow through after a deployment with any who need spiritual support, especially for
those who have made a profession of faith.
 To pray with us during any deployments, even if they do not directly affect the area.
We would really appreciate if you could communicate this new initiative to your church
leadership, whether by forwarding this communication to them, or speaking to them directly. If
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you or your church leadership would like to know more information or have any queries please
email lighthouse@samaritans-purse.org.uk.
BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION is holding a one day Sharing Hope
In Crisis seminar on Saturday February 13th at Gosport Bury Road United Reformed Church
starting at 09:30 – 17:00 with registration from 09:00. This seminar is to help prepare churches for
local crisis ministry, or to enhance your existing gifts in your field of ministry, we invite you to
attend this invaluable training opportunity.
Learn about the RRT ministry
Develop personal and professional skills to enhance your service to others Biblical view of
suffering
Effects of trauma and the process of grief
How to provide emotional and spiritual care
What to say and what not to say when people grieve...
Visit the Rapid Response Team ministry at www.billygraham.org.uk and enter your details to
register.
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 PRAY FOR THE FOLLOWING CHURCHES IN FEBRUARY
Week Beginning February:
7th
Cumnor; Westborough, Guildford;
th
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Lychett Minster; Church of the Holy Family, Blackbird Leys, Oxford;
21st
Marsh Gibbon; Blandford Forum; St Peter’s Guildford;
28th
St Francis, Banbury; Normandy; Lymington
PLEASE SEND ITEMS FOR THE NEXT EDITION TO THE EDITOR, CAROL
ROGERS (carannrog@aol.com) by 20TH JANUARY 2016
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