SHARING THE VISION
throughout the Wessex Synod
Issue 107
December 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.
Synod Day Out
We are hoping to have a “Day out” event for all ages in the summer of 2017, and we would like to
know what kinds of facilities and activities would make this attractive to people in our churches.
If you have Messy Church or a Parent and Toddler group you might ask some of those families
what they would be looking for. If you have older people in your congregation or people with
mobility issues, it would also be good to hear their thoughts.
If you are able to do a bit of “market research” it would be a great help to us (although we can’t
guarantee to be able to please everyone!). Please e-mail any comments to the Synod Office
(office@urcwessex.org.uk) before 10th January.
If you have any good ideas for suitable venues, preferably fairly central, let us know this as well.
Reminder about the Moderator’s Christmas Challenge for young people aged 0-26yrs
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 and young people 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
At the January Area Gatherings 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:
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Property maintenance – especially the new legislation
Health & Safety
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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.
South West
Wednesday
13th January
6.30 for 7pm
Parkstone
South East
Tuesday
19th January
6.30 for 7pm
Buckland, Portsmouth
North East
Wednesday
20th January
6.30 for 7pm
Woking
North West
Thursday
21st January
6.30 for 7pm
St Andrew’s, Reading
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR CHRISTMAS
Sarisbury Green United Reformed Church invite everyone to view their Christmas Floral
Arrangements on Saturday December 19th from 10.00am until 3pm. The theme is Mistletoe
and Wine. There is no charge for entry and coffee and mince pies will be available.
St Andrews United Reformed Church and Wesley Methodist Church, Reading Living Nativity
on Sunday 20th December at 2.15pm. This will start at Wesley Methodist Church. As in previous
years, the procession l walk around the local streets following Mary & Joseph and their donkey
and Little Shetland Pony as the Christmas Story is shared with the local community. . A highlight,
as always is visiting the Christmas Tree at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and saying a prayer for the
patients and the excellent work of all its many staff. After that, there is an invitation to join the
congregation for some warming soup and a cheery welcome at St Andrew's United Reformed
Church where the journey ends.
Guildford (Portsmouth Road) United Reformed Church is delighted to be hosting its first
Christmas Tree Festival until 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.
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.
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LOCAL CHURCH NEWS AND EVENTS
Request from Marston United Reformed Church: Does any congregation have unwanted copies of
the large print edition of Rejoice and Sing ? If so, please contact Ian Simpson, Treasurer,
Marston URC, Oxford. Email: simpsoniang2@gmail.com Tel: 01865 248962
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!
PRAYER HANDBOOK 2017 – WE WANT YOUR PRAYERS!
Do you know of children and young people who enjoy creative writing? Do they like thinking
about the world around them and what God is doing in it? Do they find exploring Scripture
interesting and thought provoking? If so, would they be able to write some short, simple, general
prayers which could, potentially be included in the Handbook?
The closing date for entries is 15 January 2016. Prayer writers of all ages, all traditions and all
nationalities are encouraged to submit prayers for possible inclusion.
Each prayer in the Handbook focuses on specific Bible verses from the lectionary, presenting
readers with a simple, accessible means of thinking and praying about the many insights,
principles, values and lessons which Scripture can give us. The theme for the next handbook is
‘Feasts and Festivals’, particularly relevant given the celebration of 500 years since Luther kickstarted the Reformation and the centenary of the ordination of Constance Coltman, the first female
Congregational minister. Please read the guidelines for full information, including the specific
lectionary readings for which the editors are seeking prayers.
The guidelines can be found here: http://www.urc.org.uk/latest-news/1833-seeking-moreprayers
The guidelines are also available to download from the Synod
website: http://wessexsynod.urc.org.uk/call-for-prayers-from-children-young-people/
It is recommended that children and young people submit their prayers to the Children’s and
Youth Work Office either by e-mail to children.youth@urc.org.uk or by post to URC House, 86
Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9RT, but they are free to submit them directly to the Handbook
editors as instructed in the guidelines.
THINGS THAT WORK
Recently, thanks to the Synod Moderators, a group of people got together to tell their stories from
around the country. They were about churches ‘serious about mission’ who had stepped out in
faith and made a difference in their community. These stories are now on the internet to inspire
and encourage. They are not models or templates but ideas that others ‘can do too, wherever
[they] are’. (The ‘blurb’ says no ‘specialist expertise, knowledge, equipment, personnel or
money’ is required.) Please take a look and . . . pass it on!
http://thingsthatwork.urc.org.uk/mission-projects/
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CHURCHES LEGISLATION ADVISORY SERVICE
The Chancellor has delivered his Autumn Statement referring to some of the headline policies set out in
more detail in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015. The following items may be of interest to
CLAS Members.
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
The Chancellor announced a pot of £42 million for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. The
annual fund has now been secured for the lifetime of this Parliament.
Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund
The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to a second round of the Listed Places of Worship
Roof Repair Fund for churches requiring roof repairs to ensure that their buildings are watertight
to prevent further deterioration in their condition. Details of the launch of this second tranche will
be available soon.
Tax simplification and employment status
The Government has responded to final report of the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) review of
employment status and is taking forward the majority of recommendations. Following
recommendations from the 2014 OTS report on simplifying the administration of employee
benefits and expenses, the Government will publish a call for evidence on the current tax
treatment of employer-provided living accommodation. CLAS will be responding to the call for
evidence.
Stamp Duty Land Tax on second homes
The Chancellor announced a 3 percentage point surcharge on rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax on
purchases of additional properties for buy-to-let and second homes.
We assume that this is about holiday homes and that, for this purpose, a house bought buy a cleric
as a retirement property is not a ‘second home’: however, we shall raise the issue with HM
Treasury.
If there are any questions about any of the items from the CLAS please contact Gerry Prosser
or one of the Synod Property Officers.
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 14th 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 27th 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 16th April 2016 at London Street URC, Basingstoke.
10.30am – 3.45pm.
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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 23rd January 2016 - Calling and Functions
Saturday 13th February 2016 - Pastoral Care and Mission
Saturday 5th 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.
Taste Of Appreciative Inquiry At Sarum College In Salisbury
This is a 24 hour event starting with arrivals at 4pm on Tuesday 12th April and finishing with
tea/coffee at 4pm on Wednesday 13th 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
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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 PRAY FOR THE FOLLOWING CHURCHES IN JANUARY
3rd
United Church, Winchester; Ferndown;
10th Christchurch and Pheasants Hill, Henley on Thames; Wareham;
17th
Guernsey; Woking; Skinner Street, Poole;
th
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Parkstone; Salisbury, Caversham Park. Reading
31st
Warsash; Walton on Thames; St Martin. West Moors
PLEASE SEND ITEMS FOR THE NEXT EDITION TO THE EDITOR, CAROL
ROGERS (carannrog@aol.com) by 6th January 2016
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