Training Chairs' Message

District News Chairs Message District Prayer focus First Tuesday New work in theology, pastoral studies, church history and related topics.   This month, reflections on the book 'Love Wins' by Rob Bell: heaven, hell, and Christian discipleship in cross cultural context, facilitated by Jen Smith.  Tuesday 6 Feb, 10.45 coffee for 11 am, Broadbent Room, Westminster Central Hall. No experience necessary, all welcome. MEDAL 2012 Limited spaces available for the 17th – 19th Feb Medal Conference at High Leigh. Book your place now to avoid disappointment! The planning group members are very excited about the quality of the programme planned for the weekend. Even the reps who’ve attended the briefing meeting in the last couple weeks are buzzing about the conference: ‘I’m glad I attended this briefing meeting – it has certainly raised my expectation of the conference. I can’t wait to attend, there is just so much on offer’. The conference is the ideal opportunity for lay leaders to develop their leadership skills.  There will be energising workshops and discussions, and ongoing support to deliver the MEDAL programme in your Circuits afterwards. Those planning to attend MEDAL are strongly suggested to attend a briefing meeting on Wednesday 8th Feb at Westminster Central Hall. We will be holding two, at 3:00 – 4.30pm and 8:00-9.30pm. As the conference is fast approaching we still have limited spaces available. For those circuits that have already sent four or more reps but would still like to send additional people, contact the district office asap for your additional places at half price! For those individuals interested in developing and using their leadership skills within the circuits who would welcome an opportunity to attend the conference at their own costs please contact the district office for more information and to book your place. The cost of the weekend is £110. For those circuits that have not yet sent in the names of your reps, your places are still reserved; do send your names to the distict office asap to avoid disappointment.   Youth Event - Get Connected 2012 An initiative Connecting Young People in London Venue: Central Hall Westminster Saturday February 25, 2012 Coming soon to a Church near You! Get Connected Hub starting in February 2012 For the next two years (2011 – 2013) the Methodist Church London District is investing 50K into youth work. Through Get Connected Hubs, this money will be used in supporting young people develop potential skills and talents that will enable them to build confidence, self esteem and discipline. This initiative is to benefit young people age 13 -25 all across the city of London. The hubs will cover the following: Phase 1 Performing Arts (KRUMP, Urban Street Dance and other Contemporary Dance routines) Music Tuition - Instrumental (Bass, Guitar, Piano and Drums) Vocal Training and Gospel Singing Phase 2 Event Management Watch promotional clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ3OJKMvXSQ Download more details on Hubs here Download more details on the February 2012 Get Connected here Follow us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=177748668683 London District Women’s Network Sunday 2012 The London District Women’s Network have produced a resource as an option for use on Women’s Network Sunday on the 4th March 2012 (or the opted dates for your respective churches).  This year the focus is on the 2012 Olympics to inspire others to bring out the best in themselves and others. The following resources are available for your use: Suggestions for Women’s Sunday Methodist Women in Britain Guidelines Structure of London District Women’s Network for Microsoft Wordand Microsoft PowerPoint Empowering Ministry – a course in Supervision Skills There are a number of places on the Wesley House Supervision Skills Courses, on the 11th – 13th April or 16th – 18th April.  These Connexional courses are compulsory for all who will be supervising Probationers, but are open to all ministers in the District.  The cost for those who are not due to supervise probationers is £420, but the District, through the CDIM programme would be willing to pay a third of this, and it is hoped that most circuits would also be willing to pay a third, with the remainder by the participant. Download the flyer for more details. Applications should be made directly to Wesley House for a place on the course and to Madeleine Andrews for a District contribution towards funding. Welcome Service for Revd Michaela Youngson Many would know that Revd Michaela Youngson has been appointed as the chair of the London District, effective from 1st Sept 2012. She will be joining Revd Jenny Impey and Revd Dr Stuart Jordan the current chairs of the District.  A Welcome Service for Micky has been arranged for the 1st September 2012, at Wesley’s chapel at 6pm. News from Methodist Partners What’s happening at Guy Chester Centre The Guy Chester Centre has some interesting events in the coming months as below.  For further details please visit the website www.chestercentre.org.uk February . . .             ‘Step Forward’ – materials for small groups in church: Facilitators training on Saturday 4th February at 10am – 4pm. £70 for 2 people Toolbox for Life & Church – Understanding Loss, Bereavement and Grief on Saturday February 25th at 10am – 4pm , £50  10% discount for groups of 3 or more – booking form Quiet Day – Creative reflection for Lent on Saturday 25th February at 10am - 4pm. Suggested donation £25. And in March... ‘Stay with me’ – a retreat weekend for Methodist ministerial candidates on Friday 2nd 6pm – Sun 4th March 2pm.  Fully Residential £120, early bird booking before 23rd Jan £108.50 Be still and know where I am...a creative retreat on Friday 23rd 6pm – Sun 25th March 2pm.  Fully Residential £120 or £70 non-residential.  Early bird booking before 23rd Jan £108.50 or £63 (non-res) Stronger Together – empowering ministry on Monday 23rd 1pm – Thursday 26th April 2pm.  £135 includes full-board en-suite accommodation.  Early bird booking before 23rd Jan £121.50. Wesley Study Centre Open Day Wesley Study Centre invites you to an OPEN DAY on 29 February 2012 11.00 -16.00  at 3 South Bailey, Durham DH1 3RJ This will include a chance to: • talk with current students and lecturers • be given a guided tour of the college including a visit to Durham Cathedral • take part in a taster lecture with one of the college lecturers • join with the students in the afternoon session in a placement workshop Please contact Penny Bissell  email: p.a.bissell@durham.ac.uk  if you are interested in attending. Prior booking required. Click on the title to download a flyer. Further details will be available shortly. The ONE Programme – take a year on Are you interested in hosting a young person as part of The ONE Programme?  The ONE Programme is a part-time gap year scheme for young people ages 16-23 providing opportunities for growth, exploration and service for young people. One Project Participants will be employees of the Methodist Council attached to your project and will be provided. Please contact helpdesk@methodistlondon.org.uk or download a Host Packand Host Application Applications must be submitted by 1 March. Please feel free to contact your local PPM if you have any ideas of potential projects in your Districts. Singing the Faith Hymn Supplements on offer Members of Hinde Street Methodist Church are developing a supplement to 'Singing the Faith' to include some of John and Charles Wesley's hymns and poems that were not included in STF due to limited space and abundance of good music. It will also include a few other missing classics well loved by Methodist congregations. The editorial team would like to know if other congregations would be interested in this supplement, so to plan for a longer print run. They hope to keep the price below £10 per copy (including full music, plus packing and postage) if enough interest is demonstrated. If interested, please contact John Hicks at 17 Montagu Square, London W1H 2LE or john.hicks@montagusquare.net with the number of copies you would like to take. Singing the Faith – Comments for Preachers To help preachers working with limited musical knowledge or those who are still familiarizing themselves with ‘Singing the Faith’ Rev Gordon Newton of the Westminster Circuit has produced a guide and two helpful appendices to this collection. The guide lists helpful details for each song: whether each is new to this edition of ‘Songs of Praise,’ comments on its ease of use in congregational singing, alternative tunes and more.  The appendices provide lists of songs particularly suited for responses to prayer and for choirs or solo performances. You can download a copy hereor by contacting the church office at Methodist Central Hall on 020 7654 3809 or at church@mchw.org.uk.    Singing the Faith Plus meeting your needs Singing the Faith Plus (www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk) is the web-based resource designed to complement and support the new hymn book of the Methodist Church, Singing the Faith. It was established in order to provide a platform for new hymns, songs and contemporary worship resources as well as offering a single point of access for information on Methodists hymns and worship. Designed for musicians and leaders of worship, Singing the Faith Plus (StF+) includes unique search and index facilities, together with suggestions and articles to assist in choosing the right hymns and songs for local needs. It is also a place to share new hymns and songs, words and opinions, and to explore new materials for Methodist worship. Laurence Wareing, the Editor of  Singing the Faith Plus, brings you a full update.  He also invites you send your comments to stfplus@methodistchurch.org.uk, using the feedback page of the website, or posting your thoughts to “Editor, Singing the Faith Plus” at Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR. the More Than Gold Athlete Family HomestayProgramme  For almost twenty years More Than Gold has worked to provide a welcome to the relatives of those taking part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games through our Athlete Family Homestay Programme. For London 2012, this programme has been granted the prestigious Inspire mark by the London 2012 Inspire programme. This recognises innovative and exceptional projects directly inspired by the 2012 Games. For more details on how to apply to be a host download the flyer here Connecting Disciples 2012 Conference for Lay Employees, Children and Youth Workers The above mentioned Conference will take place on Monday 5th – Thursday 8th March 2012 at High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon. The theme is ‘Graceful Discipleship’, which will be explored over the course of the event through Bible Studies, theological reflection and workshops.  There will be variety of speakers and worship leaders including the General Secretary, Martyn Akins, the President designate and Secretary for Internal Relationships Mark Wakelin, the Secretary for External Relationships, Christine Elliott, the Secretary of Connexional Team Operations and Revd He len Cameron, Senior Methodist Tutor & Co-Director of the Centre for Ministerial Formation, Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theology Education. For more information and bookings visit the Methodist Church website: www.methodist.org.uk/connectingdisciples.  It's for YOU – “For You” The third European Methodist Festival takes place in Krakow on 8-12 August 2012. It is for everyone; children and adults, individuals and families. We will meet in workshops, seminars, Wesley (small) groups and prayer groups, at Morning Praise and in night cafés, at Gospel workshops and informal coffee sessions at the ‘EMK-Mobil’. Sports and games will also be offered.  A guided tour of the city and trips to nearby sights (e.g. the Auschwitz memorial site) are being planned. More information about the festival and current news can be found online at www.methodistfestival.eu

Methodists Equipping Disciples As Leaders MEDAL 2012 News Briefing Meetings If you have booked a place for the Conference or want to find out more about it, why not come to a briefing meeting? Two will be held on Wednesday 8th Feb at Westminster Central Hall at 3:00 – 4.30pm and 8:00-9.30pm. Contact the office to book.  *********** MEDAL2012 Conference at High Leigh. 17 – 19 Feb. Have you booked your place yet? Contact the office to book.