Tuesday 8th April 2008
A great saint of the last century, Austin Farrer, wrote: “When a calendar year comes to an end, we feel cheated. But, in fact, nothing has been ended, nothing rounded off and finished. A calendar year is not a piece of work completed and done: we cannot hold on to, or possess, what it has accomplished. We have learnt many things – yet all our learning seems to lie before us. We have enjoyed many things, but our happiness seems still to have to be earned. We have served God – oh how little! – and we still have to find out what the service of God really is. Yet as time thus bafflingly slips from us, we are in the hands of Him who is eternal and changes not.”
For in Jesus we have the one who is changeless and yet submitted to human change – “emptied Himself… and became man” as Paul puts it. The passage of time, of which we are so conscious as each new year comes round, or as each birthday ages us another notch, does disturb us even if we seek to drown our sorrows in enjoyment and celebration – and why not? – yet – what really lasts?
In the beginning God – in the end God – and everything in between – God! Our grasp of eternity is so small, but eternity (in Jesus, eternal God and changeable man) grasps us and fills us and uses us. Incredible – but wonderfully true.
Every New Year, the media talk about the old year (good riddance) and the hopes for good things in the new one. If the New Year that we now embrace is going to end up like all the previous ones as “good riddance” in 52 weeks’ time, then that is of small lasting comfortto anybody. But faith in a God who is eternal but who knows the vicissitudes of change, introduces the possibility that every new day is full of divine-in-human possibilities.
John Wesley put it like this:
Do all the good you can
By all the means you can
In all the ways you can
At all the times you can
To all the people you can
As long as you can.
That’s pretty searching, isn’t it? But with our fragile love of God, and His strong eternal love for us, we can have a go.
Let his brother, Charles have the last word:
Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee:
Joyless is the day’s return
Till Thy mercy’s beams I see
Till they inward light impart
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, radiancy divine
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
A Truly Happy New Year to you.
+David
Christian Aid Week, 11-17 May; www.christianaid.org.uk
Environment Sunday, 3 June; http://en.arocha.org/ukconsunday/index2.html
Refugee Week, 16-22 June; www.refugeeweek.org.uk
This week, the Church remembers: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Priest and Martyr (1945) on Wednesday 9th April 2008; William, Priest and Spiritual Writer (1761) and William of Ockham, Friar, Philosopher and Teacher (1347) on Thursday 10th ; and George Augustus Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand (1878) on Friday 11th.
This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Easter
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/07/ntorch707.xml
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3697392.ece
The Bishop will be among faith representatives taking part in the annual Sheffield Interfaith Walk on Sunday 13th April 2008. The walk is aimed to highlight the fellowship and understanding between different faith groups.Starting at St Catherine of Alexandria’s Catholic Church, Melrose Road, the journey will finish at Firth Park Methodist Church on Stubbin Lane. Joining Bishop Nicholls will be the Catholic Bishop of Hallam John Rawsthorn; The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Arthur Dunsworth; Inderjit Bhogal from Yorkshire and Humberside Faith Forum; and Abdool Gooljar, President of the Islamic Society of Britain’s South Yorkshire branch.
A new £50m Lottery-funded grant programme called Community Spaces was launched last week. The Community Spaces programme will provide grants and support to community groups wanting to make their neighbourhoods cleaner and greener. Community Spaces will help local people improve and create play areas, community gardens, parks, wildlife areas, ponds, courts, village greens and churchyards. Community Spaces is funded through the Big Lottery Fund and will make grants of between £10,000 and £49,999 and some limited grants of up to £450,000. The small and medium grants will be available until January 2011. Applications for the large and flagship grants will be open from summer 2008. For further information about Community Spaces, and to find out how to apply, telephone 0845 3671 671 or visit www.community-spaces.org.uk .
St Paul's Church, Wordsworth Avenue, Sheffield and The Wheata Community Base,
are looking for an organisation or project to share its 4-room shop accommodation at 46 Wheata Road behind St Paul's church in the Parson Cross estate in North Sheffield. It is near the M1 and A 61. It is part of a small parade of shops. There is room for 8 work stations, meeting/activity
space, an additional small private office, fully equipped and modernized kitchen, and ample storage space. A reasonable contribution to Wheata Community Base costs is required. Projects needing one off accommodation are also welcome. Please contact Angela Holt on 0114 240 0128 for more details.
Please check that your parish website is linked to the Diocesan website by clicking on www.sheffield.anglican.org and making sure your link is there. Please also ensure that the Diocesan website is linked to your parish website. If you would like a simple website for your parish online, this can be arranged for approximately £90 per annum. Please contact Revd Rob Marshall at Sheffield@media33.co.uk
We are looking at planning of day focusing on parish communication early next year. The idea will be to look at parish websites, publications, photography etc. If you would be interested in being represented at this conference please let us know at Sheffield@media33.co.uk and then we can decide at the type of venue we are looking for.
Revd Ian Smith has been invited to become the new Diocesan Mission Co-ordinator, which is a two days a week commitment alongside parish duties. Ian says 'I am looking forward very much to working as part of a ministry team and with a 'college' or cohort of deanery missioners. I am no expert on evangelism but do want to share Christ in every context across this diocese.' Ian has a rich experience of working in challenging contexts, having ministered in the Dioceses of London, Guildford, Blackburn, and in this Diocese in Goole and latterly St Paul's Wordsworth Avenue, Sheffield.
A FREE event to inform and inspire - brought to you by the South Yorkshire ChangeUp Consortium10 April, 12.30-4.00 p.m. (including lunch) at St Mary’s Conference Centre, Bramall Lane, Sheffield.
Key speakers:
• Gareth Coles, Collaboration Working Unit, NCVO
• Carole Hassan, Chief Executive, Local Government Yorkshire and Humber
Workshops on
• Equality and Diversity
• Islamophobia
• Sustainability
For further information and bookings, please contact South Yorkshire Open Forum or phone 0845 388 0096.
St Oswald's Church, Millhouses (corner of Abbeydale and Bannerdale Road), April/May 2008. Sunday 27th April 12 noon: preliminary session of film clips plus lunch. Then Wednesdays 7.30pm - 30th April: why do we need to act urgently now (Hope). 7th May: what can we do about our carbon footprint (Responsibility). 14th May: how should carbon emissions be shared across the world (Justice). 21st May: how can we have a good quality life in a low carbon society (God's Kingdom). Final session with lunch Sunday 8th June: what actions should we take now - guest speaker Michael Bayley. All welcome. Further details from Margaret Stone on 0114-2746362 or email margaretstone@fish.co.uk.
An evening with Reverend Dr Inderjit S Bhogal: ‘Responding to our multifaith society’
Tuesday 29 April, 6.30pm for 7pm, Room 7140, Stoddart Building, City Campus, Sheffield Hallam University In association with Sheffield City Council's Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) we are delighted to present 'Responding to our multifaith society' with Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal, a Methodist minister who is director of the Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum. Places are free and include refreshments on arrival but should be booked in advance by emailing events@shu.ac.uk or calling 0114 225 4957.
Taster Evenings for the next course are being held on
Tues 15th April and Thurs 8th May at Diocesan Church House, Rotherham, 7.00 - 9.00 pm
‘Worship 4 Today’ runs on Sunday afternoons alongside the existing Lay Training courses at the School of Ministry at Wilson Carlile College, starting in September. The course covers one academic year. This is a great opportunity to support and develop the skills of those who devote so much time to facilitating worship in our churches. Please encourage your worship leaders and musicians to come and find out more. Further information and application forms will be available at the Taster Sessions. Closing date for applications is June 2nd 2008.
A special service, to which all those working to encourage Giving in parishes across the Diocese are welcome, will be held in the Cathedral at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 8th April. The Bishop will preach at the service and he is expected to offer thanks and encouragement to all those involved in this crucial aspect of diocesan life. For more details, see the Diocesan website, http://sheffield.anglican.org.
A letter regarding a special youth event on 5th May in Sheffield city centre may be found at http://www.sheffield.anglican.org/DiocesanNews_details.php?news_id=563.
Doncaster Christian Aid Committee invites you to a Worship Service at 6.pm on Sunday 20th April 2008 at Cantley Methodist Church. We shall welcome, as our guest, a representative from one of Christian Aid’s partner organisations in Ethiopia. Lensa works for the Gudina Tumsa Foundation. They work with the Karayu, a pastoral people in East Ethiopia. Over the past 40 years these people have lost much of their land to sugar plantations. They have suffered, too, because of drought and famine, caused by climate change. Cantley Methodist Church is in Goodison Boulevard, DN4 6BT. For more informstion email davidgoss@blueyonder.co.uk.
The George Formby Story will be presented at St Aidan's Church, Wheatley Hills, Doncaster on Saturday 12th April 2008 starting at 7.30.pm. Dennis Taylor, past president of the George Formby Society will sing many Formby favorites, including 'The Window Cleaner', and 'Leaning on a lamppost' and will tell the Formby story. Tickets, in aid of Church funds, are £5 from Tel. 01302 750966 or at the door. St Aidan's is at the corner of Central Boulevard and Sandal Rise, DN2 5PE.
Diocesan Church House, 95-99 Effingham Street, Rotherham S65 1BL
Saturday 26th April 9.30am - 12 noon
Led by Sue Brown who is Scripture Union's Schools worker in South Yorkshire. Ideal for all who lead worship in primary and secondary schools.
The Diocesan Resources Centre will be open, where there are a large selection of books of assembly ideas, music books and artifacts etc available to be borrowed free of charge.
If you would like to book a place please ring Mrs Trish Stafford Tel 01709 309147
Christian Aid/Cafod: Annual May Day Trek, May 5th, 2008
A family-friendly sponsored walk from St Luke's Church, Lodge Moor into the Peak District with a choice of 5, 10 or 15 mile circular routes. For further information and registration forms phone 0114 233 6885 or see the web-site, www.sheffieldmaydaytrek.org.uk.
Saturday 26 April, 10.00 am - 3.30 pm
Main Speaker: Peter Moger, National Worship Development Officer
In February 2008 Worship Changes Lives (CHP, £4.99) is published. This booklet, edited by Paul Bradshaw and Peter Moger, is intended to bring to every congregation, the Liturgical Commission’s priority for liturgical formation, so that worship should indeed change lives.
This day will look at how transforming worship can become a feature of congregational life, and is for all who lead, prepare and take part in corporate worship. Praxis Yorkshire is delighted to have secured Peter Moger as our speaker.
For more details about this event, contact:
Bishop Colin Buchanan, 0113 2677721 Colinbuchanan101@btinternet.com
A booking form with further details may be downloaded from: www.praxisworship.org.uk
A practical programme of case studies, inspirational speakers and workshops to help Churches find funding for their work and write successful bids.
Fee: £5.00; Bookings: CRC at info@crc-online.org.uk or phone 0113 244 3413
Speakers will include: Ian Owers, freelance consultant, until recently CEO of Active Faith Communities; Anne Dannerolle: has set up a number of community action projects at Hull Community Church and was key to the building of a £2 million church and centre; Alex Jowett and Max Dudley are elders at St Andrew’s Church, and the project has redesigned and developed the church grounds, with grant funding; and Tammy Jo Whittaker is a Development Officer, English Heritage, Yorkshire Region.
“Sheffield, Our Glorious City: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”
to be held in the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul, 9th to 13th April 2008.
The Sheffield Floral Club in celebration of its Golden Jubilee, and with Sheffield Cathedral’s Flower Guild, is organising a Festival of Flowers. Nearly one hundred amateur but experienced flower arrangers will transform Sheffield Cathedral. The cost of flowers will be covered by sponsorship and fund raising events. A programme will be on sale at £2.00 and visitors will be invited to make donations. It is hoped that a significant sum of money will be raised for the Cathedral Archer Project , which delivers a high quality service to people from a variety of backgrounds associated with homelessness including rough sleepers, drug and alcohol addicts, women street workers, probation clients, asylum seekers and refugees.
An exploration of spirituality through Doctor Who
SATURDAY 19TH APRIL 2008 @ 10am – 4pm
Wilson Carlile Campus, Sheffield
Why is the new version of Doctor Who such a huge success, with ratings going through the roof, regular Christmas specials and episodes commissioned up to 2010? Is it the strength of the acting and writing? The state-of-the-art special effects? The family appeal? The monsters and sense of imagination? Yes, it is all of these things. But maybe the series is also touching people’s need for - and understanding of - myth and spirituality. Confirmed speakers include Barry Letts, producer of Who’s “Golden Era” in the early 70s. The cost for attending the day, which includes lunch, is £25. To book, please contact Wendy Evans at Wilson Carlile Campus, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield S3 7RZ, email w.evans@churcharmy.org.uk, telephone number: 0114 278 7020
We ask you to pray this week (9th - 15th April) for people from the following occupations;- Accountants, lawyers, financial experts. The Occupational Prayer Cycle, which runs week by week, covers nearly all occupations over the course of the year. It is produced by South Yorkshire Workplace Chaplaincy (SYWC), and more information can be found on their website at http://www.sywc.org.uk/opc/. Accountants work in a number of settings where SYWC chaplains operate. SYWC is planning a project to engage with the financial services industry.
Archdeacon Bob’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land this autumn is for the dates 3rd-11th November – not the 16th-25th as previously stated. Apologies! For more details, ring 0845 610 6447.
LEFROY-OWEN. The Revd Neal Lefroy-Owen, currently Assistant Chaplain at Her Majesty’s Prison Hull, to be Chaplain at Her Majesty’s Prison Lindholme, from the 16th April 2008.
VIDLER. Mr Andrew Vidler to be appointed as Diocesan Registrar, from 1st May 2008.
There are a number of exiting events coming up over the next few months ....
YOUTH CELEBRATION - an evening for teenage girls at Christchurch Pitsmoor on Friday 11th April,7.30pm with the band 'Golddigger'. Time is running out to book for this event so please contact Trish (trish.stafford@sheffield.anglican.org or phone 01709 309147) by Thursday 10th April.
TWELVE - an all night youth event on Saturday 19th April from 7pm to 7am on Sunday morning - £12 per person. A brilliant event for all your teenagers. Please contact Nel if you would like more details (nel.shallow@sheffield.anglican.org or phone 07809320986)
HOPE '08 YOUTH CELEBRATION - at the Cathedral 7pm on Monday May 5th - please look out for further details coming soon.
QUIET DAY - for young people aged 14-20s, Saturday June 7th at Whirlow Grange - £16 per person. Please contact Whirlow Grange for more information 0114 2363173
VACANCY
Deepcar St John's C of E Junior School, St Margaret Avenue, Deepcar, Sheffield - S36 2TE
Headteacher required for September 2008. Information pack/forms from CYPD Human Resources, Bannerdale Centre, 125 Carterknowle Road, Sheffield S7 2EX, Tel: 0114 250 6896
Closing date: 11 April 2008 at 12 noon
Secondary School, Ryhope, Sunderland
0.5 Priest in Charge of St Barnabas Burnmoor
This is an exciting opportunity to work in two lively Christian communities
You will need transferable skills for mission, Christian nurture, pastoral care and worship.
For an informal conversation about the school contact Dr Ed Yeates 0191 5239745 and for the parish contact The Venerable Stuart Bain 0191 5362300.
For full details and application form contact
The Archdeacon of Sunderland, St Nicholas Vicarage, Hedworth Lane, Boldon Colliery, NE35 9JA, archdeacon.of.sunderland@durham.anglican.org
Closing date 18th April. Interviews 1st May
The Diocese of Sheffield is looking for someone to join our experienced and enthusiastic team
You will:
This high profile post is open to appropriately qualified clergy or lay persons. The salary is a diocesan incumbent stipend with house provided, or £31,528 pa as a senior executive officer.
For an application pack please see our website www.sheffield.anglican.org
and/or for further details please contact:
Christine Brocklebank, Diocesan Church House, 95-99 Effingham Street, Rotherham S65 1BL or Tel: 01709 309100. Email: Christine.Brocklebank@sheffield.anglican.org
The closing date for applications is Monday 28th April 2008
Interview date: Thursday 15th May 2008
“RUSSIAN SACRED HYMNS AND FOLK SONGS”
10th May 2008 @ 7.30pm
A concert of Russian Sacred Hymns and Folk Songs a Cappella will be given by the Hermitage Ensemble from St Petersburg at our newly-reordered church. Tickets are £3/£1 concessions available from 0114 266 1745.
Follow the Fool
16th-18th May 2008
Follow the Fool is a 3 day retreat at Whirlow Grange in Sheffield, led by leading spirituality author Angela Ashwin from the Southwell Diocese in Nottinghamshire, will be held from 16th to 18th May 2008, at a cost of just £105. The demand for this retreat will be high with such a prestigious speaker, so don’t delay reserve a place today by telephone to “Portia Wilkins” on 0114 236 3173. A deposit of £50 is all that is required. Bookings close on the 5th May.
Reflections Retreat
9th-11th July 2008
Reflections Retreat is based upon an improvised drama approach and designed to enable participants to take back the model to their congregations and “grow it on” led by Steve and Nicky Kierl the 3 day innovative workshop is a must for all those interested in exploring the Characters of the Bible through improvisation. Fully inclusive cost including accommodation just £150.
Weekend Walking Retreat
22nd-24th August 2008
Also new to Whirlow Grange is a Weekend Walking Retreat with an option to stay over until bank holiday Monday. This will be a good opportunity for you to get your family and friends to visit Sheffield, but be entertained and accommodated at Whirlow Grange. Three action packed days, with three grades of Walks each day, and some extra special treats for participants. The weekend has been designed for those not fully happy in an indoors retreat environment, and will have an environmental focus. Led by the Warden, Graham Holland, Ramblers expert Brenda Blaydes and seasoned Peak District Walker David Hughes, it will also feature input by Rev Mike Gilbert the Bishop of Sheffield’s Environmental Adviser. The cost is just £125. Don’t miss it! Book it now!
Snippets is published every Tuesday.
Email your contributions to Sheffield@media33.co.uk by Monday of each week.
Thanks for all your contributions!
Revd. Rob Marshall
Diocesan Communications Adviser
Diocese of Sheffield Communications
Media 33
Head Office:
5 Brampton Court
Brough
East Yorkshire
HU15 1DZ
Tel: 0845 610 6420
'We believe communication matters.'