Tuesday 22nd July 2008
This week, the Church remembers: Mary Magdalene, companion of our Lord, today; Brigid of Sweden, Abbess of Vadstena (1373) on Wednesday 23rd July 2008; James the Apostle on Friday 25th; Anne and Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on Saturday 26th.
This Sunday is the Tenth Sunday after Trinity.
Have a super summer break!
There are one or two places left on the Archdeacon of Doncaster’s pilgrimage to Iona which starts in Durham on 11th August. Taking in Holy Island, the Ruthwell Cross, Whithorn and Iona, this is a very special week indeed. Please call 0207 937 2259 for more details.
As you read this I am attending the Lambeth Conference. Given all the publicity surrounding the Consecration of women bishops and the adversarial context of much of the rhetoric between liberal and conservative voices in the Church of England, I have gone with some trepidation. But I have also gone with hope. The Archbishop of Canterbury has called all Bishops of the Anglican Communion to come together to pray and read the Bible. This is the reason for my hope.
Some say that the Church is facing disaster so there could be no greater incentive to pray. We used to say that those who pray together stay together. Some will undoubtedly say that I am being very naïve but I cherish the hope that the Lord who loves the Church will continue to guide it. A church that is close to disaster may also be close to renewal. In many ways disaster and renewal are both sides of the same coin. Facing disaster, in circumstances much more dangerous than ours, the early church thrived. Its mission flourished.
There is no doubt that the Church, whether we think of the Church of England or the Anglican Communion, is very vulnerable. We have so much to be grateful for and so much to be careful about. A poem I frequently read speaks to me again at this vulnerable time. It is called “Fiona with a Fieldmouse” by Alasdair Maclean.
Alerted in the hayfield by a shout
I catch the small grey thing
That scuttles from my scythe and me
And yield it to the keeping of Fiona,
Who is three.
You could blow it out, this thing,
It is so small and weak,
It is a tail dependent on a squeak,
A palpitation trimmed with fur.
Fiona has no words for it, no thought even.
She has narrowed down in being
To a pair of childish hands
And yet the weakness she is learning now
Will stay with her
Through all her lives and her lands
Until its turn comes round again.
Unrecognised, perhaps unwanted then,
The memory of this day
Will flood out over husband, lover, child, whoever
has the good luck to have chanced upon her
and to be standing in her way.
These childish hands can teach us a lesson about protecting the vulnerable. We are to learn to cradle the weak and defenceless in our societies and protect them from annihilation. The one who has these instincts will be a gift to every relationship, nurturing rather than exploiting the vulnerable.
I believe we are going through a time when we need to cradle the Church in its weakness. This all-too-human and sinful community utterly loved by Christ, faces serious issues. We seem to have images of raised fists rather than open hands as people take up opposing positions.
Perhaps I am over simplifying things, but I have always believed that those who follow Jesus should try and respond to vulnerable people as he might. The vulnerable in this case are those who feel marginalised by all that is happening.
We need a time of reflection and prayer out of which we can engage in conversation with each other, with holiness in our eyes and tenderness in our attitudes. Nothing less than that will do.
Cradle the Church in gentle hands, despite all her imperfections she is the holy bride of Christ.
Join the Bishops of the Anglican Communion in prayer and hopefulness.
+Cyril
Students from North Doncaster Technology College visited their parish church of Adwick with a piece of art inspired by Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. They also said prayers with the Rev Ann Walton and played music from the band ‘Get Cape, Wear Cape Fly’.
For more details visit www.kids-guernica.org
We are looking for a volunteer to coordinate the ordering and distribution of Christian Aid collecting envelopes and publicity material in the Doncaster area. – The job is done between February and May, each year. It involves contacting around 40 participating churches, processing their orders and ensuring that they receive their materials in time for Christian Aid Week in May. The volunteer should have internet access. Practical help would be available from other members of the committee. For more information, or to offer help, contact Committee Chairman Rev David Goss. Tel 01302 342047. email davidgoss@blueyonder.co.uk
In 2008/09 York St John University are offering a range of modules aimed at people with a general interest in religion or theology as well as those with more specific needs related to the development of Christian ministry. For more information on our postgraduate programmes (or our undergraduate programmes), please contact:
Theology & Religious Studies, York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York, YO31 7EX.
T: 01904 876462. E: theology@yorksj.ac.uk
To play at Sunday morning Mass and major festivals and occasional offices. Small group of cantors. Modern Roman rite, Resolutions A, B and C Passed. Remuneration to be discussed. Apply: Churchwardens, c/o The Presbytery, Lockwood Road, Goldthorpe, Rotherham. S63 9JY
Win £3000 for your church. The true meaning of Christmas Ecclesiastical is inviting you to make a one-minute film on the subject with your camcorder, laptop or mobile phone. Then upload it to their specially created website – www.truemeaning.co.uk for the chance to WIN up to £3,000 for your church, plus some amazing prizes for you – your chance to see thebandwithnoname perform live, signed merchandise, tickets to Greenbelt ’09 and much, much more. Right now, visitors to www.truemeaning.co.uk can leave their email to receive advice, hints and tips on how to wow the judges. Entrants can upload their completed films to the website from 1 August 2008, giving you plenty of time to start planning your masterpiece.
Make a one-minute film about the true meaning of Christmas.
Upload it.
Rate other people’s entries.
Tell your friends.
WIN a brilliant prize for both you and your church
The closing date for entries is 10 October 2008.
We have recently had some new desks here at Bishopscroft and we have a nice secretary's desk and return in light oak with brown trim which is in excellent condition. It is free to a good home, just needs collecting. – Sue Davis, sue@bishopofsheffield.org.uk
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7516716.stm
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Sprinting-legend-Linford-helps-kids.4307215.jp
http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/free/Bid-for-university-status-gets.4294327.jp
Saturday 26th July 1.30 - 3.30 p.m. in the Rectory Garden.
Admission 50p (including lucky number draw). Crafts & cards, tombola, cakes, raffle, jewellery; Plants fun activities for children
Cream teas, strawberries & cream
Sunday 27th July 2008 in the Parish Church of Saint Andrew Bolton upon Dearne from 10am to 4pm
…are having a PET SERVICE on August 9th beginning at 2pm outside church. This is a short service of praise for creation in its delightful diversity. Bring your pets!!
Annual Festival of Art - 30th & 31st August 2008
Over 300 pictures on display by local artists, many for sale, craft stalls, tombola, bottle stall, excellent refreshments. - Tower Open.
SAT 30th Aug. - 10.00am - 6.00pm
SUN 31st Aug - 10.00am - 4.00pm
For further information call 01302 886539
Revd. Rob Marshall
Diocesan Communications Adviser
22nd-24th August 2008
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!
Exploring the distinctive nature of Church Schools
A CONFERENCE FOR HEADTEACHERS, CLERGY AND CHAIRS OF GOVERNING BODIES to be held at Sheffield Cathedral on Wednesday 8th October 2008 at 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 pm with Lisa Fenton Senior Adviser, Board of Education in the Diocese of Blackburn.
Cost: £50 First place for each school, £25 second and subsequent places Cost includes: buffet lunch one copy of Be Bold! per school. Booking by Wednesday 1 Oct. returned with cheque payable to SDBF to Trish Stafford Diocesan Church House, 95-99 Effingham Street, Rotherham,
S65 1BL, 01709 309147
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust are seeking a locum to serve full-time for four months, working mainly with people with mental health difficulties. For further information, please visit the NHS jobs website or contact Julian Raffay on (0114) 246 3088. Anticipated closing date Monday 1st August.
We are looking for a joyful and enthusiastic person to be ½ time Priest-in-Charge at Todwick, and ½ time Chaplain among deaf people.
About the church and parish:
About the Chaplaincy among deaf people:
About you:
Incumbent’s stipend (£21,310)
Closing date: 31st July 2008
Interviews to be arranged
For an application form please contact the Archdeacon’s secretary at Diocesan Church House.
For an informal conversation about the parish, please contact one of the parish representatives, Roy Hesketh, 01909 770937 or David Thorpe, 01909 770821
For an informal conversation about the chaplaincy, please contact Canon David Bliss, 01709 364341
Due to ill health a vacancy has arisen for an experienced or part experienced bookkeeper, ideally with purchase ledger experience. You must be used to using a computer based accounts package, we use Access (Horizons) but Sage experience is wholly transferable. This is a 5 hours per week vacancy, the days and hours worked are negotiable as is the salary. This vacancy would suit a returner, a person who has retired early, someone seeking to build their own business, or a person training in accountancy seeking an income from their spare time. Training in the actual systems at Whirlow Grange will be available, Training in Bookkeeping or accountancy skills will not. In the first instance telephone Graham Holland the Warden and General Manager on 0114 236 3173.
Whirlow Grange is seeking to recruit to this existing role when the existing Manager moves to manage another successful business in Sheffield. Whirlow is looking for an experienced or part experienced manager to cover hospitality services, residential accommodation, cleaning and house team services. Whirlow hosts many high level functions as well as spirituality retreats, national meetings and conferences. There is huge potential for learning and developing managerial skills, hotel type management and staff management, in a pleasant non-pressured environment. The right candidate will be experienced, sympathetic to the objectives of Whirlow Grange, be flexible, able to work weekends and shifts on a rota basis and have or be willing to work towards Designated Personal Licence Holder status. (Licensee). Salary around £20k depending on qualifications and experience. Although an experienced person is sought, a graduate or person currently training may be considered. In the first instance telephone Graham Holland the Warden and General Manager on 0114 236 3173.
This new post will be created after the summer when a number of personnel are retiring or moving on to new posts. The person appointed will head up the hospitality team and beds team, and will have a supervisory role and a minor “duty manager” role at certain times. This is an ideal job for a student with hospitality experience but looking to gain first hand experience of supervisory or management skills. The successful candidate will be a permanent full time employee and will supervise a team of up to 8 part time and casual staff and volunteers under the direct supervision of the Assistant Manager/ Hospitality Manager. This is very much a hands-on role.
Hours of work will be 35 per week on a rota basis with late nights, early mornings and weekends. Salary is negotiable.
In the first instance telephone Graham Holland the Warden and General Manager on 0114 236 3173.
A vacancy exists for a non-executive Director to join the voluntary board of 12 Directors responsible for Whirlow Grange Limited. Ideally you will be a person with a business acumen and a sympathy with the work of the Christian Spirituality Centre and the work of Whirlow Grange. You should be able to commit at least 2 hours per month unpaid to attend the Board Meetings and a further two hours reading time in preparation. The successful applicant will be subject to the approval of the Diocesan Synod but need not have a religious background. We are looking for someone that will bring a spread of life skills and business skills to broaden the representation of the Board. Expenses can be paid for childcare, transport and the like. Meetings are currently held in the early evening and last for two hours. THIS IS NOT A PAID POSITION.
In the first instance telephone Graham Holland the Warden and General Manager on 0114 236 3173. Please note that all successful applicants will need to agree to an enhanced CRB check.
Emmanuel Church is a 4-way denominational LEP (Anglican, Reform, Methodist and Baptist). The successful candidate chosen will be asked to work on a .5 basis. They would need to work closely with:
The Methodist Minister, The Leadership Team, The Congregation of Emmanuel Junior School, which shares its premises with the Church and other organisations in the community.
An emphasis on PARTNERSHIP will be required. The successful candidate would need to have a passion for Mission and Church growth, both spiritually and numerically with a desire encourage and to train and release the congregation to be more outwardly active in authentic mission.
They will also need to demonstrate a Pastor’s heart and a desire to help people walk in peace and reconciliation. A flexible approach to worship is essential to the job, as are a wide variety of liturgies and styles. Emmanuel serves a community of social and private housing of some 7,000 people. Candidates should be ordained or licensed lay ministers.
Hours: .5 post
Salary: .5 of Ordained Minister
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The Aim of Appointment
Revd Steve Willett (Area Dean), 63 Sheffield Road, Hackenthorpe, SHEFFIELD, S12 4LR
Any query can be handled by the Area Dean on 0114 2484486.
Rob Marshall
Media 33
Offices in London and Yorkshire
Head Office;
5 Brampton Court
Brough
East Yorkshire
HU15 1DZ
Tel: 0845 610 6420