Diocesan Courses Diocesan Events
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This is the very last chance to sign up for this exciting new course. Click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjDpp_3L-sg&feature=related to watch a short video or read more at http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=362
Event Date: Wednesday 13th October, either 9:30am-1pm or 7:30-9:30pm.
An opportunity to explore how we help those new to church become a full part of the worshipping community. With church growth and welcome expert Bob Jackson. All are welcome to this free Shaped by God resourcing time for mission. Click here http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=411 for more.
Written by Ted Hutchin with comments from Audrey Hutchin
This was a day conference organised by the Diocesan team of Mike Harrison, Stuart Burns and Barry Hill looking at the whole question of rural mission. With many parishes represented, four of us from Melton attended, our new curate, Rev Sally, Jill Milner, Audrey and myself. The day was broken into two distinct sections, the morning being led by the Bishop of Shrewsbury, Mark Rylands, who is also the Chair of the Rural Theology Group, and the afternoon comprising a number of break-out sessions covering a number of issues related to rural ministry…
to read the full report click the link below
Never visited the diocesan blog for Shaped by God? Haven’t been for a while? Not sure what a blog is? Then why not visit http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com There you’ll find a wide range of ideas, stories & resources for mission, regularly updated. You can comment on what’s there or contact barry.hill@leccofe.org to add something new.
Wednesday 13th October, either 9:30am-1pm, St. Paul’s, Oadby or 7:30pm-9:30pm at Emmanuel,Loughborough.
Best-selling author of Hope for the Church and The Road to Growth, co-author of welcome course, Everybody Welcome, experienced parish priest, and former Archdeacon of Walsall/Growth Officer, Bob Jackson is one of the most respected experts on church growth and welcome around. With a wealth of anecdotal experience and statistical evidence, he brings a fresh and challenging, take on church growth. During the morning session and repeated in slightly shorter form the same night, Bob looks at what it means to be a welcoming church, set in the wider context of our changing times. Everyone is welcome to this important session together. There is no cost, but booking at least a week before hand is essential (although places are limited and demand is high so book soon to avoid disappointment!). Bookings to Carol (carol.gibbons@leccofe.org or 0116 248 7411)
Bishop Graham Cray, head of Fresh Expressions, wrote an thought provoking piece on Fresh Expressions in this months Fresh Expressions newsletter. he started, “One of the most common misunderstandings about fresh expressions is the belief that they are new types of worship service. It is an understandable mistake as worship lies at the heart of the life of the church, and fresh expressions are…” To keep reading click here
Over the next week the summer edition of Shaped by God News will be sent to all churches that either get News and Views or have responded to our offer to send copies. If you haven’t responded but would like some copies for your church contact carol.gibbons@leccofe.org (they are free!). It can also be downloaded here: http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=296
Rather than leaving them in a pile at the back of your church, where they can get a little lost amongst a range of other leaflets, it is designed to be given to each congregation member one Sunday. Can I encourage you to try giving them out this time? I appreciate this is a little different to you may have done it, but where this has happened it has really helped encourage congregations as to what God is doing in nearby or neighbouring churches.
Rural Mission event
There’s under three weeks to go until the special diocesan day conference on rural mission. With over half the tickets already gone, you need to get in quick to avoid disappointment! Designed for anyone in a rural or semi-rural situation click here to read more and book your place: http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=279
Some of us have recently read Daniel Pink’s best selling book, ‘Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us’. This isn’t written from a Christian perspective, but gives a fascinating challenge as to what motivates us, which echo strands which run through the Bible. Why not watch this short summary of his book & ponder how might this speak into the Christian life, especially, how we encourage mission? Watch it here: http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=305
A note to clergy who may have taken a few extra wedding packs ‘just in case’. Could you please return any extras to Church House as we are running low. We have only ordered enough to cover those weddings likely to be booked between now and the end of this year.
Just a few days to go until the very final opportunity to register your church and order resources for Back to Church Sunday. After Tuesday 15th June there will be no more opportunity to do so. For details of how to register and order resources (no payment required at this stage) go to: http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=284
Win a new noticeboard for your church, courtesy of a special new mission driven competition. Think about your favourite shop, restaurant, café or bar. Now think what the entrance to it looks like. What does it tell you about them? What draws you to go inside? It’s not too late to enter, but you need to let barry.hill@leccofe.org know you intend to enter by this Friday (11th June). For more info go to: http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=135
We’re just a few weeks away from the next edition of Shaped by God News. As usual, to keep costs down, it’ll be sent with July’s News and Views so if you don’t get News and Views and would still like some please contact carol.gibbons@leccofe.org. This eight page magazine, published three times a year, has a wealth of encouraging stories of what God is doing in the local church, plus ideas and resources for mission. This edition has exciting articles on… continue reading at http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=272
A fascinating article from last Fridays Times Newspaper on Fresh Expressions for more visit http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=265
For an inspirational read on the formation of a church which meets where people are at, and which doesn’t ask ‘them’ to come to ‘us’, but an incarnational model of a church truly of the poor, rather than for the poor, click here: http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=261
Tuesday 15th June. ReSource invites you to an evening in Loughborough with Martin Cavender and Roger Morgan. ReSource has been operating across Leicester Diocese for the last two years, invited by Bishop Tim to encourage and support Deaneries and Mission Partnerships in their work. For more on this evening visit http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=256
Poverty Sunday, this year is 13th June. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on the fact that around a fifth of the UK’s population live in financial poverty and what our response as Christians should be. For more information on the excellent range of resources produced by the Church Urban Fund visit the Shaped by God blog: http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=250
We are pleased to announce details of a major new course to equip all those involved in leading or interested in setting up a Fresh Expression of church.
The eighteen month Mission Shaped Ministry course starts this September and will explore discerning, starting and maturing a Fresh Expression of church. It comprises of six week nights and six Saturday sessions and is being hosted locally by Stuart Burns, Tim Woolley and Barry Hill, with a number of guest speakers (both nationally known and respected leaders in their fields and locally based, experienced, practitioners).
Click here for more details and to download a booking form
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY: A reminder that there is just six weeks until the deadline to order Back to Church Sunday materials for your church (15th June). Also, a reminder to register each church taking part individually on http://www.backtochurch.co.uk/page/3010/Registration++Order+Form (even if not using national resources or someone else ordering on your behalf – it will allow us to put any people looking for a church in contact with you and so we can get your feedback afterwards – if not ordering resources just put 0 in the order box for resources).
To see more go to the special Diocese of Leicester website with ideas, a range of downloadable resources and introductory information or contact Barry (barry.hill@leccofe.org)
Mission Enabler, Barry Hill writes, “2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day. It is also shortly before the start of the football World Cup. Traditionally the church has tended to shun Father’s Day because its origins aren’t in a Christian festival (unlike Mother’s Day), but maybe we need to look again??? How might this important day in the lives of many be appropriately (and sensitively) marked in our churches and, more importantly, be used imaginatively in mission?” Read more on the Shaped by God blog here: http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/
Over recent months, a ‘White Paper’ has been produced on the future of Fresh Expressions of Church across the diocese. The paper discusses what our vision of Fresh Expressions might be and how we might work towards it in a way which is properly resourced and sustainable. It was considered by Bishop’s Staff a few weeks ago, who were broadly very supportive of the papers contents. It is now being made available to anyone who would like to read more for thoughts, encouragements, critiques and questions. The hope being to amend in line with the weight of feedback so that it can be finalised later in the summer. To download a copy and to see how to make comments visit http://sbg.dioceseofleicester.com/?p=230 (deadline for feedback by 18th June). Please hold this important step on our journey together in your prayers. May the Spirit of God guide our every step.
