Throughout the Wessex Synod s1

SHARING THE VISION throughout the Wessex Synod Issue 78b : June 2014

TRAINING EVENTS

CORE Skills Introductory Evening, 7pm on Thursday 10 July at Wesley Methodist Church, Queen’s Road, Reading, RG1 4BW. CORE training is for anyone working with children and young people. You may just be starting out in this ministry or you may have been serving for a number of years - All are welcome. The aim of CORE is to develop and extend key skills for ministry with children and young people. Find out more at the Introductory Evening. The six sessions of CORE will run during Autumn 2014 and Spring 2015. Dates, times and venues to be confirmed. These sessions will cover the following topics:- Child Development, Leadership Skills , Programme Planning, Children and Community, Pastoral Awareness, Spirituality and the Bible. For further information and to book your place, please contact Ruth Heine, email: [email protected] tel: 023 8067 4513

Saturday 27 September 2014 at Avenue St Andrew’s, Southampton. 10am – 4pm A full day’s training for all individuals working with children and young people, and important for ministers and elders of the church. The course covers: The Basics of Safeguarding; Good Practice Procedures; Duty of Care and Pastoral Awareness; Reporting Structures; Exploring Case Studies; Planning The Way Forward. Certificates will be presented to those completing the course. For more information and to book a place on the course, please contact: Ruth Heine, email: [email protected] tel: 023 8067 4513

Wessex Synod Children’s & Youth Forum - Saturday 22nd November 2014 - 10am-4pm This event is for Children’s & Youth Workers. A chance to explore how we as a Synod and the local church encourage and enable young people to explore what God is calling them to do. An opportunity for all churches to influence the strategic development and direction of our children’s and youth work. Closing date for bookings: Friday 14th November Contact: Ruth Heine, email: [email protected] tel: 023 8067 4513

TLS LITE Course (Training for Learning & Serving - Local Introductory Training Experiences) Ever wanted to do more study of the Bible and/or preaching but were put off by the thought and demands of formal study and essays? There is a way and it is through embarking on a TLS LITE course. TLS LITE is designed primarily, though not exclusively, to equip people for more thoughtful participation in and leadership of corporate worship. To register an interest in undertaking a TLS LITE course, please contact Peter Hurter, [email protected]

1 URC WHITEHORN CUP GOLF DAY 50th Year Monday 1st September 2014 at Bromsgrove Golf Centre This popular annual event is an 18 hole Stableford competition which is open to Free Church Ministers (including retired Ministers), who play for the Whitehorn Cup, and members of the URC laity who play for the Patrick Figgis Putter. For more details please contact Terry Thompson 01527 837083 Or email [email protected] to book your place before 31st July 2014

THE CHURCH OVERSEAS

Cappadocia And Pauline Southern Turkey After our recent amazing pilgrimage to western Turkey and the seven churches of Asia Minor, by enthusiastic demand, we have organised one to eastern Turkey, including Cappadocia, the Whirling Dervishes, Antioch, Tarsus and so much more. We leave on October 5th 2015 and return on the15th. More details can be had from Stephen Thornton, tel. 01252 409494. These pilgrimages are a great opportunity for learning and growth

Discovering the Church in China and Korea An invitation has been extended for a group of URC ministers to see how the Church in Shanghai and Korea have developed over the last few years. The planned dates are from 13th to 23rd October. There are a few places left and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Cost is limited to the flights and visa, estimated at £900 though some funding may be available. For more information and a draft itinerary contact [email protected]

CELEBRATION OF PSALMS, OLD AND NEW Sunday 13 July, 3:30-4:30pm followed by refreshments St Columba’s Oxford, URC Alfred Street OX1 4EH The singing and reading of psalms, old and new, including the launch of Carla Grosch-Miller’s Psalm redux: Poems and prayers http://www.canterburypress.co.uk/books/9781848256392/Psalms-Redux). More information, www.saintcolumbas.org.

THE THREE ISAIAHS - A LENTEN STUDY This is the title of a Bible Study for Lent led by Stephen Thornton at Park Place Pastoral Centre, Wickham near Fareham from March 23rd to 26th 2015 to which all are welcome. We will explore the book that Jesus quoted from most, written by at least three different people at three different times, upon which Jesus based so much of his ministry. More details from Alison Thompson, Tel. 01189 412869. We do hope that you will join us to mine this treasure trove.

STRUGGLE FATIGUE. ArtPeace, the cooperative of Zimbabwean artists struggle continues. Latest update from St Andrew’s URC, Walton on Thames is available on www.standrewsurc.org. Also included is a story from an old friend of the group surfacing from a refugee camp in the jungles of Thailand. The full story with interesting photos can be seen on www.standrewsurc.org under Main Menu – click on Artpeace Zimbabwe - see attachments – July 2014 update.

OPEN THE BOOK New and Existing Team Training Saturday 30th August 2014 to be held at Christ Church Chineham, Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 8LT. Run by the Open The Book Team from the Bible Society Come along to learn about presenting Open The Book to schools near you, Share new ideas with the team you are part of, discover different ways of presenting a story and share fellowship with other OPEN THE BOOK Storytellers.

2 Please bring your own lunch, Tea and coffee will be provided. Please contact Maggie Chiverton on [email protected] or 01256 476106 to book a place

REMINDERS Area Gatherings The will be a series of gatherings again this Autumn in each Pastoral Area of the Synod. The main topic will be feed back from this year’s General Assembly. Dates have been set as follows (with venues to be arranged). North West – Tuesday 23rd September North East – Monday 29th September South West – Tuesday 30th September South East – Wednesday 1st October

Wessex Summer Camp – RE: IGNITE, 18 – 20 July 2014, Ferny Crofts Activity Centre, The New Forest A great weekend event for all young people aged 11-25 connected to the United Reformed Church. Come, explore and be inspired by God into action. Ages 11-25. Cost: £40 per person. Closing date for applications is 27th June. Further copies of the camp brochure and booking forms are available from Ruth Heine email: [email protected] tel: 023 8067 4513.

Wessex Synod Elders’ Development Day - Prayer, Spirituality & Worship on Saturday 12 July at Collinwood Road United Reformed Church , Oxford. 10am – 2pm. Providing training for new Elders, on-going support for existing Elders and suitable for anyone interested in becoming an Elder.

Rural mission conference: beat the price rise! The ‘Germinate!’ national rural mission conference (for which we are partners) will prove an inspiring and practical event for anyone – lay or clergy – engaged in the challenge of rural mission and ministry. Details of the conference can be found in the previous editions of Sharing the Vision. Be inspired, encouraged and equipped through case studies, workshops and national speakers. For full programme details and to secure your place and beat the price rise on 30 June.

Lay Preacher Training at Westminster College, Cambridge Theme: Springs eternal: Christian hope and the Church Choice of Dates: Monday 8th – Wednesday 10th September 2014 or Wednesday 10th – Friday 12th September 2014 or Friday 12th – Sunday 14th September 2014. Further information and a booking form is available from Ruth Heine, email: [email protected], tel: 023 8067 4513.

Mission Development Committee: Growing the Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit Conference Monday 29 September - Friday 3 October Close Conference Centre, Rubery, Birmingham further details at www.gear.org.uk

CHILDREN’S & YOUTH WORK FORUM - Saturday 22 November 2014, 10am – 4pm, venue to be confirmed. With guest speaker/facilitator Tanya Rasmussen – Theme: Gifts and Calls All churches are encouraged to send a team of children’s and youth workers. This event is a chance to explore how we as a Synod and the local church encourage and enable young people to explore what God is calling them to do. Please book your place by contacting Ruth Heine, email: [email protected] tel: 023 8067 4513.

PLEASE SEND ITEMS FOR THE NEXT EDITION TO THE EDITOR, CAROL ROGERS ([email protected]) by 8th July 2014.