Niftynotes news & information from the Diocese www.southwell.anglican.org NOVEMBER 2019 Compiled by Nicola Mellors email: [email protected] Follow the Star – all the Archdeacon David taking up new role way to the manger in Diocese of ollowing on the success of Blackburn last year’s campaign, the FChurch’s national Advent and After nearly eight years as Christmas campaign for 2019 will Archdeacon of Newark, The again take the theme Follow The Venerable David Picken is Star, which invites people to moving on following his experience the wonder and appointment as the Archdeacon excitement of the Wise Men’s of Lancaster in the Diocese of journey to see Jesus. Blackburn. There are two main resources available, each designed for churches to David, who leaves in mid- give away at Christmas services and events: January next year, said: “I will The Follow the Star 2019 booklet offers a reflection for each of miss Southwell & Nottingham the 12 days of Christmas with a short Bible passage, a simple enormously. I have thoroughly prayer and a challenge to reflect or act differently. enjoyed my time here and met some wonderful people who it The Follow the Star 2019 leaflet is designed for churches who has been a privilege to serve as wish to promote the campaign to large groups of people. It part of God’s ministry. contains a short challenge for each day plus QR codes linking to Continued on page 6 the full reflections on the forthcoming Follow the Star app. Both the booklet and leaflet are supported by additional free digital In this month’s issue: materials, including suggested activities for families based on each day's theme. Booklets and leaflets can be ordered at: 2 New in brief www.chpublishing.co.uk/features/follow-the-star-2019 4 Events and information Churches are also being encouraged to use the A Church Near You website to publicise their Christmas services and events. The website 5 Prayer diary gets more than 12 million page views each year and 81 per cent are to use the site to encourage church attendance. ` 8 World links news Find out how to get involved in Follow The Star 2019: 10 What’s On https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/stories-and- features/how-can-your-church-get-ready-advent-and-christmas-2019 12 Comings & Goings @diocswellnott @SouthwellandNottingham 2 November 19 Growing Disciples . Growing Disciples . Growing Disciples . Wider Younger Deeper www.growingdisciples.co.uk More than 80 nurture courses are part of the follow-up to oneLIFE mission t is over a month now since the oneLIFE mission took place in the diocese, when churches across the diocese organised hundreds of events to attract new people. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, Iwas here to support the mission along with Bishop Paul, Bishop Tony, and visiting Bishops from other dioceses. Over four exciting days of the mission, churches shared the good news of Jesus with the people in their communities. As part of the follow-up to the mission more than 80 nurture courses are running to welcome and support people who want to explore questions of faith. There are many stories of people touched by the mission: following on from oneLIFE in the River Idle Benefice, 16 people attend an Alpha Supper in a local café; 15 of those who attended signed up on the night to continue to meet, and another joined along the way. One of the visiting evangelists hosted in Bassetlaw and Bawtry Deanery was an ex-SAS sniper, Neil Obbard. Someone who had been invited to a Men's Pie and Pint evening recognised him when he turned up because they had served together in the military. They chatted together, he listened to Neil's testimony and later signed up to do Alpha. The Woven network of churches in the north of Nottingham held a week of activities in local schools as part of oneLIFE: Bluecoat Aspley, Bluecoat Wollaton, Bluecoat Beechdale and Nottingham University Samworth Academy. During the week a group of singers, rappers, actors and sport coaches took over assemblies, classes and lunch clubs with the aim of sharing the love of Jesus. A youth event at the end of the week at St Margaret’s Aspley was attended by more than 100 young people; an event at St John’s Bilborough was attended by 400, with more waiting outside to get in. If you would like to share your oneLIFE story, contact [email protected] Check out our interactive oneLIFE nurture course map at: southwell.anglican.org/onelife-map/ Niftynotes 3 Growing Disciples . Growing Disciples . Growing Disciples . Wider Younger Deeper www.growingdisciples.co.uk 4 November 19 Growing Disciples . Growing Disciples . Growing Disciples . Wider Younger Deeper www.growingdisciples.co.uk Niftynotes 5 Growing Disciples . Growing Disciples . Growing Disciples . Wider Younger Deeper www.growingdisciples.co.uk 6 November 19 News in brief . News in brief . News in brief . News in brief . Continued from page 1 “I leave at an exciting time for the diocese but I felt a clear sense of calling when the new role was drawn to my attention; I will be sharing in the work on missional growth in the churches, in particular in relation to children and young people, and that is an opportunity I could not resist. “I will also work very closely with the schools in the diocese and chair the Department of families and in schools, yet above Rector within the same team and Education, as I have done latterly all we will miss their gift of became Area Dean in 2001. In here. friendship and encouragement.” 2004 David moved to High Wycombe as Team Rector. He “It has been exciting to serve in David, who was installed as the served as Area Dean until this diocese, which has a vision Archdeacon of Newark in 2012, preparing to move to Southwell for growth and is thoroughly was born in Hednesford, & Nottingham and was made an engaged in bringing that vision to Staffordshire in 1963 and was Honorary Canon of Christ fruition under the leadership of educated locally. In 1984 he Church, Oxford, in 2011. Bishop Paul and the whole team.” graduated with a BA Hons in English Literature and Religious In his spare time, David enjoys Bishop Paul said: “This is a God- Studies from London. The cricket and football and is a given opportunity for David and following year David completed a Manchester United supporter, but an excellent appointment for the PGCE and married Cathy, also a takes a keen interest in Mansfield Diocese of Blackburn. David has teacher. After a short teaching Town FC as well. His wife Cathy been faithful in discerning and career, including a time in is a nationally accredited responding to God’s call to this Retford, David went to Lincoln practitioner for ‘Godly Play ‘. new sphere of ministry and will Theological College to study for She is a Trustee of Lighthouse, an be joining a diocese and senior the priesthood. annual Children’s summer event team that is bold, imaginative and attended by over a 1,000 children. prayerful as they move forward in In 1990 David was ordained the mission of God among the deacon and served as a curate in David’s last day in this diocese people of Lancashire. the Worth Team Ministry in will be on 16th January, 2020, Chichester diocese. In 1993 he when he will chair a diocesan “We will hugely miss David and became a Team Vicar in Wordsley discernment panel. Cathy’s kindness, joy and in Worcester Diocese. Here he enthusiasm for the work of God, pioneered a church plant and was He will be installed as the especially among children, a half-time hospital chaplain. In Archdeacon of Lancaster on 4th 1997 David was appointed Team February. Mrs. Palmer’s Christmas Coffee Morning 20th November 2019 ‘Church Cottage’, Church Lane, Thoroton, NG13 9DS. 10am–12 noon. £2 entry includes coffee & biscuits. Tombola/Gift Stall/Home Produce. All proceeds to St. Helena’s Thoroton. All welcome! Niftynotes 7 News in brief . News in brief . News in brief . News in brief . Collingham Singers perform for Bishop Amazing Chorister community choir – the Collingham Singers – who were invited by a couple to sing at their wedding on 1 June 2019 at Experience at ASt John the Baptist, East Markham, sang for the Bishop of Southwell Minster Birkenhead at a oneLIFE mission event. Southwell Minster are holding Vicar, the Revd Bronwen Gamble, who married the couple, Peter and their annual afternoon to Carole, explains: “The choir were pleased to come and they did a experience the life of a chorister, great job and were highly appreciated. At the end of the service during on Saturday 9th November from the tidying up process, I had a chat with the leader of the choir to say 2pm. how much we enjoyed their singing. She said they enjoyed it too and would be happy to offer a concert for free. So I asked if they would be Choir Master, Paul Provost says: available on 14th October for a oneLIFE event and the answer was “The Chorister Experience is a ‘Yes.’ great chance to come to the Minster and learn all about our The choir normally do this sort of thing as fund-raisers for churches amazing choir. and charities but the PCC agreed to Bronwen’s request that the concert should be free entry with refreshments and, as part of the There will be singing, games, OneLIFE mission, there would be a short gospel presentation, with an and dressing up as well as opportunity to give donations, but essentially as a gift to the meeting our own Cathedral community.