Sharing the Vision June 2020 News from the Wessex Synod
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Sharing the Vision June 2020 News from the Wessex Synod Note: Items headed in grey have appeared in the newsletter previously Pastoral News Congratulations to Helen Higgin-Botham, who has been appointed by Southern Synod to serve at Christ Church Chichester and Pagham. Helen will start her new ministry at the beginning of July. Congratulations to Adam Payne (currently a member at London Street URC), who has been appointed to serve at Godalming United Church. Adam starts on 1st September, with his induction date to be arranged. Covid-19 The latest advice about the reopening of church buildings for private prayer can be found on the URC website, www.urc.org.uk/coronavirus. This includes an updated advice note from the General Secretary and Synod Moderators, a new Covid-19 Risk Assessment document which has been created by the Moderators, an example of a completed Risk Assessment form, and a new disclaimer poster which can be displayed once the Risk Assessment has been completed and it is safe for the building to reopen. The URC Bookshop now has some practical items in stock for when our buildings reopen, www.urcshop.co.uk/coronavirus, with more to follow. Church House have advised caution when purchasing supplies online as some sites are charging a huge mark-up on items. Please check out the URC Shop before purchasing elsewhere for a price comparison. Free, downloadable and customisable resources will be added to the URC website shortly, and links will be available to these on the coronavirus advice page. Covid-19 Employment update no.6 Government advice and guidance has changed and continues to be updated concerning the Job Retention Scheme. Please ensure you keep up with these changes. The following links may help: • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-coronavirus-job- retention-scheme/changes-to-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme • https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support • https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/5-steps- to-working-safely Please have a read through these pages for general information, advice and guidance. If you can’t find a solution to your particular situation do contact me by phone or email. I will do my best to help. 1 An important non-virus-related change to employment law as of 6th April 2020 concerns the requirement for an employer to provide a written statement of particulars (usually via a contract of employment) on or before the first day of employment. This replaces the previous time frame of the first two months of employment. Penny Thatcher, Wessex Synod Employment Adviser [email protected] 07910 601751 URC HR Focus newsletter The latest edition of the URC’s HR Focus newsletter is available here: https://urc.org.uk/images/Human-Resources/Documents/HR_Focus/EL_Newsletter_- _HR_Focus.pdf New reality, same mission The URC are pleased and excited to announce the launch of a new URC resource booklet ‘New reality, same mission: A stimulus to renewed community engagement as we emerge from the pandemic’: https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3483-new-reality-same-mission-churches-encouraged- to-renew-community-engagement-as-we-emerge-from-the-pandemic The resource is complementary to the Ready for the new ‘normal’ booklet produced last month by the URC Synod Moderators, and uses questions in that paper as its starting-point. It was put together by a small team from the Mission and Discipleship departments, along with three CRCWs and Niall Cooper, Director of Church Action on Poverty. The booklet offers a process for exploring questions of community presence and engagement and social justice in the “new normal” and developing new priorities for mission and ministry. Reflection is also invited about the kind of society and economy that we want to rebuild after the pandemic. It features examples of how churches around the UK are already an active presence in their communities in many different ways, and points to resources and organisations that can provide advice and support. The booklet can be downloaded via this link: https://urc.org.uk/images/Communications/docs/New-reality-same-Mission.pdf. Please would you kindly have a look at the booklet and where appropriate, publicise and circulate it around your colleagues and networks? The resource will be accompanied by some conversation-starter videos and, in a few weeks, a webinar to enable to discussion to continue. Further details will be available at: https://urc.org.uk/same-mission We hope it proves a useful resource for local congregations and their members, and an encouragement as we seek to discern how to use our time, resources and energies to offer prophetic hope in uncertain and challenging times. 2 How can we respond to the current crises, in how our money is used? The current Coronavirus pandemic has awakened us to the frailty of our accepted social and economic norms. Also, the accelerating global warming crisis should have alerted us to the danger of continuing in the ways we have been used to in ‘developed’ countries, especially over the last 40 years. The churches, and we as individual Christians, are being asked to respond to these challenges by taking actions to reflect our professed values, following the example of our Lord, whose concern over exploitation of the poor even led to his only ever recorded violent actions, when he confronted the moneychangers in the Temple forecourt. We may be able to take the opportunity of current social isolation, and possibly slightly more free time, to review how our money is being used in various ways in relation to these issues, and act accordingly. If so, the Church and Society Group of our Synod encourage you to look at the article on the Synod website at the following link: How we can change the way our money is used article which outlines some of the points to consider, and has reference links with further useful information. Prayers of Thanksgiving – photo collection Helen Everard, Chaplain to the incoming Assembly Moderators, is involved in organising the induction service on 11th July for Peter and Clare as Assembly Moderators, and of John Bradbury, as the new General Secretary. John has suggested that during the "Prayers of Thanksgiving” we use a montage of images of churches responding to the challenges of Covid-19. If you have a photograph which you could share, along with a short caption of what is happening, and where, please send them, with a subject line of “Thanksgiving Photo" direct to Andy Jackson, the Head of Communications at [email protected] by 3rd July. Two Prayers for Churches To help our congregations lift up global concerns during this pandemic season Provided by the World Church Group Prayers for Zambia by Nigel Appleton During this season of pandemic — a prayer for Wessex Synod by Ana Gobledale Available at the link below: https://wessexsynodurc.org.uk/prayers-for-the-churches-of-wessex-synod/ Life after the Storm The Lincolnshire Methodist District has produced a resource called “Life after the storm” which provides some interesting biblical reflection material, along with practical matters around how we are church in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic. You may find parts of it helpful to use alongside the URC’s “New Normal” publication. You can find it at https://wessexsynodurc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Life-after-the- Storm.pdf 3 Black Lives Matter reflection Why should they experience brutality in the hands of the police? Why should they experience injustice from the justice system? Why experience inequality and racism in the classroom and in all work settings? Why are they affected the most in the face of Covid-19 pandemic? Is it by choice to be born black? Yes, there were slaves Yes, they continue to be oppressed Yes, it has been happening for centuries Alas they are growing in numbers and intellectually Brutalities, injustices, inequalities and racism will not contain them Black lives are part of the universe, they are not going anywhere Black lives cannot remain in their station, who has a right to define their station? Their empowerment cannot be stopped Change is inevitable; it is happening and will continue happening The kind support from their brown and white friends cannot go unnoticed. Sympathy is not enough, help them bring about change with actions, talents and imaginations. Black, brown or white we are all made in the image of God, Genesis 1:26-27. Let us live together peacefully and respectfully. May God teach us to love one another. To the black, brown and white lives, your mental well being matters too. A break from news and social media can bring some reprieve. Wonderful reflections from Rev Zaidi Orr and Rev David Jonathan can also help our mental wellbeing at this time of Black Lives Matter demonstrations and Covid-19 pandemic. These are found on the URC website: https://urc.org.uk/search-article?articleid=1933 By Enala Bhebhe, Wessex Synod Church and Society Group We Will Meet When the Danger is Over – a hymn John Bell has written a hymn relating to the current situation. Words, score and a video are all available to use freely so long as they are properly credited. Details here: We will meet when the danger is over hymn Mission Committee At the recent Mission Committee meeting, a resolution was passed asking local churches and individuals to consider writing to their MP about the proposed annexation of large parts of the West Bank by the Israeli Government. Further details available on the URC website: https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3489-urc- urges-christians-to-oppose-west-bank-annexation.html.