Spotlight Nov/Dec 2017 Partnership Again The Diocese has formally renewed an historic “This is my first time to visit and indeed partnership with the Diocese of Sabah on the ,” Bishop Michael told the congregation, island of Borneo. The Bishops of Sabah and “and we rejoice in the bonds of friendship, Lichfield signed the accord earlier this month companionship and prayer that unite us.” while a group from Lichfield were visiting the Malaysian states (see pages 5 & 6). Bishop Melter expressed his hope that the dioceses will work together in mission, education “Personally and as a Diocese, this visit is very and post-theological training for clergy. helpful because it helps us to re-establish our friendship and fellowship with the Diocese of “I’ve been really enthused by Lichfield,” said Rt Revd Melter Tais who became the commitment, zeal and bishop of Sabah in 2015. Later in the day, the joy in the Gospel of our Bishop Michael was the guest preacher at a Anglican brothers and sisters service of Confirmation at St Andrew’s Cathedral in this part of the world. in the capital of Sabah, . The excitement has been tangible,” said Bishop “We used to have this link before and I really Michael. thank God for this opportunity to have Bishop Michael speak to our people from the word of Lichfield Diocese God,” he continued. already enjoys missionary partnerships with the Dioceses Bishop Michael presented the of , West Malaysia and Bishop of Sabah, in the same region. Rt Revd Melter Tais, with a plate from the The next formal expression of the partnership is Staffordshire potteries to anticipated in July 2018 when, along with other commemorate dioceses from South East Asia, representatives their meeting. from Sabah will be joining a week-long series of events in Lichfield Diocese joining with parishes to focus on discipleship.

A video about the partnership can be viewed at www.lichfield.anglican.org/companion_links

The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country God With Us Wowing with worship Churches and Primary school pupils were plunged into the worship within congregations are being beauty of the Peak District at the start of one our schools. In a encouraged to get of the Diocese’s new mission initiatives. world of change involved with this year’s and fast pace #GodWithUs Christmas The 24-hour residential this ‘grounding’ campaign. retreat at Dovedale opportunity for our House was the first in a next generation #GodWithus follows series for those in Church is inspiring and the success of 2016’s schools in the Stafford essential.” #JoyToTheWorld national Episcopal Area aimed to Church of England put the ‘Wow!’ factor into The Bishop initiative which included worship. of Stafford information on over Geoff Annas, who also took part, said: “The 1,300 Christmas services Twenty-five children programme encourages children to experience in Lichfield Diocese. from four primary things they may not normally come across schools descended on - such as the beautiful vastness of Dovedale Local churches can join in this year by Three videos that tell the story of the joy of Dovedale for a packed and a candlelit service - as well as fulfilling uploading their Christmas events to www. going to church at Christmas will be also programme which curriculum requirements. Local clergy and lay achurchnearyou.com which is about to be released throughout December on Facebook, included high-energy teams come along and can then work with relaunched with many new features. Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. games, craft activities, young people from the retreat in the science experiments, prayer planning of school assemblies and They can also take advantage of Your Christmas Archbishop Justin Welby said: “The constant stations, a midnight walk worship.” Journey, a series of 13 short reflections refrain of Christmas, in carols and readings, is (at 7.30pm!), a prayer throughout that God is with us. In whatever situations you labyrinth and a candlelight The Lighthouse Project in Bucknall, December and find yourselves this Christmas, God is with you Taize service at Ilam a community programme between January. Written – you only need to turn to him and ask to know Church. Youngsters were church and school, and the by soul [food] for his presence.” encouraged to prepare Connect2 missional community at people who are creative worship using art, Brown Edge School are also part of new to faith and Meanwhile, Cathedral Illuminated returns to music, poetry, and drama. the mission initiative - one of four to help us grow in Lichfield Cathedral from Monday 18 December across the Diocese launched last our love of God, to Saturday 23 December (excluding Thursday The retreats aim to provide May at the Come Follow Christ: First the messages 21st) for ‘Star Of Wonder, Star Of Light’. a positive experience for Steps event. can be received pupils and school staff and as texts, emails, Presenting the nativity story in mesmerising to mix schools from rural, on social media images and sounds, the projections will move town and inner city settings. Local clergy and and through a visitors on a journey around Cathedral Close lay teams who have links with the schools are new booklet. Sign and into the building itself where there will also invited to take part. Nine retreats are planned up by texting be readings at the crib, the annual Christmas over the next three years involving primary, GodWithUs to Tree Festival and a Star installation. middle and secondary schools. 88802 (Standard network rates Tickets can be purchased from The Shop at Alison Evans, a teacher at All Saints School in apply). No.9 or at www.lichfield-cathedral.org Rangemore, said: “Thank you for this amazing opportunity. Not only have the children More information and resources for churches, including posters, to share been spiritually uplifted, but also staff have your Christmas services are available at www.churchofengland.org/christmas been renewed and inspired to rejuvenate our

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The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country Heart-level connections Enabling Advice “Do we want people with dementia in our he saying?’ A new Enabling services? It may mean doing things differently,” It’s important Church Advisor will says Dementia-Enabler Sarah Thorpe. that people help parishes across recognise the Diocese remove ”For people affected by dementia, patterns dementia as barriers to people change and church families need to be flexible. a progressive with impairments A day-conference on dementia-friendly worship disease of the or disabilities fully looked at simple steps churches can take. brain, so Pat’s entering into local sister can be church life. “Pat Jones talked about going to a village included as church near Telford with her sister who she is. The Revd Zoe has dementia. A friendly greeting and Heming was licensed clear communication of hymn numbers or “Our in the half-time role instructions to stand, sit or kneel are welcomed. conference by the Bishop of A little slower can be enormously helpful; Pat’s explored lots Lichfield at a special sister joins in the Lord’s Prayer but is often only of possibilities. Singing touches the soul when service at St Andrews half-way through when everyone has finished. words connect less – including in residential Church in Aston, in Communion can be a challenge. When she homes. And we are excited to see how Newport, Shropshire, receives a blessing from the priest, Pat’s sister Godly Play can be used effectively with older where Zoe will spend the other half of her time how to practice my faith without causing treats it as a personal gift, tries to hold his hand generations. As to the spirituality of dementia, serving as vicar. more pain. Like many in all our parishes, I and says ‘thank you’. The running commentary the move from independence to dependence is would stay home rather than seem ‘irreverent’ can be difficult: ‘Why’s he doing that? What’s a move into relationship and community, into Zoe, who often uses a wheelchair due to chronic during worship which had a huge impact on the dance of the Trinity. pain, was previously the Curate of Hodnet my faith. The Bible is full of stories of God Deanery in north Shropshire. As well as being ‘enabling’ people to understand and embrace “It’s a journey from the head to the heart a regular panellist on the Diocese’s weekly TGI their own weakness. There are so many simple, that moves us from believing to belonging. Monday online chat show, she is a member inexpensive ways to worship together and When we can’t reliably remember of General Synod and has spoken and written embrace one another’s gifts to make sure that information, a heart-level connection comes extensively no-one is isolated from church life or left feeling Zoe’s appointment follows the from being valued. Maya Angelou says: commissioning of new Diocesan Advisor on how like a ‘bad Christian’.” ‘People will forget what you said, people will to the Deaf Church, the Revd Susan the Church Myatt, as reported in the last edition of forget what you did, but people will never Spotlight urgently needs Bishop Michael added: “Everybody has a place forget how you made them feel.’ to notice who at the table of God and we need to do what is we exclude best to ensure or church buildings and the way “We’re encouraging churches to identify from church we organise our worship are open to all. This three steps over the next year to become life and how may lead us to change some of the ways that more dementia-friendly. Let’s find things this ‘disables’ we think and behave. that are a real fit for your church and our churches that enable you to have the nationally- from being a “These are our brothers and sisters, faithful recognised ‘working to become dementia healthy ‘Body Christians, and we need to make sure they friendly’ logo.” of Christ’. are part of who we are. Any of us may have the experience of being disabled in different For more information and support contact your Dementia Enabler: Zoe said: ways at different times in our lives and BLACK COUNTRY Revd Dr David Primrose [email protected] 07975 644044 “When I Zoe’s appointment is one way of enriching NORTHERN SHROPSHIRE Sarah Thorpe [email protected] 07982 248949 became ill, I and supporting each other as part of our STAFFORDSHIRE Revd Mike Bridgewater [email protected] 07531 105853 didn’t know discipleship together.”

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The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country “It was mind-blowing to realise how vast the “One of the best things I experienced is visiting the Orang Asli people in their home. Unlike Province of South East Asia is: three dioceses cover All at SE Asia most of the people we’ve met, we had no shared culture other than the language of smiling Malaysia and then the Bishop of Singapore said it’ll but knowing we had a shared experience of our faith. That’s been really poignant for me - take 12 hours to fly from one tip of his diocese to just being as far culturally as we can get from home and yet having that shared faith in Jesus. the other as it comprise seven deaneries, each one a country - Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand

and Indonesia! Equally impressive is the missionary West Malaysia ota inabalu “In talking to the young people and experiencing a bit of the youth culture here, I’ve noticed Penang enthusiasm and the intense energy going into Terrengganu Sabah one similarity and one difference. I’ve been really aware of the privilege we have in the UK - I Ipoh can go into a school assembly and speak to 2-300 young people. I think I may have taken it reaching people in countries where authorites are Kuching a little bit for granted - you just can’t do that here. The similarity is that I’ve seen different hostile to Christian faith. They are asking in Sabah uala Lumpur churches prioritise young people differently: some where young people are front and centre and Indonesia for English-speaking teachers to work Singapore in church schools and gently show the love of God of ministry and others where they’re just little people who will one day Indonesia Indonesia An Orang Asli house through not words but actions. - Sumatra - Borneo church meeting grow up to be responsible members of church.” Hannah Moore - leader, Shrewsbury Youth for (above). Former St “The other thing that was fantastic was flying up to Chads Volunteers A new school being built by the Christopher Soe and Christ Penang and meeting people from St Paul’s Church. A team from across the Diocese spent a Anglican church in Batam (just Andrew Soon guiding Just two weeks before we welcomed Peter Ooi, a St south of Singapore) with the fortnight in SE Asia in October supporting the team through a overseeing pastor, Revd Henok Chad’s Volunteer from there to my home church. street breakfast in Bishop Michael in strengthening the links Hariyanto. To meet the pastor, Ven Stephen Soe and some A gathering of St Chad’s Penang (right). with our companion dioceses there. Volunteers past and future in of Peter’s friends was fabulous - making Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, friends, meeting again past Volunteers The visit included time in all the dioceses of along with Bishop Michael and the who know the places I know and hopefully archbishop of SE Asia, Most Revd making and building a connection between the Province of SE Asia - Singapore, West Ng Moon Hing. those two churches - I’m really looking Malaysia, Kuching and Sabah. Here are some forward to see that link grow.” reflections. Simon Jones - Diocesan Communications Team “The most interesting thing is talking to Christians in Malaysia, living in an Islamic country and relating that to Christians in the UK living in a secular society. Those in Malaysia feel somewhat pressurised by the “I found Cozy Home very interesting. James state and I think, to a certain extent Christians do in Chee had a passion for older people and the UK, we feel we can’t express our Christianity as where they would live after retirement - openly as we’d like. The difference is that in Malaysia somewhere of a certain standard. He was if you do evangelise, you get arrested.” very direct and said, ‘This place will not smell, Steve Deall - curate, Great Haywood must be clean...’ and he was right. He made “It’s been an amazing experience. I was so enthusiastic sure people are well cared for, food of a high about going partly because I’d been to other parts of standard, prepared fresh. Bits of that we Malaysia but never to the east coast myself. could take back to my own parish.

“The communities were very different there. In “What struck me about St Nicholas Home Terrengannau they felt to us as though they’d got their James Chee demonstrating was also the respect, caring for the blind backs to the wall. It was tough being Christians in a very physio equipment at St Mark’s of all ages. It was wonderful to see how the Cozy Home (above). Carl on hostile environment because of the political, social and carers treated the children in the kindergarten legal pressure on them from a Muslim community of the receiving end of a trainee massage (below). - it was like they were their own parents. Adults were learning skills about 98%.” to enable them to live and work - making them computer litererate, Michael Carding - St Chad’s Volunteer Programme able to cook, to cook and to do massage. I’m up for anything and they coordinator wanted to practice on me - that was wonderful! We saw hosts of bikes, Steve & Gill meeting tandems, so they could have the experience and feel of the whole thing. students in Terenganau. “The sense was of a Chinese community in an “When we had lunch at St Paul’s church in Petaling Jaya, we were enclave and they’d feel frightened if they lived anywhere but those two streets. served by people with learning difficulties being helped to become But the ministry they’re doing with university students was inspiring - they find independent. Then they sang for us and I coudn’t keep back the ways round so many restrictions to reach out and share the gospel. It’s quite emotions - they were so joyous and thankful. For me what undergirded sobering how luke-warm we can be and yet how they still reach out to Chinese all of that was the respect given to the people in all three cases. It’ll students. The fervour of some of those young people is so encouraging. The really stay with me for life, it really was the Gospel on challenges are very different between the two countries.” legs.” Gill Carding - Reader, St Giles’ Shrewsbury Read and watch more online Revd Preb Carl Ramsey, vicar of Pelsall More at lichfield.anglican.org/companion_links/

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The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country Next Steps

People across the Diocese have been having their say on the Next Steps of our journey How people in our Diocese are responding How people in our Diocese are seeking to “A new housing estate is very likely to be together. to God’s call on their lives: share the Good News of Christ with others: built in the next five years. We are exploring what that might mean as the church will After the launch of the “We are considering a gifts audit as we “Pop Up Coffee sessions have been geographically change from being on the edge Diocese’s new direction continue to encourage each other to engage successful with support from members of of the community to becoming central.” of travel to ‘Come follow with the contexts God has placed us in and the congregation which has enabled us to Burntwood Chase Team. Christ in the footsteps the gifts God has given us.” welcome people from the local community of St Chad’ in May, a All Saints, Wellington, with St Catherine’s into the church building.” Representatives of the ‘Church and Church conversation started about Eyton. St Stephen, Wolverhampton. School Together in Worship Mission’ missional project in the Stafford Episcopal how we can focus on the Area being introduced and commissioned key areas of discipleship, “Forget Me Not - responding to people with “Open The Book, Messy Church, Carols by at the First Steps event in May. vocation and evangelism dementia and their carers.” Candlelight, invites to all local farmers at over the next five years. St Andrew’s, Shifnal. harvest with the opportunity to request prayer for their livelihoods.” Letters were sent to parishes, chaplaincies and “We have made encouraging vocation a St Thomas, Mow Cop. youth workers asking them to share stories, priority on the church’s mission action plan hopes and plans about discipleship, vocation for this year.” “We pray regularly for the streets around our and evangelism. Here are some examples of the St Bartholemew’s, Penn. church. Our vision is to see St Paul’s buzzing feedback so far. with life - and opportunities to naturally share our faith coming from that.” St Paul’s, Burslem.

“We have just developed a new mission statement based on the Diocesan direction of travel – so every-member ministry is on our agenda.” Wrockwardine Deanery Team Ministry.

“Building on our links with local schools and starting to build a team for this... Serving the community and demonstrating the love of God How people in our Diocese are seeking to in practical ways such as litter picks, collecting follow Christ as disciples: “We are going to be putting into place school uniforms to pass to struggling families, follow-up from doing the LICC ‘Whole toy library and visiting team.” “Working with a group of younger parents Life Worship’ course for all of use on our St Matthews, Wolverhampton. on the fringe of church to develop faith and frontlines.” commitment.” Christ Church, Bayston Hill. The day after St Chad’s Day, on Saturday 3 Community of St Chad and include an update St Mary’s, Sheriffhales. March 2018 at 11am, Bishop Michael invites on our journey of discipleship, vocation and “Members of the church have visited and everyone to a Next Steps Celebration service evangelism including the four mission projects “Two ‘discipleship huddles’ offering intensive worked on teams with New Beginnings in at Lichfield Cathedral. It will feature the that were commissioned last May. discipleship to potential leaders, equipping Uganda, and the church financially supports them to be disciples who make disciples.” and prayers for this ministry.” Have your say by filling out a simple survey before 30 November at www.lichfield.anglican. St Matthews, Wolverhampton. The Church At Perton. org/next_steps/ where there are also liturgies, postcards and other resources to help you consider discipleship, vocation and evangelism in your local context.

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The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country Pedalling music for 75 years God is now here A Stoke-on-Trent church organist has been that allows me to go and sit in the congregation An atheist was writing an article for Christmas from within. In Charles Wesley’s carol, ‘Hark pulling out the stops for an incredible 75 years. during the worship with Dorothy before I get to prove that God did not exist. He wanted to the herald Angels sing’, we sing the lines: back up to play again.” finish his article with the sentence: ‘God is ‘Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Philip Harrison’s first service as an organist nowhere!’ Unfortunately, the sub editors made Emmanuel’. Take away the traditional ‘man’ was in 1947 at St Luke’s Church in Hanley as a Keen on football, cricket and golf, Philip has a mistake with his copy and so the final language and we see that God delights to be “petrified” 14-year-old. Since then, the 90-year- been a season ticket holder at Stoke City for sentence of his article stated: ‘God is now here!’ human alongside human beings. This carol old has played at thousands of weddings, four decades and won the club’s Supporter of tells of a God who does not have to be lured funerals and other services across the diocese. the Year trophy last year. This is the heart of the Christmas good news. down from heaven by us being very polite to We celebrate that God came to us in human him or behaving extra well. We are dealing with Philip worked as an accountant at the former Vicar of Trentham, the Revd Adrian Stone, form, as a vulnerable baby to a young woman a God who can’t help pouring himself out for Shelton, Iron Steel and Coal Company and then said: “Philip is a great musician and loves to called Mary. In very ordinary circumstances, the world that he has made. This is a God who as a music teacher. He moved to St Mary and encourage everyone to sing. He has a deep love Jesus was born in a particular place – the small doesn’t have to be persuaded to be interested All Saints in Trentham in 1958 where he remains of church music and a heart to serve the Lord. town of Bethlehem on the edge of the Roman in us. the organist today. BBC Radio Stoke broadcast Recently, I took a funeral for a local family and a Empire and at a specific time – when Augustus a special event to mark the 75-year milestone couple of the visitors came to tell me that they was Emperor. St John says: ‘the Word became Perhaps a This is a God who from the church earlier this year. were married here 40 years ago. I pointed to flesh and dwelt among us’. St Matthew retells first practical Philip and explained: ‘There is the organist who the words of the prophet: ‘the virgin shall exercise in doesn’t have to be Philip played at the wedding of his daughter played at your wedding!’” conceive and bear a son and they shall name prayer is to persuaded to be and had to, temporarily, leave his console him Emmanuel’ which means ‘God is with us’. approach to give her away before God is now here. God with interested in us resuming his position this in mind: behind the keys. he is interested in us. Christmas teaches us to dispel the idea that God is essentially bored “I love playing the organ,” with us, rather removed from us and always in he said. “Whenever I go need of being kept sweet. He does not have to on holiday with my wife be persuaded to be on our side. As a former Dorothy I always contact the Archbishop of Canterbury said, ‘You might as local cathedral in advance well try to persuade a waterfall to be wet.’ to make an appointment for ten minutes or so to play In Bethlehem, God comes to us in the their organ. weakness of a baby. A lifetime later, at Calvary, he appeals to us in the helplessness of a man “My favourite service is nailed to a cross. In Jesus, God beckons to the Wednesday morning us not by force or command but in communion in Trentham as solidarity and by identifying with us. He

there is a 15-minute break Photo courtesy Stoke Sentinel For many this is unbelievable. Surely if God was longs for us to recognise him and go to him. to reveal himself to us he would just rend the heavens and come down. Indeed, a philosopher God is now here. He values our humanity From the Editor Diocese as thousands of people hear afresh said: ‘some people seem to think that it would beyond all imagining. He shares our struggles Welcome to the last edition of the good news that God is with us. There are help if one day there was a large banner as well as our joys. ‘Pleased as man with man Spotlight for 2017. Advent is a busy plenty of resources available to help you in this displayed in the sky saying, ‘I’m up here, you to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.’ God is with us. time for parishes, schools, fresh (see p2). Have a wonder-filled Christmas and a idiots.’ God is for us. May you know the blessing of his expressions and chaplaincies fantastic New Year! presence this Christmas. the length and breadth of the Pete Bate, Director of Communications However, God seems to work not by breaking +Mark into the world but by embracing the world December 2017

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The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country in the footsteps of St Chad in the footsteps of Come follow Christ St John’s in the Square, Wolverhampton Thursday 14 December 6.30-8.30pm - support of Alzheimer’s Society Carols, festive treats and celebrity guests in Dementia-friendly Carol Concert [email protected] Let us know about your events by email to visit lichfield.anglican.org/events events in the Diocese,For a full listing of

booking via shallowfordhouse.org / 01785 760233 Each runs 10am-4pm, includes a 2-course lunch. Costs £21.50: Led by Revd Mark Rodel, parish priest and faith coach. ‘Knowledge Speaks, Wisdom listens’ - Monday 4 December Led by Revd Stephanie Couvela, chaplain at Keele University ‘Between the times’ - Friday 1 December Advent Quiet Days @ Shallowford House

Shop or lichfield-cathedral.org 7pm. Tickets from the Cathedral December (excluding 21st), from Monday 18 -Saturday 23 inside the Cathedral. images and sounds outside nativity story in mesmerising Illuminate will present the The award-winning Cathedral Star of Wonder, Light lichfield.anglican.org/rng-labs Stafford 10am-4pm, Thursday 25 January parishes. to explore the issues faced by An opportunity for all to begin Ministry: An RNG Lab Youth, Children’s and Families Developing Sustainable DIARY

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