Network The magazine of the Issue 12 Autumn 2020

Synod Eco Christingle Resourceful Motion Online Leaders

www.sheffield.anglican.org www.sheffield.anglican.org 1 New 4-week Advent Course Light in the Darkness

This course aims to help us reflect, at the darkest time of the year, on our calling to be Lights for Christ. We’ll consider what that means and looks like; how that light may shine more brightly at the close of this year.

‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not grasped it.’ John 1:5

www.lightsforchrist.uk/lightinthedarkness

2 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine From the editor Welcome to the Autumn issue of Network - the Inevitably in this edition, there is a strong magazine for the Diocese of Sheffield. online focus! We take a look at how some of our churches are reaching out to our communities It is a feature-led publication showing the in different ways. The magazine is aimed at Christian faith at work in our local communities. everyone – whether a fully committed Christian, This is the first time Network has been produced a member of another faith and those of no faith in purely digital format, and is actually the first at all. We want to distribute it across parishes, formal issue of the year! Indeed, what a year local schools, community centres and more to it has been. Like many diocese’ and parishes increase the awareness of what great things we around the country our print materials have are doing as the Church of been limited and on hold. So many of the stories England in South Yorkshire of the year have been told online through and East Riding. We are the website, social media, mailings and Zoom always looking out for great sessions. We hope here, to capture some of these stories! So, if anyone would in a more traditional format. It still unclear what like to include an article in the the future holds, but we know that print is still next issue then please email the preferred tool for many and this will be kept communications@sheffield. in mind for future issues. anglican.org

LJ Buxton, Director of Strategic Communications

Contents 4 Lights for Christ Featured 8 Our Churches Online Article 11 Celebrate Christingle! Synod Agrees Eco Motion 12 Centenary Project Page 14-15 14 Synod Agrees Eco Motion 17 Resourceful Leaders 20 A growing community of prayer

www.sheffield.anglican.org 3 NEWS

Lights for Christ

As a Diocese we aim to liberate the whole people of God for the whole mission of God. As followers of Jesus we are all on this journey together. To support this aim, in October 2019, the diocese launched its Lights for Christ initiative. This is our local answer to the national ‘Setting God’s People Free’ agenda.

s God’s people in the Diocese of adapting their operations to continue to A Sheffield, we re-affirm our calling to be nourish and develop people’s spiritual lives Christ-like, living as lights for Christ in our and to reach out to communities in need. everyday lives by: Platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and • Receiving the light of Christ as his Zoom have become the go-to place for friends; church communities to share in prayer, • Walking in the light of Christ as his worship, discipleship and social time. followers; These are playing out in a public sphere • Reflecting the light of Christ to those with parishes who may normally have 15- around us. 20 congregation members on a Sunday morning, noting up to 50 joining in with a Times have changed a little in the last 12 Facebook Live service. months, and the Lights for Christ team has been reflecting on implications for Lights In March, we witnessed the 2025 Prayer for Christ and the Covid 19 pandemic. Community grow by 52%. This is exciting. People are looking for answers and seeking While our churches have been closed, the prayer. People are reaching out to their message from the has communities. Is this just an immediate been clear: our buildings may be closed response or will it continue post Covid-19? but the church is not! Church communities across the diocese have been evolving and The challenge will be to keep it going.

4 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine NEWS

It is not all online. With isolated and have been communities having needs working with local food like never before, the church donations to deliver food has stepped in to help. parcels to 30-50 households per week. Some churches, The Revd Andy Poultney, like All Saints Woodlands, Pioneer Priest at St Paul’s, have also set up a telephone Wordsworth Avenue, Parson service to listen to sermons Cross has combined with a for those that cannot access local shopkeeper to support other technology. vulnerable members of the community with free food There is still much reflection and deliveries. and learning to be done. The Lights for Christ This has been a common initiative has not quite theme with the Revd Alun followed the plan that we It still feels too early to tell Price at Balby adapting had for it! Some church the impact, but interest the Given Freely, Freely communities have been from non-Christians is Given scheme, to allow it forced to advance their encouraging and is creating to continue its vital service offering, but we need to a culture of invitation which through the days of social recognise that others could hasn’t been the normal distancing. be left behind as not all are culture of the church. at the same place. Similarly, Christine We must find a way to Batchford and the For now though, it seems bridge the community which Timebuilders team at the pandemic has pushed has emerged online and Rotherham Minster has been the church into the public connect this with the church collecting and distributing sphere and the lights are community. jigsaws to people that are shining brightly.

“You are the light of the world” Charity Registration number 1002026 Matthew 5:14

www.sheffield.anglican.org 5 NEWS Lights in the Darkness

Attercliffe and Darnall Centre of Mission usually hold a Lantern Festival for the community every 5th November. Due to restrictions, it wasn’t possible this year. At a local stakeholders meeting, Kinder and Gina Kalsi agreed to partner with other local groups to organise an alternative activity.

he solution was to invite Several community agencies One lady in the community Tlocal people of all ages to worked together on this encouraged the local children decorate the windows of their project including Darnall to get involved and, so far, they homes and share their photos Wellbeing, Darnall Forum, have decorated three windows on social media. Participants Galeed House and a local cafe. on the main road in Darnell. were given the theme of Light The local council provided in the Darkness and there were funding towards the packs of The Light in the Darkness prizes on offer to encourage materials and prizes. project has generated a lot of people to join in. engagement online as people sharing the posts and pictures Knowing that many in the on social media. community would not have It has been access to the resources they “ exciting to walk They are hoping to encourage would need to decorate their around the people in the community to join windows, they distributed over area spotting in with a similar project around 80 packs of materials - which Christmas; building upon also included information the window the connections made with about the Centre of Mission decorations. their neighbours and other and other local groups. ” community groups.

6 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine NEWS The Rambling Rector

When lockdown came along, and churches had to shut, the FAB Parish looked for an alternative way to bring people together.

hey decided on a two- This was very well received, Tpronged approach - digitally and they became aware that and analogue. For those with the printed material was being access to the internet, a weekly shared around, both locally service was held over Zoom. and nationally, whilst the However, not everyone had digital version of it was going this access, so those without international! Enjoying Church at home received a weekly magazine- style publication though the Alongside the digital meetings, home could see and hear too. post: dubbed the ‘Rambling they offered a helpline to This combined service has Rector’. enable even the most fearful worked amazingly well, of technology to join in. The with the number of those The Rambling Rector included Zoom platform was chosen participating in this worship Sunday’s Bible reading, and a because it allows interaction, being above the usual Sunday reflection. This same reflection and so different people attendance. would be shared live on the took on the Bible readings digital platform. In addition, and intersessions, and the The next challenge will be the they collated good news stories preachers took turns as well. upcoming Zoom Christingle and photos from the local area, They also included a section for Service. Activity packs will be school, and parishioners, and sharing good news stories. made available for anyone who included those, along with wants to join in, and they will prayers points, some cartoons When the lockdown was eased, build the Christingles together and crosswords. they couldn’t fit everyone over Zoom! back in the building due to “People seemed to particularly the social distancing rules, so “We’d all prefer to gather enjoy ‘Rectory Secrets’ where they continued to use Zoom to physically, but using the each week I divulged a fictitious connect people in the building traditional paper publication secret - such as the passage with people at home. Using and the digital Zoom services from my wardrobe at home a video projector, a speaker have provided much-needed which comes out in the choir system and an iPad, they were worship, hope, and company robe wardrobe in church!” able to ensure that those in for so many people, many of - Revd Neil Redeyoff, Rector the church could hear and see which were outside our usual those at home, and everyone at church ‘catchment’.”

www.sheffield.anglican.org 7 FEATURE Our Churches Online

As Churches were forced online during lockdown, many people worldwide felt that this presented a new opportunity to be incarnational in both online and offline worlds that shouldn’t be missed.

he Diocese conducted Online in the Future A key need in taking online Ta survey to assess the ministry and mission forward involvement of our churches, 72 parishes are planning to as churches reopen is the their desire to continue in this maintain an online aspect to presence of teams to shoulder mix-line mode and the need their mission and ministry the burden. 18 churches said for resourcing. with a further 6 undecided. Of they needed help to develop those carrying on with 54 of a team while 24 didn’t have a We were encouraged to those citing public worship, 13 team for this purpose. receive 121 responses from 101 Mid-week services, 17 enquirers parishes. Here’s a summary of courses, 18 discipleship and 24 What’s next? what we found out. governance, 53 of our parishes cited multiple online activities. The parishes of our Diocese Activities in Lockdown responded very well to the Resourcing needs lockdown crisis in supporting All parishes reported providing their church family and support services to their Of those intending to carry on, the local community. They church community and 99 only 3 parishes did not require responded to the closure to their wider community any additional equipment of their church buildings by with 88 supporting other with 39 citing laptops, 40 maintaining contact with their community initiatives. 85 portable webcams, 39 fixed church family and this was parishes provided some online webcams and 38 microphones. overwhelmingly done online. activity, of those 16 that didn’t, 31 parishes asked for help in the biggest reason was ‘lack choosing equipment. Looking to the future, the of demand’, and of those 9 majority of parishes who have churches said they wouldn’t Training was needed by 62 of responded wish to maintain an consider going online in the the parishes intending to carry online presence for ministry future for lack of skills. on with 42 needing help with and mission. Although they will video skills, 26 audio skills, 35 need a lot of support for this, 2/3 of parishes said they with software platforms, 34 we have begun to identify what thought more than 50% of social media and 43 training resources will be required to their people had engaged in aspects of governance e.g. provide it. online during lockdown. licencing, safeguarding etc.

8 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine NEWS A Memorial Service Without a Service

The Parish of Great Snaith organised a Memorial Service in the midst of social distancing restrictions.

hey sent invitations to those and showed people to seats, the two hours, most were from Twho had lost a loved one whilst another person lit the beyond the regular church during the year; asking people tea lights on behalf of the congregations, and from to specify a time slot so that families. The organist played younger age groups than the they wouldn’t all arrive at once. quietly too. They provided usual attendees. Included with the letter, was prayers and readings on a not- a red heart that people could a-Service Sheet and offered “It was surprising how write the name of their loved Pocket Prayers of Comfort much people appreciated one on. On a Sunday afternoon booklets to people as they left. spending time in the building, at the Priory, the church was Over 40 people attended over enjoying the peace, using set up with candles on an altar, the prayers and readings as blobs of Blu-Tack to attach the well as engaging with the hearts, and laminated signs candle lighting and message on the seats so that different writing activities. We could people would not sit in the tell that they appreciated same place. the opportunity as they left generous amounts of cash on To adhere to the restrictions, the collection plates left out!” one person welcomed people, - Revd Diane Ryan explained what was happening Memorial Service Keeping Sunday Connected

e are offering churches in the Diocese of People live large parts of their lives online and WSheffield the opportunity to apply for a this grant will help you to connect with them grant of up to £500 to help them to purchase and develop and sustain our online presence. An equipment to maintain and develop online online presence is a particularly effective way of Mission and Ministry. connecting with younger generations.

Find out more: https://www.stpeterscollege.org.uk/keeping-sunday-connected

www.sheffield.anglican.org 9 God of comfort and joy, may we know your presence with us today and bring your gentle, joyful love to others, this Christmas and always. Amen.

#ComfortAndJoy is the Church of England’s 2020 Advent and Christmas campaign. Find out more and explore free online services, reflections and other resources at churchofengland.org/ComfortAndJoy

10 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine FEATURE Celebrate Christingle!

The Children’s Society has been encouraging churches to use the simple Christingle service since 1968, and this year is no exception. A Christingle celebration is a joyful event that brings families and communities together to share the light of Jesus and spread a message of hope.

There’s no one way to celebrate Christingle. From Window displays. Encourage families to create large gatherings in churches and schools to a Lights for Christ or Christingle window display intimate events online, outdoors and sometimes to encourage others and share hope. You could even in forests. People typically sing Christmas even decorate your home as a Christingle! carols, come together in prayer and have fun. Messy Christingle. You can find an outline for This year, Parishes across the Diocese have been this here: https://shop.childrenssociety.org.uk/ encouraged to take their Christingle services christingle-50-messychurch.html online. Here are some ways to join in: Don’t worry if you can’t get to a local Christingle Zoom has been a great tool for getting together service. On Sunday 13th December, you’re online and would be great for your Christingle invited to feel the magic of Christingle on a celebration. You might also use Facebook Live or grand scale, by joining the Church of England YouTube Live. National Christingle service for The Children’s Society online. The service will be streamed onto Christingle goodie bags. Could you put together Facebook and YouTube. enough special Christingle bags for the families you connect with to help them engage with your Find out more at this website: online celebration? You could include everything www.churchofengland.org/ComfortAndJoy they need to make their own Christingle alongside some activity sheets, treats, collection envelope/box etc. You could then refer to these things as you go through your service online.

Online scavenger hunt. If you’re not able to provide goodie bags, why not ask families to hunt around their home during the service to find something that represents each part of the Christingle? For example, instead of candles, what represents hope to them? Or for the sweets and fruit, what represents God’s creations to them? It’s a fun way for children to think about what Christingle means.

www.sheffield.anglican.org 11 NEWS Centenary Project

2020 has certainly been a learning curve for our Centenary Project workers supporting parishes across the Diocese to deliver youth, children’s and families’ work. The CP workers have had to adapt and be creative in how they engage, nurture and disciple and find new ways of making connections.

ut things certainly haven’t stopped. During ‘Kids’ Church LIVE’ videos via Facebook too. Bthe height of lockdown, between April and Rachael said “I had to step out of my comfort June, our workers ran 225 youth, children’s and zone and sing live on the internet! I’d never families’ work online sessions across 30 different normally sing knowing others can hear me. We groups. Over 350 videos and 100 resources were have had lots of views on the videos and that’s created and shared on social media reaching encouraging for me. Having spoken to some of 165,000 people. The Centenary Project workers my regular families, they are appreciating the have supported their communities through craft packs and videos that I am making.” delivering packages of food, clothing and medicines as well as the delivery of over 1000 Cuppa in the car park - Steph Messy Church packs. As soon as it was safe to do so, our CPW in Here are some of the highlights from 2020: Bentley, Steph, and her team at St Peter’s were out giving away cups of tea and coffee and Online Groups - Rachael chatting to local people and school parents. They’re able to make connections and share Most of our workers have turned to social media the Good News with people in their community. and Zoom to stay in touch. Rachael started as Steph says: “We do it to share Jesus love with our Centenary Project Worker at St John’s, Goole community. Being Jesus hands and feet, blessing at the end of 2019 so had only been in post others through our free hot drinks! It’s great for a few months before the spring lockdown. to be church in the community, especially since Rachael had launched a Sunday group and it has Covid, people really want to talk.” continued to run online. She streams a weekly Staycation Summer Club - Rachel R.

Holiday activities are an important part of lots of the CP workers’ roles and are great support to families outside of term time. This year Rachel, CPW at St Lawrence, Hatfield, ran a socially distanced ‘Staycation Summer Club’. Fifty children signed up in advance and were sent holiday club packs filled with activities. Many more children joined in online, receiving Rachael streaming to Facebook video messages, podcasts and activities to do at 12 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine NEWS

home and in the village. Rachel set up a flag trail Nothing the Centenary Project Workers have around Hatfield and a prayer path around the done this year, could have been done alone. church too. Children and families were excited They have all been supported by the incredible to take part and Rachel made some great parish teams and volunteers that they work connections. You can watch a video of Rachel with, who have all quickly adapted to new ways talking more about the holiday club on the CP of working. The support networks provided YouTube channel. by the Centenary Project for our workers have been more important than ever this year as they Work in schools - Beth have relied on each other; sharing ideas with one another, praying together and receiving Most of the Centenary Project workers are regular mentoring. involved with their local schools and with the lockdown and restrictions on access to schools they’ve had to be even more creative this year.

Beth joined as CPW at St Leonard’s Thrybergh in January and has worked hard to make connections with two primary schools and she regularly delivers sessions. Beth shares “I have been privileged to have been able to go into two wonderful schools to deliver collective worship Cuppa in the car park and Godly Play in class bubbles. It is such a joy to see how the children have developed confidence in expressing their thoughts and We’ve all learnt an incredible amount this year reflections. It always makes me so happy when I and our workers have shown their fortitude walk through the classroom doors to be greeted and resilience in the face of really difficult by children.” circumstances. Many of the new ways of working will probably continue for some time Beth has to abide by strict Covid restrictions yet, but our workers are very much looking including wearing a face visor and staying forward to getting back to face-to-face sessions behind a taped line to keep a Covid safe supporting children, young people and families distance from the children. across the Diocese. Aurora Authorisations

s many areas across our Diocese, the Aurora In September, we had a wonderful celebration on ACourse is continuing completely online and Zoom for our 10 Children’s and Youth Ministers working well. who were Authorised by Bishop Sophie. You can catch up with a video of the Aurora and St There are 11 students on the Children’s Ministry Peter’s College Authorisations on the Diocese of Training course, and 9 students on the Youth Sheffield YouTube channel. Ministry Training course. These students are mainly from outside the diocese this time Unfortunately, we have had to cancel Breathe round, but some from inside and some from our Deep in 2021, but our Joined Up Conference is Centenary Project. still set to go ahead on 6th March 2021.

www.sheffield.anglican.org 13 FEATURE

Walking in the light of Christ towards a greener future

Dr Cathy Rhodes, Diocesan Environment Officer

The Church of England has called for the whole And what does the LORD Church to pray, speak and act prophetically require of you? To act justly on environmental issues which threaten the “ and to love mercy and to flourishing of the whole of creation. General walk humbly with your God. Synod voted in February 2020 to reach net Micah 6:8 zero emissions of carbon dioxide and other - greenhouse gases by 2030. For the Diocese of Sheffield this means working together to reduce t our Diocesan Development Day on ” the carbon footprint of churches, clergy housing, A10th October, the environmentalist and voluntary aided schools, diocesan academy theologian Ruth Valerio quoted this verse to trusts, theological education, work-related travel challenge us to respond to the climate and and Church House. A net zero carbon steering ecological crisis facing our planet. She urged group chaired by Bishop will co- us to act justly for the sake of people living in ordinate this work. poverty, and for the sake of the earth and all living things which are precious to God. We At Diocesan Synod on 28th November, a motion must respond for our own sake as our wellbeing was carried to; is linked to that of the wider world, and • declare a climate and ecological emergency, ultimately for God’s sake. The threads of mercy, • support the 2020 General Synod motion for social justice and climate care are part of the all parts of the Church to reach ‘Net Zero’ unbreakable link between God, people and the carbon emissions by 2030, earth. • request the Diocesan Environment Working Group to produce a detailed updated Environment and Climate Justice Policy, • and commit to the A Rocha UK Eco Church and Eco Diocese programme.

Our government has already declared a climate emergency and so has Sheffield Council, who are aiming to be a zero-carbon city by 2030.

Twenty-two diocesan synods have carried or are planning to debate a net-zero motion, and 23 have registered or planned to register as an Eco Diocese (Church Times, 6/11/20). Eco Church is A Rocha UK’s award scheme

14 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine Wildflowers left unmown at St John’s Church, Ranmoor

So by declaring a climate emergency and Bronze, Silver and Gold awards are based on registering as an Eco Diocese we are joining a survey results. growing movement for change. As people of hope and with the help of God, we pray God will Sheffield is a registered Eco Diocese, aiming for bless us in this work as we walk in the Light of a Bronze award. This requires 21 churches (10%) Christ towards a greener future. to register with the scheme: currently we have 16 registered. Ten churches (5%) & Church House What is Eco Church? will need an Eco Church award: currently we have six awards. Eco Church is a web-based award scheme organised by A Rocha UK This Christian charity Embedding environmental issues in ministerial has a vision for all churches to care for creation education, celebrating local initiatives, an as an integral part of loving our neighbours environmental policy, ethical investments, and and following God faithfully, working with local working with other Dioceses/faith groups are communities for a more sustainable future. other requirements.

A free online survey and supporting resources at There will be an Eco Church event at Sheffield https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk help the church Cathedral on 12 June, 2021 so please save the express care for God’s world in worship and date! teaching, looking after buildings and land, and congregational lifestyles. Engaging with the local For further information about issues in community and in global campaigns is part of this article please email Cathy Rhodes at Eco Church and includes toilet twinning. [email protected].

www.sheffield.anglican.org 15 NEWS Virtue of the Virtual

An academy trust has established classes in a classroom with no walls, windows or doors. This classroom is 100% online.

mong its raft of provision for children or Steve Poole commented: “They are my class. I Astaff who are isolating due to coronavirus, have to learn quickly what they can and can’t the Diocese of Sheffield Academies Trust do, but the moment they are with me they are (DSAT) has come up with an innovative way of as much my class as if I was stood up in front of providing five hours of teaching to all students them.” who need to access remote learning. The diet of teaching includes live zoom, live feedback and Alison Adair, Head of School Improvement for independent learning. the Diocese of Sheffield Academies Trust and a National Leader of Education commented: The trust of 15 schools has devised a Virtual “It has resulted in children learning, parents Teacher programme, employing an experienced thankful, staff with a reduced workload. Our teacher to teach online, live lessons to anyone referral systems for the programme are tightly who has to self-isolate. Being dedicated to this documented, so that Steve is able to find the task, teacher Steve Poole is able to get to know information he needs to plan linked learning, the children and to figure out some of the skills ensuring continuity of provision.” that are specific to this unique form of teaching. The programme has created quite a buzz The trust is ensuring that live, relevant, first amongst parents in the trust. quality teaching takes place for those one or two pupils in every class who need to work from Andrew Waldron, CEO of DSAT commented: “The home for a short while. feedback from parents has been amazing. They are delighted, and contacting us to say so and sharing the buzz about it over social media.”

The scheme has been funded from savings made by the trust on supply teacher insurance cover.

Huw Thomas, Chair of DSAT and Diocesan Director of Education for Sheffield commented: “This scheme is funded through savings made by the trust on certain costs. the saving and the service provided are examples of what academy trusts do when they work for the children.”

16 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine FEATURE Resourcing Churches, Resourceful Leaders

In May 2019, Revd Hannah Patton became the leader of St John’s Goole. By January 2020, they had already established relationships in the community, ran a few Alpha Courses and even begun an informal service on a Sunday morning.

ith support from Diocesan that they didn’t realise how in person. However, there are WResourcing Churches “normal” and “approachable” some benefits to holding online Buildings Officer, Zoe Kemp, they were until now. These meetings; as they have been there were plans underway perceptions will continue to accessible to more people, and to restore and develop both be challenged as welcoming, they require less time to run. the church building and The multi-use community spaces Spire Centre to become fit for are developed both inside and As the restrictions have purpose. Then the nation went outside the church. continued, it is clear that into lockdown. God’s work has also continued In this time of social isolation, in Goole. Many people have “Looking back, the lockdown Facebook has become the new moved from the ‘fringes’ took us down a lot of roads public square. Here they have of church life into a loving that we hadn’t planned on met new people, established community and a personal going down, but none of them community groups and relationship with Jesus. Within were dead ends. We had developed friendships. The the last 6-months, Alpha always wanted to go deeper weekly service on Facebook guests have become Prayer before we go wide, so our focus Live has over 200 people Course hosts, church attendees has remained on developing engaging regularly. To their have become disciples and local relationships, encouraging surprise, a neighbour shared strangers have become friends. discipleship and equipping that she watches the video people to step into leadership. every Sunday after Antiques St John’s Goole has also You could even say that the Roadshow. received a grant from lockdown was a catalyst for Historic England, as part of this growth.” Using these digital tools has the government’s Cultural - Revd Hannah Patton opened up new opportunities. Recovery Fund. This will help Zoom has facilitated their get the chancel wind and Over the years the solid biggest Alpha Course yet. The watertight and the works are church doors had become a lack of meeting physically due to start in January. barrier to some sections of the has been a challenge; by the community. Seeing Hannah end of the course, people “We’ll never go back to the and Jonny online has started can’t wait to meet their new way things were. We’ll start to break down this barrier; friends face to face. There’s no from where we are, and move with local people commenting substitute for being together forwards.”

www.sheffield.anglican.org 17 Black History Month: A Call to Action

Black Lives Matter and the greater impact of COVID-19 on BAME (Black Asian and Minority Ethnic) heritage people have highlighted the importance of Black History Month and the need for justice and equality.

We are indebted to the Black, Asian and Minority Prophet Micah (6:8) asks, “O mortal, what is good, Ethnic Anglicans (BAMEA) Working Group who and what does the Lord require of you? To act challenge us to; justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” • Lament over our failure not only to accept our BAME brothers and sister as equals and Our challenge is to find ways of sharing love, to recognise their contribution to our society comfort, tenderness and compassion through but to accept our role in their suffering. not only words but also in acts of kindness • Pay gratitude to God and to the BAME and justice. If we are serious about making a people for all their contribution, suffering difference and to guarantee our BAME brothers and struggles in building and the and sister their rightful place in the church and progression of our history, country and the our society we must, be honest in acknowledging church. our past mistake and failures. Recognise their • Repent for our personal or corporate failure presence, acknowledge and celebrate the to recognise, accept and appreciate our contribution of our BAME members. Find ways to BAME brothers and sisters and their added hear their voices and use their experience and value to our church and the society. gifts to shape our common life. Make Intentional efforts to promote and support full participation Our conscious or unconscious bias preference at all levels. (France-William, 2020, Ghost Ship, can hold us back from accepting and promoting Institutional Racism and the Church of England, diversity and equality. St Paul encourages the SCM Press, London, page 190) church in Philippi to look beyond themselves and “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain What does diversity look like in your church, conceit. Rather, in humility value others above organisation, place of work or community? What yourselves, not looking to your own interests would lead you to action and what will you do to but each of you to the interests of the others” actively promote diversity, equality and social (Philippians 2:3-4). These words, make us our justice? It is by accepting each other as God has brother or sister’s keeper (Genesis 4:10) who created us, respecting what God-given gifts each are asked to consider them ahead of ourselves. one of us brings, living, worshipping and working How are we going to make sure we find ways to together in a sustained effort, we will be able to help, encourage and support all regardless of build God’s kingdom among us. ethnicity and background?

18 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine NEWS Toilet Twinning Triumph!

he Revd Canon Lyn Wortley has sent good Tnews about the amazing response to the harvest appeal for the Churches of St Mary’s, Greasbrough and St Mary’s, Rawmarsh. The three elements were:

1. Food items to be donated to the local foodbank, and for food parcels distributed in the community. 2. Good quality, no-longer-required children’s coats that can be recycled - this project was Toilet Twinning across the globe a partnership with a local primary school 3. Money donations for the Tearfund will enable families to build a basic toilet, have ToiletTwinning.org toilet twinning appeal. access to clean water and learn about hygiene They have raised enough from the two – a vital combination that saves lives. It makes a churches for 15 toilets and a bit of pipework great family Christmas present too and you get a too! photo of your twinned loo and a certificate!

2.3 billion people don’t have somewhere safe to Revd Lyn said: ‘We’ve been so delighted with, go to the toilet. By donating £60 to twin a toilet, and so thankful to God for, the response that we help fund a project in a poor community that we’re keeping the appeal open until Christmas.” Welcome Bishop Brian

and a fond farewell to Bishop Greg! and his first language is Spanish. He has played a central role in developing youth work and n November 28th the Revd Brian Williams bringing many young people to faith. Obecame the new Bishop of Argentina. His consecration originally scheduled for April took Bishop Greg will become Archbishop Emeritus place with extraordinary measures in front of a when he ceases to be Primate in early December congregation limited to 20. Argentina has been on his 71st birthday. After 43 years in South in lockdown for 8 months. America (20 in Argentina), Greg and his wife Sylvia look forward to moving nearer to family in The Most Revd Greg Venables, who conducted Paraguay as soon as travel is allowed. the ceremony as Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Province of South America, says he For further information see the link page on leaves the Diocese in good hands. Bishop Brian is the website: https://www.sheffield.anglican.org/ one of a new generation of locally grown priests argentina-link

www.sheffield.anglican.org 19 FEATURE A growing community of prayer

Some of the most important things in life go on largely unseen. Prayer is foundational to Christian life – to our relationship with God but also to our part in God’s mission to the world.

hankfully prayer is one thing that has not What is the 2025 Prayer Community? Tbeen restricted by the pandemic! On the We are a group of people who have made a daily contrary, the 2025 Prayer Community has been commitment to: quietly growing (now to just over 900 people) and connecting via online gatherings. We are • Say the Lord’s Prayer looking to more than double our numbers. Why? • Read at least one Bible verse Because the testimony of God’s Church for more • Say the Diocesan Vision Prayer than 2000 years is that prayer changes things. • Pray for Growth

Will you join us on this adventure? We have an active Facebook Group and a Weekly Prayer Email to support you as a member. These stories from around the Diocese may encourage you. Find more information and sign up to join: www.sheffield.anglican.org/renewed Margaret is a member of one of our churches. She was at the hospital for a procedure, and when she was prepared, the young nurse who Diocesan Vision Prayer was with her asked if there was anything else Living God, she could do for Margaret before they went in. Margaret said please would she pray with her. Jesus calls his followers to seek first your The nurse knelt on the floor beside Margaret, Kingdom. Renew us as we make your love known; took her hands in both of hers and prayed a prayer; Margaret followed with her own prayer, Release us to share freely together in mission; they opened their eyes and looked at each other and Rejuvenate us to be fruitful in your service. and both said “that was wonderful.” Give us courage, wisdom and compassion, A couple were on holiday abroad in a place that strengthened with the grace of the Holy where they did not speak the language. The (asthmatic) husband tested positive for Covid-19, Spirit, we may, as the Diocese of Sheffield, which began to affect his breathing. After both flourish and grow through Christ our Lord. prayer from a local church and the 2025 Prayer Community, his health began to improve and Amen they returned home safely.

20 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine NEWS The Venerable Javaid Iqbal

Getting to know the new who started in May 2020

Albans Diocese where I was include cooking, photography, team Rector serving a group and charity work. of churches in Hertfordshire. Alongside the parish ministry, I Doncaster is a lovely place to have contributed to evangelism, live, everyone is so nice and diversity, interfaith and welcoming, willing to have a wellbeing ministries. conversation. It is much more diverse than we thought and Mussarat and I celebrated our have already come across silver wedding anniversary people of diverse heritage and this year. We have grown up variety of faiths. Role of an children who have now left archdeacon is wide-ranging home for work and university. one and I am surprised by Being an active person, I am a the variety of aspects of orn and brought up in sporty type, enjoy most sports diocesan life it covers. Jesus’ BPakistan, I first came to but am a keen cricketer and incarnational ministry compels England for theological training have played in three English me to build a relational ministry as a Church of Pakistan county leagues. We considered so I am looking forward to ordinand. Having returned Leicester our home so our getting to know the people of to Pakistan, I was ordained family supports Leicester the Sheffield Diocese and the and served in the Diocese of City, this means that Leicester archdeaconry of Doncaster and Raiwind, Lahore. Coming back has the full support of both to build partnerships for our to England, I served in Leicester Sheffield diocesan archidiaconal shared ministry of God’s love Diocese before moving to St household. My other interests and salvation.

A Chapter a Day

hurchwarden, Sheila Beatson attended her “A couple of weeks ago she phoned me and said Cfirst Diocesan Development Day in 2019. she’d continued reading a chapter a day and had She especially loved the Prayer Stations. By her now finished Revelation. She wanted to know own admission, she’s never had a great biblical what to read next!” literacy but was she inspired on the day to start reading the Bible. She began by reading a Sheila had kept up her new habit the whole chapter of the New Testament each day. time; successfully reading the whole of the New Testament in a year. At her local church, Revd Andy Poultney was encouraged by her efforts. Could you be like Sheila? Read a chapter today.

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www.sheffield.anglican.org 22 Diocese of Sheffield Magazine