The Connexion Issue 10

Issue 10 • Winter 2018

Inspiring stories from the life of your Methodist Church Our calling

ooking and looking but not seeing. Issue 10 • Winter 2018 We all have those times when Published by the Methodist Church in Britain staring at something, because we © Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes are so focused on just one thing, we miss (TMCP) 2018. Registered charity no. 1132208. much of what else is there. As a Church Designed and produced by the Publishing following the Conference, our focus was very and Communications Team of the Methodist Church. Design: Stephen Lambert. Editorial: much drawn to declining numbers and the Deacon Anne Montefiore and Helen Angove. Digital: issues that brings. It seems the challenge David Webster. Director of Publishing and Myrtle Poxon we have now is to refocus on what we Communications: Andy Jackson. Guest Editor are truly about and to see what is already Editorial board: David Perry, Anne Montefiore, happening around us. Andy Jackson, Doug Swanney (Connexional Secretary), Martin Ashford (Head of Mission I hear that at the last Connexional and Advocacy Cluster). Leadership Forum there was a true sense of being led by the Spirit. This grew into a consensus about the need to refocus and use the report we had agreed a few years ago of Our Calling. There have been various papers offered to spur us on. What it meant to be “the whole people of God”, to be challenged to “Love and Praise” and the priorities that came out of Our Calling. These are but tools to help us focus on God – still calling us as Methodists Photo credits to fulfil our calling and so be part of a Cover © Andy Jackson/TMCP; Pages 4-5 © Alex people actively involved in seeing God’s Baker/TMCP; Page 6-7 © Revd Peter Catford and transformational power change lives. Getty images/iMylu; Pages 8-9 © Synod Cymru/ TMCP and Getty images/GAPS; Pages 10-11 © Ian As guest editor for this edition of the Worsfold; Pages 12-13 © JTV Production; Page 14 connexion, I encouraged people in the © TMCP and Getty images/mbongorus; Page 15 Church to share some of their many stories © Getty images/LordRunar; Page 18 © Getty images/ Devonyu; Page 19 © TMCP and Getty of God’s transforming power. images/ thisbevos; Pages 20-21 © Revd Richard This issue, as with previous ones, J Teal and Getty images/Daniel_Kay; Pages 22-23 © Westleigh Methodist Primary School; Pages contains many exciting stories of how the 24-25 © Dr Robert M Jaggs-Fowler and Getty Church, in familiar and new ways, is making images/ someone25 and retroimages; Page 26 a difference and being an example of the © Getty images/Delpixart; Pages 27-29 © TMCP; Page 30 © Getty images/tatyana_tomsickova; living presence of God in the world. Page 32 © Getty images/northwoodsphoto You will also read about Methodist All rights reserved. No part of this publication young people at 3Generate voting in their may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any new President for 2018/2019. Jasmine means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying Yeboah’s challenge to our young people was or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Go to www.methodist. to be “courageous”. And it is time for us as org.uk/theconnexion a Church to be courageous. to order more copies Let us refocus and see that God is still Methodist Church House, moving through the Methodist Church. Let 25 Marylebone Road, of the connexion, or to London NW1 5JR download articles us be aware that it is God’s calling on us that we can work out through offering living Tel: 020 7486 5502 for use in your own Email: [email protected] worship, enabled by learning and caring, to Web: www.methodist.org.uk/theconnexion church magazine. Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Images are available at serve, fulfilling our mission and so enabling Find us on Facebook www.flickr.com/ others not only to hear the good news but to Follow us on Twitter methodistmedia receive it. Watch us on YouTube or Vimeo Deacon Myrtle Poxon See our pictures on Instagram and Flickr To send us your Find us on Google+

comments about this Information contained in this magazine was issue please email The Revd Dr David W Perry is taking correct at the time of going to press. Views theconnexioneditor@ a break from editing the connexion expressed in the articles may not be the official methodistchurch.org.uk while he recovers from illness. position of the Methodist Church in Britain.

Beyond the bricks and A baptism ‘hot-spot’ Moving mountains 6 12 mortar of the Church 20

Community Healthcare Our Calling lived out Chaplaincy: the story Wonderfully prophetic in a Methodist School 22 24 so far 27

Thy Kingdom Come Methodist Church signs Armed he Methodist Church is contributing Forces Covenant to Thy Kingdom Come, the global he Methodist Church has signed the prayer initiative, prompting people to pray that Armed Forces Covenant pledging its more people might know Jesus. The new resources in- commitment to fair treatment and support clude Methodist worship materials written by the Revd to the whole armed forces community. Alongside Catherine Dixon and a collection of prayers and public recognition of the value of the armed forces, reflections by the Revd Michaela Youngson, the Methodist Church made a number of specific President-Designate and one of the Chairs of the commitments including recruiting veterans and London District. These will supplement Thy Kingdom providing them with support. Come’s materials in a new edition for use between www.methodist.org.uk/news-and-events Ascension and Pentecost 10-20 May 2018. District champions are also being appointed and Beacon Methodist-Catholic dialogue events will take place around the UK. delegation of Methodists, including www.thykingdomcome.global • www.mph.org.uk representatives from the World Methodist Council and the Methodist Ecumenical Office Train to be named after John Wesley in Rome, met with Pope Francis to celebrate 50 years new train on the Great Western Railway is to be of Methodist-Catholic dialogue. Marking the formation named after John Wesley. The announcement of the Joint International Methodist-Catholic Dialogue comes following a competition to find the “100 Commission in 1967, Pope Francis commented: “True Greatest Westerners of all Time” by the Bristol Post and dialogue gives us the courage to encounter one another the Great Western Railway. David Worthington, manager of in humility and sincerity, in an effort to learn from one The New Room, Bristol, suggested Wesley. another, and in a spirit of honesty and integrity.” www.methodist.org.uk • Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Flickr | Google+ the connexion • Winter 2018 3 The Secretary of the Conference, the Revd Canon Gareth J Powell, encourages the Church to revisit vital questions that reaffirm our calling

“Who is this?” hen meeting someone new, you these vital questions. For Methodists, our might expect to be asked “What understanding of God and ourselves is not Matthew 21:10, NRSV do you do?” Or perhaps, slightly a private matter: it emerges from ongoing more bluntly, “Who are you?” It is intriguing creative enquiry in community, as stressed that initial encounters with in Kenneth Wilson’s Methodist “‘Who are you?’ strangers are often the Theology. The process of said the setting for two such discerning “a vision of profound questions. what the Church is Caterpillar.” Called to Love for and where we and Praise: are going” that Alice’s Adventures The Nature of resulted in Our in Wonderland the Christian Calling and the Church in “Priorities for Methodist the Methodist Experience and Church” involved Practice, adopted as a Conference discussions at Statement in 1999, begins with local church, circuit, similar questions – but addressed district and wider to the Body of Christ: “What is connexional levels, and with the Church and what is it for?” our ecumenical partners. Called (Section 1.1.1) to Love and Praise, similarly, was almost ten years in the making. Conversations in community Our Methodist processes of Our Calling and Called to Love conferring, which may sometimes and Praise represent two of seem arduous, mean that both the ways that the Methodist documents have the power to Church has sought to discern capture, explain and shape who and distil the answers to we are and what we do – our

4 the connexion • Winter 2018 www.methodist.org.uk • Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Flickr | Google+ conversations in community both provide a snapshot of our common life and help to “To serve the present age, shape us for God’s continuing purposes. In reaffirming Our Calling, our current my calling to fulfil; practices are challenged. In light of ongoing O may it all my powers and urgent discussions around our triennial engage statistical returns, Our Calling serves as a reminder that who we are and what we to do my Master’s will!” do begins with God (“The calling of the Charles Wesley (1707-1788), Methodist Church is to respond to the Singing the Faith 658, v.2 gospel of God’s love in Christ…”). We love, because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). We are able to seek to offer the very best and begin others, and saw more clearly the we can in our worship, our learning and areas of their life that were central to the caring, our service and our evangelism, Church’s worship and mission and those because of all that God has done for us. that were peripheral. Called to Love and Praise affirms this: The 2017 Conference encouraged Church the Church’s “mission and its worship … Councils to ask searching questions about are the response to God’s undeserved, their plans for the future. As an agent of the unstinting love in Christ … As agent mission of a dynamic God, our answer to of God’s mission, the Church is a sign, the questions “who are we, and what are we foretaste and instrument of the kingdom” for?” cannot be allowed to gather dust. We (Section 1.4.1). And so it is with confidence must forever be asking questions – seeking in God – not in ourselves, or even in the to go deeper – paying attention to our Methodist Church – that we seek to live out context, so that we might better serve the our purpose and our priorities. present age, our calling to fulfil (to borrow Questions for vision from Charles Wesley’s hymn). The vision for Our Calling endorsed by the How might a reaffirmation of the calling 2000 Conference was accompanied by a that binds us together as a Connexion number of questions for consideration by shape our future – as we continue to answer churches, circuits and districts. Through a questions about identity? Reaffirming process of gathering together to discuss The stories in this issue show some of Our Calling these questions, churches, circuits the ways in which our districts, circuits challenges and districts became better aware of and churches are seeking to answer these their strengths and weaknesses, found questions, and may inspire you to fresh our current permission to let go of certain activities thinking. practices

n the last connexional year what a privilege and responsibility we Stockton Circuit celebrated 100 have been given and how this can be Baptisms. Over half of these used to nurture the growth of faith in took place in Thornaby Methodist Church, us all. where, on average, 60 people attend every Statistics show this large number of service. We have had the opportunity to Baptisms has been a regular feature of welcome around 6,000 people of all ages to Stockton Circuit life over the last 15 years celebrations of the sacrament of Baptism in or more. Here in Stockton and in pockets The Great the circuit. across the Connexion there continue to be Commission of Jesus What a God-given opportunity to take large numbers of families requesting infant “Go therefore and seriously the Great Commission of Jesus! Baptisms. Families and communities with make disciples of and without formal church affiliations are all nations, baptizing Overwhelmed publicly joining in the Baptism service. It them in the name of Yet it doesn’t always feel that way. We has led us to ask why. the Father and of the have felt overwhelmed, under-resourced, When I arrived in the circuit a year Son and of confused about what we believe and deeply or so ago there was a strange mix of the Holy Spirit” unsettled by the variety of our responses. opinions. While welcoming and enjoying the Matthew 28:19 This year we have taken the opportunity to celebration of baptizing, our churches felt explore as a circuit, both staff and churches, overtaken by the sheer numbers.

6 the connexion • Winter 2018 www.methodist.org.uk • Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Flickr | Google+ Listening to families But as the year has progressed, with the help of the Revd Dr Martin Ramsden, we have begun to listen more to the families who come requesting Baptisms. We have been taking an interest in who they are, the faith they have and how that is expressed. It has become clear to us that the time to build relationships is between the request for a Baptism and when the service takes place. It is not about hoops to jump through, but simply about being interested in each other. This has led to some surprising results, including a baby shower for Jesus during Advent 2017 and a Quiet Room for prayer Thornaby Methodist and reflection now permanently offered at Church prayer room Thornaby. and exterior In response to the conversations, the Baptism services themselves have begun BELOW: The River Tees to change. There is a time in which we at Stockton-on-Tees remember the special people of faith that each family has. There is a recognition of the responsibility of everyone in the upbringing of a child – friends, family and local church. And the use of media in the service has opened up space for reflection and has led to some families providing their helping to build relationships, continue own input at times. conversations and do further research. It is hoped that this will enable the circuit and Building relationships others to explore this mission field as we The circuit has recently obtained funding seek to fulfil Jesus’ commission. It is our from the Darlington District to employ a prayer that this will transform the lives of Baptismal Support Worker who will be individuals, communities and churches.

Unity grows across Welsh- speaking Methodist churches as they do all they can to develop the four priorities of Our Calling: the Revd Jennie Hurd explains

nys Llanddwyn / Celtic ynod Cymru is the British Methodist cross on Church’s smallest mainland Llanddwyn Island, district numerically speaking. But one of the holy islands of Wales geographically it literally covers the size of Wales. For the last three years, church leaders in the single circuit of this Welsh-speaking district have encouraged churches to focus on ‘Developing Our Calling’ in a four-year project of the same name. In 2014/2015, Learning and Caring was the focal theme, then Worship, followed by Service. No prizes for guessing the theme in this fourth year – it’s Evangelism.

O ran niferoedd, Synod Cymru yw talaith leiaf yr Eglwys Fethodistaidd ar dir mawr Prydain. Ond yn ddaearyddol, mae’r dalaith Gymraeg hon, sydd ag un gylchdaith yn unig, yn cwmpasu Cymru gyfan. Ers tair blynedd bellach bu arweinwyr Synod Cymru yn annog y capeli i ganolbwyntio ar brosiect sy’n para pedair blynedd sef “Datblygu Ein Galwad”. Yn 2014-2015, canolbwyntiwyd ar Ddysgu a Gofalu, gan symud ymlaen y flwyddyn wedyn at Addoli, yna Gwasanaethu. Eleni, wrth

8 the connexion • Winter 2018 www.methodist.org.uk • Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Flickr | Google+ Gwneud beth fedrwn ni, nid poeni bod pethau’n rhy anodd Gyda’i gilydd mae capeli Cymraeg yr Eglwys Fethodistaidd wrthi’n gwneud eu gorau i ddatblygu pedair blaenoriaeth Ein Galwad: meddai’r Parchg Jennie Hurd

gwrs, fe ddown at y bedwaredd thema sef Mae’r rhan fwyaf o’n cynulleidfaoedd yn fach Efengylu. a llawer o’r capeli yng nghanol y wlad, ond fe gofiwn eiriau ein nawddsant a ddywedodd In the spirit of Wales’ patron saint David, wrthym am “wneud y pethau bychain”. Mae’r who encouraged his followers to “do the prosiect yn pwysleisio gwneud beth fedrwn little things”, ‘Developing Our Calling’ has ni ac nid poeni bod pethau’n rhy anodd. Un supported Cymru’s mainly small, rural peth sydd wedi digwydd yn ei sgil yw bod yr congregations to do what they can, not what eglwysi’n cael ymdeimlad o undod oherwydd they can’t. One impact of this has been fod pawb yn canolbwyntio ar yr un thema to help churches feel a sense of unity as yn ystod y flwyddyn. Atgyfnerthir hyn wrth they’ve shared a common focus each year. inni rannu ein hanesion ar dudalennau’r Such togetherness is reinforced as they Gwyliedydd ac mewn cyfarfodydd. report to each other through the pages of Mae rhai o’r gweithgareddau “bychain” the Synod Cymru magazine and at meetings. wedi parhau a chynyddu o flwyddyn i Some of the ‘little’ activities have been flwyddyn, gan gynnwys boreau coffi a galw- continued and built on, year by year, including i-mewn, grwpiau astudio, gwibdeithiau, coffee mornings and drop-ins, study groups, church outings, Messy Church sessions and LlanLlanast a thimau “Agor y Llyfr” mewn teams undertaking Open the Book in local ysgolion lleol. Rhai o’r digwyddiadau schools. Other responses included less mwy achlysurol, ond llawn cyn bwysiced, BELOW FROM LEFT yw’r cymanfaoedd canu a gynhaliwyd a’r Deuwn â diolch o’r frequent, but nevertheless significant events, newydd / Fellowship such as holding a Cymanfa Ganu (Singing lletygarwch a’r cyfle i weddïo a gynigiwyd yn Croeso / Welcome ystod gwahanol ddigwyddiadau lleol. Pethau Festival) or offering hospitality and prayer Parod i weini / Ready on the days of community events. If these digon di-nod, efallai, ond maent yn ein helpu to serve sound unremarkable, in Cymru they are ni yn Synod Cymru i gyflawni ein galwad a’i Cymanfa / Singing helping us not only to answer Our Calling, datblygu. festival but to develop it, too. Dathlu / Celebration

Martyn Atkins (past General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Britain)

Multifaith students’ group at St Paul’s Cathedral

University Chaplaincy Welcome Week

As Chaplaincy Coordinator at ach autumn up and down the City, University of London, country, young adults embark on a new phase of their life. Some Methodist minister the Revd approach university with utter excitement, Ian Worsfold serves students others with nervousness. There to welcome of all faiths and none along all students at most, if not all, of our universities are the Chaplaincy Teams. In with his multifaith team that October 2017 here at City, University of includes Muslim, Anglican, London the multifaith Chaplaincy Team was Roman Catholic and Eastern ready to welcome the new cohort with some gentle and cultural activities. Orthodox chaplains First up was a session of mug painting: because as a student you can never have too many mugs, so painting your own at the start of your university career will be

TOP RIGHT: Chaplains at Freshers’ Fair. From left: Sister Catherine Cruz, Rabbi Gavin Broder, the Revd Ian Worsfold, Father Gregory Wellington, Sheikh Musa Admani

BOTTOM LEFT: Visiting Central London Synagogue

BOTTOM RIGHT: Freshers at multifaith mug painting

unique! Thirty-eight students came and (the Ismailis’ spiritual leader). Our host engaged with both the chaplains and each taught us about the four pillars of Islam and other. Many of them were meeting for the gave us a tour of the facilities, including the first time, and nervously establishing those spacious prayer hall. We finished our tour in all-important early bonds. the Central London Synagogue, where the effervescent Rabbi Gavin Broder (Jewish Visit to places of worship Chaplain for the London Region and former After two days of Freshers’ Fair – where we Chief Rabbi of Ireland) hosted us, fed us and chaplains had a chance to meet anywhere taught us about the worshipping life of the up to 5,000 students and hand out copious synagogue. amounts of chocolates, as well as halal and kosher jelly sweets – we ended the week Meaningful differences by taking a small group of students to visit The engagement with and between students some of London’s iconic places of worship. along the tour and in these places of University Chaplaincy Beginning in the splendour of St Paul’s worship was meaningful and informative. Cathedral, the group came to understand It highlighted both the differences between something of the place of cathedrals in our faiths and also the common ground we Welcome Week the nation’s life, while also braving the 259 share. steps to the Whispering Gallery. A short In these turbulent times, chaplains are hop took us to The East London Mosque, there to interpret life’s events for those they where we heard the story of the mosque’s encounter and to build bridges between development from the early days of the 20th individuals and communities. Please pray century, involving the likes of the Aga Khan for your chaplains wherever they are serving.

What is Methodist Chaplaincy? Chaplains serve others by showing God’s love as they offer care and support. As well as in higher education, you’ll find chaplains in the armed forces, police, agriculture, hospitals, schools, prisons and shopping centres. Chaplaincy schemes may be supported and run by the local church, circuit, district or the Connexion, but the chaplain is always ‘sent’ by the Church. www.methodist.org.uk/our-work/our-work-in-britain/chaplaincy

Minister of the Aldridge and Daw End Methodist Churches, the Revd Bev Boden tells how the Church is meeting local needs in Walsall

entral Hall Methodist Church in insolvency procedures and representing the heart of Walsall is home to clients in court or at tribunals”. When Ablewell Advice. It was established queries are outside of their expertise, in 2012, initially to address local needs they signpost clients to the relevant local and overcome poverty by providing “free, agencies. Ablewell also offers outreach at independent, confidential and impartial the ecumenical Bridging the Gap project in advice about money and benefits”. To date, Walsall, which operates out of Methodist the church-based initiative has helped over premises. 500 clients dealing with £2.6 million of debt. Project Manager Keely Flowers explains Expanded services that being experienced specialists, the debt Since opening Ablewell Advice, which advisors help with “everything from basic is a member of Advice UK, has recently budgeting advice to filling in benefit forms, expanded its range of services. These

The work of Ablewell Advice is underpinned with prayer

are made accessible to everybody and Carol’s key pleasure in volunteering is anybody. They include a food bank and helping families. “One thing she really enjoys the Job Club – offering computer skills is making sure that she finds out a little bit training and Internet access. Ablewell has about the children and picking things that developed partnerships with the Changing she thinks the family will enjoy eating.” Lives Chrysalis Project and the Probation Service, who now operate out of Ablewell. Dedicated team The Chrysalis Project offers programmes Carol and Vicki, two people from very including Healthy Relationships and Healthy different backgrounds, brought together Emotions, through which women in the through Ablewell Advice, are a dedicated criminal justice system can be supported team who care deeply about giving to others and challenged to turn their lives around. less fortunate than themselves. Prior to attending Changing Lives, Vicki had no Giving and receiving connection to Christianity. As a result of Ex-offender Vicki Jones is testament to working with Carol and receiving pastoral the efficacy of the Changing Lives-Ablewell care from her, Vicki has started attending partnership. On completing the Change and participating in church events. Programme, and accessing the help Ablewell Food Bank Administrator Ian Chilton is Ablewell Advice is an offers, Vicki was given the opportunity to also the Job Club Project Worker at Ablewell. example of extending volunteer at the Ablewell Food Bank, which Ian ensures that Walsall residents who Church beyond its is part of the Black Country Food Bank, that are looking for work or training can access physical bricks and in 2016 helped over 16,000 local people assistance with job searches, applications mortar. For Central Hall in need. “I wanted to give something back and writing CVs. They offer all-round support Methodist Church this for all the help they give to me. I started in tailored to a client’s specific needs, working means providing services March and I’ve been here ever since. I love at a pace chosen by the client with no time to meet people’s needs; it,” Vicki states. limits. for church members So far this year, Ablewell’s Food Bank it means having daily volunteers have received, shelved, weighed, A person-centred approach interactions that are packaged, parcelled and restocked all Ablewell operates on a person-centred a living, breathing manner of donated food and given it approach, which offers each client a testimony to the away to over 480 people experiencing dedicated adviser to assist with all the goodness of a God who temporary difficulties. Chief among food issues they may be facing. The close cares about the needs bank volunteers is Carol Rowley, a member correlation between debt, financial hardship of all people, and uses of Methodist Central Hall and the daughter and the potential need for assistance with these church members of a Methodist minister. While prayerfully obtaining food means that for many of its to demonstrate this care seeking God’s guidance for her calling (which vulnerable clients Ablewell is a one-stop and draw people to him. she defines as “doing something helpful shop. On any given day, staff members may Watch Keely tell about outside her church”), Carol stumbled across also be making presentations to delegates Ablewell Advice, and an advertisement for food bank volunteers from the job centre and informing on Carol and Vicky describe in the church newsletter. For Carol, the work referrals, the food bank process or Job Club how volunteering at its is not simply about handing out bags of access. In all of this, the work of Ablewell Foodbank is now their food. Building relationships with those who Advice is underpinned with prayer, coupled vocation use the service is vital, as is relinquishing with a focus on working out the Calling of http://bit.do/Ablewell any tendency to judge. According to Keely, the Methodist Church. www.methodist.org.uk • Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Flickr | Google+ the connexion • Winter 2018 13

Cornwall District Chair and natural evangelist, the Revd Steven Wild, shares good news from the Camelford and Week St Mary Circuit: a large rural area in North Cornwall with tiny Methodist churches

ne of the most rural circuits up as Bible characters. Doreen reports: “We in the Methodist Connexion, are getting a generation of children who Camelford and Week St Mary’s 17 know the Bible better than their parents.” churches are served by a great bunch of The circuit has half a dozen Messy local preachers, a Circuit Administrator, a Churches – another opportunity for Families’ and Children’s Lay Worker and a ecumenical working. In the summer we had Community Outreach Worker, along with a a big outdoor Messy Church for all the circuit generous Supernumerary Minister who cares at the Manse in its large paddock, from the for three churches. days when the minister had a horse. This This team is headed by the Revd Doreen event was billed as Fun, Frogs and Bishops, Sparey-Delacassa as Superintendent. She with dramatised Bible stories and crafts. is ever positive saying: “I am very happy Special guests included the Bishop of Truro to serve where God sends me and I am – who had a hilarious race with me ending blessed to be in this part of Cornwall.” up on the bouncy castle. Doreen came into the circuit ten years Doreen has a head full of clever – even ago to be a Pioneer Minister after serving quirky – outreach ideas. Her hobby of Cornwall as Evangelism Enabler. She has collecting teddy bears means numerous done sterling work helping the circuit look Teddy Bear Picnics as well as tableaux with outwards rather than inwards. teddies illustrating Bible stories. The circuit has a number of Café Church Outward-looking circuit services and a music/drama group. There Our Most schools have an Open the Book is outreach to the elderly with luncheon children Assembly six or seven times a term, where clubs and games afternoons, and Tintagel grandparents love telling Bible stories to Coffee Morning is a big weekly event in this know their grandchildren and volunteers from community. the bible ecumenical teams add to the fun by dressing continued on page 19 ➤

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18 the connexion • Winter 2018 www.methodist.org.uk • Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Flickr | Google+ Local venues become host to seasonal Hallworthy Cattle services, such as harvest, carols and Market is host to seasonal services, rogation at Hallworthy Cattle Market. Our such as harvest, carols chaplains are also present at the market and rogation each week. At Delabole, famous for its local slate The Revd Steve Wild quarry, the Methodists work closely with with the now former the Anglicans for outreach to all ages at Anglican Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Tim Delabole Carnival – winning prizes year-on- Thornton, at Messy year. Their community lunch regularly has Church, summer 2017 Sign up for FREE emails from the Methodist Church over 50 local people attending.

A new church While some of the smaller congregations are challenged to work closer and amalgamate, three recently succeeded to form a new church in the hamlet of Canworthy Water. Called Living Water, people are excited about more effective mission in the area, which began by Living Water Church announcing its new name. Instead of a leaflet, the congregation offered bottles of water to the houses round about labelled with the church’s new identity and activities. Its recent bonfire party drew most of the village together, and then there was our special Christmas service in the manse stable, complete with real baby and Boysey the donkey – an informal gathering to which everyone was invited to come dressed as a Biblical character if they wished. All this means that there are plenty of varied activities in this part of rural Cornwall. To some, everything we do may seem small. But we aim to bring the Word

of God and the love of God into the life of our tiny rural communities – in all the ways we can, in all the places we can, at all the times we can, as long as ever we can. We’re not Methodists for nothing!

Circuit Superintendent, the Revd Doreen Sparey-Delacassa

“Imagine if everyone had the opportunity to discover what God wants for their lives.”

ver the last few years, churches local dioceses on the Northern Bishops’ across Cumbria have been talking, Mission – weekends of events held across praying and planning together. dioceses, with local churches supported by The result is God for All. By 2020 visiting teams, each led by a bishop. It was every person in Cumbria, of all ages and immediately obvious in Cumbria, given the backgrounds, will have had the opportunity existing ecumenical commitment to God to discover more of God and God’s purpose for All, that other denominations should be for their lives – so that they will discover invited to take part as well. more of Jesus and the good news to become followers of Jesus within a Christian The Moving Mountains Mission community. Invitations went out to senior leaders To enable this to happen, churches across in the four partner denominations and Cumbria, including the Methodists, the the response – from Methodist district United Reformed Church (URC), Anglican chairs, URC moderators and Salvation churches and the Salvation Army, have Army divisional commanders as well as been working together to develop Mission Anglican bishops – was hugely positive. Communities. These will equip the Church As a result, we are now preparing for our to be effective in helping everyone discover Moving Mountains Mission this coming more of Jesus, as we share resources (such March (8-11) when we will be joined by as ministers and buildings) and look at nine Methodist district chairs, five URC ways in which we can engage with our local moderators, one Salvation Army divisional communities. commander and twenty-six Anglican Rooted in bishops! an existing The Northern Bishops’ Mission Some will be working together, so it As churches in Cumbria were taking this means that we will have 34 teams working commitment journey, the Archbishop of York and the alongside local churches, to resource and to outreach northern Anglican bishops were working with equip them in helping others discover more

of Jesus. Already local churches are planning thousand people listened to a number how they can take some of the activities that of nationally famous people talk about they currently engage in, and make them their faith and the difference that made in more intentionally evangelistic, with a view their lives. Many weekends in the year the to sustaining that focus beyond March. Mountain Pilgrims initiative sees groups This mission is not a one-off event, of walkers, some with no other church link, however. It is rooted in an existing taking to the hills and exploring their faith commitment to outreach, and aims to in the context of God’s creation. And every contribute to an ongoing movement. On day throughout this last December listeners a recent Saturday in Egremont the local to all three independent radio stations Methodist church opened its doors to all in Cumbria heard of adverts encouraging those who hire its hall and 150 people them to drop into a church over Christmas turned up, with some of them coming back to enjoy the carols – and hear the story of to church the following Sunday. Across Jesus’ birth for themselves. Barrow last September, more than a Sharing faith stories As we continue this journey and prepare for what’s ahead, more than a thousand Christians have already shared their faith stories with others this year. And we look forward to the openings that we will have for those stories (and many more) to be told again and again as, together, we make the most The East of Eden of these opportunities to help Mission Community everyone in Cumbria discover launch at Gamblesby Jesus. Methodist Church www.methodist.org.uk • Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Flickr | Google+ the connexion • Winter 2018 21 Our Calling lived out in a Methodist School

Elspeth ethodist schools have a long of the whole child underpins the work of the Brighton is a history and the life of a Methodist school. school exemplifies all aspects of Circuit Our Calling, but with a natural emphasis Learning Steward and a on ‘learning and caring’. I will focus on the A large part of the school’s catchment volunteer school I know best – Westleigh Methodist area lies in the most deprived 20% of the Primary School. country, and a core of that within the most gardener at The first historical mention of a Wesleyan deprived 5%. Westleigh day school at Westleigh was in 1853. The The challenge is daunting – when children Methodist issues the school faced in its early days start in our nursery class only a quarter of were perhaps not so different to those of them have skills typical for their age. Primary today, with the school logbook mentioning Not only do the children progress School behaviour, absence, conditions in the academically as they move through school children’s homes and attitude of parents, (with above national average results in hunger, visits from inspectors, children 2017 for the 11-year-olds), but they also falling asleep in class because they’d grow in self-esteem and confidence to ‘have stayed up too late and academic standards. a go’. They are keen to question and to Thankfully, the methods of tackling the put forward their own views, willing to think issues have moved on. imaginatively without fear of ridicule by their peers. Worship and Christian values Something that has not changed in the last Caring century and a half is the commitment to The school’s focus on nurture and care Christian values in the school. I recall vividly leads to high levels of attendance, excellent the recent exposition of the real Easter behaviour and children who feel safe. story given by ten-year-olds to an end-of- The pastoral care delivered by two term assembly with parents present. It was dedicated staff, as well as extensive input Westleigh Wesleyan certainly not the message of fluffy bunnies from every member of teaching and non- Old Chapel and School and chocolate eggs that some might have teaching staff, starts with Breakfast Club in expected. For many the morning. It carries on with phone calls parents events like home on the first day of absence, Early Help this will be their meetings and home visits offering bespoke main exposure support when absence is persistent, to the Christian parenting classes, and responses to message. crises whenever they arise. The extra This strong pupil premium paid in recognition of the commitment to additional needs of disadvantaged children Christian values, helps fund this work. The whole school Methodist rallies round when a major crisis envelops a traditions and family, demonstrating the family approach of the development the school.

• 1852 • • 1853 • • 1870 • 17 October, The first mention Church pews building work for the of a Wesleyan removed to fit in school and chapel day school. more children. completed.

tutoring role and is paired with a younger Westleigh Methodist tutee to the benefit of both. Primary School as it is today Less formally, seven-year-olds from the Gardening Club confidently explain to younger children how to pull and scrub carrots and shell the peas they have helped to grow.

Service and social justice There is great emphasis on tackling discrimination of any kind, and plenty of chances for pupils to celebrate and appreciate differences in culture and traditions. As one child put it, “No matter who we are, where we come from, or what we believe in, treat someone how you want At Westleigh to be treated.” Methodist Primary School, the Staff commitment following Christian Another thing that hasn’t changed in 150 values have been Behaviour and discipline years is the commitment of the staff. A made explicit: love, Nineteenth-century punishments included century ago a retiring head wrote, “In my teamwork, standing on one leg or holding a heavy long experience here only one thing filled thankfulness, bucket of coal with one hand. my mind – deep gratitude that enabled me generosity, peace, Pupils nowadays usually behave well. But to continue in the work I have loved with forgiveness, a great deal of effort goes into ensuring strength, enthusiasm and zeal to the very equality and justice. this, with patient discussion to encourage end.” They have been children to see the error of their ways and Staff feel valued and appreciated. embodied with the the impact that has on other members of Pupils have highly positive and trusting help of visiting artist the community, and the need to care for one relationships with staff. Parents regard staff Wendy Moore in the another. as “approachable” and “non-judgmental” illustrations for this so they aren’t afraid to seek advice and article (above left). The Taking on responsibility support. Everyone feels as if they are known values are discussed Nineteenth-century schools often had and valued as an individual who will be and lived daily, with pupil teachers, like my great-grandfather listened to. Together these create a circle of each class having who went on to become a Sunday school caring, respectful relationships within which one value as its focus superintendent. Nowadays we have ‘peer the school’s Christian values take root and for the whole year. tutoring’ where an older learner takes the flourish.

• 1877 • • 1878 • • 1911 • • 1928 • • 1932 • Building of new Trinity Wesleyan Two new large Merging of infant School renamed chapel, new infant Chapel opened. classrooms and school and Westleigh Methodist school with extension a cloakroom junior school. Primary School. to day school. built.

As a GP, the Medical Director for NHS North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and an ordinand with the Church of England, Dr Robert M Jaggs-Fowler has a vision for chaplains in GP surgeries

he idea of providing chaplaincy medical profession’s regulators? volunteers to GP surgeries started Over the previous decade there had back in 2012 as one of those light- been several high-profile news stories of bulb moments – the fusion of thirty or so doctors disciplined by the General Medical years of experience as a general medical Council for bringing matters of faith into practitioner and my acceptance on a the consulting room. Yet the Royal College Spirituality, Theology and Health MA course of General Practitioners’ core curriculum of at Durham University. As part of that course, 2010 stated that “a General Practitioner I read Medicine, Religion and Health: Where should adopt a holistic approach” and that Science and Spirituality Meet by Harold this included “the ability to understand and Koenig, which was packed with fascinating respect the values, culture, family structure and scientifically supported evidence for and beliefs of your patients”. the positive impact of religious practice on health (see boxed text). Quandaries The problem was, how could a GP make What, then, was a GP to do when confronted use of such data without falling foul of the by one of the myriad of quandaries that

According to researchers, having a spiritual or religious life can have the following positive impacts:

●● higher levels of social support and greater marital stability A General ●● lower incidence of drug use, alcohol abuse and smoking Practitioner ●● less anxiety and depression and lower suicide rates should adopt ●● higher uptake of regular exercise and fewer sleep problems ●● lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels a holistic ●● increased immunity to infections and lower death rates from cancer. approach

24 the connexion • Winter 2018 www.methodist.org.uk • Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Flickr | Google+ Movement and growth Lincoln Cathedral The stories of how our chaplaincy volunteers in North Lincolnshire have engaged with patients and practice staff are enormously encouraging, not only to the practices, which have seen the value of their services, but also for the significant assistance many patients and staff have received. This has formed the launch pad of the next stage of development. 2017 saw tremendous movement. With the closure of LCS, the project was offered the protective umbrella of the Lincolnshire Methodist District, thus securing the ability to perform Disclosure and Barring Service checks and to provide legal indemnity to our chaplaincy volunteers. For this, we are immensely grateful to the foresight of the Chair of the Methodist District, the Revd interfaced with a patient’s faith? Quandaries Bruce Thompson, along with the subsequent such as a teenage Roman Catholic girl agreement of the Lincolnshire Methodist with an unplanned pregnancy? A Muslim Synod. girl presenting with anxiety and depression We are also fortunate to have the because she has a white, Anglo-Saxon continuity and expertise of Alison McNish boyfriend? A member of an evangelical (PA to the Methodist District Chair) in church, who is suicidal because of financial providing administrative support. As Bruce mistakes that mean he will go to hell summarises: “In the Lincolnshire District because the Bible says so? The widowed, we have now fully embraced Community church-attending lady who is fearful that her Healthcare Chaplaincy as a strong and late husband is still present at night and effective ecumenical initiative.” wishes to move on with her life? That is At the same time, the Bishops of Grimsby not forgetting all the routine holistic issues and Grantham gave their blessing to the around end-of-life care, bereavement and so project and as a result we have received on. To me the answer was obvious. Hospitals significant assistance in formulating a and hospices have had chaplaincy services new training programme for our healthcare since the start of the NHS in 1946. What we chaplaincy volunteers. NHS England has needed were chaplains in GP surgeries. come on board, and is providing support to roll out the project into the rest of Proof of concept Lincolnshire, possibly to take the idea to a The Bishop of Lincoln agreed that I could national level after next year’s pilot. Finally, run a pilot scheme in North Lincolnshire a new steering group consists of health, which, if successful, could be rolled out theological and legal expertise, to provide a across the whole of the diocese. He put me firm governance structure. in touch with the ecumenical organisation Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services (LCS). Fresh air and enthusiasm The LCS director, the Revd Canon Andrew With sixteen candidates enrolled on Vaughan, was enthused, though uncertain the training course that commenced in as to how the idea would be funded. “If September 2017, and discussions taking this is right, then God will provide” was my place with interested GP practices from response. ‘the Humber to the Wash’, the initial light- Thus, through LCS, the first training bulb vision is taking on a life of its own. course for chaplaincy volunteers was Run largely on fresh air, goodwill and the conducted in 2015, out of which we gained enthusiasm of many ecumenical partners, our first three chaplaincy volunteers. The the Lincolnshire pilot could well be the basis What we year 2016 saw a second training course of a transformative change in the history of needed were and approval for three further chaplaincy the NHS, thereby proving that, if an idea is volunteers, two of whom are currently placed driven by the power of the Holy Spirit, God chaplains in in two GP Practices in North Lincolnshire. really does provide. GP surgeries www.methodist.org.uk • Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Flickr | Google+ the connexion • Winter 2018 25 From little seeds Developing their mission with a mixture of encouragement, training, humour and chocolate biscuits

Helen Mahoney is the Discipleship and Small Group Coordinator at Les Camps Methodist Church, Guernsey, and the Revd Stephen Dallin has pastoral responsibility for Les Camps, Rohais and Wesley Methodist Churches, Guernsey

t Les Camps and Rohais Methodist meals for 50 people. Churches in Guernsey we are From little seeds, our cell groups, saplings seeing God working in the lives of are growing. A young man without any faith many people. Our cell groups are developing is now coming into church and helping us and growing. We currently have nine adult set up for Alpha and also coming to our drop- and three young people’s cell groups and in on Saturday mornings, eating his bacon have recently launched a group for parents sandwich and chatting with everyone around of babies and toddlers. him. People who have never before had the We heard someone say: “We need to opportunity or confidence are facilitating build an extension if we are to fit anyone Alpha, and some groups are socialising and else in!” This came from a leader who had going out for meals. We can feel the Lord at The cell groups of not so long ago asked for prayer to increase work among us and it feels great! Les Camps and his numbers. Watch out, you might get what Rohais Methodist you pray for! Prayer and teamwork Churches are Prayer plays a large role in our life with small groups that The Lord at work the cells and Alpha. We want to be sure espouse the values: There have been challenges (and some everything we do is as God wants it to be. All involved failures) along the way but God is great and Teamwork is also important, supported by Becoming disciples helps us. With this in mind, we decided our circuit vision and leadership. I (Helen), Creating community to suspend our cell group programme for a lay worker, was appointed by the circuit Doing evangelism three months in order to organise an Alpha to be the Discipleship and Small Groups Encountering God course for September of last year. We now Coordinator. I work with the cell leaders and with Christ at the have more than 30 adults and 10 young pastors, developing their mission with a centre people on the course, many of whom have mixture of encouragement, training, humour not previously been part of the church and chocolate biscuits! Based on community, eating, enjoying fellowship and These are challenging and exciting times The Challenge of talking about faith. and, if we are to follow Jesus’ call for us to Cell Church: We have people from our church, who be his disciples and to grow as a Church, Getting to Grips with Cell Church Values would normally not be involved in activities we need to focus our resources (time, by Phil Potter at the organisational level, bringing their personnel and money) into outreach and friends and families along and cooking making disciples in the love of Jesus.

eld at Pontins in Southport, from 24 to 26 This year the focus of 3Generate’s conversations was November, 3Generate had God at its heart and based around seven key issues: was transformational for many attending. More than 1,000 children, young people and young ●● saving the planet and looking after God’s world adults came together to speak to the Methodist Church ●● mental health and developing well-being about issues that are important to them, to tell the ●● becoming people of peace, to set the example in an wider Church what they want to talk about and to age of terror transform. ●● being good neighbours, living alongside people of In addition, 500 volunteers supported the event other faiths with a mix of children and youth leaders, presbyters, ●● combating poverty, sharing wealth and meeting deacons, chairs of district and the President and Vice- needs President of the Conference. Our youngest ‘volunteer’ ●● reinventing the Church, being God’s people in the was six months old, coming along with her parents who future shared a volunteering role! ●● thriving in the mess, staying up when knocked down.

“The manifestos are particularly exciting as the These issues came from groups of young people across children and young people are not just talking the Connexion who helped to shape the event. about what the Church should be like for them. Children, young people and young adults explored These manifestos show that circuits and districts what it means to be an agent of change in their own can take action to engage with their young contexts. They spoke out on issues as part of their people and these issues. It’s about young people continued dialogue with the whole Church. becoming the decision-makers, not just advising. Discussions took place throughout the event at all The points raised address young people’s vision age levels. The voice of young people was also captured of what the Church should be – for everyone. The to form the 3Generate manifestos and resolutions that 3Generate manifestos are a prophetic call to will be presented at the 2018 Methodist Conference. action.” Roxanne Bainbridge, 3Generate Representative “The manifestos are a platform to be built upon in local church settings, encouraging conversations and exploration of the varied subjects close to the hearts of young people. These issues include, but are not limited to, mental health, poverty, injus- tice, and equipping young people to be effective agents of change.” Grace McAloon, 3Generate Representative

Watch videos from the event on YouTube – search for 3GenTV. Turn over for photos of the event.

NEW A range of note cards with envelopes

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NEW A range of note cards with envelopes

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This question is usually asked spontaneously and we find ourselves on the spot. So what answer should we give? Chair of Plymouth and Exeter District, the Revd Graham Thompson, reflects on worship

e go to church to worship God! We enjoy 1. The free availability of the Preaching Plan being with God. We want to celebrate all listing who is taking the next service, along with that Jesus offers, for we are people of the announcing who is taking next week’s act of Resurrection – those who die and rise with Jesus and live worship, instead of simply stating when the next every moment of every day certain that our risen Lord service will be and inviting people to attend. We is in us and with us. We offer praise to God for who God need to move the focus away from the leader of is and all that God means to us. We offer thanks for the worship to the God whom we worship. many wonderful ways in which God has blessed us; for the privilege of enjoying a relationship with the eternal 2. Busy office holders going to church with lots to sort God. out and people they need to talk to – focusing on the busyness of responsibility rather than the One Worship is the central activity of the Church. Without for whom we seek to be useful. The privilege of worship there would be no Church. You can take away worshipping the God of love; the God of all creation; Bible studies and prayer meetings, you can lose a the God who was, and is and is to come, means that Sunday school or youth group, you can ignore social our primary focus should be God. evenings and home groups, but if you have worship, you are still a church – a poor church but still a church. Glorifying and enjoying God Worship is when we come together to meet with God Self-fulfilling worship? and any encounter with the living God will change us. In his report to the 2011 Conference, the Revd Dr Martyn People leaving worship should be different – changed – Atkins, then General Secretary of the Methodist Church by the experience of meeting God. Perhaps imperceptibly and Secretary of the Methodist Conference, said that at first, but over time we are changed. having travelled around the country for a few years, he had picked up a prevailing view that Methodist worship The Westminster Catechism states that the chief purpose “neither reaches the heights nor plumbs the depths”. Is of humanity is to glorify God and enjoy God forever. Not Dr Atkins right? If he is, what has caused this and how to go to worship so that we can get something good might we change things? from God. The principal focus of any worship is God. Graham Kendrick, quoting Lamar Boschman, puts it like I believe we get the worship we deserve. If we go to this: “Worship is first and foremost for God’s benefit, not worship with a wrong frame of mind; without preparing ours, though it is marvellous to discover that in giving ourselves (including praying for those who will lead God pleasure, we ourselves enter into what can become worship); if we go with our minds made up as to what our richest and most wholesome experience in life.” it is going to be like and what we will get out of it, questioning the length of sermon or choice of hymns, we Worship is the central activity of the Church then generate a self-fulfilling prophecy. You might find it and – perhaps – we could do better? helpful to think about other stumbling blocks to good experiences of worship, including these l What do you think? Find us on Facebook typically Methodist tripping hazards: and tell us your thoughts. CX009-CT-17