THE NEWSLETTER OF THE 05

AUTUMN 2016

Lay ministry across St Peter’s College the Meet the Diocesan the Diocese of diocesan learning Environmental Sheffield celebrated community Adviser See page 4 See page 8 See page 12 Welcome from Peter Welcome to the latest issue of Network magazine. There are many things happening in the diocese at the moment, but I think what has probably caught most people’s attention, is our search for a new Diocesan Bishop.

During September, hundreds of local people have took pressing on like the Olympic athlete to the final goal. the opportunity to give their thoughts on what skills and We are in the present but looking to the future. God is a qualities they would like to see in a new Bishop of creative God, always doing something new, his Sheffield. We have also produced a ‘Statement of blessings are new every morning and we are called to Needs’ which gives a detailed overview of the diocese. these new things. Our search for a new Bishop will The document will give a prospective candidate a good certainly concentrate on someone who will continue idea of what qualities and skills will be needed to lead this journey that we are on, and will lead forward to our diocese. what lies ahead.

The appointments process is long, (fairly) complex but So as you can see from this magazine, this isn’t just a also very interesting. You can keep up-to-date with the period of steadying the ship or business as usual but latest developments, and download the full Statement about us continuing to work towards the prize in of Needs, on our website at www.sheffield.anglican.org creative, imaginative and collaborative ways expecting God to act always. At this time, I find it helpful to keep our diocesan vision statement to mind. It is a statement of expectation, of intent and journey.

The statement says “the Diocese of Sheffield is called”, it implies we aren’t there yet, there is still much to be done and again, as St Paul reminds us, full maturity means knowing that we haven’t yet arrived, there’s more travelling to do.

It reminds us of the imperative to keep

2 NETWORK | WELCOME THE NEWSLETTER OF THE DIOCESE OF SHEFFIELD

TTHTHEHE DIOCESEDDIDIODIOCDIOCEDIOCES Contents Issue 05 OFO SSHSHESHEFSHEFFSHEFFISHEFFIESHEFFIELSHEFFIELD

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Thirty-eight adults were admitted or On Saturday 11 June the Cathedral community authorised to work as ‘Lay Ministers’ across welcomed 205 special guests to a banquet the Diocese of Sheffield. lunch for the Queen’s 90th birthday.

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The church is beginning to rediscover the Travel Blog by guest writer Lucy Laughton a value of intentionally creating networks 17 year old member of St Matthew’s, Carver where people can learn together. Street.

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St Peter’s College is the diocesan learning New ways of reaching out to people for community for mission and ministry and is whom traditional forms of church no longer being launched this month. seem to have any attraction.

If you are interested in contributing an article in future editions of Network please email communications@sheffield.anglican.org or telephone the Communications Team on 01709 309100 . Network is copyright © of the Diocesan Board of Finance, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England (No. 196087). Registered charity No. 245861. Registered address: Church House, 95-99 Effingham Street, Rotherham, S65 1BL.

CONTENTS | NETWORK 3 Lay ministry across the Diocese of Sheffield celebrated at Sheffield Cathedral

38 adults were admitted or authorised to work as ‘Lay Ministers’ across the Diocese of Sheffield by the , on Saturday 17 September in a special service at Sheffield Cathedral.

Lay Ministers offer their time and skills to The Bishop also admitted 8 people to The Celebration of Lay Ministries Service, enable the Church to worship and serve begin their ministry as Readers, authorised which takes place once a year, sees throughout the regions of South Yorkshire 3 Pastoral Workers, 4 Youth Ministers, friends, family, clergy and parishes and the East Riding. The service marks an 7 Children’s Ministers, 11 Worship Leaders, proudly supporting their candidates. important step on the journey of vocation 1 Parish Evangelist and 4 Lay Pioneer All those being authorised have studied for the church that will continue with Ministers. further learning. for the specific area of ministry they are in. In his sermon, Bishop Peter said: “We are Sheffield Cathedral was full as the service not called to just serve those within the Speaking before the service, Dr started with a long procession around the church, but we are called to serve our Christine Gore, Director of Formation and outside of the Cathedral building, creating communities. So as we rejoice and Ministry at the Diocese of Sheffield, said: a spectacle for the city to be a part of. celebrate today I want to encourage each "Today is the day we celebrate and During the service, Bishop Peter also of you to see your ministry as that of the acknowledge how important lay ministers commissioned the Revd John Hibberd as service of others”. He continued: “ensure the Warden of Parish Evangelists and the that we are a church that not only invites are in the life of the church and its Revd Canon Mark Wigglesworth as the people to come to us, but that also goes communities. We are enormously grateful Warden of Lay Pioneer Ministers. out to the people”. for them and all they do.”

Breathe Deep 2017

Breathe Deep is BACK! How do you like the sound of spending a day with loads of young Christians like yourself from across South Yorkshire? On Saturday 28 January 2017 in Sheffield, the doors will open to the third youth development day, called Breathe Deep for young people aged 11-18. There will be the usual mix of exploring some important issues alongside worshiping, bouncing, eating, chilling, gaming, making and dancing. Bookings are now open, see www.breathdeepday.info

4 NETWORK | NEWS Doncaster Minster’s project supporting asylum seekers and refugees enters race for £10,000 prize in national competition

A project helping refugees and asylum seekers in Doncaster integrate into the local community has recently entered a national competition to win a £10,000 cash prize to support its activities.

The Minster’s English Literacy project, set “As the Middle East and Europe n The Minster’s English Literacy up in January 2016, aims to assist experience migration and displacement at project entered into national refugees and asylum seekers to improve a level unseen since World War II, there is competition to win £10,000 cash their English literacy skills and feel part of a huge need for local people to reach out prize the local community. Since asylum creatively to others who are seeking seekers are not permitted to access international protection under asylum n Project aims to help asylum funded courses to learn English in systems and to assist refugees become seekers and refugees in local Doncaster, they can become isolated and part of society. Civic churches as places of area feel more confident in being feel unable to learn outside their continuity are important places of part of the Doncaster community immediate friendship groups. sanctuary and connection with a place by improving their English Between 40 and 50 adult learners from and we even use the building itself as a language skills Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Eritrea, Kuwait, teaching resource. n Competition run by Ecclesiastical Afghanistan and many other countries “Our literacy project has already attracted Insurance aims to uncover top gather in the Minster building every the interest of many other places of community initiatives run by Wednesday to learn English reading, worship locally and nationally, some of churches writing and speaking with the help of a whom want to learn how to set up dozen volunteers. Learners range from something along the same lines. We feel n Top prize of £10,000 and five people who have not attended school in that not only have we succeeded in runner-up prizes of £2,000 each their own countries to people who read attracting consistent numbers of adults will be awarded by the specialist and write in three or four different learning English, but we also have better church, charity and heritage languages to others who have studied to engaged with our local community as a insurer in November 2016 a degree level in their mother tongue. result of this project.” They have, therefore, been divided into different groups to have a flexible approach to teaching and meet individual learning needs as much as possible. No participant is charged for the lessons as all the materials and refreshments have either been donated or fundraised for by the Minster and its volunteers in the local community. Louise O’Brien, who works at the Minster and who initiated the project, said: “What we have here at the Minster in this project is a strong will to be part of one of the most pressing needs of our times – that of assisting people seeking sanctuary in the UK – as well as the space and community members who want to be part of all this.

NEWS | NETWORK 5 Learning together As I write, the Olympics is in full flow. You can see individuals exceeding their personal bests, often giving credit to their coaches for these new levels of achievement.

Teams similarly work in unity to build on previous John Hibberd Sessions focus around key themes like performances and to spur one another on communication, leadership and the towards their goals. The church is beginning to rediscover the management of change but it is the mix of group work, value of intentionally creating networks where people can learn presentations, agreed outcomes and feedback that makes the together. process productive. I say ‘rediscovering’ for two reasons. Positively, you can observe There have also been two ‘Growing a discipleship culture’ days. Jesus doing this with the disciples – showing them, teaching, These one-off events have featured presentations from churches giving them opportunities to put things into practice, and then that have grown significantly through planned approaches to helping them to reflect on the outcome. Negatively, we have too discipleship. We have invited a few other churches to each – often associated the need for coaching with ‘failure’, only those who indicated in their MAP tool responses that they wanted employing it in situations where people are struggling. help to grow in this way. The days provide enough space for The sporting world gives us a chance to reassess this stereotype; presentations, discussion, Q&A, interaction between the different to see that bringing people into learning communities is not only invited churches, and the opportunity to form an initial action plan. biblical but can also be a means to significant development. The feedback has been very positive.

Mission Partnership Learning Communities bring together ‘Life-long learning’ is sometimes considered a bit of a cliché but churches with Mission Partnership Development Workers and consider its alternative: that all my learning was finished by the some other mission partnerships twice a year over a period of two time I reached 16 or 18 or 21. Even if that is when formal education years. This gives due recognition to the fact that parishes – and ended for each of us, Jesus calls us to learn from him (be clergy – often have big adjustments to make in working across disciples) and that’s a whole new world to discover. parishes in a partnership. The development workers are the first of (John Hibberd is a Mission Development Adviser working for the their kind in the so it makes perfect sense to Diocese of Sheffield. He works with parishes in the Sheffield and learn as much as we can on this journey. Rotherham areas to help them maximise their mission potential.)

6 NETWORK | NEWS Maintaining Yorkshire Churches’ rich heritage The National Churches Trust has received £90,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Yorkshire Maintenance Project, which aims to maintain the rich religious built heritage of Yorkshire.

The project is working with the Diocese of Sheffield, the Roman Catholic Church and the Methodist Church to offer volunteer training to 18 churches and high level drone inspections. The project kick starts with the survey of nine churches in the Sheffield Diocese, which will inform how drone technology could be employed in ongoing monitoring and (five yearly) inspections. There are 1,095 listed places of worship in Yorkshire; including 346 Grade I listed churches. The Yorkshire Maintenance Project aims to promote awareness and increase maintenance of Yorkshire’s churches, as well as improving our understanding of these important buildings. Alongside drone surveys the project encompasses training workshops to help volunteers maintain church buildings and a new website to log urgent maintenance needs. If successful, then the programme will be rolled out nationally. Pictures show drone flying at Snaith Priory Dr Julie Banham, DAC Secretary of the Diocese of Sheffield, said: “This is an excellent means of enabling parishes to access new technology and training to ensure our churches are in the best possible condition. In the past, so much additional cost and work has been caused by poor repairs or volunteers not knowing who to contact for help. Getting the basics right, knowing which materials and methods to use, when to seek advice and having a regular maintenance plan in place will be hugely beneficial.”

Mission Shaped Introduction Our world and our lives change at an ever faster pace, but how does the church respond to this change? Are new ways of being church possible? If so, what might they look like? Mission shaped intro helps people to reconnect with the communities they are called to serve and to re- imagine the forms of church that are needed for the 21st century. It takes you on a creative and reflective journey looking at the need for new ways of being church. This course is a great way to follow up the themes from the 2016 Development Day, ‘Deep and wide; thriving as a mixed economy church’. It takes place over five or six evenings, is free of charge, and uses nationally tried and tested materials. Have a look at www.stpeterscollege.org.uk for more information and start dates.

NEWS NETWORK 7 Introducing...

St Peter’s College is the diocesan learning community for mission and ministry and is being launched this month. Find out more about what it means to be a member of the St Peter’s community.

In a nutshell St Peter’s College will support the diocesan St Peter’s is not just about academic study or even equipping vision of growing and strengthening a culture of discipleship people with relevant skills, but about our calling to be and in our churches across the diocese. It will do this by equipping become a more like Christ-like Church. lay and ordained people to grow the church, and by offering training and support in discipleship, in collaboration with the “not just about short Parish Support Team, to complement what your local church term training, it’s about is already doing. It aims to provide high quality training that is lifelong-learning” both relevant and appropriate as we seek to grow a mixed economy church in the diocese. This calling is at the heart of every part of St Peter’s College St Peter’s is not a what but a who… it is people and not a and the process of life-long learning is to encourage the building or an institution. A community for those in formal or people of God to grow and develop in important areas of informal ministry; a community of those wishing to grow in discipleship and ministry. their Christian faith and the service of God. St Peter’s is not The Church has identified these as: something you graduate from... you become and remain part Christian Faith and Discipleship of St Peter’s by virtue of being in ministry in the diocese. Mission, Evangelism and Growing Disciples

Spirituality and Worship “St Peter’s is not a what but a who…” Personality and Character Relationships and Community Collaboration and Shared Leadership

Vocation and Ministry within the Church of England

St Peter’s is not just about short-term training…. The focus is So please take time to explore the St Peter’s website and see on lifelong learning and formation - supporting and equipping what is on offer for you; listen to the stories of people who you throughout your time in ministry in the church, helping have been involved in some of the available courses and you and your worshipping community to be and become then. Why not sign up to become a member of our learning more like Christ. community!

8 NETWORK | ST PETER’S COLLEGE Reaching Out - for mission and evangelism. reaching Examples - mission shaped ministry out Teaching Others - for training church members. Examples - clergy, lay reader, children and youth teaching workers others

Leading the Church - leading skills in leadership at St Peter’s College exists to various levels. the churc h Examples - 'Leading Well' serve everyone in the Diocese course for clergy and licenced ministers, and covers 7 core areas of Continuing Ministerial exploring Development learning... your calling

digging Exploring Your Calling - exploring deeper what ministry you feel God could be calling you to. Examples - Foundations serving the churc h Digging Deeper - for personal growth and personal discipleship. Growing Disciples - for Examples - spirituality, theology growing discipling others. seminars for personal growth Examples - Spiritual disciples Accompaniment, 'Growing a Discipleship Culture' event Serving the Church – for roles that help the church to operate effectively. Examples - Worship 4 Today, Treasurers, Church Wardens, Safeguarding training at all levels

St Peter’s Courses Foundations - Is God calling you to Lay Ministry in the church?... Spiritual Growth and Transformation and Spiritual Accompaniment - focus on who you are called to be and discover your gifts School of Ministry - accredited training for lay ministers... Safeguarding - for those working directly with children or vulnerable adults in the church Aurora - training for volunteer children’s and youth leaders... Initial Ministerial Education (IME) Phase 2 - training for following pre-ordination training Mission Shaped Ministry - rediscover mission and reimagining church... Continuing Ministerial Development (CMD) - further development mainly for clergy and licensed lay ministers Worship 4 Today - a course for worship leaders and musicians... Cursillo - a method by which Christians are empowered to grow through prayer, study and action

Coming Up October 2016 – college launch and initial phase of website featuring information about courses, events and learning resources with the facility to sign up as a member Early 2017 – deanery roadshow to give information and hear feedback September 2017 – launch of a virtual learning environment featuring online learning material and resourcesadults in the church

ST PETER’S COLLEGE | NETWORK 9 Church Schools Sheffield Diocese has played a key role in developing the church’s national vision for education.

Nationally, the Church is the largest single provider of schools in England with 1 million pupils in 4,700 schools. Over the past year a working party has been drawing up the “Church of England Vision for Education”, a document that explains why the church is involved in this work. The document provides a theological basis for education, rooted in the distinctive Christian take on wisdom, hope, community and dignity. The working party, which will continue to meet under the title of adding “Through this vision pupils, parents, new and existing the Theological Reference Group, is chaired by Professor schools and teachers will know how aspiring we are.' David Ford, Regius Professor of Divinity Emeritus at Cambridge General Synod overwhelmingly welcomed the report following University, a passionate advocate for the church’s role in a debate in which Justin Welby, Archbishop of schools. It included theologians such as Prof. Mike Higton, from Canterbury, described the vision as 'immensely exciting' and Durham University, as well as Canon Dr Ann Holt of 'outward looking'. Winchester. Sheffield’s Diocesan Director of Education, Huw “I always like it when we can excite the Archbishop”, Thomas, was also invited to join the group and has been an commented Huw Thomas, Diocesan Director of Education. He active participant in drafting the vision statement. went on to observe “This national move came at an opportune Launching the vision document at General Synod in July, moment for us. Through developing our ‘Common Commitment’ Stephen Conway, , said the vision will equip the for Christian distinctiveness, and our work on schools regularly Church ‘to influence the debate about what education is for; to sharing gospel readings, prayers and church experiences, open new schools and develop existing schools; and to we’ve been hammering out our vision and now we’ve been provide radically new approaches to how we function as a able to share with, and receive from, this broader initiative.” movement for education and train teachers and leaders to The vision document will now form the basis for the next big share that vision.' initiative in the Diocese: “Understanding Christianity”, a major Revd Nigel Genders, Chief Education Officer for the Church of project to secure the effective teaching of the Christian faith England said the vision offered a chance: 'To set out our stall”, in schools.

Centenary Project The Centenary Project, an initiative set up by the Diocese of Sheffield, working with children, young people and families, has received a boost of funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation.

The Project has secured £40,000 to help local churches to effectively engage, grow and disciple a new generation of young people, children and families. There are now 8 workers in place in churches across our diocese and lots of exciting initiatives are beginning to take place. A fantastic Olympic Picnic event took place at Herringthorpe Stadium, Rotherham for children and families on Sunday 10 July. Over 80 people attended the picnic aged from 4 weeks old upwards. Many families expressed how much they enjoyed the day including joining in with the various activities on offer and the short time of worship. Another example, among the many exciting things that are happening, is a service called Ablaze set up in the Sheffield Hickleton Mission Partnership. The first of these took place in August and was a huge success with around 30 people attending. Ablaze is a vibrant worship service for young people and adults embracing the catholic tradition, and is a place where young people will really engage with God. Keep a look out on the website for more exciting stories as this project begins to grow.

10 NETWORK | FEATURES Crossroads Mission Blackburn A year on from the first Crossroads Mission in Sheffield Diocese, 25 and their teams have just spent four days (8-11 September) in Blackburn Diocese on the next in this series of yearly missions.

The Diocese of Sheffield sent a team led by the Rt Revd Peter Burrows, Bishop of Doncaster. The team was made up by Sarah Maughan, lay member of St Michael Rossington, the Revd Adam Priestley, Mission Priest at Doncaster Minster, the Revd Ed Morrison, at St Wilfrid Cantley, the Revd John Hibberd, Mission Development Adviser and the Revd Chris McCarthy, Priest at St James’ Doncaster. The team visited Pendle Deanery, joining with the parishes at various events from Thursday- Sunday. A few of the highlights of the mission were: l A business breakfast led by Bishop Peter at St Bart’s Colne attracted a good core of local businesses and will be repeated l Prayer walking through Brierfield in the evening. l Visits to five schools as well as back-to-school events for parents & carers made contact with significant numbers of young families. The church schools were very impressive. l A celebrity ‘silent’ auction. l A free BBQ at the church for residents of Colne who turned out in their hundreds for the homecoming parade of Stephen Burke, a gold medallist at the Rio Olympic Games in the cycling team pursuit event. l On the Sunday morning the team took part at services throughout the deanery sharing their stories and testimonies with the congregations. The final celebration took place at a packed Preston Flag Market. The Archbishop preached a powerful message about the difference Jesus makes to a person’s life. Many people came forward in response to dedicate their lives to following Christ. Kings and Queens Banquet On Saturday 11 June the Cathedral community welcomed 205 special guests to a banquet lunch for the Queen’s 90th birthday.

It was a celebration of everything older people do nominated to attend the event by agencies across were all enthralled by his stories’ – Kathy for their communities. The Cathedral was the region and they, with their companions, were (Note - Cecil now 103 restored the Cathedral's honoured to have been invited. The Cathedral was transformed into a banquet hall and the delighted Glass windows after the Second World war, he told guests were treated to a three-course lunch full of happy and smiling faces. Mike that it took him 3 years' working from 6 in the followed by entertainment Here are some comments from some of those morning to 11 at night! For him it was a trip down that attended: The event was the inspiration of Captain Michael memory lane) Collyer, Honorary Cathedral Evangelist and 'On behalf of all our guests, I wanted to say a 'Thank you for organising such a brilliant occasion chaplain at the Cathedral. He recognised that MASSIVE THANK YOU for inviting us to your Kings older people so often feel ignored and over- & Queens’ event, which was absolutely fantastic… yesterday. Everything was superb: the whole looked by today’s society and thought that a . Cecil had a brilliant time and loved sharing his meal, the ambiance and the company etc. People celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday would be special memories about repairing the stained mixed and chatted, regardless of rank and an ideal opportunity to thank them for all they glass windows in the Cathedral during his working distinction- quite a coup! I thoroughly enjoyed the give to our communities. Individuals were life… I know the Cathedral’s historians and staff occasion as did my guest.’ - Mary

FEATURES | NETWORK 11 .. Meet Jo Chamberlain. ...Diocesan Environmental Adviser What does the role aim to do? contributed least to the problem in the first One of the five marks of mission is to place. This makes dealing with climate “strive to safeguard the integrity of change an issue of justice, which cannot creation, and sustain and renew the life of be separated from our commitment to the earth”, and part of the diocesan vision care for the poor. That’s my journey to is “seeking to transform God’s world”. caring about environmental issues. There This role is to help individuals, churches are lots of other facets to it, so I have and the diocese to do this. Collectively, much to learn. I think my over-riding we are called to bring Good News to the qualification for the job is enthusiasm. I’ll world, not just to the people in it, but also be relying on others to fill in the expertise! to bring redemption and reconciliation to I’m really excited to be able to work with creation itself. people and churches in the Diocese, so we can act together and make a tangible Why is it needed? positive difference for the earth and every person living on it. We need to take seriously our God-given responsibility to take care of the earth. I Jo was appointed in May don’t think the church has been very good 2016 as the Diocesan What other roles/jobs do you have? at this, and is only just waking up to the Environmental Officer. This I’m Mum to Jessica (15) and Thomas (13) fact that this is part of our shared mission and wife to Malcolm. I’m a member of All with God. So a role like this shows our is a voluntary role designed Saints church in Ecclesall, and I am their commitment and helps us to take a lead in to offer encouragement, Salt and Light link. I also work for Christian responding to this call. Climate change is advise and support to the Aid, part of their communications team, the biggest threat facing the world today. based in their office in Leeds. The church has the potential to be bishop and diocese on transformative in our struggle against the environmental matters. Activities in the pipeline… effects of climate change if we can come together and care for our common home. The Diocesan Environmental Group is churches and the diocese to change developing a scheme to enable parishes behaviour so that our actions and to switch easily to a renewable energy Is it new, or did someone else lifestyles lessen our impact on the earth, provider and save money in the process. occupy it recently? and for these actions to become part of a We are almost ready to roll out the I’m taking on the role from Michael Bayley, wider movement for change regarding scheme to churches in the Dioceses, who has done a fantastic job. I have big environmental issues. And probably lots working with a company that will offer an shoes to fill! more things that I haven’t even thought energy review to the church and find the about! best value renewable energy tariff. What will the activities of the role I also want people to engage at a political involved? Why did you take the role? level, because that is where we see big To offer advice to the Bishop and the I’ve been an activist and campaigner systemic change. World leaders made an Bishop’s team on environmental issues against the scandal of poverty for a long ambitious and far-reaching agreement to and to be a part of the Board of Faith and time – locally as a debt adviser and cut carbon emissions when they met in Justice. To encourage clergy and globally as a supporter of Christian Aid. Paris in December last year. Now we need congregations to incorporate Christian Aid and other global to see the detail. This October, people all environmental issues into the life of the development agencies know that the over the diocese are planning special church, in their preaching, in their worship, impact of climate change, which is already events with their MPs to Speak Up for the in their prayers, in their care for their being felt, is hurting the poorest people world they love, so we don’t lose sight of communities. To encourage individuals, first and worst, those who have the goal of tackling climate change.

12 NETWORK | FEATURES Our time in Lourdes travel blog At the beginning of August young people and adults from the parishes of St Matthew Carver Street, St Wilfrid Cantley, St John’s Edlington and Holy Trinity Doncaster joined a national Anglican Society of Mary pilgrimage to the Shine of Our Lady of Lourdes, France.

Lourdes is renowned as a place of Christian number of shops selling religious souvenirs. Guest writer Lucy Laughton a healing after St Bernadette, a poor French girl We also visited the house of St Bernadette and it received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary 17 year old member of St was here that we realised our accommodation there in the 19th Century. Matthew’s, Carver Street was not so bad after all after seeing the Lourdes was always a place of interest to me conditions St Bernadette had to live in as she after learning about the place during my time at school in my religious lived in extreme poverty. It was amazing to see that St Bernadette still studies lessons: Having the opportunity to go was incredible. Lourdes kept faith even during times of extreme financial difficulty. Later on in the was a real eye opener for me to get more of an insight into my religion as evening, we took part in the torchlight procession. The view at the back home I struggled to get an understanding of my faith and beliefs. procession was beautiful as everyone was joined together holding candles and you could see across the whole area the candle lights On the first day, we arrived at the airport in Lourdes around midday. From flickering a warm yellow glow which gave a feeling of warmth and there we split from the adult pilgrims and travelled to our accommodation peace. known as the Youth Village. Our room consisted of a wooden bunk bed, a blanket, a sink, a tiled floor, a window with iron bars, a small wooden On the fourth day, we visited the Stations of the Cross where the youth table, a garden chair and a small closet. The rooms were commonly read out reflections and prayers for each station. It was here that we got described as ‘prison cells’. However, this gave us all something to talk a real understanding of the walk Jesus took whilst carrying the cross as about. Mass then followed at the heart of Lourdes in the Chapel of St we were told the walk represented the same walk Jesus took. Each Joseph. station showed very powerful emotions and messages as they showed Jesus’ pain and suffering before he died. After seeing the stations, we On the second day, we visited St Bertrand de Comminges which is a went into the centre of Lourdes where we all bought our own lunch. small village on top of a hill. We had a look around the village and then Later on in the day, we visited the caves called Grottes de Bétharram had mass in the cathedral which dominates the village. The village was a which were full of amazing sites of the natural formation of rocks. We beautiful, quiet place of pilgrimage with all the buildings made of stone. then went to the Hotel Mercure where the parents were staying for a After visiting the village, we visited a small church called Saint Just de pilgrim party. Valcabrère, not far from the village. However, on the way there we lost Bishop Philip of Burnley as he decided to walk when we all planned to On the fifth day, we had mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady. We then get the coach there. This then lead to a game of ‘Where’s Wally?’ except visited the grotto which was were Saint Bernadette saw Mary. This was Bishop Philip was the Wally. followed by a trip to the ice cream shop as Bishop Phillip had made a On the third day, we went to the international mass in the basilica which promise to buy us all two scoops of ice cream each. We then travelled to was underground. It was truly staggering how many people were the airport and came back home. gathered into one mass. We then visited Lourdes castle and had some Overall, Lourdes was a fantastic experience as the whole place was free time to do some shopping around Lourdes. I was truly amazed by the surrounded with faith, passion and commitment.

FEATURES | NETWORK 13 Mixing it up!

What do we mean by ‘Mixed Economy’ church? In our increasingly diverse society we have seen people outside of the church community seeking out the church at key moments in their life. Some of them find their way into church ‘as we know it’ relatively easily but others only really come for the specific event but seem to find nothing to keep them coming.

There are many others who have not had meaningful contact with any churches for several generations. Christ Church Endcliffe The church has recognised this and has introduced new ways of reaching out to people for whom traditional forms This church community in started in 2009 when the of church no longer seem to have any attraction. church of St Augustine invited a team of 50 people The Sheffield Diocese has many examples of different from Christ Church Fulwood to share its building types of church, aimed at a variety of different groups… with them. Natter Group The Christ Church community now has two services on Sunday afternoons at 15.30 and 18.00. Natter is a group for those aged 60 and to help people. Over this short time, many other groups have grown It is aimed at those in a high degree of social isolation, to from the church community. For example, a baby and give them opportunities to socialise, to bring them back toddler group and five-a-side football. These have to faith, or to connect them with faith for the first time. seen some success as a way to make connections It started in 2010 at St Thomas Crookes, Sheffield. Natter with the surrounding areas. meets weekly. The format is that of a traditional coffee The church is mainly made up of young adults and morning but with a large emphasis on the community families but there is a spread across the ages. aspect. People are welcomed on arrival, brought a A typical service sees children and adults starting all coffee/tea and encouraged to make friends. Over time, together, with the children heading out after a short many other social groups have been generated as a time to groups. Following the service, the church result of Natter. For example, men that meet and go members have a meal time together. This has been a walking, ladies that go into town. good way of welcoming newcomers and of spending Two Natter members, Mary and Jack, decided to lead an time together. Alpha course for those that wanted to deepen their religious understanding. This resulted in the start of a discipleship group called Natter Plus. Also once a month, following on from the regular Natter group, people are invited to stay on for a half hour service (Natter with God), many who attend don’t go to church. Since the initial Natter group was set up, six more have been established across the diocese with two in the pipeline

14 NETWORK | FEATURES All of these examples can be explored further by watching three minute clips of them on www.youtube.com/dioceseofsheffield Fresh at 4

Fresh is a new kind of church held at St Thomas, Kilnhurst every third Sunday of the month at 4pm. It has been running for a few years now. It has been developed to try and reach people in the surrounding areas that don’t already regularly engage with the church. It offers people somewhere to belong, to get a taste of what the church family is all about, to learn something about Jesus from the bible, and to do all this for the first time in a place which is safe and comfortable. Many people have engaged with it and stuck with it, growing as disciples of Jesus.

Parson Cross Mission Community

Parson Cross Mission Community is a part of St Philip’s, that has its base in the centre of Sheffield. St Philip’s has its base in the centre of Sheffield. It aspires to see transformation in people and communities, inspired Rolling Stones by Jesus. St Philip’s meets on a Sunday at its base at The Printhouse Rolling Stones was started by Sarah Maughan, a lay on North Church Street. It also acts as an office space to member of St Michael’s Rossington. support start-up businesses, and hosts a variety of events. She recognised that the traditional form of church was not St Philip’s sets up Community Transformation Groups (CTG reaching certain groups in the community and set about for short!). CTG's are smaller communities that meet researching what they could do to change this. regularly to pray and act to see transformation in a ‘Rolling Stones’ was born in 2014, meeting once a month particular area or people group. In many ways, these on a Saturday at 4pm. It has a café-style format, lasting groups form the primary place of belonging and only 40 minutes, it packs in prayer, songs, readings and discipleship for most people who are part of St Philip's activities for the children. All are given a big welcome as church. they arrive and are led to tables, where they are brought The community at Parson Cross is led by the Revd Diane tea and coffee. Kershaw. Though they meet for regular worship, the It now reaches groups of families that previously have not balance of emphasis is not on ‘a traditional Sunday attended church on a regular basis. In fact, approximately service’ but on building community and growing together 90% of those that attend, do not go to any other form of as followers of Jesus. They are committed to working to church. After experiencing Rolling Stones, members of sharing this message in their area and working towards nearby Auckley church have replicated the idea. Two transformation in a part of the city that has significant more church communities are also in talks to do the same. social needs.

FEATURES | NETWORK 15 The Diocese of Sheff ield

EASTEAST RIDINGR

SOUTH YORKSHIREY

“ The Diocese of Sheffield is called to grow a sustainable network

of Christ-like, lively and diverse Christian communities in every place which are effective in making disciples and i“ n seeking to transform our society and God’s world.

Diocese of Sheffield | Church House | 95-99 Effingham Street | Rotherham | S65 1BL Telephone: (01709) 309 100 Facsimile: (01709) 512 550 Email: reception@sheffield.anglican.org @DioceseofSheff Find us on facebook.com/dioceseofsheffield www.sheffield.anglican.org