Spotlight Jan/Feb 2018 Home-grown study for Lent A new home-grown resource for Lent is now call to follow Him in our own time, there is so available free of charge for people across the much that we can learn from our first bishop’s Diocese. ‘Steps In Discipleship’ is a 44-page lifelong response, made at a time when Anglo- colour booklet suitable for use by individuals Saxon Mercia was as diverse, conflicted and yet or groups in parishes, schools, chaplaincies, full of opportunity as modern Mercia is today. and fresh expressions. “My hope The aim of each of the five sessions is to and prayer connect with an aspect of St Chad’s life and is that the explore what relevance it has for Christian resources people in today’s world. in these pages will The first session looks at Chad’s cross and the be opened challenges he faced when he became Bishop of up the Mercians. The next three sessions focus on Chad’s vocation, discipleship and evangelistic fervour while the final session looks at Chad in community. Each section includes biblical reflection, quotes from well-known authors, questions for discussion and suggested actions for the week ahead. The material has been written by Archdeacon by individuals and by Paul Thomas and the Dean of Lichfield Adrian groups as a way of Dorber, with a preface by Bishop Michael. renewing discipleship, multiplying vocations, and Bishop Michael said: “It is a joy to commend strengthening evangelism.” this booklet for study, reflection and prayer in Lent and beyond. Chad of Lichfield was a man The booklet is available to view and download whose humility, energy and holiness inspire us on the diocesan website now at today, and his story is threaded through the lichfield.anglican.org/2018_lent_booklet/. Hard geography and history of this precious part of copies can be ordered until the end of January England. As we seek today to answer Christ’s by email from [email protected] The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country Footprints in the Diocese Chad living More than 100 churches and other groups the Diocesan website to support parishes, To kick off 2018, the Diocese has released across the Diocese have had their say as fresh expressions, schools and chaplaincies to a set of short videos in a new series called part of an ongoing develop their focus in CHAD Living: Choices, Habits, Actions and conversation about these areas. Decisions. The videos explore what it means our Next Steps to follow Christ in the footsteps of St Chad in together. Bishop Michael said: our modern world. “To have so many Bishop Michael people participate in and Diocesan Chief Our Direction Of Travel the joint conversation Executive Julie Jones about our Next Steps The Invitation: praised the “very together is very encouraging” response Come follow Christ encouraging. I hope You can get involved in the to the survey which in the footsteps of St Chad that speaking about Chad Living conversation - came in the wake of discipleship, vocation and suggest your ideas - on the Diocese’s new We are responding to this invitation by: and evangelism will our Diocesan Twitter direction of travel to • developing discipleship help release energy and Facebook ‘Come follow Christ in • nurturing vocations and ideas across the pages. the footsteps of St Chad.’ • inspiring evangelism Diocese, with the They include richest initiatives James Some of the 108 coming from the grass Henderson To become parishes, school, chaplaincies and responses came at roots.” talking about fresh expressions that are: a parish or deanery single-use level – representing • discovering the heart of God Julie Jones said: “It plastics, several churches – • growing disciples is great that the Lindsey while others came • Reaching new generations survey results have Hall on ‘fast from Messy Churches, • transforming communities come from such a fashion’, Tamar Willoughby on becoming vegan, prison chaplaincy and • practising generosity wide cross-section of Richard Clarkson on conscious consumerism, one of the Diocese’s churches and groups Tilly and Dan Stubbs explaining the benefits of overseas partnerships. across the Diocese. growing food at home and David Primrose on Searching for ‘Chad Living’ on Youtube or at Responses were rich making the most of all our moments. www.lichfield.anglican.org/chad-living/ and varied – see “These stories will www.lichfield.anglican.org/next_steps/Come followinform Christthe focus of our central Diocesan directives from above, but in the diversity of “We are also committed to careful reflection officer team so that we can develop thematic the Christian life found in our parishes, schools, that enables us to find ways in which the inThe the survey footsteps asked work of using St their Chad expertise that will unfold chaplaincies and fresh expressions. We will Direction of Travel can be shaped in the light of people to share during 2018. ensure that our focus is ‘outward-facing’ as we experience and changing circumstances.” their stories, hopes follow Chad’s example in crossing boundaries and and plans about “Our vision as a Diocese will be rooted in reaching people beyond the institutional Church. The day after St Chad’s Day, on Saturday 3 the key areas the vision of the God we worship, the God March 2018 at 11am, Bishop Michael invites of discipleship, who invites us to follow Christ and calls us to “We are drawing Diocesan officers into a new everyone to a Next Steps celebration service vocation and abundant life. relationship with each other based around at Lichfield Cathedral. It will feature the evangelism. Over discipleship, vocation and evangelism as they Community of St Chad and include an update the coming months, “We will ensure that the Direction of Travel work to support and resource parishes, schools, on our journey of discipleship, vocation and resources will be enriches the grass roots and that is impact fresh expressions and chaplaincies effectively. evangelism including the four mission projects made available on is felt not primarily in ‘flagship projects’ or that were commissioned last May. Follow us on Twitter @Lichfield_CofE 2 Regular updates on our website www.lichfield.anglican.org 3 Join our Facebook Group “The Church of England’s Diocese of Lichfield” The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country Bishop’s Lent Appeal 2018 No doubt of the benefit This year’s Bishop’s Lent Appeal will focus Let The Children Live! (www.letthechildrenlive. The THOMAS Project in Aldridge was one on supporting families in need – both at org/) works with street children in Columbia’s of several initiatives to benefit from 2017’s home and abroad. second-largest city, Medellin. It is a charity Bishop’s Lent Appeal, which focused on of last resort for children living and working supporting asylum seekers and refugees. Times are hard for many. In our Diocese in the street and shanty towns, children with there are families who are struggling because special needs and young mothers. The charity It has worked with asylum seeking women and of financial pressures, especially with the runs Casa Walsingham where children receive children housed at a nearby hostel for over 12 stagnation in wages and the introduction food, advice, support and, if they want it, months, providing food, clothing and toys and of Universal Credit. Other families need to Christian spiritual formation. A grant from advice on housing and IT, and more recently escape violence or abuse. Still others need Duncan Bannatyne enabled the opening of a holding weekly worship sessions there. support in building strong relationships and residential centre where children participate improving parenting skills, often in adverse in activities and stay in safety. Projects include This is just one part Opportunities for life, Ministry and Mission, circumstances. We will be looking to support school facilities for adolescent mothers and of the community Achieving Changes and Supporting those in need. families in difficulty in the Diocese and, through their babies and a choir which helps children charity’s work which Let The Children Live!, in South America. therapeutically. These have enabled many provides practical It features in a special video in the new children to escape the street and provided support – including Church of England website (watch it at www. Bishop Michael says: “Families come in all others with food, accommodation and support food, training, churchofengland.org/helping-people-find- shapes and sizes, from the simple unit of for their families. counselling and work) that follows the story of Patricia Stares mother and child to complex networks of prayer – from its shopfront on the Leighswood who had been out of work until she came kinship and relation. They are the places where We also intend to give small grants to a estate. It works closely with organisations across the project. She realised it was a place we find support and nurture but can also be variety of local projects supporting families including Places of Welcome, Black Country that wanted to build a community and look places of struggle, pain, and brokenness. All in need. These include the Pathway Project in Foodbank and Workstations In Walsall. The after one another. It was there she got help to relationships of love help bring us closer to Lichfield which offers help to those escaping project offers its broad range of activities find a job, joined a prayer group and became a the love that is God in Trinity. I believe that we domestic abuse. This story illustrates the around the acronym THOMAS – Training regular. Patricia said: “I’ve never seen a shop like need to support families as a way of helping difference they make: and education, Healthcare information, it before… It makes me feel a lot happier, and others into that love that we as Christians closer to God.