News - Around the District

We are absolutely delighted to announce the happy news that our wonderful District Office Manager, Jenny Phillips, has given birth to a beautiful little girl.

Sophie Elizabeth was born on 20th July, and both mum and baby are doing very well.

Report into the importance of the £20 a week Universal Credit increase published   Action for Children and Child Poverty Action Group released a report in September that reveals the importance of the £20 uplift to Universal Credit for families.   The report examines the impact on 19 occupations. It showed that without the £20 increase, hairdressers will be the worst affected, losing an average of £1,982 a year after the cut.   To read the report visit: : https://bit.ly/UnivCReport Read the report

Join the Star Jump challenge   You can raise funds for children while keeping fit by taking part in Action for Children's Star Jump challenge.    As part of our 'Star in Every Child' campaign, we're inviting supporters to raise funds so that we can ensure children have the basics – the things every child needs: warm clothes and proper meals, and things that help them to reach for the stars, like tutoring or learning a musical instrument.   The challenge is really simple, and anyone can do it with friends and family. To sign up, visit: https://bit.ly/AFCStarJump Join the Star Jump challenge

Create a star to send to your MP   There's still time to take part in Action for Children's craftivism campaign.   Last month, we invited you to create a star and send it to your MPs urging them to commit to making children a personal priority so that the star in every child can shine.   Thank you to everyone who has created and sent a star; we were thrilled to see your stars.   To send a star, sign up to receive information about what to do: https://bit.ly/Craftivism-signup Sign up for craftivism

Action for Children: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/

Journey of the Magi – a festive, light-hearted, joyful event with a moving and profound message.

Following a sell-out year in 2019, Journey of the Magi is back, for churches to host for Advent 2021. Share the joy and wonder of Christmas with your church and local community through this exhilarating, critically acclaimed performance. The show offers a bridge between contemporary life and Jesus’s birth, comparing our own personal journey to Christmas day with the journey that the wise men took. With sparkle and songs to keep the children entertained and bags of good humour for the grown-ups, Journey of the Magi delights audiences of all ages and offers a chance to reflect and refocus.

“Absolutely fabulous show. Wonderful mix of fun, wit, and meaning. It made me laugh and it made me cry all in a couple of minutes. (Hope you'll come back.)”  Richard, Poynton Methodist Church

Springs is inviting churches to host a performance of Journey of the Magi, which we are planning to tour nationally in December 2021. If the tour cannot go ahead due to Covid-19, bookings will be postponed until Advent 2022 or will be fully refunded .

Further information can be found on the Springs Dance Company website page https://springsdancecompany.org.uk/productions/journey-of-the-magi/, by emailing touring@springsdancecompany.org.uk or by calling 07876 752 910

Click here to view the Journey of the Magi flyer.

Mel brown is the Pioneer Chaplain for Overstone Gate, Katrina Hutchins is the Minister of Overstone church and they work collaboratively on the new housing estates at Overstone.  The developers have provided 'bee bombs' - a small packet containing wild flower seeds that attract bees and butterflies.  Katrina and Mel delivered the packages to householders on the estate.

A Conversation with Graham Kendrick

As we hopefully prepare to sing again in our churches in the near future, I'm very pleased to share with you that I have recorded a Zoom interview with hymnwriter Graham Kendrick.  (Our Circuit will be thinking over the next few weeks about the hymns that inspire and influence us, so this seemed like a good place to start - and he very graciously said yes!)   This was premiered on our Market Harborough YouTube channel on Sunday 11th July at 8.00am.  I think the words and reflections Graham offers could be an encouragement to many - and also a reminder of what a great catalogue of hymns he has offered the church.

Overstone Neighbours Celebrate Community Spirit and Tackle Loneliness with the Big Lunch

As a way to celebrate community connections and get to know their neighbours better, residents in Overstone and Moulton have recently taken part in a socially distanced Big Lunch event.

To read more about this, click here.

The Lubbesthorpe Project

Please watch this video, which contains a great story (10 mins long) about Lubbesthorpe, which the denominations have created through their involvement. As this project moves into self sustaining mode it seems apt to take a look at how partnership and collaboration can make a real difference. This project will leave a legacy of community and an established praying community. It is a great example of what can be acheived with ecumenical co-operation. 

Video link here: The Lubbesthorpe Project

Interfaith Training at St Phillips Centre (SPC) in Leicester 

Introduction from James Blackhall, the new Methodist Churches Engagement Officer for the St Philip’s Centre 

SPC have received Connexional Funding to work with Methodist Churches throughout this District and the Connexion and are delighted to be able to offer a range of training opportunities. I am also happy to speak individuals about what we can offer and to circuit meetings, LPWL meetings, away days or any other settings either myself or with one of our faith practitioners to deliver one of the sessions in the booklet or a bespoke session in your circuit or church.  Many Methodists, myself included, have enjoyed some of the interfaith training sessions on Zoom over recent months and I personally have found that my faith has deepened and grown as a result.

If you would like any more information do get in touch with me on any of the following please don’t hesitate to contact me on courses@stphilipscentre.co.uk or 07707 640885.

James Blackhall

Methodist Churches Engagement Officer

Confident Christianity - Training with SPC

The Reverend Helen Cameron, Chair of the Northampton District of The Methodist Church, has been elected as the next Moderator of the Free Churches Group. Read more here....

Video by Rev'd Calvin T Samuel, Methodist Minister - Entitled 'A Long Overdue Conversation on Racism'

Welcome Service for Rev'd Edson Dube

On Saturday 22nd  August Rev'd Edson Dube was welcomed to the Milton Keynes circuit in an online service. 

Here are two videos of the choir from this service.

Mayenziwe video https://youtu.be/fx4IHsM3Ysg

We Are Marching video https://youtu.be/w1UQ6YFzXOI

Walking in anothers shoes
Exploring the choice of words and how we are sometimes just not sure what to say

Thank you to Rugby MC for sharing this conversation with us.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=769267233845648&id=724191884289092

Leicester Mercury, 17 July 2020.  Together in Hope 

Article Here

Research Project - Women's everyday experiences of Methodism 

Message from the researchers:

The project, based at the University of Hull is examining ordinary women's everyday experiences of Methodism in England from 1945. We are looking for Methodist women (of all ages, backgrounds, or roles) to participate in a phone or online interview in which they will discuss their journey as a Methodist, as well as their experience of any artefacts or objects in relation to their Methodist practices. The interview transcript will be used in academic publications, will contribute to an exhibition at Epworth Old Rectory and will be deposited at Epworth Old Rectory Archive. 

If you would consider taking part in an interview, then please contact either Dr Ruth Slatter (the project lead, R.Slatter@hull.ac.uk) or Dr Hannah Worthen (the project's Research Assistant, hannah.worthen@hull.ac.uk). We would also be very grateful even if you can't commit to an interview, if you might be able to forward this information onto other interested parties. And please do get in touch with Ruth or Hannah if you have any questions!

Message from our National Rural Officer regarding the Agriculture Bill - It is crucial that we get an amendment to ensure that imported food must meet the same standards of quality and welfare as that produced by British farmers. Failure to do this could seriously damage UK agriculture. Please sign the petition here:  https://www.nfuonline.com/back-british-farming/campaign-news/food-standards-petition/

The Methodist e-Academy would like to recruit students from the UK and Ireland who might be interested in doing the full program or selected modules from it. Further information here