1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

SHARING THE VISION
throughout the Wessex Synod
Issue 90: February(a) 2015
LOCAL CHURCH NEWS and EVENTS
Nick Adlem has resigned from Richmond Hill St Andrew’s pastorate in Bournemouth and will be
finishing at the end of March.
Wonersh United Reformed Church will be holding a “huge” second hand book sale and also a cake
sale (not second hand!) on Saturdy 14th March from 10am until 3pm.
Red Cross First Aid Training – Feedback from Angela Lambert of Hythe United Reformed
Church:
“The course was really good. The trainer arrived in plenty of time to set up, she was very professional
throughout and the day went smoothly. Everything was explained thoroughly and I asked people
afterwards what they thought. No negative feedback at all. Everyone felt as though they could put their
new knowledge to use if necessary. I've done a few courses before and this was one of the best
especially including the epi pen as I didn't know what to do with those before”.
Come and join the Beacon Church, Canford Heath at their Pantomime Peter Pan lost in Neverland
on Friday 20th February 7pm (Doors open at 6: 45pm), Saturday 21st February 2pm (Doors open at
1.45pm) and Saturday 21st February 7pm (Doors open at 6.45pm)
Tickets : Adults £4, Children £2 (under 12), Family £10 (2Adults & up to 3Children). For more
information: Email: fiona@churc.co.uk. The minister guarantees a refund if you do not enjoy the
experience!
Synod will meet on Saturday 21st March at Avenue St Andrew’s URC, Southampton. Papers will be
available online in due course.
FEBRUARY AREA GATHERINGS
The next round of area gatherings have been set as follows:
South West
Monday 9th
6.30 for 7pm start
Wesley Centre, Trinity United
Church, Ringwood
South East
Tuesday 10th
6.30 for 7pm start
Freemantle, Southampton
North West
Tuesday 17th
6.30 for 7pm start
Christ Church Woodley
North East
Thursday 19th
6.30 for 7pm start
Westborough
At these gatherings we will be looking at two resolutions from General Assembly and providing those
present with materials that they can subsequently use with their churches. It would be helpful if
anyone planning to come to the gatherings looked at the papers relating to the resolutions. These can
be found on the Synod website here
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Romsey Methodist Circuit Job Opportunity - Children’s & Families’ Worker
The Romsey Methodist Circuit wishes to appoint a part-time Children’s & Families’ Worker (20hrs
per week) to serve from 1st May 2015 - or as soon as possible thereafter. Details and an application
form can be obtained from Marilyn Pack - mjpack@renpack.co.uk 01 794 512022. Closing date Monday 2nd March 2015.
TRAINING EVENTS
To book a place on any of the events listed in the two sections below please contact Ruth
Heine, Development Team Administrator Email: development@urcwessex.org.uk Tel: 023 8067
4513
CORE Skills Training in Reading, sessions once a month on Thursday evenings 7.30 – 9.30pm at
Christ Church, Woodley. The United Reformed Church and the Methodist Church are pleased to
announce a CORE Skills training course to develop and extend key skills in children’s ministry and
aspects of youth ministry.
· Pastoral Awareness
26 February 2015
· The Bible and Prayer
26 March 2015
Safeguarding Training
on Saturday 28 February 2015 at High Cross, Camberley.
Arrivals from 9.30am for 10am start. Finish approx 4pm. Refreshments will be provided, please bring
your own lunch.
A full days training for all individuals working with children and young people and important for
Ministers and Elders of the Church.
The course covers: The Basics of Safeguarding; Good Practice Procedures; Duty of Care and Pastoral
Awareness; Structures; Exploring Case Studies; Planning the Way Forward.
Certificates are presented to those completing this training course. Bookings close on Friday 14
February for the course in Camberley
There will a further course on Saturday 3rd October at Hythe United Reformed Church.
Red Cross First Aid Courses
The Save a Life course covers basic first aid skills for dealing with an emergency (baby, child or adult).
First Aid is a valuable skill to have. These courses are free of charge and open to anyone in the
congregation, particularly children’s and youth leaders. Maximum 15 participants. If your church
would like to host a first aid course, please get in touch with Ruth Heine email:
development@urcwessex.org.uk tel: 023 8067 4513.
Friday 17 April 2015 at Lymington URC – Food Hygiene Level 2 certificated course. 9.30am –
4.30pm. Arrivals and registration from 9am. Please bring your own lunch, drinks will be provided.
The course will cover: Food poisoning and bacteria, The law and how it affects individuals and
businesses/HACCP, How to keep the area clean and hygienic, Personal hygiene, Cleaning/pests etc.
Cost: approx £20 per person (minimum 10 people – the cost will come down if more people sign up).
We hope local churches will agree to cover the cost of participants.
Booking is essential as places are limited to 18 (some places have already been taken up). Contact:
Helena Carr at Lymington URC. Email: adminurclym@btinternet.com Tel: 01590 676306
Lymington URC has minimal parking available. Please use the local car parks which are all within a few
minutes walking distance of the church. Visit our website www.lymurc.org.uk for map and car parking
information.
DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT EVENTS:
Lay Preachers’ Gathering on Saturday 25 April 2015 at London Street URC Basingstoke, 10.30am –
3.45pm.
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Growing the Church on Saturday 16 May 2015 at London Street URC Basingstoke, 10am – 4pm.
Cost: £10 per person.
Theme: ‘encouraged by God, encouraging one another’.
Come and find out how we can grow our churches through our encounters with God. Our inspirational
keynote speaker is Michael Harvey, founder of Back to Church Sunday. Our worship and workshops
will include different styles and approaches to enable us to be encouraged by God.
Small Churches Away weekend, 13-14 June 2015 at Green Pastures in Poole. From 2pm on
Saturday to 2pm on Sunday. Further information to follow in due course.
Line-Management Training on Saturday 27 June 2015 at London Street United Reformed Church
Basingstoke, 10am – 4pm.
Lay Presidency at Communion on Saturday 25 July 2015 at Rowlands Castle United Reformed
Church 10am to 1.30pm.
Elders Development at United Church, Dorchester
For current Elders non-serving Elders and anyone interested in becoming an Elder.
1.
Calling and Functions - Saturday 14 February 2015
2.
Pastoral Care and Mission - Saturday 28 March 2015
3.
Prayer, Spirituality & Worship - Saturday 6 June 2015
Arrivals and registration from 9.30am for 10am start. Finish at 2pm.
Conference for Lay Preachers and Worship Leaders
(Northern College at Luther King House)
Thursday 7th—Friday 8th May 2015
Survival | Revival: Exploring Hopeful Texts
Revd Dr Kathy White and Revd Dr Noel Irwin, two scholars of Hebrew
Scriptures, will lead sessions on prophetic writings. Revd Dr Rosalind Selby
will lead sessions on the New Testament. There will also be a choice of
workshops involving the use of Powerpoint in Worship.
This conference for lay preachers and leaders of worship will look at what it
means to offer worship that is biblically rooted, creative, and welcoming. It
offers opportunities for biblical engagement, discussions and creative
activities, and the sharing of ideas and experience.
For more information please contact Ruth Heine (development@urcwessex.org.uk Tel: 023 8067
4513) or David Childs (dchilds@alumni.soton.ac.uk)
CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH EVENTS
Synod Children’s Day – I’m Outstanding. Saturday 21 March 2015 at Avenue St Andrew’s URC.
10am – 4pm. A day for 7 – 11 year olds. Meet new friends, have fun and explore being ‘fantastically
amazing’ through games, discussion and workshops. Cost: £5 Bring a packed lunch. Booking is
essential. Please contact Ruth Heine, development@urcwessex.org.uk
Saturday 16 May 2015. Pilots on Safari – a big day out to West Midland Safari Park. This is
open to all in the URC not just for Pilots. Booking is available through the Pilots desk at Church
House. Places are limited so don't be disappointed - book now. Closing date for bookings is 27th
March 2015. Please contact: United Reformed Church House, 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H
9RT. Tel: 020 7916 8637 email: pilots@urc.org.uk
Wessex Synod is planning to send a few coaches to help with travel for those wishing to attend, so
please do get in touch to book your places on the coaches. Closing date for booking places on
Wessex Synod coaches is 27th March 2015. Please contact: Ruth Heine, Development Team
Administrator, Synod Office. email: development@urcwessex.org.uk or phone 023 8067 4513
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Wessex Summer Camp Re: Value. 17 – 19 July 2015 at Ferny Crofts Activity Centre, The New
Forest. A great camping event for all young people aged 11-18 with additional opportunities for those
aged 18 – 25 connected to the URC. We will be thinking about how we value ourselves and others and
will be exploring God’s amazing plan for us.
Early booking advised. Bookings received before 31 May 2015 - £40pp (£10 reduction for siblings
under the age of 18 on bookings received before 31 May). Bookings received after 31 May - £60pp.
Further information from: development@urcwessex.org.uk
OTHER EVENTS
A Weekend for Church Treasurers is being held at the Windermere Centre February 20th - 22nd
February 2015. Full details can be found at: http://windermere.urc.org.uk/portfolio-item/churchtreasurers-weekend/
Elders training sessions at Farnham URC – open to anyone
All sessions are independent, so you can come to those you are able to without any obligation to come
to the others.
 What is eldership and the United Reformed Church all about? - Monday 30 March 2015
 Elders and teamwork - Monday 27 April 2015
 Elders and mission - Monday 22 June 2015
 Elders and pastoral care - Monday 7 September 2015
 Spirituality and prayer for Elders - Monday 5 October 2015
 Elders and trusteeship - Monday 23 November 2015
7.30 pm refreshments, for 7.45 pm start. Finish by 9.15 pm.
Prior booking is not essential, but an indication of numbers (for refreshments and hand outs) to the
church office would be helpful on 01252 726306, office@farnhamurc.org.uk
HAVE YOU A STORY TO TELL?
The Garden productions, is an award-winning independent production company with a history of
producing powerful documentary series. They are renowned for Channel 4’s 24 Hours in A&E, 24
Hours in Police Custody and the BAFTA award-winning Bedlam. They are looking for fascinating
stories about people who have saved somebody's life to feature in an exciting new series for ITV. They
are seeking to speak to anyone who believes that they saved a stranger's life, or anybody who believes
their life was saved by a stranger who would be happy to share their story and might consider being in
a documentary. It doesn't matter what the story is or where the experience took place, and it doesn't
matter whether the two people have never seen each other since that day. They would be delighted to
hear from anybody who has a story to tell. For more details please contact the Synod Office.
PREPARING FOR THE UK GENERAL ELECTION:
Good Society and Hustings resources from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
With the General Election fast approaching, 2015 is a year of decision. Society is facing some
fundamental challenges – rising levels of poverty, inequality and austerity, a housing crisis, challenges
facing children and young people and the prospect of climate crisis. This isn’t new, but whoever forms
the next government has a tough job and key decisions ahead. These will ultimately shape the type of
society that we become. In such circumstances, the churches have a major role to play – both in
hosting local Hustings meetings – and in stimulating discussion about the kind of ‘Good Society’ we
want to live in and the vision and values which underpin it.
To this end CTBI have a special General Election website – www.churcheselection.org.uk is On this site
you can download the briefing on organising a local Hustings event; register details of your own event
and search for events happening near you.
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Milton Mount Foundation
Bursaries towards school fees are available from the Foundation for children of secondary school age
attending any independent boarding or day schools approved by the Trustees. Subject to available
funding these means tested grants are available to the children of Ministers or members of the United
Reformed Church or the Congregational Federation.
The Foundation may also give grants to women taking degrees as mature students.
Further information and application forms are available from the Secretary: Tel: 01753 748713
email: erna.stevenson@blueyonder.co.uk
REMINDERS
SYNOD CLERK POSITION
Applications for the post of Synod Clerk close at noon on 16th February 2015 and should be sent to
Nigel Appleton either by email: appletonn@aol.com or by post marked “Confidential, Synod Clerk
Appointment”, Wessex Synod Office, 120 Alma Road, Southampton, SO14 6UW.
Role Description, Person Specification and Application Form can be found by clicking here
WORLD CHURCH GROUP
The annual Le Weekend with friends from the United Protestant Church of France has been planned
for 24- 26th April at Collinwood Road United Reformed Church, Oxford. The theme will be ‘Change or
no Change? Building a welcoming Church’. There will be:
·
Food, friendship, and activities for adults & children
·
Bowling
·
Ecumenical Worship
and much more. If you would like more information or a booking form, please get in touch with Helen
Everard at helen@alexeverard.co.uk
PLEASE put the date in your diary and if you can attend only one of the days, that’s just fine.’
New Horizons in Christian Spirituality Workshop at Sarum College, Salisbury
12pm on Wednesday 4th to 2pm on Friday 6th March 2015
Bookings: course code 2484. Email: courses@sarum.ac.uk Phone: 01722 424800
Sarum College, 19 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EE. www.sarum.ac.uk
Dorset Police seeks volunteer chaplains
Dorset Police are seeking to recruit volunteer chaplains to join their existing team supporting officers,
police staff and their families across the whole of the county (including Bournemouth, Poole,
Dorchester, Weymouth, Swanage, Sherborne and Shaftesbury). To this end a recruitment evening will
be held at Dorset Police Headquarters in Winfrith on Thursday 12th February at 7pm. If you have an
accredited lay or ordained ministry within the denomination and are interested in finding out more,
please contact the Dorset County Ecumenical Officer, Katja Babei, by email ctdorset@clara.co.uk
PRAYER REQUEST
Shanklin United Reformed Church asks for
prayerful support as the Revd Brian Harley takes
his sabbatical beginning in April. Please remember
the members and officers during this time.
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PRAYER CALENDAR
Please pray for the following churches during March
week beginning:
March
1
Peachcroft Centre, Abingdon; Freemantle, Southampton; Verwood;
8
Christchurch; Creekmore, Poole; Mere;
15
Synod Meeting; Buckland, Portsmouth; Totton;
22
Andover; Fovant; Radipole, Weymouth;
29
Immanuel Church, Southbourne; Sarisbury Green; Braishfield, Romsey
Please note that the list of churches each month is for the following month to enable magazine editors
to include the names. The full list for 2015 is available on the Synod website.
The Prayer Calendar has been part of Sharing the Vision since it began. It will continue to be so and
there is now an additional paragraph before the list of churches designated for each week. These
requests will appear in the first issue each month, alongside the Prayer Calendar. This is an
opportunity for churches to request particular prayers for situations in the life of their congregation. It
will not only apply to the churches listed for that particular week but to any who wish to be
remembered for prayer for any reason. That reason does not need to a celebration or special event,
although these will be welcome for we all like to give thanks, but rather for anything that you feel
needs wider prayerful consideration. Please send all requests to Carol Rogers by the 1st day of each
month. Her email address is carannrog@aol.com (please note the double’n’). Please note that the list
of churches each month is for the following month to enable magazine editors to include the names.
PLEASE SEND ITEMS FOR THE NEXT EDITION TO THE EDITOR, CAROL ROGERS
(carannrog@aol.com) by 18th February 2015.
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