We’re very much looking forward to our Representative Synod on 18th September – meeting at the Manor School in York. We’ll be taking lots of care to try to make sure that everyone who can come feels comfortable and safe. It will be a great opportunity to ‘take stock’ and look ahead to all that God has in store. A warm invitation is extended to all!

Dear Friends                                                                                                                             September 2021

We look forward to welcoming you to the Representative Session of the Yorkshire North and East District Synod on Saturday, 18th of September 2021. This will primarily be an in-person Synod, held at York Manor Academy. (York Manor Academy, Millfield Lane, Nether Poppleton, YORK, YO26 6PA)

We are aware that some people may not yet feel comfortable meeting in large groups, so there will be the option to attend via Zoom. However, with some of the activities we have planned, the virtual experience will have some limitations. If you feel you need to attend virtually, please let the district office (admin@yorkshirenemethodist.org) know so that we can plan accordingly – although you will be free to change your mind on the day! The Zoom link will be sent to those attending online in due course. (If you are attending virtually you might want some pen and paper to hand during the ‘lament’ section; some resources for doing the craft activities will be provided on the district website.)

The day will include the usual Synod business plus worship, workshops, and craft activities.  We are seeking to create a sacred and safe place in which we will explore our Synod themes.  As we focus on ‘lament’ there will be a creative time for bringing music, prayer writing…etc.  We encourage Synod members to reflect in advance on this theme, and perhaps bring anything creative that emerges: poems, songs, prayers.  There will be a time of worship before lunch where we will share both what has been brought and what has been created on the day.

We will begin at 9.30am and finish by 3:00pm, with breaks for refreshments. On another note, if you are attending in person and would require the use of the hearing loop system, please could you inform the district office in advance.

We are really looking forward to the opportunity to meet together physically again, but of course Synod will have a different feel as we mitigate the risks. Please bring a mask with you and your own mug for drinks. You will also need to bring lunch and any snacks that you might need through the day, though a pack of biscuits will be included in a bag you receive as you arrive!  We also would ask that those joining us in person do a lateral flow test before attending. Also, if anyone is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, please contact the District Office so that they can give you the information to attend virtually.

Synod papers will be available on the District website at: www.yorkshirenemethodist.org/district/synods or can be requested to be emailed directly, or printed and posted, by contacting the District Office at admin@yorkshirenemethodist.org or by phoning/texting 07809 431871

In calling you to the Synod, it is also our responsibility to remind you, as required by Conference, that “every presbyter and every deacon who is not a supernumerary, and every presbyteral and diaconal probationer, unless, in any case, excused by dispensation of the Chair, is required to attend the Synod of which he or she is a member and to remain throughout its sessions. A dispensation of absence is to be given only on compelling grounds.”  This also applies to Recognised and Regarded ministers.

Supernumerary Ministers and Ministers Authorised to Serve are welcome to attend the Representative Synod, but do not need a dispensation of absence if unable to attend.  Lay members of Synod who are unable to attend are asked to notify the Synod Secretary via the District Office and to let their Circuit-meeting elected substitute have their Synod Papers.

We look forward to worshipping and reflecting together in these challenging times.

With best wishes

Leslie Newton                        Emma Crippen             Chair of District                        Synod Secretary

A Study Morning led by the Revd Leslie Newton as he shares reflections from his recent Sabbatical.

Saturday 20^th November 2021, Boston Spa Methodist Church
9.45am – 1pm
Teas/Coffee from 9.15am

Please book online through Eventbrite here: https://bit.ly/reviveuslordagain

Looking afresh at the 18^th Century growth of the Methodist movement and exploring how Wesley’s primary message and principal methods can shape the renewal of the mission of ‘the People called Methodists’ in the 21^st Century.

“My recent Sabbatical inspired me greatly as I explored the growth of early Methodism. I began to see, as with fresh eyes, how Wesley’s message and methods have much to offer us as we explore what it is to be ‘the People called Methodists’ in our world today.
I don’t believe for a minute that God has finished with us, and if we have the courage to dig deep into our heritage, I believe that God’s Spirit can breathe new life into our life and mission.
Here, I will share some of my reflections – glad for the opportunity to receive feedback – as together we look for a faithful and courageous way ahead.”

“Revive us, Lord, again” is a line in ‘Being of beings, God of love’ StF 490v4, Charles Wesley

GIFTS: outside the box – A week of online events to discern how we can use our gifts from God to serve others in safe and gracious ways. Join us for any or all of these sessions! Book for the sessions you are interested in here: (booking required) https://bit.ly/giftsoutsidethebox Registration Deadline: Monday 3rd May

After a great deal of thinking and praying, consulting and discussing, we have now reluctantly agreed that the wisest and safest decision is to defer Flourish from this September.  We have such wonderful and enduring memories of Flourish in 2019 and we want our next event to be as equally inspiring and positive.  Although it seems that it would have been possible to go ahead with Flourish this September, we cannot be sure of how free from restrictions we would be, and we have recognised that many will feel reluctant to gather in such a significant number so soon after the lockdowns of the past year.

We are now planning our way ahead as follows:

1. Saturday 18^th September will instead be our Autumn Synod.  We will plan to meet physically, and also offer an online option so as to be as inclusive as possible.  We will develop a programme that is as open as possible to everyone in the District who would like to participate.  We will have a particular focus on:
2. reflecting on all that we have travelled through during this pandemic, and
3. committing ourselves with renewed faith to fulfilling all that God has for us in the future.
4. We will now seek to agree a new date for Flourish – now Flourish 22 – to be, we anticipate, in September / October 2022.  All things considered this seems to be the preferable time of year, with the best opportunity for a really successful event which includes all ages as fully as possible.

We will of course keep you updated as our revised plans develop.

On Sunday 14th March at 6pm we will be hosting a District Ordinands Testimony Service. This is a special opportunity for us to hear Deacon Nigel Perrott in the Ripon and Lower Dales Methodist Circuit share his testimony and to offer him our affirmation and support to him ahead of his ordination in June. (Nigel’s ordination was due last summer, but delayed to this summer because of the impact of Covid-19.) We are honoured and delighted that the President of the Methodist Conference, Richard Teal, will be taking part in the service. Please share this widely!

The service will be taking place on Zoom and live streamed to YouTube for those not taking part in the service to watch and join with us.
Watch Live Here

The video will be available to watch back afterwards as well and should be easy to find from our YouTube channel, the link for which is: www.youtube.com/yorkshirenorthandeastmethodistdistrict

We are delighted to welcome Andrew Crawford as our new HR Officer for both our district and Sheffield Methodist District. He joins us after a career working in sport and establishing his Barnsley-based retained-HR service.

Andrew said: “I’m available to support you with HR advice and provide guidance for any employment related issues or concerns you face.”

He will fulfil the role on a part-time basis and will offer support to both Districts. Outside of human resources Andrew spends time volunteering, he explains: “I spend time volunteering with a particular focus around homelessness, rough sleeping and substance dependency, and the importance of harm reduction education. This is with both the Barnsley Rough Sleeper Project and Framework HA, the dedicated rough sleeper team in Sheffield, commissioned through Sheffield City Council. I am also a charity trustee with the Barnsley Churches Drop-in-Project and I’m a volunteer independent custody visitor for the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioners Office.”

We are delighted that Andrew is joining our District team and look forward to all that he will bring to the life of the local churches, circuits and District.

You can contact Andrew by email: hr@yorkshirenemethodist.org or phone: 07483106005

We’re looking for a few individuals to help the district develop some fresh, imaginative and proactive ways forward in our internal and external communication.

The role will potentially involve helping us practically establish some new methods, new content, or a new strategy. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape how we share Good News in our district. Please consider whether you might have skills to offer to this vital work. This can simply be an initial contribution rather than an ongoing longer-term commitment.

If this is you, or for further information on these voluntary roles, or to offer an expression of interest – please contact the district office (admin@yorkshirenemethodist.org)

The District is now producing online worship services once a month for circuits and churches to utilise. As well as finding them used locally, you can also watch them on YouTube and Facebook, and all the services are available to watch back on this page of the District Website: www.yorkshirenemethodist.org/district-services/

Here is an example of one of our recent services, from Sunday 27th December, with contributions from the Revd Richard Teal, President of the Methodist Conference.

The Methodist Church Christmas campaign for 2020 #GodIsWithUs seeks to share this good news through twenty-four stories of individuals and their experiences of this extraordinary year. Each day of Advent they will share a testimony from somebody connected to the Methodist Church reflecting on what hope has looked like for them this year and how they have experienced God with them.

The individuals whose stories the campaign tells include those who have felt the painful effects of isolation this year, who have experienced extreme poverty, who have struggled with poor mental health, who have lost loved ones – like so many millions of others. But ultimately, incredibly, God’s loving presence radiates from each of them in beams of powerful hope. Hope that is so necessary for such a time as this.

The campaign name, which ties in with our Presidential theme for the year, of course comes from John Wesley’s purported words on his death bed: ‘the best of all is, God is with us’ which reminds us that even in the times which feel most uncertain, we can be certain of God. Who do you know who needs to hear this message over the coming months?   

 The campaign offers the following content:

• Shareable social media posts every day in Advent on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – these will contain a quote from the story of the day alongside a photo of the person who’s story it is.
• A video released on 1^st December on YouTube and shared on social media. This will be narrated by the 24 campaign participants and will simply show clips of each person.
• Sets of postcards (A6) available for local churches to order (free, + P&P) to give out locally. The postcards have reflective questions for you to contemplate where God has been for you this year.
• Two campaign posters available to download by clicking on the images below
• Poster B  is also available as print on demand from Christian Publishing and Outreach (CPO) in sizes A0-A4.
• Worship at Home service sheets for each Sunday in December and an extra service for Christmas Day,  available to download from the Methodist Church website. 
• A Worship at Home Christmas CD which is available to pre-order from Methodist Publishing (free plus P&P charges – publication date 7 December). The audio CD hopes to help those who are unable to watch services online or attend physical services. Listen to this act of worship at home, in your car or on your daily walks.  The service will also be available as a free download from the middle of December – link coming soon.
• A weekly prayer and reflection produced by JPIT – available here.
• The campaign social media posts are available to download in advance for organisations and local churches wishing to schedule them throughout Advent. These will be provided in weekly batches on the Friday of the previous week for you to schedule for the following week.

The materials ask questions which encourage Methodists and non-Methodists alike to consider their own story of faith in 2020 and to share it with one another or online. The campaign aims to encourage Methodists to reflect, share their stories, and reach out to others outside the church and encourage them to do the same.

Find all the information, resources and links on this page:
www.methodist.org.uk/christmas

We’re looking for a part-time HR Officer to join our District Team & our neighbours at Sheffield Methodist District working 25 hours per week from home. To find out more and apply, visit this link: https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/recruit…/vacancies.html

Closing date: Monday 7th December

HR OFFICER (PART TIME) SHEFFIELD METHODIST DISTRICT AND YORKSHIRE NORTH & EAST DISTRICT

Our HR Officer will:

• lead the HR advisory and administrative function for the Districts, and their constituent churches and circuits, which together employ 250+ staff
• provide expert collaborative advice for ministers and line managers on all employment matters
• efficiently prepare and process employment paperwork, releasing line managers for mission
• combine excellent interpersonal skills, technical knowledge and attention to detail

Our aim is that support provided to employing bodies will enable all lay staff to flourish in their roles, consistently exceeding statutory and Methodist requirements

25 hours/week, £14/hour plus contributory pension scheme, home-based

Contact Neil Harland on mission@sheffieldmethodist.org or 07483 308008 for application forms and details.

Closing date for applications: Monday 7th December

Interviews on or around Thursday 17th December