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 1st 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
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 freedownload 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.
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
Our Chair of District, Revd Leslie Newton, will be leading live prayers every Thursday (starting today – 5th November) at 6pm over in our public Facebook Group, supporting and encouraging the call to make November a month of prayer.Watch and engage here: www.facebook.com/groups/YorkshireNorthandEastMethodists
Leslie says: “We’re encouraging everyone to respond to the call to make November a month of prayer for our nation. The Church of England is encouraging people to pray at 6pm each day. In support of that, I’ll be leading a 15 minute prayer time each Thursday at 6pm on Facebook Live in this group – beginning this evening.”
The prayer videos will continue to be available to watch later for those who can’t join live. We will update this post with the direct link and include the video below, for those who don’t use Facebook.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the planning and delivery of our Synod this morning. It was especially encouraging that Synod: a) agreed to seek Conference approval for a brand new, non-geographically defined Circuit to provide a District-wide ‘new place for new people.’ and b) committed to becoming a Net Zero Carbon District by 2040, at least.
A summary report of District Synod will be availiable soon.
Yorkshire North & East District Synod will take place using Zoom Webinar, which is the same platform that the Methodist Conference used this year. If you attended the 2020 Methodist Conference, or watched online, then you will have some idea how our Synod will work. More info about Synod can be found on our District Website here: https://www.yorkshirenemethodist.org/…
Take a look at our new District Prayer Diary for 2020/21. We will also be sharing the prayers over on our District Facebook Page every day during September as we start on a Connexional ‘Year of Prayer’.
YEAR OF PRAYER The Conference has declared 2020/2021 a year of prayer so that our Church-wide commitments to evangelism, church growth, church at the margins, and pioneering and church planting will flow from a deep, contemplative orientation to God’s grace and love. Be part of this movement of prayer as we ask the Holy Spirit to help us be a growing, evangelistic, inclusive, justice-seeking Church of gospel people. You can join others across the country to pray together every Tuesday (starting 1st September 2020) from 12.45 to 1.00pm. Watch the live stream over on the Methodist Church Facebook Page
The Ebor Lectures series is an ecumenical project jointly sponsored and organised by York Minster, York St John University, The Order of Carmelites, The Yorkshire North and East District of the Methodist Church and The C. & J. B. Morrell Trust.
This prominent series of lectures, and related events, promotes a conversation between theology and public issues, offered free-of-charge to the general public.
In 2020 the Ebor Lectures organising committee started a YouTube channel in the hope of sharing resources with an even wider group of people.
We hope you will find the materials on offer provoke you to think – and maybe to act – in new ways for the benefit of wider society.
ANNOUNCING… We’re thrilled to release the theme for “Flourish 21”, our District event taking place next year! Watch our teaser trailer…
Flourish 21 ROOTED IN LOVE Weekend 17th – 19th September 2021 Taking place at Scarborough Spa
What is Flourish all about? Or want a recap? Watch the video to get a feel of what to expect. We’re looking forward to it already!
Background: After the success of our Flourish District Gathering in 2019, Flourish is returning in 2021. New focus. Same great event. Bringing people together from accross the District in a weekend for all ages.
We can’t wait to share more details with you all soon. #flourish21
