Notepad May
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The CTAL news-sheet is circulated to our e-mail contacts and by post to all Local Ecumenical Partnerships, Churches Together Groups, and other key denominational representatives.
Please pass on anything you find interesting through your local church publications etc.
The CTAL team are currently discussing the future development of Notepad, deciding what its focus will be, a new layout and the subject areas that should be included. We would really like to know what you think of Notepad and for you to tell us what information you would like to see included in future publications. We also want to hear from you about any good news stories in your area, fresh expressions or pioneering ministries established across the County or events that you organising. Send any information to:
Simon Dean, Facilitator t) 01522 504071 e) office@ctal.org.uk
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This month's Notepad....
How were you reaching out this Easter?
Easter is a time of refreshing, searching, challenge, sadness, joy, hope and many other things.
Churches at Easter, like Christmas, can see many people who don't normally go to Church enter their doors. Some coming because it's a tradition, others because they feel they should and others because they are searching for something out there.
There is real opportunity for the church to reach people in its local area and share the story of Jesus and what he did for us. I wonder what your church did to reach those on the edge. Two years ago I had a very busy Easter, on Maundy Thursday we celebrated Passover by having a traditional Passover meal, service and dance. On Good Friday our church had partnered with 2 others and we re-enacted the Easter story around the streets, singing songs and following our very own donkey on the journey. We finished back at Church and sang some more songs and ate hot cross buns together. It really was fun for everyone. On the Saturday I travelled to my Mum's in Skelmersdale ready for Easter Sunday. On the Sunday I woke early to go to my first of 3 services that morning. We went up to the hills looking over the town and watched the sun rise whilst sharing communion together, it really was a fantastic way to start of the day. We then went back to the Ecumenical Centre for my first breakfast of the day. We then went to the local Methodist Church and enjoyed a family worship, which was closely followed by another breakfast. The third service once again involved welcoming the entire family and sharing in communion.
It would be great to hear from you about the type of Mission you branched out with this Easter and what you are doing throughout the year. As part of Notepad and the website we want to share with others what is happening in Lincolnshire. Why don't you email us with pictures and information so that we can all celebrate what is happening in our County.
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Introduction to the new CTAL Facilitator
Simon Dean, a member of St Georges Church in Lincoln has been appointed as the facilitator for Churches Together in all Lincolnshire. One of Simon's roles will be researching the mission taking place throughout the County and also partnerships of Churches across Lincolnshire. He will be contacting all of the Churches Together groups across the region.
Simon will also be producing Notepad, developing other communication forms including the website and will also be organising various events.
Simon told us "I'm really excited about finding out what is helping Lincolnshire churches grow and how we are reaching out to those that don't yet know Jesus"
"I just got out of the habit of going to church and have been thinking about coming to church for a while. Mike's invitation was just what I needed. I'll definitely be back. "Returner to St John - Jersey
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News & Resources
Goodbye and thank you
Following the arrival of our new Facilitator we say goodbye to Alison McNish who has been overseeing the administration and day to day running of CTAL. Alison is going to be extending her hours with Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services and will continue her work as PA to the Lincoln and Grimsby District Chair, Rev Dr David Perry. Alison we wish you all the best and thank you for everything you have done for CTAL.
Alison says:
"I have enjoyed working for CTAL for the last ten and a half years and in particular speaking to and meeting so many great people from all over Lincolnshire representing a wide spectrum of church life. I'm sure it's the right time to move on, not least because Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services is requiring more input in time and commitment but because CTAL itself will benefit from new ideas and someone at the helm who is capable of taking things forward for Lincolnshire Churches. As Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services is one of the aspects of the churches mission in Lincolnshire I'm sure that I will continue to be in close contact with CTAL - indeed my desk is right next to Simon's!
Thank you very much to everyone I have worked with for your kindness, friendship and encouragement over the years."
| Trustees Needed |
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Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services places Christian Chaplains in places of work and education throughout Lincolnshire, North and North East Lincolnshire and has recently become a registered charity. We are now looking to recruit several new Trustees.
We are particularly looking for trustees who have experience in Accounting, Human Resource Management or Public Relations/Communications in order to expand the breadth of experience and expertise at this crucial stage of development as a new charity.
The position of Trustee is unpaid but expenses can be reimbursed. Meetings are four times a year for 2 to 3 hours and are usually held on a week night evening in Lincoln.
For further information about the role of a Trustee with LCS please contact:
Miss A McNish
Business Manager, Lincolnshire Chaplaincy Services
The Old Palace, LINCOLN, LN2 1PU
Lincolnshire shows Church Growth
Provisional statistics published by the Church of England show church attendance in the Diocese of Lincoln has risen more than any other Diocese between 2006 and 2007.
Whilst national figures remained stable, Lincoln stands out with significant congregational 9% growth. There has been a notable increase in the number of under 16's attending the church, 12%, compared with the suggested 4% drop nationally. The Venerable Jane Sinclair, Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey and Deputy President of CTAL said "It is encouraging to see signs of growth in the parishes of the Diocese of Lincoln", "Contrary to the popular gloom merchants dismissing the Church as irrelevant, these figures show that is very much alive and kicking in this part of the Country. Times may be hard but the Gospel stands true".
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Young Peoples Sunday
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The Frontier Youth trust have set up a new initiative called Young Peoples Sunday, encouraging Churches to devote at least one Sunday service a year to focus specifically upon young people. The website www.youngpeoplessunday.org.uk has plenty of ideas and free resources to help you with this service.
"Young People's Sunday is a great opportunity for local churches to celebrate all the hope and possibility that young people offer. I hope it will inspire many to develop work with young people in their local community." Steve Chalke, Oasis Trust and Faithworks
2009 Year of the Child
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2009 marks the anniversary of the UN's International Year of the Child. This is an ideal opportunity for the Church to adopt 2009 as a celebration of children and childhood. It is an opportunity to make 2009 a year in which the issues, injustices and challenges facing young people today can be highlighted. It gives chance for work with children and young people to be celebrated and to facilitate new initiatives with and for young people. It has so many strategic possibilities not just for celebrating, but also lasting change and growth. www.yearofthechild2009.co.uk
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Square Mile by Evangelical Alliance |
This new initiative has been created to help equip churches to transform their communities. The Square Mile project includes a website and a small group course to equip Christians to take an integrated approach to mission, expressed in 4 Dimensions: Mercy, Influence, Life Discipleship and Evangelism (MILE). The goal of the DVD course is to give grassroots church members understanding of and a vision for integral mission, as well as the inspiration and means to take action. This resource will be reviewed in the next edition of Notepad. For more information visit www.eauk.org/squaremile
| 'Take God to work' says Archbishop of York |
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The Archbishop of York was at the launch of a new course produced by Holy Trinity Brompton Churchwarden Ken Costa. God at Work has been produced as a 6 week course designed for small groups to look at topics such as tough decisions, life choices and stress in the work place. The book and course also looks at how we can live our Christian values in the workplace. Dr John Sentamu has said there is a "desperate need" to reconnect faith in God with the workplace. This book and resource will be reviewed in future editions of Notepad.
Coping in rural communities during the downturn
The Rural Stress Helpline (RSH) is a project of the Arthur Rank Centre. It provides a confidential listening and signposting service for rural people who may be feeling anxious, stressed or needing information.
You can contact the RSH by email or phone on 0845 094 8286.
Specific help for the farming community is also available from the Farming Help Partnership on 0845 367 9990.
Grants available for projects working with vulnerable women
do you know of an agency working with vulnerable women in your local community? Are they working in the areas of women and drugs or homelessness or violence or trafficking?
If so they can now apply for a grant of up to £50,000 from the Annesley House Fund held at the Resourcing Mission Grants Committee in Manchester.
For more information contact Martin Attfield at Central Buildings, Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JQ
| National Family Week |
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The UK's first National family Week aims to develop and preserve the many benefits of positive family life. This initiative will highlight the contribution strong family relationships make to a cohesive and well-balanced society. Visit www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk for more information.
Realising the Potential of Churches and Faith Buildings
The Government and the Church of England have published Churches and Faith Buildings: Realising the Potential to help churches and other and faith groups find resources to make their buildings more sustainable by enhancing the facilities and services they offer to local communities.
Launching the report, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said: "Churches and other places of worship are at the heart of neighbourhoods. They are the local landmarks by which we navigate and they often represent the best of our heritage. At the same time, both the buildings and the people that frequent them are so often active in enhancing the lives of many people, offering services to meet the needs of the local community. This excellent paper brings together two important things - the bricks and mortar of much-loved buildings, and the benefits they bring as resources for the wider community. Put them together and we are helping these buildings to meet the challenges of the future."
Across the country, churches and other faith groups are looking at what more their buildings can bring to local communities. Faith buildings are more likely to be better maintained and adapted for community use when they are well used. At the same time, churches and other faith groups are ideally placed in every community to provide facilities, services and a positive and stable presence.
The paper confirms the position of churches and faith groups as significant contributors to society as part of the third sector. It proposes a range of actions to help faith groups engage effectively in local and regional agendas, it outlines some resources that might help to make church and faith buildings more user-friendly as part of wider community activities, and it proposes ways in which providers of funding and policy makers might better understand what faith groups bring to community. PDF and Word versions are downloadable from the CTE website. www.churches-together.net
Book Reviews
"Christianity, Climate Change & Sustainable Living"
By Nick Spencer & Robert White.
Published by SPCK ISBN 978-0-281-05833-4 £9.99
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The book is in three parts: the science of climate change; the theology of sustainable living; and practical responses informed by parts one and two.
The presentation of scientific evidence is clear and accessible. It covers how the "greenhouse effect" works; changes in the atmosphere over geological time; changes in temperature and CO2 over the last 160,000 years and developments since the industrial revolution began. It describes effects of recent rapid global temperature changes: altered weather patterns, extreme weather events, floods, droughts, effects on agriculture, changes in sea levels etc. It shows the relationship of these changes to our use of coal, oil and gas. It discusses computer modelling of future changes in these parameters, and shows how, even with no further emissions of CO2 from fossil fuels, we are already committed to significant climate change. It explains the idea of "peak oil". Scary effects of human activity are presented without sensational rhetoric. All that and more in just 35 readable pages.
A chapter on "Sustainability and well-being" shows how these effects are ultimately caused by the day-to-day activities that we take for granted, but which depend on cheap, easily available fossil fuels. I was especially struck by the extent to which the energy demand for these "normal" activities has mushroomed during my adult life. I really am part of the problem: in Europe and North America (1/6th of the world's population) we produce 55% of the CO2 emissions; the poorest 1/6th produce less than 3%. They suffer from our actions. Our lifestyle drives the demand for energy and causes the problem. Ironically, consuming more energy and manufactured "things" does not improve our individual or society's well-being. We need a sustainable lifestyle, not only because we are probably close to catastrophic climate change (my words - the authors are more restrained) and "peak oil", but also because sustainable living is better for society.
The theological section (70 odd pages) challenges Christians with "Why should we care?" I found it embarrassing to think we might need an answer to that! Isn't it obvious? Nevertheless it is helpful to read about "a biblical view" of humanity's place in nature and our responsibility to God for our relationship to the rest of God's creation. The authors correct those who mis-use the idea of human "dominion" in place of our stewardship, and refute those who lay all the blame for the ecological crisis on Christianity. An analysis of Isaiah contributes to their "total biblical vision" of how we should live together, in response to God's action in and purpose for the world, anticipating the coming Kingdom of God. should live together, in response to God's action in and purpose for the world, anticipating the coming Kingdom of God.
This leads to the practical response section. "Eight principles of sustainable living" are suggested, by which our attempts at sustainable living may be evaluated. These criteria are then applied to practical responses at a personal, communal, national and international level. It considers our use of technology and alternative energy sources, not to "patch" our broken way of living, but as part of a renewed way of being society. We might not agree with every conclusion, but we need to engage with their challenge. The values expressed resonate with the "Transition Towns" movement, and with (e.g.) Tony Juniper's "How many light bulbs does it take to change a planet?" All are positive in their message that we can avert disaster, without returning to the dark ages.
The book is well referenced for those who need to dig further. It is detailed enough to answer complex questions. It is very practical in the responses it advocates. It highlights the urgency of concerted international action. Christian Aid, Tear Fund and others in the "Stop climate Chaos" consortium present similar solutions.
Things have moved on since publication in 2007. Evidence of climate change piles up. Arctic ice is melting faster than the IPCC predicted just a few years ago. Despite the positive Climate Change Bill, parliament has approved a third runway at Heathrow, and the government has not yet abandoned plans for a new generation of coal-fired power stations. In view of the evidence in the book, these developments are alarming.
The science in this book makes me ask "How can we persuade our government to work with other nations, to "cut the carbon" and help poor nations adapt to climate change?" The credit crunch is as NOTHING compared with climate chaos. Will we get the right decisions at the climate conference in Copenhagen in December? Is it enough to write to your MP? I've already been out on "protests" with Christian Aid and others. I do not think you will be able to read this book, and do nothing.
Geoff Stratford
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God on the Road - Andy Frost (survivor, 2007)
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Join thirteen ordinary twenty-something's as they head for the sights, sounds and smells of Europe. They're drawn by the surf and the night life, but they come with a different agenda. Something else has brought them here, something that makes this road trip a pilgrimage.
Max nodded his head with utter confidence. 'Last year was so awesome ...everyone has been waiting for another Christian Night - it's the best night of the year!' He seemed absolutely positive that calling the event 'Christian Night' would evoke a mass crowd. Who were we to argue?"
This book can challenge us all and help us to look outside the box when it comes to reaching out to those who don't yet know about Jesus. I'm challenged to talk to as many people as possible about Jesus on my pilgrimage.
Simon Dean
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Jesus Today by Albert Nolan
This book looks in a fresh way at the spirituality of Jesus and its' application to life today
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| Keep Britain tidy have set up a new community based project called the BIG tidy up. The idea of the project is to encourage local communities to help the environment and to tidy up the local area. The project is open to anyone of any age and is a great way for churches to be seen in the community, and may provide opportunities to chat with people in your neighbourhood. For more information, and details on how to register visit www.thebigtidyup.org |
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Creation Challenge
The Baptist Union, the Methodist and the United Reformed Churches have joined together in taking up the Creation Challenge! This web-based network offers your church lots of ways to think, discuss, pray and act for the good of your local environment and for our planet. Discover worship and other resources around the urgent issue of climate change. Sign up today on the website under 'Mailing List' and 'Subscribe', and take up the challenge. Go to: www.creationchallenge.org.uk
Future Shape?
This is a new resource to help your church explore creation care issues
from a biblical perspective. It includes a set of studies especially for
ministers, plus another set for using in small groups. There are supporting
video clips and a meditation called 'Messing up the system'. 'Futureshape?'
has been developed by BMS World Mission. Visit www.futureshape.org for more information.
| Operation Noah |
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Operation Noah is the first Christian campaign focused exclusively on climate change. Operation Noah exists because God's creation faces the most urgent peril, which, to be averted, requires a rapid and radical transformation of our economy and culture - towards liveable, supportable lifestyles.
In the run up to the Copenhagen climate change negotiations in December this year it is imperative that as many churches as possible engage and mobilise on climate change issues. Operation Noah has produced a Church Action Starter Pack to accompany its Ark campaign.
For more information about Operation Noah and resources available visit
www.operationnoah.org
Hope in God's Future:
Christian Discipleship in the Context of Climate Change
This report has been prepared by a working group of Joint Public Issues Team.
It looks at climate change from a theological perspective. For your own copy, go to
www.baptist.org.uk/resources/social_political.html
(click on climate change)
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Calendar of events
9th May 11.00a.m. - 4.00p.m.
The Mission Field @ St. Lawrence's Church, Lincoln See Poster Below
15th - 17th May Mission Shaped Ministry Residential Weekend
23rd May 11.00a.m. - 3.30p.m. Celebrating fresh expressions in Lincolnshire @ Lincoln Cathedral See Poster Below
26th May 26 6.00p.m. International Global Day of Prayer
Ecumenical Service @ Lincoln Cathedral
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