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District Chair visits the circuit On Tuesday 15th November the Chair of District, the Rev Anne Brown, along with three colleagues, the Rev Tony Barker and the District Training Officers Richard Armiger and Ann Howlett-Foster, visited the Circuit. Prior to their visit they requested to meet with staff, stewards, local preachers, worship leaders and people in their 20-40s. Meetings were held throughout the day in a number of different churches to allow them to see a variety of locations. They enjoyed lunch at the Community Café located at Trinity, Basildon, and meeting with those who were able to be present. Rev Anne Brown would like to thank people for their time, hospitality and participation. The Circuit looks forward to hearing any insights and suggestions they may have regarding our Circuit and churches. Put your inky fingers to good use Inky Fingers is your local writing group for adult Christians. If you enjoy writing, need some support and fellowship, or just want to have fun, then come and join the Inkies! All writers are welcome, from beginners to the more experienced. All styles of writing are welcome - from poetry to prose. The subject of your writing can be anything. It's not limited to just "Christian" stuff.
Rachel Gallehawk The Inkies meet at 11.00 am on a Saturday at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Herongate (just off the A128). The dates we meet are 10th December 2011, 21st January, 3rd March, 21st April, 16th June, 28th July, 8th September 2012. Look out for our pamphlet coming out soon, which will give you a taster of the things we write about. If you decide to join us, there is an online group who share their work between the dates we meet. The group is for Christian writers, so naturally is open to all Christians—not just Methodists! If you have any queries about the group please call me on 01268 548 586 or 07789 565 649. I look forward to seeing you soon!
Rachel Gallehawk Worker with children and young people appointed for Basildon On Wednesday November 2nd, interviews were held for this post. We have offered the post to Mark Lake who has had a lot of relevant experience with children and young people. We look forward to Mark joining us in the New Year. See the circuit preaching plan—online! Do you know that the preaching plan is available online at the circuit website. If you don't know where that is, follow the link below and then select the plan at the top of the home page. |
From the Superintendent Dear Friends: Wishing you a happy Christmas and a blessed and peaceful New Year! During 2011 we, along with other churches, have celebrated the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible (KJB). In that translation, the gospel of John ends with, if everything Jesus did were to be told, “I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written”. As you know the Bible contains 66 books. Recently 66 writers were commissioned by the King James Bible Trust, to write plays and other performances in response to each of those books. These works were performed at the Bush Theatre until the end of October. This was just one of the many responses to the sense that the King James Bible and its language is no longer properly understood. Indeed we might ask whether apart from those who attend church, do Bible studies and/or study theology, are familiar with any Bible translation? Therefore the aim of the King James Bible Trust to bring the Bible to a wider audience is great idea. The Trust’s Chairman, the Labour MP Frank Field, wants the King James Bible to be given back to the people so that it is read and listened to, enabling people to respond to it and draw their own conclusions. One of the simplest and best achievements of this Anniversary Year is the creation of the YouTube Bible, which is still in progress. Different people read out different chapters of the KJB. The Prince of Wales reads from the First Epistle of John. Mr Speaker, John Bercow, can be watched reading how Jonah took a ship from Tarshish and fell into the belly of a whale. (Not all readers are as well-known.) To help with understanding, the text of each chapter is printed below the film of the person reading. Our focus for 2012 will be to be better disciples and part of this will be to encounter God in our own lives with the help of study, worship and discipleship courses. If you have any brilliant ideas for making better disciples, such as starting a Bible study or similar group, please speak to your minister. Rev Dr Marion Cole Safeguarding the vulnerable Details of Foundation training will be available in the New Year.
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Circuit Superintendent: Marion Cole A quiz to test your health and safety 1. When was a Health and Safety Risk Assessment carried out in your Church? 2. Where are the First-Aid boxes located in your Church? 3. Are the supplies in your First-Aid boxes in-date? 4. Does your Church have adequate insurance? 5. Have all the users of your premises got adequate insurance? 6. What do you think is your legal responsibility should an accident take place on your premises either within a church activity or the activities of the users of your premises? If the answers to some or all of these questions are not known, then please ensure that action is taken within your Church so that your Church is covered when an accident happens. If Churches are found to be negligent, they will be liable to any legal actions taken against them. Stay on the right side of copyright laws It is very important that Churches ensure that they are ready for a change in the Licensing Law for sound recordings (CD, DVD, Video &c.) from 1st January 2012. The changes to the law affect churches that play sound recordings in the course of their activities, including other groups that use church premises throughout the week. Churches now need both a Performance Rights Licence for church music (that is PRS for Music Church Licence) plus a phonographic performance licence, that is a Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) licence. Churches should have a Performance Rights Licence for church activities and groups. By 1st January 2012, all churches must also have a PPL licence, unless sound recordings are only ever used during acts of your own congregation's worship, weddings and funerals. The CCLI should already have contacted your church representative about these legal requirements. Please make sure your church is prepared for this change in the Law. Licence terms and conditions are available online at www.ccli.co.uk/ppl or on request from the CCLI Customer Service team on 01323 436 103. We will shortly be advertising for this position and hope to be able to make an appointment for the Spring. Details of the job will be forwarded to the churches soon. |
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