Circuit News

Send items for inclusion to Juliana Caukwell, Circuit Administrator by Sunday

Methodist Conference - It's been a great week of conferring at Methodist Conference, we've discussed Justice for Displaced People, made progress on plans for stationing of ordained ministers, and celebrated the work of our Methodist Forces Chaplains (alongside urgent calls for work on peace) each of our active ministers have been on the podium, Jo as Conference Elected, and part of Faith and Order, as part of the paper on Healing Ministry and Neurodiversity and speaking to her notice of motion on complaints processes, Grace and Hayley in response to the work on Marriage and Relationships. (And Grace on the paper on Senior Leadership in presbyteral session) but of course the greatest highlight was welcoming a busload from the two circuits, alongside various people making a holiday of a trip to Shrewsbury as we celebrated the Reception into Full Connexion and Ordination of Hayley. I know there will be a full report on conference from the NWED team in due course, but we wanted to share what a privilege it is to be able to be part of the conferring on the future shape of our church. Thank you all for putting up with the mass exodus of your ministers over the weekend and all your active ministers for a full week! We are blessed to share in ministry across our circuit with you all.
Jo Rand's farewell service will be held at Grange Methodist Church on Saturday 19 July at 3:30pm. Refreshments will be available in the church afterwards. All welcome. Poster for download here.
Loving through a Broken Heart - a rare opportunity at exactly the right time, to get a real feel for what is going on in Israel/Palestine by sharing with Methodism's man on the spot, Rev David Hardman who will be in our Circuit on 25 July. Click for details.
Tapestries Exhibition - Click for tour dates of an exhibition of the Methodist Tapestries, taking place in the Circuit & around, over the summer.
Roger Jones Music Week - Saturday 2^nd to 9^th August at Thornleigh Hotel, Grange-Over-Sands. Christian Composer and Director of CMM, Roger Jones, is hosting another residential music week where we will be enjoying spending time together through Bible teaching, practical music making, renewal and refresh evening sessions and more! In case you didn’t know, Roger Jones has been Director of CMM for over 40 years and has written 25 Bible based musicals, with his work being performed all over the world. Roger’s most recent musical ‘Zac’, based on the story of Zacchaeus [Luke 19:1-10] was published last year and will guide the teaching over the week. These days Roger not only helps churches and groups put on his musicals, but he also leads residential retreats (like the one mentioned above!), workshops on the Holy Spirit and worship, Musical Man evenings telling his life story through his music, and more which you can read about on our website here. (For other events at Thornleigh, click here.)
Foundation Safeguarding Courses - Ulverston Methodist Church: Thursday, 11 September at 2pm, to book please email Nicky.
Volunteers Needed - We are piloting a Surplus Stall over the summer holidays at Ambleside Parish Centre, with the dual intent of reducing waste and supporting families with the cost of living. Tying in with the Friday Fareshare Delivery the session will be an opportunity for anyone to collect a "surplus shop" for a small cost, in a dignified grocery shop manner. If you'd like to be involved please contact Grace; transport from Ulverston will be available some weeks. Timings are 10-1:30 every Friday.
Ambleside Parish Centre Storytellers Club: Helpers Needed - "Stories change the world, stories change us" We are hoping to pilot a 6 week club for primary children as part of our Stories Together project. To do this we need volunteer helpers. You need a warm sense of humour, a willingness to spend time with children, and all other training will be provided, (you'll need a DBS which we will arrange.) We will also be looking for willing "afternoon tea" makers! If you think you'd like to be part of this, either on Sunday afternoons or midweek after school, please contact Grace (07341 960506 or email) for more information.
Job Vacancy at Kepplewray Outdoor Pursuits Centre - Kepplewray Trust are losing one of our valued cooks in the near future and we need to fill that post from the beginning of April. We would ideally like to employ an enthusiastic Christian person to do this work as we are intentionally working to grow and evolve the Christian ethos and ministry of Kepplewray so that it impacts across all aspects of our work. For the job advert, please ask Juliana
Shaping of the new Cumbria circuit from 2025 - click here
Green Fair - It has been very exciting to see churches developing their mission through treasuring creation as part of the Eco Church scheme. The Furness Eco Tribe – a newly formed group from across the area (please let me know if you’d like to join in...) have planned the next Green Fair to coincide with Big Green Week, a national celebration of all things Eco on Saturday, the 7th June from 9.30am to 11.30am at Dalton Community Church. Participating together helps us all on our green journey. Last year we had a lovely morning of coming together from across the area. Perhaps you could contribute a plant from your garden, bring an item of clothing to swap, put a photo in the competition, turn up on the morning or support the event in prayer. Perhaps you could make a LOAF product – something with an ingredient that may be Local or Organic or Animal Friendly or Fairtrade. For example – chocolate biscuit cake made with Fairtrade chocolate, or jam made with local, possibly home-grown, fruit. It would be great to see you there, sharing in our celebration of and care for God’s beautiful Creation. Click for poster and photo competition information.
Ruach Newsletter - the latest Ruach (Pioneer work) newsletter is here - please can you make a copy available in your church building.
Ruach Network - As part of the Ruach Network (www.ruach.space) one of our plans has been to host a Community Table in a local cafe. These offer a place of connection, and an opportunity to build relationships with folk who wouldn't visit a local church. We will need a small team of facilitators, who are able to build relationships, signpost to other events and activities (coffee mornings, alpha, meditation sessions etc) as well as other services (manna house, street link, talking therapies...) The community table will be stocked with jigsaws, puzzle books and crafts, so folk can engage with others, or simply be alongside others. As we get closer to finding a venue (Bowness,) I am beginning to look for volunteers who would have availability to be part of a team, so that we can begin the safer recruitment process.
New Places for new people – If you are curious about new places for new people and would like more information, please have a look at this really useful and practical guide.
Ministry Intern – Friends, do you remember me mentioning the possibility of an intern to work alongside me in the New Ways of Working Project? Well the great news is that between ourselves and our friends at St Mary’s Ambleside we have two interns coming. Anneli is part of the Norwegian Mission Scheme, she’s 19 and has just completed an apprenticeship in Content Creation. She will be working alongside me in Windermere and Ambleside as we continue with looking at how we can plant new microchurches which serve local folk as they grow in discipleship.
You might also remember me asking if you can pledge to offset the cost to the circuit of hosting an intern. The cost for the year is £1700 plus expenses. (Rydal Hall are kindly accommodating and feeding the interns in exchange for them working with the new chaplain building a praying community there.) If you feel God is calling you to make a contribution to this work please email Dare with your pledge, and he will arrange to take payment. Revd Grace

Warm regards,
Juliana Caukwell

Circuit Administrator

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Cumbria Focus

One Cumbria Circuit - Click for July progress report; all earlier reports are still available here. Sign up to receive your own copy by email here.
CTiC Social Action Audit: Results - At the end of November, presentations were held in Barrow, Penrith and Kendal. These were attended by over 60 people including faith leaders, police, local MP, NHS staff and local councillors.
If you missed out on these presentations but would like to know the results of the audit and explore the potential that they highlight, then you can follow this link to the CTIC website.

Appeal for volunteers for Circuit posts Click here for the Expression of Interest form

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