Back To Church Sunday

BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY - 27th September 2009
The time of year has come again to start thinking and planning for 'Back to Church Sunday' 2009. Back to Church Sunday is about each member of your congregation inviting someone to come to church. To get this process rolling there are two things I need you to do:
· First of all send an email now registering your church: carol.gibbons@LeCCofE.org
· Then you will need to complete an order form for your resources. The order form will be sent to you presently but if you want to take a look at the resources available visit: www.backtochurch.co.uk
There is also a 'top tips' section on the Back to Church Sunday website that may prove useful.

LEADING YOUR CHURCH INTO GROWTH - A DAY FOR CHURCH GROUPS

Hundreds of clergy and laity have now attended the popluar four day residential course for clergy, which Robin Gamble and his team have run for many years. We also offer a follow up DAY course for clergy to attend with some of their church people to share the course and begin to apply them in their own situation.

These will include:

Becoming a Mission Church

Basic Mission Strategies

Going Out, Drawing In

Making Sunday Count

Charge for the day is £6 per person ( payable in advance). Tea/coffee will be provided but please bring a PACKED LUNCH

Days planned are:

21^st February 2009 , St Paul 's, Kersall Moor, Manchester , M7 3QH

21^st March 2009 , Holy Trinity Church , Church Hill Street , Smethwick , B67 7AH

23^rd May 2009 , CMS Conferencing, Watlington Road , Oxford , OX4 6BZ.

For further details visit: www.leadingyourchurchintogrowth.org.uk

QUIET SPACES

A day of reflection, refreshment and renewal for those working with children

Saturday 21st March, 10am - 4pm at Launde Abbey (for directions visit: www.launde.org.uk)

This day at Launde Abbey will provide times of guided reflection for children's leaders, based on bible stories, with space for quiet prayer as well as group and individual responses. It is an opportunity to sit back and reflect on the bigger issues related to working with children, to hear God's voice afresh and to benefit from regaining a sense of perspective and vision for the work in relaxing surroundings. Lunch is provided and there will also be resources to browse.

The day will be led by Martyn Payne from Barnabas - the children's ministry wing of BRF (Bible Reading Fellowship). For further information about Barnabas and Martyn go to www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk

Cost £10 to cover the speaker and lunch.

Contact Maggie Clarke, Tel: 0116 248 7438 or E-mail: maggie.clarke@leccofe.org

CALLED? Vocations Day 2009

A day exploring callings to ministry

Saturday 14th March, 10am - 3.30pm at St Paul's Church, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 4NX

With guest speaker Stuart Buchanan, Author of 'On Call' and other vocations resources

The day includes:

• Time to prayer and reflection
• talks from guest speaker Stuart Buchanan
• workshops with people already exercising licenced ministries
• a chance to chat with people over lunch
• and much more

The day is free but any contributions towards the cost of lunch would be appreciated.

Booking necessary, contact Claire Stapleton at Church House, Tel: 0116 248 7417 or E-mail:claire.stapleton@leccofe.org by Monday 2nd March.

BBC LAUNCHES 'FAITH DIARY' WITH A POLL

The BBC launched its online Faith Diary on February 24th with a poll suggesting that "people don't want a secularist wipeout of religion in Britain." An extract from the findings reads: 'Almost two-thirds of those questioned said the law "should respect and be influenced by UK religious values", and a similar proportion agreed that "religion has an important role to play in public life". A significantly greater proportion of the Muslims and Hindus polled (albeit in relatively small numbers) supported a strong role in public life for the UK's essentially Christian traditional religious values. The findings illustrate the growing alliance between people of different faith groups against the rolling back of religion in general in the public arena.'

See the poll at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7783563.stm

Kibworth & Fleckney Praise

The next Kibworth and Fleckney Praise event promises to be as moving and exciting as the last one.

With great worship and praise, and wonderful fellowship, we hope and pray that you will come to New Life Church, School Street, Fleckney on March 8th, 7.30pm.

The following Kibworth and Fleckney Praise will be a Pentecost Praise held at Kibworth on 31 May, at the special time of 4pm. We will have a family tea afterwards, so put the date in your diary.

You can keep in touch with Kibworth and Fleckney Praise on the blog at http://kibworthandfleckneypraise.blogspot.com/ and on Facebook at http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46592947849

The next Kibworth and Fleckney Praise will be held on Sunday 8 February at the Methodist Church, School Road, Kibworth (7.30pm)We are very lucky to have a special speaker, Lori Lawlor, from the Haven Renewal Church in Birmingham. Lori will be talking about Taste and See (that the Lord is good), and how the Lord has brought her to England. This, together with great worship, fellowship (and refreshments afterwards).

The Revd Mark Battison

The Bishop announces that The Revd Mark Battison will be leaving the Diocese to take up the job of Assistant Priest (House for Duty) in the Guilsborough Group in the Peterborough Diocese and will be licensed as such on Monday 23rd February 2009 at 7.30 pm.

MONEY MATTERS WITH JOHN PRESTON

Tuesday 3rd February 2009, Church House, Leicester

Leading on from the clergy study day John Preston will return to Leicester for two CME giving an opportunity for both clergy and laity to explore and discuss money issues within the Church further.

 

1pm - 4pm ‘Talking about Money’

There are over 2300 verses in the bible on money, wealth and possessions, and over a third of Jesus' parables relate to these topics. Yet preaching on money can be a daunting task, and all too often we only talk about money when the church needs some more!   This session will equip you to teach on some of the broader money issues that people face week in, week out; as well as providing some guidance on how to talk about issues of money and giving as a part of our Christian discipleship.  Issues of debt, ethical spending, giving, savings and pensions are ones which touch most people in some way, and as the Church we have a unique viewpoint to convey.  Resourcing our mission as well as paying the bills is a daunting task, and the session will outline the four key tasks that parishes need to cover to achieve this.

 

7.30pm - 9pm ‘Making Sense of Money’

Whether we're comfortably off; broke, or somewhere in between, we all face money questions.  As Christians, we come some unique viewpoints on money issues. This is a fun, and light-hearted session, that nevertheless tackles some serious questions - issues such as debt, ethical spending, insurance and generosity. As well as considering personal money matters, the session will also look at how Churches can be more effective in handling issues around money; from reaching out to their communities in the area of debt, to being better stewards of the money entrusted to them.

 

John Preston has been the C of E’s National Stewardship and Resources Officer since 2005.  Prior to that John spent 15 years marketing everything from soap powder to sandwiches, having achieved the unique distinction of a PhD in retail marketing which involved more time stacking supermarket shelves than was spent in the library!  He is involved in his local church as a Reader and member of the Leadership Team. John is married to Jane, and they have two children aged 14 and 10.

 

Booking is essential for both of the above session and spaces are limited so please book early, contact Claire Stapleton at Church House.  Tel: 0116 248 7417 or E-mail claire.stapleton@leccofe.org