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Hi everyone and welcome to The Week Ahead.
We are in the middle of Holy Week and looking forward to celebrating this blesséd time.
Andy Jackson will be staffing the out-of-hours support line this week on 020 7467 5170.
Wishing you all a very happy Easter!
Rosie Winn
Media Officer
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Canterbury Cathedral
Friday 30 March
BBC Two, 1.50pm
Observational documentary series following a year in the life of this 11th Century building, which is the home of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as being a Unesco World Heritage Site.
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The Silent Child
Friday 30 March
BBC One, 7.40pm
The Oscar-winning short film about a profoundly deaf child born to hearing parents is given the gift of communication by a social worker.
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Easter Day from Sheffield Cathedral
Sunday 1 April
BBC One, 10.00am
A traditional Sung Eucharist led by the Dean, the Very Revd Peter Bradley. The preacher is the Bishop of Sheffield, the Right Rev Dr Pete Wilcox. Sheffield Cathedral Choir, conducted by director of music Thomas Corns, sing Jonathan Dove’s popular Mass setting Missa Brevis, and well-loved seasonal hymns include At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing and Thine Be the Glory.
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Good Friday Meditation
Friday 30 March
BBC Radio 4, 3.00pm
On the first Good Friday following the Grenfell tragedy, the Revd Mike Long reflects on the importance of lament. The episode features Jill Baker, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference.
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Something Understood
Sunday 1 April
BBC Radio 4, 6.05am
Robin Griffith-Jones presents an Easter special from the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, a church that is believed to house the site of Jesus’ burial and resurrection.
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Charles Wesley anniversary
Today (29th March) is the 230th anniversary of the death of Charles Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism as well as a noted and prolific hymn writer. The Singing the Faith+ website has been asking Methodists about their favourite hymn by Wesley, and the Assistant Secretary of the Conference, the Revd Jonathan Hustler, talks about Wesley’s genius as a hymn writer in a new podcast.
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Easter Offering
Help us to continue supporting the wider mission of the Church by making a donation during the Easter Offering 2018 service in your local area. Hear stories from Mission Partners in Sri Lanka, Japan and Israel/Palestine.
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Concern over ‘Punish a Muslim’ day
The Christian Muslim Forum (CMF) has issued guidance for those wanting to support their Muslim brothers and sisters as ‘Punish A Muslim’ day approaches next Tuesday (April 3). As featured in the news in recent weeks, letters and social media messages have been distributed encouraging acts of violence against Muslims.
The Methodist Church believes that hatred and racism is a sin. As a recent booklet from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland says, “Christians should continue to build relationships of respect and trust with people of different religions so as to facilitate deeper mutual understanding, reconciliation and cooperation for the common good.”
CMF suggests that Christians text or ring their Muslim friends ahead of April 3 to say that they are aware of the letter, that they understand from the police that there is currently no credible threat, but should the need arise, they are ready to support their friends, as a simple gesture of friendship and solidarity.
Various police forces around the country and Tell Mama, an independent, non-governmental organisation which works on tackling anti-Muslim hatred, have issued guidelines for anyone concerned about the day. https://tellmamauk.org/resources/
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Vacancy: Joint Public Issues Team Intern
The Joint Public Issues Team works on behalf of the Baptist, Methodist, and United Reformed churches and the Church of Scotland on issues of justice and peace. This one-year, full-time, internship offers opportunities to develop skills in research, campaigning and communication, which will enable you to work on a range of issues as part of a dynamic team – apply here.
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Methodist Studies seminars
These provide an opportunity for established and emerging scholars of Methodist Studies to present the findings of their research. They aim to provide opportunities for students of history, theology, literature, art, material culture and other fields related to Methodism. The next seminar will be at the John Rylands Library, Manchester, on Friday 20 April. Book your free place here.
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Prayer for Easter
A prayer has been written by the President-Designate, the Revd Michaela Youngson. You could use this in groups, on your own, or in your church services during Easter.
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‘One Friday’ project
This takes place on Friday 29 March and encourages local church and community groups to do something to engage their community in retelling and reflecting on the story of the Passion of Jesus. Resources are available here.
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This week in Parliament
It is the Easter recess but you can find future
parliamentary business online here. If you want to find out about the Scottish Parliamentary calendar, click here and the timetable for the National Assembly for Wales, click here.
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Reflections
In the coming week, the Prayer Handbook will be encouraging us to pray with Christians in Central Europe, Britain and Ireland. The theme for next week’s A Word in Time Bible studies is Lord of Life written by Caroline Wickens.
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Video Thursday: The Last Supper
This week’s film features Sue Cope from Chislehurst Methodist Church, Kent, and her knitted disciples who explain the story of the Last Supper.
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