Hello everyone and welcome to ‘The Week Ahead’.
Mike Ivatt will be staffing the out-of-hours media emergency support line on 020 7467 5170.
Wishing you all a wonderful week,
the Communications team
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Marriage and Relationships: Listen with friendship, care and grace
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The Revd Dr Jonathan Hustler, Secretary of the Conference, calls for Methodists to offer friendship, care and grace as study begins at district synods on the report of the Marriage and Relationships Task Group, God in Love Unites Us, which was received at the Conference in June. Read more here.
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As part of the focus on evangelism as crucial to Our Calling, the Evangelism and Growth team are showcasing the testimonies of Methodists from across the Connexion on video as part of The Story Project. There are also resources to help create a culture of sharing testimony in your local church. You can find out more here .
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In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, All We Can and the Methodist Church in Britain have launched a joint appeal for those affected in The Bahamas. Our partner in the region is responding with food, clean water and medicines, thanks to an emergency cash grant. However, they have issued an appeal for more support as the full extent of the devastation is uncovered. You can learn more and donate here.
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Arms fair and repressive regimes
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Leaders from six Christian denominations, including the Methodist Church, have published a letter in The Guardian opposing the UK’s promotion of weapons of war as the DSEi Arms Fair opens in London. Read it here.
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Many Methodist churches and chapels are taking part in this year’s Heritage Open Days, 13-22 September, England’s biggest free heritage festival. The properties due to be open include Bridge St Methodist Church in Leicester and Victoria Methodist Church, Bristol. Find out more here.
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There is still an opportunity to purchase the new ‘Prayer Handbook 2019/2020 – Responding to the Gospel’ from Methodist Publishing.
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The Revd Matt Finch featured in The Guardian this week talking about his work to confront isolation and mental distress in his community by making St Ives in Cambridgeshire a Calm Town. You can read the article here.
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The St Philip’s Centre in Leicester has an exciting range of courses to help Methodists become good neighbours with people of different cultures and faiths. Courses are designed to enhance understanding of ministry and mission in today’s multi-faith, multi-cultural society. You can discover more by downloading the brochure here.
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Thursday video: The Story Project
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The Revd Trey Hall, Director of Evangelism and Growth, talks about the Story Project.
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In the coming week, the 2019/2020 Methodist Prayer Handbook, ‘Responding to the Gospel‘, encourages us to pray with Christians in the Middle East and Asia, as well as Britain and Ireland. The theme for next week’s A Word in Time Bible studies is “Healing and Hope”. Order your Prayer Handbook here.
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Parliament is in recess. 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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‘The Week Ahead’ is a regular mailing that gives you a heads-up on forthcoming events and opportunities, as well as highlighting new information and resources across the Methodist Church. We cannot know about everything that’s going on, so please do email us if you have any feedback or ideas for items to include.
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