Churches Together in Shropshire

July 2010

From the Secretary:

Our marquee at the Shropshire Show was again well visited for those who needed a little oasis of calm in the midst of all the razzmatazz of the Show. The Shrewsbury Fair Trade Group came with their wares to sell and samples to hand out – all in support of the campaign to obtain Fair Trade Town status for Shrewsbury. The two Rural Officers were there as Show Chaplains using the opportunity to meet up with many in the farming community. . We sold Help for Heroes badges and wristbands. We offered Christian Books on sale, with thanks to Oswestry Christian Bookshop. We had a selection of free leaflets for people to take away. We provided free Body Art for those who wanted a little decoration. We had morning prayers on both days and on the Sunday a Closing Ceremony, in the main ring, giving thanks for the good weather and the hope that the Show would prove successful in its new format. We would like to thank all our helpers and to the support received from Bishop Mark Rylands who visited us on Saturday morning and Bishop Mark Davies who came to join with us on Sunday afternoon.

Well, our AGM was held at Church Stretton on May 26th and was attended by a large crowd amounting to seven people! One of the current questions facing county ecumenical bodies is our purpose - in other words, “What are we for?” To find an answer to this for Shropshire, the Church Leaders for Shropshire, at their meeting in September will be considering what is The Mission of the Church in Shropshire? There will then be an open Workshop Day on November 12th to discern the role of Churches Together in Shropshire in furthering this Mission on the county and the local level. It is hoped that by doing this, the future direction of CTS may be determined and the measures required for facilitating this put in hand. Further details will be sent out early in September, meanwhile plese put the date in the diary.

One aspect which needs examining is the value of this newsletter. Cost considerations meant we had to move to a single sheet newsletter, sent electronically where possible, but we need to know how many are actually downloaded. That is why, for this issue, I have included a receipt box

Note from Celia Blackden, Inter Faith Officer for Churches Together in England.

Although the most important work of Churches Together groups is forging a stronger and deeper unity among Christians, we live in a society in which there are people of different religions.

Many Christians are already involved in friendship and exchange with people of other faiths. Others wonder how to go about it or where to begin or what our Christian faith has to say about inter religious dialogue, or indeed mission and other faith communities.

I have asked your County Ecumenical Officer to forward this letter to you regarding Churches Together in England resources for inter faith relations. The CTE website’s interfaith pages carry information and publications, as well as links to denominational sites and to significant interfaith organisations or centres. The ‘Towards a Culture of Dialogue’ pages contain personal reflections about the journey into, and benefits of, inter religious dialogue.

In the context of our drawing closer to each other in Christ, we are aware that Jesus calls us to be good neighbours to people of other faiths, just as he was to Samaritans and Romans, for example. So I trust that these resources might be of use.

Events for Twenties, Thirties, Forties in Shropshire.

After a successful first event where 15 people from across Shropshire met up in Craven Arms for a great walk and food, the following events are hoping to draw together even more people socially within this region.

For those who came, people's geographical isolation and being few in number in churches seemed common. Hopefully these events will help overcome this.

You are warmly invited to the next events if you are within the age group. These are on Friday July 30th. at Attingham Park: stroll, picnic and drink at the ‘Mytton and Mermaid’!! Meet at 6pm with your picnic in the car park at Attingham Park Atcham, Shrewsbury, SY4 4TP.Please confirm you’re coming to Shropshire@ttfonline.org.uk by 29th July to make sure we meet up with you!! The other event is on Saturday 21st August 2010: Lake Vyrnwy – Cycle, Walk or Tea Shop followed by a picnic!! Meet at Shrewsbury Baptist Church, Crowmere Road, Shrewsbury SY2 5JJ 12:30pm with your picnic, to lift share & make alternative arrangements in the event of bad weather. Please confirm you’re coming by 16th August.

For further details on twenties, thirties, forties go to the national website www.ttfonline.org.uk

Engaging Issues Annual Lecture
The speaker, Michael Nazir-Ali has requested a change of date to help him with his other commitments. We have agreed, in Engaging Issues to this, as it is still a long way off.

The original date was: Sunday, 21st November 2010
The new date: Sunday, 28th November 2010

I do hope that this does not clash with another special event, and that you will not be inconvenienced by this change. We should start publicity by September and I will return to you again to ask your help in making this known across the county.

A New Hope?

You may remember Hope 08. I have received the following information which I hope will be followed up across the county:

It is not all over as far as Hope for our communities is concerned. We are developing a clear plan over the next four years to imagine what could be - in villages, towns & cities with a sense of purpose and word of deed mission.

This is a very exciting time, and I am convinced that God was truly catalytic in 2008, but there is still more that he wants us to do together to see lives totally changed and churches working together.

An independent report was commissioned in early 2009 on the impact that Hope 08 made and I must say it far exceeded our expectations of what could be achieved in one year.

Our website www.hopetogether.org.uk is under development but you can already visit it and order a copy of the new “Hope for the Future” book which we highly recommend you read.

            For further information, contact:

Barrie Woodman on 07986 291760 / barrie.woodman@hopetogether.org.uk or
Roy Crowne – Executive Director – roy.crowne@hopetogether.org.uk

Hope08, 8a Market Place, Rugby, CV21 3DU – 01788 542782

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May 2010

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

The Annual General Meeting of Churches Together in Shropshire will be held at St Lawrence’s Parish Centre in Church Stretton on May 26th at 7.30 p m. Following the necessary formal business, there will be a talk and presentation by Cathryn Hodges on the subject of Bringing the Gospel to Students. Cathryn is already well known in some parts of Shropshire. She was the first Schools Christian Worker in Northwest Shropshire, on behalf of Churches Together in Oswestry and Churches Together in Ellesmere, working in the three High Schools in Ellesmere, Oswestry and St Martin’s. Since then she has become director of Shrewsbury Youth for Christ and spends much of her time in the high schools around Shrewsbury.

Also coming up is the A G M of Telford Christian Council on July 5th. This meeting starts at 7.30 p m, in St Michael’s church, Madeley. Revd David Cornick, General Secretary of CTE will be the speaker. Anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing him will know how inspiring he is. The meeting is open to anybody, including Christians in Shropshire!

SHROPSHIRE CHURCHES TOURISM GROUP

The launch took place on 12th May at St Alkmund’s Church in Shrewsbury. There were displays from various churches in the county who had joined in the Tourism Group, some information on the work already done with a similar Group in Herefordshire, and information from the Historic Churches Trust. Also available was the brochure produced to support the group and spearhead its widespread publicity. A website, to support the brochure and the members, is being worked on.

Training and information days are being planned for the purpose of helping individual churches to get the best out of tourism by means of sharing of ideas and good practice.   The first will be in Claverley on July 20th in conjunction with their Flower Festival.

Currently, 77 local churches have signed up to the scheme.   Regrettably, only one is a non-Anglican church and that is the Greek Orthodox Church in Shrewsbury.   I know that there are some real gems out there amongst the non-Anglican churches in the county.   Why not share them with visitors also?

Another aspect of this enterprise is the possibility that in our market towns, local Churches Together groups could organise Town Trails around the town or village churches.   This is not only a nice thing to do but it is part of our mission.   We may never know what impact our efforts may have on our visitors!

Another aspect of this enterprise is the possibility that in our market towns, local Churches Together groups could organise Town Trails around the town or village churches. This is not only a nice thing to do but it is part of our mission. We may never know what impact our efforts may have on our visitors!

Further information about the Shropshire Churches Tourism Group can be obtained from Anni Holden, Acting Secretary of SCTG, The Palace, Hereford HR4 9BL
01432 373342 or 07889 186316
a.holden@hereford.anglican.org
www.hereford.anglican.org

THE SHROPSHIRE COUNTY SHOW (From gate to plate)

The Shropshire County Show is definitely on this year, following the demise of the West Mid Show, and Churches Together in Shropshire will once more have a marquee for hospitality, as a base for the rural chaplains and to keep a Christian presence. We are planning again to have Christian books and Fair Trade goods on sale, plus other attractions. As in previous years we are urgently looking for volunteers to come as stewards in the Church marquee. The more stewards there are, the more time each gets to look at other parts of the Show! Please let the secretary know if you are able to help – and to come and join in the fun.

FORMAL DECLARATIONS OF ECUMENICAL WELCOME AND COMMITMENT

Churches Together in Shropshire has brought out a simple Code of Practice for making a Formal Ecumenical Welcome (full title as above). Although there are currently 22 Declarations in Shropshire, it became clear that the use of this instrument needed a fresh look, before efforts are made to extend its scope. There are over 300 villages in Shropshire with only one place of Christian worship. With ever increasing diversity of denominational membership as people move in and out of these villages, there is going to be more diversity of those attending the village church. In these places Christians of different traditions will often combine loyalty to their particular denomination with a desire to worship and witness locally, which is much to be encouraged, and helps to strengthen a Christian Presence. Few congregations in these places are made up of a single denomination. Informal ecumenism of this sort occurs widely and is a great source of mutual strength, much welcomed.

If your village church is in this situation, why not give further consideration to making a Declaration. For more information, or a copy of the new Code of Practice, contact the secretary of Churches Together in Shropshire.

A BIG SING is coming to Newport!

This is to let you know well in advance that ALISON ADAM of the Iona Community is coming to lead a BIG SING at Trinity Church, Newport on Saturday 2nd October at 7.30pm.

The event is open to all - those who sing and those who have yet to find their voice. Music will be from the Iona Community and the World Church. As anyone who has been to an Iona Big Sing knows, the sound that Alison helps us produce is inspiring.

Tickets will be available nearer the time.
Contacts: Barbara Jennings (bmj@thejennings.eclipse.co.uk)
And Caroline Worth (ccworth@blueyonder.co.uk)

BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY

This is planned for September 26th this year. A number of denominations are now committed to this process. Are you a congregation in one of our market towns or larger villages? Why not work ecumenically at a special effort for B2CS? The Churches Together movement emphasises that we are not in competition with each other, so why do we give that impression so often? Something to think about?

OTHER MATTERS

We would welcome feedback about the Easter Posters. How were they received? Is it worth doing again?

Also a month or two ago, We sent out a letter and form from Shropshire Council about the extent to which local churches contributed to the local community, through volunteers, use of buildings or other social input. As we received no responses it has been assumed that these went back directly to Shire Hall. Is this in fact the case?

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