Archive of News Items -- Page 6

News & Current Affairs Archive
Page 6

In the News Archive section we hold older stories of interest which were once News items.
The Archive is split into a number of separate pages to speed downloading.
For a list of the items on each page, see the News Archive Index

European Methodist Festival John Wesley, der Vater des Methodismus
	Two members of Trinity attended the European Methodist Festival. Sylvia and Alan Harrison were in Potsdam, on the edge of Berlin, for five days, to attend the European Methodist Festival. The theme for the festival for the first four days was “Getting in Touch” (with people, with Christ, with the world, with the life that God gives). The theme switched on the fifth day to “Staying in Touch.” If you'd like to know where Potsdam is, see attached map.
The event was extremely well organised and was attended by over 900 Methodists from countries throughout Europe; with people from Ireland in the west to Russia in the east, from Macedonia and other Mediterranean coast countries in the south to Finland in the north. It all took place on the Hermannswerder Peninsula, a short distance away from the hotels in Potsdam, so there were excellent opportunities for retreat and reflection during the spare moments between workshops and other activities. All activities were held in two languages, German and English. Although other languages such as Russian and Swedish did creep in at times this did not inhibit the fellowship which was enjoyed by all, and a great number of new friends were made during these days.
Wake-up and Praise Each morning started at 08.45AM with a ‘Wake-up and Praise” session as everyone arrived from their respective hotels to begin the day in music and song. Then, after a brief introduction to the day's theme, everyone dispersed to their Bible Study Groups. Bible Study Groups There were four different kinds of Bible study on offer: Listening (in either English or German), Discovering (where people of all ages were encouraged to open up to the Bible text). Meditation (with a walk along the Pilgrim’s Path around the peninsula), and Painting and Playing (where people worked on the Bible text — but not necessarily with words). Sylvia and Alan took part in the Painting and Playing session each day and discovered untapped skills in creating artistic representations of trees, flowers and fruit.	Wesley Groups After the Bible Study session everyone then re-formed into their Wesley Groups. Each group consisted of 8 - 12 people, where the day’s theme could be explored in more depth in conversation, getting to know different people speaking different languages. afternoon WORKSHOPS Each afternoon a variety of workshops were held. In all there were about 35 on offer. Of these Sylvia attended three workshops: Facilitating Faith-Sharing Groups, Interactive Creative Worship, and Exploring Your Vocation. Alan attended Cosmic Theology, Methodists in a Multi-Faith Society, and the Challenge of Mission in Today’s World. These workshops were very informative and thought- provoking, and provided some new, exciting perspectives on our faith.	WESLEY HYMNS Then, each evening, there was a service held in a huge circular tent, with singing of Wesley hymns, in English and German, to rousing music by the Methodist National Youth Brass Band and supported by a Russian choir. TRADITIONAL LOVE FEAST The service on the evening of the second day was a celebration of John Wesley’s 300th birthday, with lots of songs, choirs and music groups, culminating in a torchlight procession across the peninsula to an enormous birthday cake. The service on the final evening was a traditional love feast, as in the time of Wesley, with testimonies, songs, music and proclamation.

POTSDAM AND BERLIN JOINED IN

And finally, on the morning of the fifth day, before everyone departed on their homeward journeys, the festival was joined by congregations from churches in Potsdam and Berlin for a Holy Communion and Covenant service. The sides were taken off the tent for this service because the number of people attending was far beyond its capacity, and numerous rows of chairs were provided in the field outside.

A footnote

The weather was scorching throughout the festival and everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable, if somewhat exhausting, time. Sylvia and Alan have returned home with renewed enthusiasm and faith, having met lots of wonderful people, having heard about the great things being done by Methodist churches in Eastern Europe, and having made new friends.

Boys Brigade Annual Enrolment Service

The Annual Enrolment Service of the Boys Brigade took place at Trinity Church. We found that we didn't have enough membership cards for the job – a healthy sign indeed.

We said a sincere thank you to Roger Shipman who steps down as Boys Brigade Captain. Roger has served in that role in two stints totting up some 14 years. He has given exemplary service and we and the lads of the BB owe him a great debt of gratitude. David Short takes over as Captain and we both wish him well in his new role and thank him for taking on no small responsibility.

Philip Berry, Superintendent Minister

"Begging on Behalf of the World's Poorest"

Each April, Christian Aid representatives from churches in Congleton gather to co-ordinate their activities for Christian Aid Week. In recent years we have also invited Linda Tiongco along. Linda is the Christian Aid area co-ordinator for Cheshire and Merseyside. She always has up-to-date news from Christian Aid headquarters in Liverpool and can tell of other initiatives in the district and of Christian Aid projects abroad.

On a couple of occasions she has brought with her visitors from partner agencies in The Philippines and various African countries, and the meeting has then heard directly from them how the money we raise is put to use.

One overseas visitor was quite overcome when she saw some Christian Aid volunteers in Liverpool standing in the streets with collection tins. In her words, she had no idea that we raised money for her “by begging in the streets”. She found that very humbling: begging on behalf of the world's poorest.

I always think of this when I am out collecting. It helps me overcome my English reserve!

full article

'Formation in World Mission', Sao Paulo, Brazil

The aim of the 'Formation in World Mission' programme is “to facilitate encounter, dialogue and reflection in the context of mission in the World Church". The group meet as equals with Christians in Brazil, sharing experiences, perspectives, insights, etc., thus aiding understanding of how we can participate more effectively in God’s Mission together.

'Formation in World Mission' is the intriguing banner under which Dennis Wood of Trinity visited Sao Paulo in Brazil for two weeks at the beginning of August. He was part of a group of six from Methodist churches in England and Wales. (The original plan to visit Argentina was cancelled).

Sao Paulo is the largest city in South America and has major issues to deal with, for example in the context of “street children". Interestingly, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Congleton started a project last September to fund a school for street children in Sao Paulo for a year, and they calculate that they have now almost raised the required £7,000.

Most of the time was planned to be spent visiting local churches and projects in Sao Paulo and meeting with Christians in local churches.

Please remember the church in Sao Paulo in your prayers.

How we can help the people of Iraq?

Although the war in Iraq appears to be over, for many Iraqis and their families the real problems are only just beginning.

During the conflict the vast majority of the population stayed safely in their homes having stocked up with basic essentials.

Now, however, after cautiously emerging back outside, they are facing a desperate situation. With all local infrastructure gone and looting running out of control, they are blaming American and British forces for failing to make basic provision for distribution of food, water and health services to the population that they claim to have liberated.

Pause for Prayer

Prayer is powerful. It is the method by which we can speak directly to God, to share with Him our joys and our concerns.

At difficult times, during periods of stress, sickness or loss, prayer opens the channels for God to provide miraculous soothing relief, or when major decisions have to be made, a discussion with God, through prayer, will always lead to an enlightened resolution being reached . . . and at times of happiness when wonderful things are happening and daily life feels good, then a thanksgiving prayer to God heightens the pleasure and increases our joy.

But prayer is most powerful when it is being offered for other people and other situations. It is then that the real healing power of God can be observed and that His wisdom and might can be witnessed.

Our church faces an uncertain future in many aspects of its work and mission so it needs our prayers now as much as it ever has. Yes, our church’s position in relation to how best it should fit into the rapidly changing community, both locally and further afield, raises serious issues which should concern every one of us. Yet these ‘local’ concerns are nothing when compared with the worldwide issues which need to be addressed in the near future. We may sometimes feel that, as individuals, we have no influence over these global issues. We may feel that our solitary voices are unlikely to be heard against the noise of battle in the Middle East or the Gulf, or against the cries of pain and suffering emanating from the homeless and the hungry throughout Africa and, indeed, numerous countries throughout the world. But we know that prayer for these situations, whether local or global, can make a difference. Prayer, the act of sharing our thoughts, our concerns and our aspirations, with God, has the power to comfort, to inspire, to change — both locally and globally.

MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO ANYONE

Each session typically begins with a short reading or a piece of meditative music, moving on to prayers about our church, the Congleton community, and finally world topics. The general format of each session is informal, with opportunities at each step for participants to pray silently or to openly pray for specific people and groups. To date the people who have attended have definitely considered the sessions to be worthwhile.

News & Current Affairs Archive – Page 6