Sight Loss Friendly churches

Every six minutes someone in the UK starts losing their sight.

Christian charity Torch Trust are pleased to announce further dates of our popular Tasters.

These 30 minutes zoom sessions will give you the opportunity to learn about the benefits of being a Sight Loss Friendly Church as well as meeting the SLFC team and an opportunity to ask questions.

Tasters are easy to sign up to and held on the following dates:

Thursday 10th February 2pm

Thursday 17th February 7pm

Monday 14th March 2pm

Wednesday 23rd March 2pm

To book your place visit https://torchtrust.org/sight-loss-friendly-church/taster/

Encountering God – it’s not too late!

It’s not too late to join in with the new online programme: ‘Encountering God’

  • The course is an opportunity for anyone interested in becoming a Local Preacher or Worship Leader to begin training and is also offered as a ‘refresher’ for all Worship Leaders and Local Preachers.  Others with an interest in worship are also welcome.
  • The Zoom sessions (roughly monthly on Saturday mornings) will include small group times when Local Preachers and Worship Leaders meet separately to consider their roles as well as presentations and discussions led by a team of tutors from across Scotland and Shetland.
  • The first session took place on 15th January – this can now be watched on the Learning Network Scotland and Shetland YouTube channel, along with an introductory video to the whole programme (session 0).
  • The next session will be on Saturday 5th February 9:30-11am.  To receive the Zoom link, register for the programme here.

If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with Jill Baker (ejillbaker@btinternet.com) or Lorraine Darlow (darlowl@methodistchurch.org.uk).

Training offered by Prospects Across Scotland

Prospects aims are:

  • To raise awareness among Christians in Scotland about the needs of people with learning disabilities.
  • To equip churches to be more effective in how they welcome people with learning disabilities and share the good news about Jesus in a way they can understand.
  • To provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to take part in church and develop a relationship with Jesus.
  • To highlight the gifts of people with learning disabilities and how they can build up the church.

See below for training opportunities in the coming months.

Print version with live links

3Generate 2021

Friday 29 October to Sunday 21 October

This year 3Generate will be held at The NEC in Birmingham from 29 to 31 October 2021. There are several ticket options:

  • A weekend ticket allows entry to the weekend, including overnight camping (tents will be provided and erected before arrival).
  • An everyday ticket allows entry on all 3 days, no overnight accommodation.
  • A Saturday ticket allows entry on Saturday only, no overnight accommodation.
  • A 4-7s First Child allows entry to the 4-7s area on Saturday and includes up to 2 significant adults, for any further children in the same family, please select the Additional Child ticket.

3Generate 2021 tickets are now available to purchase here.

Please see the booking guide for more details on how to purchase tickets.

Safeguarding Events

Safeguarding

In response to the restrictions imposed due to Covid 19, online versions of the Foundation Module and Advanced Module have been developed and are available across the Connexion. We hope to be able to offer face to face training courses again, but we will predominantly offer regular safeguarding training through on-line courses.  Please look out for dates for Foundation and Advanced Courses and our Safeguarding Clinics.

If you have been waiting to undertake training for the first time, or have reached the four-year renewal point, and cannot attend dates advertised, please get in touch with Lorraine Darlow darlowl@methodistchurch.org.ukand please register for courses as they become available in our region.

Advanced Module training

Wednesday 8th Sept, 10am-12.30pm

Our new online Module course becomes available soon!  It combines self-study using our online learning platform and a facilitated online session in zoom. You MUST complete the online learning prior to attending the facilitated session.

You can find out more about it on the connexional website Safeguarding Training pages for Advanced Module.

Once registration is open, please register here.

Safeguarding Clinic

Tuesday 14th Sept, 7.30-8.30pm

What does the Church look like now, against the backdrop of the pandemic we have experienced?
What issues and needs do we see as we emerge into what could be challenging times where digital ministry has become more prevalent? How does the lens of safeguarding help us to respond well?

The changing face of church may pose many questions for you in your role and we welcome your participation and questions as we gather to reflect together. This clinic will focus particularly on the role of safeguarding in pastoral care and enabling resilience, reflecting on experience and sharing in conversation. Please come and join the discussion.

This event is led by the Safeguarding Advisory Group, including Euan Morrison, Dr Susie Turner and Lorraine Darlow.

Please register here so we can forward zoom joining details and feel free to share any questions in advance of our gathering.

Introduction to Unconscious Bias

Tuesday 24th August, 7.30-9pm

An introduction to Unconscious Bias – what it is, how to identify it in ourselves and our churches and what we can all do about it.

If you have not yet attended an Unconscious Bias event, you can join one of the events on your own or with others from your team, church or circuit. Just select your preferred date and register here.

Worship we bring you

Saturday 21st August, 9.30am-1pm

An online gathering for all in the Scotland and Shetland region who would like to become involved in worship leading and preaching in new ways or refresh their experience. Following up the strategy for worship leading and preaching in our region, we are offering two sessions linked by a period of shared worship. Whether you are experienced or exploring these roles, we invite you to join us for one or more of the sessions as appropriate to you.

Session 1 : Introduction to Worship Leading & Local Preaching, 9:30am – 11:00am Open to any with an interest in finding out more about these roles. Experienced Worship Leaders and Local Preachers also welcome to share in this time reflecting on our roles and sharing our experience with one another.

Link Session: ‘Worship we bring you…’

11:00am – 11:30am A time of worship and prayer for all attending either session.

Session 2: Exploring the roles of Mentor and Tutor, 11:30am – 1:00pm Looking more closely at the Worship: Leading and Preaching course and the roles of mentor and tutor within the training programme. Open to any who are considering offering themselves in either of these roles.

Register here

A Christian campaigning response to the Nationality and Borders Bill

Are you interested in being part of a campaigning response to the government’s proposals for reform of the asylum system?

You may well be aware that following the government’s consultation on its ‘New Plan for Immigration’ earlier this year, a Nationality & Borders Bill has now been introduced in parliament, which would have a major effect on the way this country responds to those in need of sanctuary. The Joint Public Issues Team, and many others working in this area, have serious concerns about these proposals (see JPIT’s briefing). We are looking to build strength and deepen our political influence as the Bill goes through its parliamentary processes.

We think it is vitally important that the voices and experiences of refugees and asylum seekers, and those who work with and support them, are heard as part of the discussion of these proposals. We are also keen to equip local church leaders, congregations and individuals to contribute to political influencing – through sharing stories, learning together about the Bill, and raising awareness of its consequences in our Christian communities. We hope we can build a network that will also work together to raise our concerns with the government through MPs and other actions.

It will be a group hosted by the Joint Public Issues Team, but open to all churches and their members, whatever their denominational affiliations.

If this would be of interest to you, please attend a meeting over Zoom on Thursday 22nd July at 8pm. Register here