This year’s harvest materials focus on Zimbabwe, but ask us all what are our Next Steps. Download the material.
Women subsistence farmers who scratched a living out of small pieces of land are now growing enough food for themselves and for market. Find out how farmers in Zambia have become business-savvy in on the Christian Aid website.
Making Agriculture a Business is funded by the Scottish Government and implemented by Christian Aid, in partnership with Norwegian Church Aid and Churches Health Association Zambia.
The theme for the 2021/2022 Methodist Prayer Handbook is ‘A Place for All’.
As the Church strives to be God’s people in a world changed by a global pandemic, use the prayers from this book, which has been written by the Methodist community, to resolve that, with God’s help, we may recognise and repent of our exclusivity, and that then we may be reconciling, open to all and ready to listen to all voices equally. Purchase here.
JPIT have put together resources, in conjunction with Eco-Congregation Scotland, for use in September, or any other time.
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
Round Table Talks
If you missed our sessions in conversation with Professor John Drane about Mark’s Gospel then you can catch up on the 12 segments here on our Youtube Channel and listen to John as he offers three short inputs on each of the following topics:
If you are keen and enthusiastic about supporting and resourcing the mission of our churches, circuits and districts by joining a faith-based Learning and Development team, then we would like to hear from you. As an experienced professional with a proven track record in learning and development, you will be part of the Learning Network within The Methodist Church.
This is a home-based full time post (35 hours/week equivalent worked in a pattern of annualised hours), in the Scotland and Shetland Region of the Learning Network, covering a substantial geographical area.
Closing date: 23 August 2021
Resources are available at https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/singing-the-faith-plus/seasons-and-themes/special-sundays/homeless-sunday/
For a Scottish angle, the Very Rev Dr Russell Barr has written an introduction.
‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’
The words of the Gospel resonate in the hearts of all who have searched for spiritual sustenance in a dry land. They are words spoken to those who searched for Jesus and could not, at first, find Him. They are words spoken to those who are ‘looking for Jesus’. On finding Him, Jesus speaks to them of the ‘bread from heaven’ and in turn they ask: ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ In response, Jesus says: ‘I am the bread of life.’ (John 6: 24-35)
It is to those who continue to seek the presence of Jesus in a dry land that He offers Himself as the ‘bread from heaven’. We stand with those who sing:
‘Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till my want is o’er.’
Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear us when we hunger
And cry out to the One who is the bread of life.
Renew us by Your gift and restore us by Your presence.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear the cry of all who hunger this day
And who long for the gifts that renew and restore life.
Renew our concern for Your Creation and for all who inhabit the earth.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear us when we thirst
And long for living water.
May all who thirst drink deep from the rivers of living water.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear the cries of those who long for clean water
And who live in parched lands.
May all who thirst find living water for daily life.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear our cry to the One
Who is the bread of life:
Give us this bread always.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
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
