The Rev. Ruth Gee, the Assistant Secretary of the Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain and the Connexional Ecumenical Officer has written about Holy Communion during the pandemic.
The latest edition of the Connexion Magazine is now published
13 May – 11.00am – 12.30pm
Change, disagreement and conflict is a part of everyday church life. This interactive webinar invites you to look at disagreements in a new light, seeing them as an opportunity for creativity, community-building and conflict transformation. You will experience an online facilitated conversation and find out more about the exciting new reconciliation and mediation pilot project being run in partnership with Place for Hope.
You can register here for this webinar.
The President and Vice-President, the Revd Richard Teal and Carolyn Lawrence, have added their names to this call for all the steps necessary to be taken to produce and distribute enough Covid vaccine for the entire global population. Read more in this article in the Guardian.
The Methodist Church has produced a leaflet on how we can support survivors of abuse within the Methodist community.
It explains how to seek care and support when making a disclosure, and describes what is likely to happen next and the standards we expect to achieve.
Rev Lorna Murray, a supernumerary minister in the Scotland District has recently published her book Mental Health for All, Community Wellbeing and the Church.
Rev Helen Cameron wrote in the Methodist Recorder:
This is a wise and timely book written by an experienced Methodist presbyter and newly retired Mental Health Chaplain in the NHS. John Swinton, Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care in the University of Aberdeen has described it as “a book for our times. Reading it is a blessing “. I agree with him.
Lorna has produced an accessible, narrative approach to an important topic, that of building community well-being and resilience which she suggests is a natural activity for the Church, along with other partners, to be involved in. The book was begun before the pandemic but she has been able to make helpful connections in it to our current experience with Covid, and she suggests the pandemic only draws greater attention to our inter-dependence on one another for our health and well-being. As disciples she suggests, “our commitment is to follow faithfully the way of living that Christ has shown us: trust in God and love of people”.
In her exploration of mental health and well-being Lorna explores simply, but profoundly, how faith can encourage and guide us as we encourage one another into living mentally healthy lives and move together towards fullness of life and human flourishing. The book is practical and direct in addressing how to support those experiencing a period of poor mental health and those living with a diagnosed mental illness and in doing so, to participate in developing, with others, communities characterised by care, acceptance and welcome. The peppering of vivid and memorable stories, which characterises the book is handled carefully and they are woven skilfully into theological reflection tackling subjects such as prejudice and acceptance, difference and “othering”, inclusion and participation. There is no hectoring in this book, and there is no overtly didactic approach to the topic of mental health and human flourishing, rather it is an encouraging and hopeful book. Lorna’s openness about her own experience models something remarkable which will encourage others to own their own experiences as positively and openly. It would make a splendid Lent study for churches and small groups who wish to take seriously the Methodist Way of Life and explore how they might make a practical difference in supporting, with other partners, communities of acceptance, resilience, welcome and well-being.
Buy your copy (£6 plus postage) from Sanctus Media – cheaper than Amazon!
Statement of Faith Leaders in Scotland in support of Covid
Statement of Faith Leaders in Scotland in support of Covid-19 Vaccination Programme
We faith leaders in Scotland understand the difficulty that our communities are facing during this pandemic. We urge all faith communities to take measures that will ensure their safety and the safety of others. Furthermore, we support the Covid-19 vaccination programme across the community and we encourage people to be vaccinated so that they keep themselves and their neighbours safe.
There has been an increase during the pandemic in reported incidences of these amongst vulnerable adults.
Read how to spot abuse, and what you can do, in a handout produced for a recent webinar on safeguarding adults.
This was the subject of Melvyn Bragg’s In our Time, broadcast on 10th December 2020.
You can hear it at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000q3m2
Fischy Music have produced a new Christmas song video for you to watch, use and share in your Christmas celebrations and services!
‘Even in the strangest times’ recognises that it’s going to be a very different kind of Christmas, so we’ve had a bit of fun coming up with a song to help us get some of that out, reconnect with the Christmas story and find joy in this season.
See also their other new Christmas songs
