Pentecost Live Stream - Thanks
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Thank you to everyone who joined both Bishop James and Bishop Emma for a time of interactive Pentecost reflection, discussion and prayer.
To date the Facebook Live has reached nearly 2,400 people and has had more than 1,500 views. The 45 minute live stream can be viewed here.
Special thanks go to the Rev Canon Godfrey Butland and the Rev Robin Ham who were interviewed about being church during COVID-19 and to Valerie Hallard, who led a time of prayer.
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Stewardship Webinar
One hundred people - clergy and treasurers - joined two special Stewardship webinars this week which explored giving during the coronavirus pandemic.
The sessions were led by Stewardship Enabler Sophie Hodge who considered the challenges of giving at this time, the support on offer to churches and how digital platforms can boost finances.
Head of Finance, Riq Jaques provided an overview as to what effect the pandemic has had financially on the Diocese. And there was wonderful engagement in all the Q&A sessions. A webinar has been uploaded to the YouTube channel and can be viewed by clicking here.
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Stewardship Webinar - Treasurers
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Pray24Cumbria - 200 Hours 'Filled'
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More than 200 hour-long slots were filled as part of the ecumenical Pray24Cumbria prayer relay which ran last weekend.
The initiative saw people asked to sign up for a 60 minute prayer slot between 10am on May 30 and 10am on May 31 - Pentecost.
Prayer requests and pointers were also received from those in our emergency services, NHS, tourism, agriculture and schools as we prepared for the Cumbria-wide 24 hour prayer relay.
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New Covid-19 Planning Documents from the National Church
Five new sets of planning documents have been released following a House of Bishops Recovery Group meeting on Monday. These planning documents cover:
Please understand that these are only issued as planning documents in order that we can be prepared when restrictions are lifted. They are to be read in that light only.
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Make Your Church Safe as Lockdown Eases
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Hygiene products, cleaning products and PPE is now available to all churches through the Parish Buying website
Churches are starting to plan for re-opening their buildings. To help churches do this safely, Parish Buying now has a completely new category, focusing on the supplies needed for churches to receive visitors safely and maintain infection free surfaces, as well as hand sanitiser, dispensers and liquid soap.
The category also carries a section making available a range of PPE equipment, sourced through the Crown Agents from suppliers other than those used by the NHS and care homes, and from ethically vetted sources. This is a joint project which is also being used by the Roman Catholic church, and which is being managed by 2Buy2, the service providers and procurement specialists for Parish Buying.
For more details visit: www.parishbuying.org.uk and register if you've not done so before.
From there you can look under 'categories' for 'covid-19 supplies'.
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Church Prayers For Village School
Church members in a Cumbrian village are set to pray around their primary school as it prepares to reopen following the coronavirus lockdown.
This comes as 79 Cumbrian Church Schools opened their doors this week to select year groups of children, with many more due to open next week.
Members of Christ Church in Great Broughton plan to lead prayers outside Broughton Primary on Sunday evening ahead of lessons restarting the following day.
A church bell will also be rung at 8.55am on Monday morning, marking a point when villagers are encouraged to ‘Toot for Teachers’ by sounding car horns in support of all the children, staff and parents. People are also invited to clap children and their parents as they walk to school.
The Rev Canon Godfrey Butland, who lives in the village and is Team Rector for the Cockermouth Area Team and Grasmoor Mission Community Leader, came up with the idea. Read more here.
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10 Out Of 10 For Ordination Training
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Ten people from across the Diocese of Carlisle – the Church of England in Cumbria - have been chosen for ordination training.
The number represents a recent high for the Diocese, with the candidates due to begin their training this year.
The group includes two retired GPs, a senior practice nurse, a vet, a senior partner in an international firm of actuaries and a HR executive.
Four will train towards stipendiary (salaried) ministry while six will train towards self-supporting ministry, which is unpaid. Seven will train part-time for three years with Cumbria Christian Learning, which is part of the Diocese’s God for All team, while three others will complete full-time studies. Read more here.
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Archbishop of York's Final Service
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Dr John Sentamu is to be joined by representatives of charities he founded in the weekly online service for the Church of England marking his last day as Archbishop of York.
Archbishop Sentamu will preach in the service, to be broadcast, as in previous weeks, from 9am on Sunday on the Church of England’s website, Facebook page and on YouTube.
In the service, to be led by Rev Hannah Madin, of St Mary’s and Holy Apostles, Scarborough, Dr Sentamu will reflect on his lifetime of Christian faith.
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Lay Training
Our new lay training pathway will be starting again in September. This will be delivered online. This course is for you (or someone you know) if you are interested in any of these:
• Joining in the Mission of the Church
• Being more involved in ministry inside or outside the church building and community
• Learning about how to lead worship, how the church cares for people, about being welcoming
• Becoming more confident in hearing Gods’ call
Please contact Steve Minto for more details.
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Ministering to Young People During the Coronavirus Lockdown
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Thank you to Yvette Ladds, the leader of Solway Network Youth Church, for this reflection on how they are continuing to reach out to young people during the coronavirus pandemic.
Whilst connection may have been temporarily lost with some on the fringe, much work continues to reach out to young people through regular Zoom cells and the offering up of resources.
Yvette also reflects on the impact that COVID-19 has had on the young in particular, noting: "Many young people have been hit with the exams not going ahead. This has been a hard time for them. They have worked so hard and now feel disappointed that they can't finish that process and see it through. Please hold them in your prayers as the uncertainly for what they are moving on to in the future is hard."
Read Yvette's full reflection about her work with Solway Network Youth Church by clicking here.
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Climate Sunday: giving a voice to local churches
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Marking World Environment Day, an initiative is launched today to provide focus for churches from across Britain and Ireland committed to action to combat climate change. Climate Sunday has been organised by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland with support from charities including CAFOD, Christian Aid, Tearfund, A Rocha UK, and Operation Noah.
Local churches are encouraged to hold a local Climate Sunday any time during a one-year period starting on 6th September (the first Sunday in the annual season of Creationtide). The National Church will provide free resources to suit every tradition and style of worship. During their local Climate Sunday, each church will be invited to do one or more of three things:
1.Climate service: Hold a climate-focused service, to explore the theological and scientific basis of creation care and action on climate, to pray, and to commit to action.
2.Commit: Make a commitment as a local church community to taking long term action to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions.
3.Call: Join with other churches and wider society by adding its name to a common call for the UK government to take much bolder action on climate change in this country in advance of COP26, and to strengthen its credibility to lead the international community to adopt a step change in action at COP26.
The culmination of the campaign will be a national Climate Sunday event on Sunday 5th September 2021, to share church commitments and pray for bold action and courageous leadership at COP26.
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Coronavirus - Prayer Diary
Please do continue to use and share as widely as possible the prayer which has been composed for Cumbria, as follows:
Loving God, as your Son healed the sick
And brought good news to the needy
Be with us this day.
Loving Jesus as you taught us to
‘Do unto others as you would have them do to you’
Be with all the medical staff this day.
Loving spirit, your gift is healing,
Bring your healing fire to our homes, our hospitals and our county,
But most of all, be with us this day. Amen
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