As the world prepares to mark the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, so Cumbria Ecumenical Spirituality Group offers up the following prayerful reflection.
It provides people an opportunity to place their different memories of the day in the context of remembrance whilst also looking forward. Please do consider sharing this as widely as possible and using it within services over the coming days.
Creator of all that is good, we remember a day of sadness, of shattered hopes and lives, help us to think of this anniversary and all who still mourn. Jesus who came to bring good news to our sad and divided world, help us to remember in hope and still to trust in all your blessings. Sacred Spirit we bring to you our memories of that day and ask your healing, that today, here and now, you will give hope for the futures of all your people. Amen
Meanwhile further prayer resources will be shared from 9am tomorrow on the Diocese's Facebook page.
Distinctive Deacon Ordination Joy
Please hold in your prayers the five people who were ordained distinctive deacons by Bishop James at Carlisle Cathedral on Saturday.
Distinctive deacons have a full ministry in the Church of England but unlike priests, cannot preside at the Eucharist, pronounce the absolution or pronounce the Trinitarian blessing. Deacons focus on a servant ministry, particularly to the poor and marginalised and more generally in the wider community.
The group includes a retired photographer, a former police officer, a retired defence industry engineer, a school’s science technician and a former Sellafield shift manager.
They are:
Gordon Dugmore to serve Ullswater Mission Community
Click above to watch the ordination service for the distinctive deacons which was also livestreamed on the Diocese's and Carlisle Cathedral's Facebook pages.
Covid - Latest Guidance
The Church of England has issued updated guidance for the opening and managing of church buildings in step 4 of the road map out of lockdown.
The latest revisions are made to the introduction and situation brief of the document and reflect the move from a state of epidemic to endemic.
People continue to be reminded of the need to conduct risk assessments when considering changes to practice in line with Stage 4.
Meanwhile older and out-of-date documents on the C of E's national coronavirus website page (and which had been retained for reference during the first weeks of Stage 4) have now been removed from the page.
Safeguarding Sunday - Resources
A reminder that churches are being encouraged to engage with Safeguarding Sunday which takes place on 10 October 2021.
Churches are asked to use their regular Sunday service to explore together what safer places look like, and to thank all those working behind the scenes to make our churches safer for all.
The ecumenical initiative from specialist safeguarding charity thirtyone:eight provides bespoke resources including films and animations, prayers, preaching notes, children's activity sheets, hymns and songs and a safeguarding pledge.
A short sermon for use on the day will be provided by Bishop Jonathan Gibbs, the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop.
The Rev Richard Teal, President of the Methodist Conference and the former Chair of the Cumbria Methodist District, offers up this prayer for Safeguarding Sunday.
Subsidised Energy Audits
“It’s not difficult to do, and the results can be surprising and more importantly useful for planning your church’s future energy usage.”
That's how a previous recipient of a subsidised energy audit has described it. Applications are now open for subsidised energy audits for 2021.
These audits are there to help your church identify and prioritise opportunities to reduce energy use and therefore carbon emissions and costs.
Audits cost £445 (+VAT), with a subsidy of £200 available to 100 churches across the country.
The Church of England's weekly online service will focus on the climate emergency facing the world.
Led by the Rev Canon Giles Goddard, you are invited to join in prayer for those impacted by global warming and other extreme weather events.
The service also includes insights from members of the Young Christian Climate Network Relay, who are currently walking from Cornwall (the venue of the G7 summit) to Glasgow, ahead of the COP26 UN Climate Conference.
Click here to watch the service from 9am on Sunday.
Click above to see what's to come in this week's Climate Sunday online service.
Climate Change Event
You are invited to attend a special climate change event in Carlsile city centre next month.
Churches Together in Cumbria is working closely with Food Carlisle to host the event at which you can hear from pilgrims who are passing through the city on their way to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
It takes place on Friday 15 October from 12 noon to 2pm at St Cuthbert's Church in Carlisle city centre.
Click here to book your place and for further queries contact Jo Phillips.
Digital Labs Webinars
A series of helpful webinars will run over coming months, led by the Church of England's national digital communications team.
They will look at different ways your church can use digital communications to keep connected with those who attend your services and events, as well as reaching out and caring for those in the local community around you.
All the webinars are free to attend and new topics are updated monthly. Subscribe to the Digital Labs newsletter to keep up to date with the new training program which includes:
how to engage with the C of E's Christmas campaign
guidance for online and onsite services
Facebook pages for churches
Instagram for beginners
video presentation skills
making the most of A Church Near You
• Click here for more information and to book places.
Helping Empower Cumbrian Families
Please join the National Parenting Initiative online on 22 September for a free hour of information and inspiration on how churches can support and empower families in their community.
As part of the event, charity leaders from Fegans, Who Let the Dads Out?, Parenting for Faith and Kids Matter will be speaking and answering questions in break out rooms. If you are passionate about this important area of life and ministry, this is not to be missed!
Churches across the diocese are invited to participate in the first ever International Chorister Day, an initiative developed by the Royal School of Church Music.
ICD will take place on Sunday 19 September, with the Diocesan Board of Education also contacting all church schools to flag up the day.
The aim is to encourage children in school years 3 to 8 to consider joining a choir and to help them discover the joy of choral singing. The RSCM has a toolkit of resources available for churches wishing to participate.
Engaging Theology in Cumbria continues their series of ‘Do Not Be Afraid’ Zoom seminars, with Prof. Mark Chater reflecting on Jesus as a teacher and how this might influence the priorities of parishes, schools, dioceses and the national church.
The seminar - Do Not Be Afraid Of Learning - takes place on Monday 13 September from 7.30pm to 9pm.
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As the world prepares to mark the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, so Cumbria Ecumenical Spirituality Group offers up the following prayerful reflection.
The Church of England has issued updated guidance for the opening and managing of church buildings in step 4 of the road map out of lockdown.
