Keep up to date with what’s happening in the diocese in our bi-weekly e-News. You'll find updates for parishes and schools, key diocesan news, other helpful resources and more...
NOTICES:
For the latest Covid guidance from the Church of England - updated 10 December - read here
“The Property Department will be taking emergency calls only from 5pm on Thursday 24th December until Monday 3rd January 2022. Details of our emergency cover can be found on the website - Click here.
We hope you don’t have need to access the emergency cover during the Christmas period and enjoy a safe, peaceful and happy Christmas and New Year.
Happy Christmas from us all at Church House, Hove
Latest News
Christmas across the Diocese
Last year’s Covid restrictions meant that many of the events leading up and celebrating Christmas needed to be cancelled. It was disappointing not to be able to host the usual candlelit Carol services and Christingle services in our church buildings. However, the situation did provide an opportunity for churches to explore different ways of celebrating Advent and Christmas. To find out about some of the Christmas activities parishes have been doing to share the Christmas story in their communities, click here
Bishop Ruth believes in the Christmas story
Bishop Ruth sparked media interest when she turned to Twitter with a few self-styled verses to describe what she believed about the Christmas story based on jumper retailed by a leading high street store.
Bishop Ruth was wearing the Believe Christmas jumper which has created national media interest and has been followed by 100s of clergy who have pictured themselves wearing the Christmas jumper. You can listen to Bishop Ruth's spoken word poetry here
Friends, family and faith
People across the Church of England share what's at the heart of Christmas, as we look forward to celebrating the true meaning in online and onsite services this year. Click above to watch the video.
Advent Journey 2021
We continue with our series of Advent video reflections produced by our three bishops and new deacons.
A message for church magazine editors. The Association for Church Editors has now released details of their annual national competition for church magazine editors. There are some great examples out there so please do submit yours. Details of the competition can be found on the association's website https://churchmag.uk/
Friends from the Holy Land
As we all look ahead to celebrating the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem more than two millennia ago, Bishop Michael Langrish reflects on the sputtering candles of hope that are the vulnerable Christian communities that remain in the Holy Land and the work of Friends of the Holy Land to sustain them. Read the reflection by clicking here
Christmas single for CofE
The Church of England has release a Christmas single as part of a campaign to encourage more people to hear the real Christmas story through their local church.
The single is a new carol version of In the Bleak Midwinter by one of the country’s top young composers, Rebecca Dale. Listen here: streamed or downloaded online
Three ways to grow church giving this Christmas
Local churches all over the country will be welcoming their communities in church and online to celebrate and share the good news of Christs birth with special services and events.
As we experience Advent and Christmas this year here are some ideas for encouraging giving in our churches.
Parish Support and Resources
What Can Church House Do For Your Parish?
This booklet here has been produced to widen awareness of what help we can offer from Church House to support your ministry and mission.
This booklet also offers more transparency on how the money that parishes give, so generously through parish share, is spent.
You can request a hard copy by emailing the admin helpdesk here
ECLAS survey
Can you help with a national survey? The survey is part of the Templeton Religion Trust-funded project “Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science” (ECLAS) They are looking for people to participate in the survey and make an important contribution to the project’s aim to support all levels of Christian leadership to engage with science and the interaction between science and faith. You can find the surveyhere
'Comfort ye my people' Lent 2022
THE Bishop has commissioned a five-week Lent course for 2022
A Lent booklet "Comfort ye my people" is being produced which will include a weekly programme for each of the five weeks of Lent featuring a verse of scripture, a reflection, a prayer and a work of art which Lent groups and individuals will be encouraged to reflect on.
The Lent course booklet and podcasts will be available from Epiphany Sunday. A PDF flyer can be downloaded now here
Putting Animals on the Agenda this Christmas
Revd Mark Betson is the national rural officer for the church and in this video, he talks to Jo Bailey, a Sussex RSPCA Assured farmer, about why Church communities should care about farm animal welfare.
Training, Webinars and Events
Moving On. Online, 25 January (9.30am-1pm)
For clergy seeking a new post. This online, forum-style, event will offer clergy insights into the tricky subject of moving jobs. Starting from Scripture, we will explore the discernment process as well as the practicalities of completing good applications and handling interviews well. Book at www.cpas.org.uk/events.
Leading with Vulnerability. Online, 27 January (9.15am-12.30pm)
Building on both personal experience and research into vulnerability within leadership, we explore the importance of being vulnerable, especially among Millennials, and ways to become appropriately vulnerable that reflect individual preferences and the situations we lead within. Book at www.cpas.org.uk/belowthesurface.
PCC Tonight Training Evening. Online, 15 February (7pm-9.20pm)
Building on our popular PCC Tonight resource, CPAS is running an online event to clarify the purpose and place of PCCs, to explore some common dysfunctions, and to introduce material you can use to shape its life.
Book at www.cpas.org.uk/pccevents.
Growing Faith Adventure Conference 14th May 2022
The Growing Faith Adventure Conference promotes a partnership between the three communities of church, school and household to enable the discovery, exploration and growth for all in those communities. With keynote speakers include Revd Nigel Genders, Revd Mary Hawes and Emeritus Professor Janet Walker OBE. Book here
A new Leading Evangelism Learning Hub
This new exciting initiative from CPAS is to help church leaders think through how to nurture the ministry of evangelism within the life of churches and congregations. From now until November 2022 Find out more here
We are looking for stories to share. If you have a story or experience about your faith getting you through the pandemic, we would like to hear from you. Contact Lisa Williamson for more details.
