WELCOME TO WORKING TOGETHER: 'We Will Remember Them', Nov 2020

This email is sent, at the request of the Bishop of Salisbury, to all incumbents, ministers and officers in this Diocese. It is your monthly go-to for operational matters, guidance and advice. Many of the links lead to time-limited PDFs that you can download and keep. It's all part of the service!
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Our monthly internal briefing with must-read info, to those working in and for our diocese. Our apologies for the technical issues, this is Working Together, not Grapevine!

We Will Remember Them.

Despite lockdown, our churches and schools have made sure they remember the fallen and those left behind.

Bishop Karen has written movingly on Remembrance, and how Covid-19 has coloured our thoughts on life and death. Read it here; download a copy here.

Latest news

Covid means Share will stay the same
Our parishes have been told their Share request will remain the same for 2021. With a few exceptional cases, our parishes will be asked to raise no more in Share than they were asked to pay in 2020. Read more...

Living in Love and Faith
The national launch of these much-anticipated resources took place on the 9th November. At the heart of the resources is the LLF Book, commissioned and commended for study by the House of Bishops, a video version of the LLF Course and, alongside these, the LLF Learning Hub. Read more...

Living in Love and Faith webinars
Bishops Nicholas and Karen invite all clergy and lay ministers to join them for an Introduction to Living in Love and Faith, a 1-hour online session in which they introduce the supporting material and resources.
Bishop Nicholas was part of the National Coordinating Group and Bishop Karen is a member of the National Next Steps Group. Please note: this is an introduction to the supporting materials and resources as opposed to a discussion around the content and focus of this important work. The sessions will be held on Friday 13th November 3.00pm and Friday 27th November 10.30am. To book your place, please visit the Diocesan website.

Challenge and Hope
Our Bishops continue their successful Episcopal Zoom Meetings with our Deaneries, which are revealing a strong sense of the challenge churches face, as well as a deep hope for the future. Read more...

Churches in Dorset subjected to 66 crimes
A Countryside Alliance investigation into lead theft and criminal activity reported by local churches of all UK denominations has found 66 reported crimes in Dorset since July 2019. Read more...

Abbey's heating to be restored
Milton Abbey is to benefit from the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage.The Abbey is one of nearly 100 churches and cathedrals receiving government heritage stimulus grants. Read more...

Latest Salisbury Diocesan Guild Bulletin
Our local bellringers' Guild has published its latest bulletin for its members, with local remarks and links to guidance. Read it here.

Comfort and Joy in an Advent Calendar of Stories
Our Advent Calendar of stories is back and this year the theme is Comfort and Joy, showing the joy and comfort through strength. As with past Advents, we want to create an online Advent Calendar, with a good news story from our Diocese for every day in the countdown to Christmas, and this year that good news is more important than ever. The stories will feature in Grapevine and on our website. So we are looking for 24 stories! Read more...

Did you know that many of the items in Working Together are PDFs? Feel free to download them for your own reference... it's all part of the service.

Parish Support

For Churchwardens, PCC Secretaries and Treasurers

New name, new chapter
Our Diocese is blessed with a variety of church buildings at our disposal, with a mixture of listed, modern and ancient sites all being used for prayer, contemplation, outreach, activities (when permissible), and gatherings of various kinds. We have news regarding our DAC, here.

Do you have a background in marketing or local journalism?
If so, we would love your input into our Communications Oversight Group, which meets 3 or 4 times a year, offering advice and support to the Communications Team. Please email us if you are interested.

Advice on who is - and who isn't - included in gatherings of 15
The National Church has posted advice here.

Current restrictions
Wiltshire Council has released new posters and information. See latest downloads here.

Hope in Action

Reaching Out
Dorset Council is working with Citizens Advice to encourage anyone struggling financially because of Covid-19 in Dorset to seek help before they reach crisis point, via their website. Could you help spread the word? Briefing here.

Send a Cow is working alongside farming families to help restore tired land ravaged by climate change and deforestation. £105 could provide 5 families with life-changing trees and training to combat climate change and grow their way out of poverty for good. More here.

The Dorset Coronavirus Community Fund supports local charities and voluntary organisations assisting some of Dorset’s most vulnerable people. Phase 3 closes on 13th November.

Community and Voluntary Sector Fund
Dorset’s cultural and community voluntary organisations have until 29th November to submit their application for revenue support – grants for up to 3 years.

The Dorset Community Fund Bursary Scheme supports young people aged 16-25 on vocational courses and is currently open to applications until January 2021. Details here.

Dates for your Diary

Free safeguarding training for trustees
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) is running a free 90-minute training webinar for trustees of faith-based organisations, with an opportunity to raise questions for further discussion. Register for 30th November or 14th December, here.

Christmas in your Community: Bringing Comfort and Joy
Sandra Millar and Emma Buchan will share creative and practical ideas about how to make Christmas memorable in and beyond the church, with a focus on the possible, working alongside the national digital campaign and resources. There will be space to share your ideas too. 12th November, 9.30-10.30am.

In other news

The Revd Lydia Cook has been appointed Chair of the House of Clergy in Diocesan Synod following Bishop’s Council on Thursday 29th October. She says: “I’m really looking forward to taking up this role, getting to know clergy from all settings, and to be a voice for clergy. These are challenging times for us personally and ministerially but I hold firm to the idea that we are in the business of renewing hope. Fostering good relationships in the Diocese is very much part of that, and I hope I can fulfil my role in way that supports this."

Principal - Khartoum
The Council of Unity High School, Khartoum, seeks a suitably qualified and experienced teaching professional, commencing 1st August 2021. Apply here.

Will your magazine win?
The Association for Church Editors is launching its 2021 Awards to celebrate and recognise the work of church magazine editors and their editorial teams. The closing date for entries is Monday 1st February 2021. Full details here.

New pastoral scheme
A pastoral scheme uniting the benefice of West Purbeck with the benefice of The Lulworths, Winfrith Newburgh and Chaldon came into effect on 1st November 2020. The new united benefice will retain the name of West Purbeck, and the parishes and churches will remain distinct within it.

Journeying takes small groups of up to 10 people on guided walking tour holidays in an informal Christian ambience to the more off-the-beaten-track parts of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland, with history and heritage all around. Info for 2021 here.

Resources

#PrayerForTheNation
The team will add more resources to this page, so please do keep looking. Daily prayer videos will be available on the Thy Kingdom Come YouTube channel, with prayers from children and young people coming soon. Social media graphics for the daily themes, blank templates and links to prayers can all be found here.

Meeting Virtually
In case you missed it, there is a Zoom recording of our 17th October Diocesan Synod here.

Love Early Years
The team at Love Early Years has released podcasts, videos, articles and more to inform local practice. More here.

Get Christmas-ready!
Litenet are offering a package to churches wishing to upgrade the quality of their service presentation, with HD cameras, switching gear and installation. Visit the website here.
Latest offers from Parish Buying include new audio-visual suppliers, tips and deals on internet providers and giving, and the Energy Audit deadline extended to 30th November. Read more...

Inspiring festive fundraising ideas!
The Children's Society has some recommendations for you here.

And finally...

The Festive Lockdown Laughter Show
Book a set of 4 experienced comedians for a church Zoom event from a shortlist of 8, including the likes of John Archer and Paul Kerensa (pictured). Have a much-needed laugh! More here.