Here's the latest E-Bulletin for you from Church House. If you have any comments, queries or suggestions, please get in touch with the Communications Team.
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Resources for Advent and Christmas
The Church of England has been making more resources available for this year's Christmas campaign, titled, Follow the Star. The downloadable resources, which include videos, graphics, and music are free to use in church buildings, websites, and social media.
Find out more and download the resources from the Church of England website
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Pupils serve up tea, cake and smiles every week
St Bridget’s in West Kirby has struck up a great relationship with their local school through which pupils help out at St Bridget's church centre every Wednesday at 10am as part of a Place of Welcome in the community.
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Women's Voices Conference talks
In the fourth of five talks from the Women's Voices Conference, the Revd Jenny Bridgman explores what it means to be an attentive leader in anxious times. You can listen on our website or wherever you get your podcasts, just search "Chester Box".
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Safeguarding Sunday is this Sunday
Safeguarding Sunday is this Sunday. A suite of resources including prayers, worship ideas, animations, and liturgy are freely available to churches to help you mark the day, including a reflection from Bishop Julie Conalty.
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Three Warm Hub experiences from across our diocese
With the rise in energy costs and an increase in the cost of living, many people are struggling to keep their homes heated properly, which is why churches across the diocese are doing their best to help by providing places of warmth and welcome.
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2023 table of parochial fees has been published
The new statutory fees rates are those payable for all services held on or after 01 January 2023. This table sets out the fees prescribed by the Parochial Fees Order 2019 and summarises other relevant information. If there are to be any subsequent changes to these fees for 2023, we will advise via the E-Bulletin. Please therefore be aware there could be a new table and updated 2023 fees forms at a later date.
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Parish Share increase
At its November meeting, Diocesan Synod approved a parish share increase of 3%. Further information will be sent direct to parishes from the Church House Finance Team on Friday 25 November.
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New Menopause Policy for clergy
The Menopause Policy aims to deal fairly and sympathetically with those who are experiencing menopausal symptoms. It recognises that it can be a difficult and stressful time and that it is a very sensitive and personal matter which can greatly impact an individual’s work and home life. The policy is on our website here: Clergy Policies and Procedures. Please contact the Director of Human Resources for further support.
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New guidance for clergy on the receipt of gifts
Clergy and Churchwardens should ensure that they make themselves aware of the content of the Guidance on the Receipt of Gifts. Clergy should complete the form at the end of the policy to notify of any gifts received. The policy is on our website here: Clergy Policies and Procedures.
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Responding to the cost of living crisis
Transforming Lives Together are holding a free online workshop to combat fuel poverty, encourage positive mental health, and build community. All churches currently providing regular hot meals and churches who would be interested in doing so are invited to attend on 30 November at 2pm
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12 Days of Christmas - resource
Christian charity Spurgeons is offering families support to help alleviate Christmas pressure following the cost-of-living crisis. They are launching a new resource on 01 December to help during the holiday. You can Sign-up to '12 days of Christmas’ here.
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Church House Lent course for 2023
Following the success of the Everyday Faith deanery events, the Everyday Faith team is planning to run a new Lent course for 2023. Churches are encouraged to consider participating in the five-week evening course, either by joining online or by making use of the resources that will be available for parish use. The course begins online on Wednesday 01 March and each week will explore different spiritual disciplines and habits that encourage us as we live and share our faith every day. Please make a note in your diary for five evenings beginning from 01 March. More information about the course will be published in the New Year. For more information in the meantime, please contact John Hellewell at Church House.
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Safeguarding team news
Church House welcomes our newest member of staff, Samantha Sudderey, who has joined the Safeguarding team as an Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.
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Climate resilience workshop
Come and learn how the Church can protect itself from the impacts of climate change at Church House, Manchester on 30 November. It will focus on challenges faced by urban churches particularly including flash flooding, drainage and the use of church buildings as places of refuge. The Church of England event will include a number of interactive activities as well as training on responding to climate events.
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BBC Radio 4 Any Questions?
The BBC will be broadcasting their 'Any Questions?' show live from St Mary's Nantwich on Friday, 9 December 2022. It’s your chance to ask a question and influence the debate. Free tickets are available from the Parish Office 01270 625268 / office@stmarysnantwich.org.uk
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You can list your church event on our website by filling in a simple form. Once approved, it will be published on our Event calendar page for all to see. You might also wish to list it on A Church Near You so people in your community can easily find local service information.
Submit a Christmas event to our calendar
If your church has got any Christmas events coming up, why not add them to our calendar. Just click the 'Submit an Event' button in the top right of the page.
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25 - 27 November 2022 - Foxhill, Frodsham
Using the themes ‘hope to live in and strength to live by’ from the hymn 'All for Jesus', this Advent retreat with Ian Bishop, Archdeacon of macclesfield, will offer a chance to rest before the Christmas rush. £175pp - includes en-suite accommodation, meals and refreshments.
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28-30 November 2022 - Foxhill, Frodsham
A ‘spiritual MOT’ for clergy and church leaders led by ReSource. Using the outline structure of the Saints Alive course, we will together revisit the Trinitarian foundations of Christian faith. We begin by affirming our identity as children of God.
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02 December 2022 - Foxhill, Frodsham
Come and celebrate the joy of Christmas with other Leaders of Young Generations. Everyone who works with children or young people in churches is welcome.
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06 December 2022 - Foxhill, Frodsham
A ‘Still, Small Voice…’ day with reflections, worship and space to simply ‘be’. Enjoy a retreat from everyday life and return feeling refreshed and renewed to continue hearing the ‘still small voice of calm’.
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08 December 2022 - Online
A chance to take a break from the busyness of life and from daily routine, where people who appreciate poetry, read a poem they’ve written, or one from a book they like, or just listen to others.
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13 January 2023 - Online
A weekend retreat for Leaders of Young Generations. The weekend will give plenty of space for individual reflection and leisure time. Alongside this, other helpful input will enable you to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead.
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Parish Vacancies
If your parish has a vacancy, please let us know so that we can advertise the role on our website. Just email your vacancy to stephen.freeman@chester.anglican.org. Please remember to include all relevant information about the role, such as contact details and closing date.
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Nether Alderley
St Mary’s has a faithful and committed congregation who worship in a well-maintained historic church building set in beautiful Cheshire countryside. The church has strong traditions upon which to build and a proven commitment to adapt worship in order to reach out to families with children.
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For Rostherne with Bollington & Priest in Charge for Over Tabley
The churches are all situated in largely rural settings and in lovely parts of Cheshire. All churches have faithful congregations who work hard to keep the buildings in good condition.
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Offerton
Offerton is a suburb of Stockport. It has a small but committed congregation willing to participate in the running of the church and who are keen to develop its Christian faith and its outreach and mission.
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Macclesfield St John and Henbury, St Thomas
St John’s is on the edge of the market town of Macclesfield and is in a suburban area which includes the St John Aided Primary School. The congregation offer a friendly welcome to the community and are part of the Cheshire East Connected Community Scheme in the way the building is used.
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St Berteline’s Primary School, Runcorn
We are looking for a teacher who is sympathetic to the Christian ethos of the school, has a passion for teaching children, and can lead by example through excellent classroom practice.
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Padgate
To plant, co-lead and pastor a collective in the town centre, focused on drawing 18-30 year olds to worship creatively, love generously and serve locally.
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