Diocese of Worcester - Diocesan News

Diocesan News

The January/February edition of the Diocesan News is available below to copy and paste. Please email if you need a photo to accompany these articles.

Managing Expectations

For something like 150 years the majority of the population of the UK have enjoyed a better standard of living than their parents. It's become ingrained in our culture that those of us who are parents can anticipate our children exceeding our own accomplishments. When a pattern like this becomes established over such a long period it moves from being something we hope for, and are grateful if it happens, to something we expect, as of right, and are frustrated, angry or resentful if it does not come about. Every year on year, with occasional exceptions, we expect things to improve - so that what we have afforded one year becomes part of our expectations every year: consumer goods, fancier cars; bigger homes; more foreign holidays or whatever.

It wasn't of course true of the world in which Jesus grew up. Things often did get worse, steadily worse. Indeed, the Bible is framed in a world view of decline - from the Garden of Eden to the destructing of the Jerusalem temple. And you and I may now be entering a prolonged period when it won't be true in our society either. Whilst overall the world economy can and will continue to grow, the greatest beneficiaries of that growth will not be in Europe or North America, and for some years the present economic crisis may well more than offset the modest growth we might otherwise achieve.

The question for 2012 is whether as a society we can adapt to that, learn to make do without the expectations of growth, and continue to play a full part in reducing the environmental impact of our lifestyles, for the sake of those who will follow.

For Christians, who hold to a higher value than the accumulation of wealth and possessions, there will be a vital part to play; not least because when the cake gets smaller the squabbles over the sizes of the pieces get harder. Recent research has shown attitudes in the country hardening against the poor. Paradoxically the fewer jobs there are, the more we seem inclined to blame those without work for their own plight. At the same time, the rhetoric of the debate on the welfare benefits suggests we would rather see ten innocent people impoverished and humiliated than allow one to milk the system.

I believe that we are called to stand up to this harshness, to be a people who look to see that neither the poorest in our society, nor generations yet to come, are made to bear the brunt of our failure to recognise that, unlike the song, it isn't always the case that "things can only get better".

Bishop David

The Anglican Communion Covenant Teaching Evening

The Article 8 Reference from General Synod regarding the Anglican Communion Covenant will be considered at the meeting of the Diocesan Synod on Saturday 10^th March 2012. In preparation Bishop John has, following consideration by the Bishop's Council, arranged for Dr. Martin Davie, theological advisor to the House of Bishops, to lead a "teaching evening" to be held in St John's Church, Bromsgrove on 1^st February 2012. That "teaching evening" for the members of Diocesan Synod will be an open event and advertised to all clergy, Readers, church wardens and PCC officers. Martin Davie, Theological Secretary of the Council for Christian Unity of the Church of England and Theological advisor to the House of Bishops, will be producing "study materials" that can then be used in parishes and Diocesan Synod members are encouraged to arrange and/or engage with such discussions prior to 10^th March.

The Covenant is intended to help the Anglican Communion address the challenges of living out the principle of autonomy-in-communion, by committing its member Churches to mutual accountability, consultation and the achievement of consensus. It is intended as a means by which the Anglican Communion can discern its calling to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

In the words of Archbishop Rowan in his 2009 reflections ‘Communion, Covenant and our Anglican Future': The Covenant proposals of recent years have been a serious attempt to do justice to that aspect of Anglican history that has resisted mere federation. They seek structures that will express the need for mutual recognisability, mutual consultation and some shared processes of decision-making. They are emphatically not about centralisation but about mutual responsibility...'

The Alpha Outcome

The Alpha course has been running in the Old Palace, Worcester throughout the Autumn months. It has proved very popular with a wide variety of people who have come out on Wednesday nights in increasingly cold weather. Alpha is a low-pressure, fun and informative course. It is a place to relax, share thoughts and explore the meaning of life. The course is designed primarily for people who don't go to church, but are interested in the Christian faith

The warm welcome, including and wonderful cakes, has been one of the many reasons that people have returned week after week. Many also attended the Alpha weekend, which included more time to socialise, discuss the topics visited by Alpha and listen to the Revd David Sherwin talk about the Holy Spirit in our lives - truly inspiring!.

Each week one of the course leaders has talked about faith in Christ in a compelling and personal way. Then participants have met in small groups to discuss the varied topics. These discussions have allowed everyone to explore their own thoughts and feelings about some of the big issues around Christianity and being a Christian. Some of the topics covered have been, 'How can we have faith?', 'What does the Holy Spirit do?', and 'Why and how should I read the Bible?'. The discussions are facilitated by thoughtful group leaders which has led to interesting discussions.

Peter Penhallow, one of the leaders of the Alpha course said, 'The Spirit has really come alive on the course and people don't seem to want Alpha to come to an end. It is most encouraging to hear that delegates are beginning to apply what they have learned on the course in their everyday lives. In terms of a pilot it has been very successful, and a model for the future in the Diocese.'

Marion Capell, an Alpha course participant said, ‘It has been great to come each week to talk about something meaningful and have an intellectual and spiritual discussion.' Michelle Wylie who also attended Alpha commented, ‘I have really enjoyed taking time out each week, for myself, to think. I am looking forward to finding ways to continue to do this. I really enjoyed the interesting talk, lively discussion and great cake, what more can you ask for!'

The Diocesan Evangelism and Church Growth Group is already talking about holding Alpha again in Worcester next year, along with a course in Stourbridge for those in the north of the diocese. Both are planned to start in September 2012 - look out for further publicity materials nearer the time.

Find out more at: http://uk.alpha.org/

On your Marks for the 2012 Games....

Next summer's games might still feel like a long time away, but there are lots of things that churches can be doing to prepare for the Olympic Games, planning some community involvement around them. Over recent years, churches have been involved in over one hundred programmes associated with major sporting events.

London can seem quite distant from Worcestershire and Dudley (particularly the east side where the Olympic village is). However, the 2012 games will be enjoyed by people throughout the UK and is a great opportunity for churches to connect with the community, perhaps through showing key events on a big screen or by hosting a ‘pub quiz' which will be sent out early next year by the diocesan Evangelism and Church Growth group.

There are also other opportunities set out on the 'More Than Gold' website. More than Gold is an ecumenical organisation set up to try and help churches make the most of the opportunities that the 2012 Olympic Games can offer and has a tried and tested programme of outreach, hospitality and service to meet the needs of every church - whatever your size, location or make up.

'More than Gold' suggests that in order to prepare your church for the 2012 opportunities you:

Start early with talking, praying, planning

Involve every section of the church - youth and children, evangelism coordinators, teachers, mission committees, social responsibility activists, and more.

Start with what is there already - what is the church already doing that can be given an Olympic overlay? Alpha? Holiday clubs? Schools outreach?

Identify how the local community is engaging - and look for ways to join in rather than compete

Join with other churches to plan major initiatives for the community like Community Festivals with a big screen, children's holiday clubs, etc

Appointing a Gold Champion - who will receive their own dedicated eNews update, On Track, and invitations to special briefings and link with Gold Champions in their area to share ideas, plans and opportunities

There is lots of help and information on the 'More than Gold' website: www.morethangold.org.uk/ and help and resources will also be distributed by the Evangelism and Church Growth group in the new year.

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The December edition of the Diocesan News is available below to copy and paste. Please email if you need a photo to accompany these articles.

The Archdeacon of Worcester's Letter - Have an Enchanted Christmas

Some years ago, high above the heaving pavements of London's Oxford Street and surrounded by dazzling Christmas lights (sponsored by Disney) was the message ‘Have an Enchanted Christmas'. I wondered what it might mean for someone to have an ‘enchanted Christmas.'

Enchantment takes us beyond the physical. It's about the heart and about the soul. It's about realising that the ground on which we are standing is holy. It's about heaven in the ordinary. It's about God being with us.

There are three things that might make this Christmas an enchanted one.

The first is play. Play takes us beyond the physical. It's about the heart and the soul. Sometimes play can help us to imagine a future that is radically different from the present. Christmas 1914 saw British and German soldiers sing carols before leaving their trenches to play football in no-man's land near Armentieres in France. Of course, hostilities resumed shortly afterwards, but that playful encounter helped those soldiers to imagine a time when wars would cease and peace would reign. (Incidentally, Germany won 3-2 - though I don't know if that was after penalties). It really is important to play together; to laugh, to joke, to imagine, to dream, to explore - and to do it together

Love is another ingredient of an enchanted Christmas. To love and to be loved is perhaps the most enchanting thing of all. We show our love in the exchanging of presents or simply cards but, as Betjeman said, ‘the only cards that really count are that extremely small amount from real friends who keep in touch and are not rich but love us much'.

The final ingredient of an enchanted Christmas is worship. On that first Christmas, angels sang of God's glory, the shepherds glorified and praised God for all that they had heard and seen, and wise men from the east knelt down and paid homage to Jesus. But if Christmas is to be an enchanted Christmas then worship must mean more than coming to church. The whole of our festivities must be punctuated with times of thanksgiving and praise. A moment's reflection in the morning, grace before meals, and maybe even a song or two - anything that focuses and refocuses our attention on Jesus.

Have an Enchanted Christmas - all of you.

Broadcasting your Message

As part of their Sunday morning show each week, BBC Hereford and Worcester broadcasts an act of worship between seven and half past seven. The Dioceses of Hereford and Worcester share the opportunity to be part of that broadcast, and churches across the region are asked if they would like the chance to participate. Many do and thoroughly enjoy the experience of both making the broadcast and hearing themselves on the radio (not necessarily at 7am on Sunday, as the 'Listen Again' facility allows a chance to hear the programme for seven days at any time). Listeners of BBC Hereford and Worcester are treated to a range of different types of service, all with interesting themes.

'The Bridge' at St Luke's Church, Headless Cross in Redditch, took part very recently in a broadcast which was recorded in their church on a Monday night over a two hour period and was broadcast the following Sunday. The congregation of the Bridge offered an informal 'Cafe Church' service, which included musicians, readers and contributions from members of the congregation. The service was to be broadcast on 'Back to Church Sunday', so various people shared their experiences of coming back to church. Cafe church, unsurprisingly, starts with a cup of tea or coffee; the service includes an opportunity for people to chat to each other about the service theme, as well as coming together for hymns, readings and a reflection. It's a lovely relaxed format which is really inclusive and welcoming.

The Revd. Jo Musson, who is part of the Bridge team said, ''We really enjoyed taking part in a radio broadcast. It was fabulous to see people from all our different services and congregations, gathered together and sharing something new. In particular it gave our musicians a chance to shine. Everyone was thrilled to share our worship with listeners across the region; particularly those who can't get to church. What's more, the following week, new people came to church having listened to and enjoyed the broadcast.'

The Acts of Worship which are broadcast on BBC Hereford and Worcester are very well received across the two counties. For some people, it is the only experience of church that they can take part in all week, as they may be housebound or ill. The broadcasts that the Diocese of Worcester offer are recorded either by two or three people in a studio, or by a congregation on location in their own church. In either format, they allow participants to explore themes of their choosing and offer audiences a wide range of interesting themes.

If you would like to take part in a broadcast, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please email: .

John Bailey - A tough act to follow.

For the last 10 years the DAC has been chaired by Mr John Bailey MBE, who has led the team with great skill and passion. However John has decided that at 87, it is time to step down. Trained in the law, John has long held a passion for church building and church architecture, which flourished during his years as Diocesan Secretary in the Diocese of Leicester from 1979 - 1990. (He also worked for the Leicester DAC during this time.) On returning to Worcester, John's wife, Robin, founded the Worcester branch of NADFAS (the National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies), and John soon gathered a group of like minded individuals who set about recording and cataloguing all the contents of various churches in the diocese; painstaking but invaluable work which still continues.

In recent years, John has concentrated on learning about stained glass windows and metalwork, and particularly his role as a guide at Worcester Cathedral. If you are lucky enough to be guided around the Cathedral by John, you will get a sample of his knowledge which he shares so generously with all comers. John has also been heavily involved in the last ten to twelve years with the 'Three Choirs Festival', latterly as Chief Steward. In earlier days he has been a member of General Synod, Chair of the Friends of Worcester Cathedral and Churchwarden of St Barnabas, Worcester. He has been a school governor at Bishop Perowne school for over ten years, and will continue in his current post as Chair.

John Dentith, Secretary to the Diocesan Advisory Committee/Diocesan Closed Churches Committee said, 'John Bailey has been an excellent Chair of the DAC since he took over the role in August 2001. He enjoys the total respect of his DAC colleagues through his wide knowledge and experience, but also for his skill in chairing the meetings with a light but firm touch and with generous good humour.

‘On a personal basis, he has been a mentor, guide and friend to me, especially in my early days in this role, for which I shall always be grateful. He is a shining example to us all of a man committed to his interests. I'm not sure he understands what ‘retirement' means!'

The Venerable Fred Trethewey, Archdeacon of Dudley said, 'One of the gifts needed in chairing DAC meetings is a sense of humour and John has that in abundance. His particular passion for churchyards and church furnishings is rooted in a deep sense that churches are centres of worship and mission.'

John Bailey said that he had 'been glad to have had the opportunity to broaden people's thoughts about the use of their church buildings'. He believes that the DAC has a big role in the mission of the church. John Bailey puts his success down to, 'A wonderful crew of busy professional people, who give so freely of their time. We are lucky in Worcester to have such a lot of good people.'

The voluntary membership of the DAC comprises a number of construction professionals: architects, engineers and surveyors, together with other volunteer members or advisers with other specialisms (such as heating, textiles, lighting, audio systems, woodwork, bells, organs), and a number of "lay" (parish representative) members. The committee's role is to offer advice to parishes and the diocese on the care of church buildings - an enormous remit by anyone's standards.

The vacancy is now being advertised. See 'Do you know the next Chair of the DAC?'

http://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/ADD/193

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The November edition of the Diocesan News is available below to copy and paste. Photos can be downloaded at:

www.flickr.com/photos/58261440@N06

Click on the picture that you want so that it appears in a screen by itself, then click on the ‘actions' button at the top and select view all sizes. Then it gives you the option to download the large size of this photo.

Bishop's Letter - Bishop David - 'The whole company of Heaven'

Just when we were preparing to say goodbye to our curate, the vicar dropped a bombshell - he'd been asked to be the new Archdeacon. We'd been used to having several weekday Eucharists as well as the Sunday Communion. Back then I was still a student in training for the priesthood; I couldn't offer to take the services myself, but at least I knew clergy at the college and could twist a few arms.

One dark and damp November night, I opened up the church, greeted the visiting priest, set up the altar, and waited. Nobody else arrived. The time for the service to begin came and went, but it was still just the two of us there. Acutely embarrassed, I apologised. "We can cancel, if you want", I said, "It's only going to be me and you". "David", he replied, "I think you have mis-counted. You've forgotten the angels, the archangels and the whole company of heaven". We held our Communion service, and though only the two of us were visible, I'd never felt part of such a large congregation.

Nowadays the part of November that falls before the start of Advent is designated by the Church as a particular season for remembering that we are part of a congregation that spans the ages. We mark the heroes of the Church on All Saints Day, our own family members and friends on All Souls Day, and those who have died in conflict on Remembrance Sunday. Almost every day of the month has some Christian saint associated with it. When we meet around the Lord's table, we do so with all who now feast in God's presence in heaven. We are their legacy, the fruits of their faithfulness and their witness.

Yet to look to the great communion of saints in November is also to be made aware that there are alive today not only more Christians than ever before, but that a greater proportion of those living are now Christian than in any previous generation. We see that most visibly through our partnerships with the rapidly growing dioceses of Morogoro and Peru. They are gathered at God's banquet with us, Eucharist by Eucharist, even though we are separated by distance, language and culture.

Remembering what a huge community we are part of, even when we seem but few gathered in our own parish churches, should be a great cause for joy and celebration, but it also reminds us of our chief challenge - the duty we owe to the future. Just as we seek to hand on our stewardship of the Earth in good order, so we must seek to hand on our stewardship of the Church. We are called to be the saints that those of our grandchildren's generations and beyond will look back to in gratitude, so that they, gathered on dark November nights, will break the bread and drink the cup that unites them with us in heaven.

Confidence in Our Calling - A report on the Diocesan Clergy Conference from the Revd Lizzie Shipp

Last month, over 130 clergy from the diocese, as well as two representatives from our link Dioceses in Peru, Morogoro, and Magdeburg, gathered at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire for the first clergy conference in over twenty years. The theme of the four-day meeting was "Confidence in our Calling", during which the clergy explored together how best they can engage, with confidence, in issues on a local, national, and international spectrum. Key-note speakers of international standing were invited to address the conference, with each day being framed by worship put together by a number of different clergy from across the diocese, as well as allowing ample time for relaxation and building up collegiality.

The Revd Professor Alister McGrath spoke on Monday evening on the importance of the intellectual debate the Church has with those who dispute the truth of Christain faith, and provoked a lively question and answer session afterwards. Ann Morisy, a renowned ‘community theologian' gave an address on Tuesday morning, speaking of the Church's role in the community, and on Wednesday, Andrew Dilnot, Principal of St Hugh's College, Oxford, who is a noted economist and broadcaster, delivered an engaging and interactive lecture on the Church in the world.

Bible Study sessions were held each morning, led by Cathy Ross, tutor in contextual theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon, which helped conference delegates to reflect on their calling as priests and ministers of the Gospel. Smaller groups also met throughout the conference for more detailed reflection on how we could interpret what we had heard to the contexts in which we minister. Sessions were also held in the afternoons on subjects as diverse as stress-busting, PowerPoint, and ‘praying with your senses'.

Of course, it wasn't all serious stuff - one of the unique things about residential conferences that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere is the opportunity to build up friendships and collegiality. With the glorious weather, we were able to take advantage of the beautiful setting of High Leigh - those seeking quiet and reflection were able to enjoy the many beautiful walks around the campus, whereas the more energetic were seen to be taking part in very enthusiastic games of football, or a more sedate (but rather competitive) game from Sweden called ‘Kubb' (which to many seemed to be just knocking over bits of wood with other bits of wood). In the evenings, we were entertained by stand-up comedians, both from away and even ‘home-grown', and on the Wednesday evening, a pub quiz was held, ably master-minded by the Archdeacon of Worcester. Despite the winning team including several members of the Bishop's Staff, we were assured it was not a fix!

On the final day, a ‘sending' Eucharist was held, at which Bishop John spoke passionately about enlivening our imaginations to proclaim the Gospel, and to live out our calling with confidence.

If we go by our current pattern of holding a Clergy Conference every twenty or so years, the next one is due to be held sometime in 2035...however, the hard work put in to organising this Conference behind the scenes by the planning groups meant that clergy went away from High Leigh feeling refreshed, encouraged, and equipped to feel confident in our calling. If the success of this conference is anything to go by, I am sure that the next conference will take place a lot sooner than in 24 years' time!"

Our friends in Magdeburg...a report from David Hodgson (Kidderminster West)

In the Diocese of Worcester we are fortunate to have a World Church Links Group which assists churches to share in God's love with Anglicans from other parts of the world. To achieve this aim the Task Group works through Anglican Communion Companion Links in Peru and Morogoro and a Partnership Link in Magdeburg. The Magdeburg Task Group aims to oversee, support and promote the partnership between the Diocese of Worcester and the Kirchenprovinz Sachsen (KPS).

Several parishes welcomed visitors from Germany this year; here is the account of a happy link visit which took place in Kidderminster.

Visit of Gommern to Kidderminster West; 25-29 August 2011

‘Following on from a similar event last summer our parish received a visit from its partner church in Gommern from 25-29 August this year. There were ten visitors with ages between 18 and 75 all hosted within the parish. Of these only one belonged to the original group that first came 18 years ago.

The visit was a great success made possible by many generous hosts and a few willing enthusiasts.

The overall aim of the visit was to achieve a mix of common worship, fellowship, visits to religious sites of interest and discussion of how to develop and deepen the partnership. All these were achieved. We had guided tours of Coventry Cathedral in German and English, Harvington Hall and a tourist trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. We held a useful discussion of how we might collaborate to deepen the partnership, which generated many positive ideas.

The Sunday began at Habberley Hall with an ecumenical service of great life and energy led by Dave George and me. Three of the hymns were from the Evangelisches Gesangbuch and selected for their wonderful tunes so that the roof was nearly blown off. Our normal music was augmented by a visiting flautist of considerable ability, the 14 year old Lina Hinkeldey. The climax was very special and unexpected. We were presented with three custom-made candles - one for each or our churches. Each candle had been embossed with the unique lettering "Kidderminster-Gommern Partnership August 2011". We finished off with a barbecue greatly enjoyed by all present.

I believe that any church should be outward-looking and engage with the outside world in many ways of which partnership is just one. I know that both our visitors and the active participants in Kidderminster were thrilled by the whole experience. Even those who were less directly involved but attended the Habberley service could not have helped but feel the energy of our shared worship. Long may it continue'.

David Hodgson, Kidderminster West

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The October edition of the Diocesan News is available below to copy and paste. Photos can be downloaded at:

www.flickr.com/photos/58261440@N06

Bishop's Letter - 2020 and beyond

Starting in what is known as ‘The Kingdom Season' before Advent the 2020 Group will be encouraging all Church communities in the Diocese to reflect on how they are measuring up as a sign and symbol of God's Kingdom and also to identify those things that hinder or prevent us from making progress in this role and I want to set what is being suggested in context here.

When I arrived in this Diocese I stated my priorities as ‘mission, mission, mission'. I spoke in terms of the enormous privilege we have been given of playing a part in God's great mission to reconcile the whole creation to himself in Jesus, a vision glorious articulated in the first chapter of the letter of Paul to the Colossians.

Within my first year here Bishop's Council came to the decision that, in focussing upon mission, we should concentrate upon three priorities:

The deepening of prayer
The renewal of (public) worship
Equipping people to share their faith

To address the first, a Diocesan Spirituality Group, chaired by Bishop David, has been established to work with the Diocesan Spirituality Adviser, Paul Hunt. Doug Chaplin, as Diocesan Worship Adviser has been working with others on the second and David Sherwin, as Diocesan Evangelism Adviser on the third. I see these three priorities as essential in preparing the ground for our full participation in God's mission to the world.

A year ago the ‘2020 Group' was set up to consider what playing our full part in God's mission might require as we look to the year 2020 and beyond. From the very first meeting, conversations in the Group have focused upon what should be, as Christians, our core conversation: the Kingdom of God. Mission and Kingdom are two sides of the same coin: God's mission is to reconcile the creation to Himself and, in so doing, inaugurate the Kingdom, the reign, of God. When the creation is reconciled to God in Christ every knee shall bow to God's rule, whether in heaven or in earth or under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. The Church is called to be God's chosen instrument for his mission in the world and the effective sign of the inauguration of His Kingdom here on earth, that Kingdom for whose coming we pray in the words that Jesus taught us.

I hope that all of us, individually and corporately, will want to join together to reflect deeply on our part in God's plan to inaugurate the Kingdom - to celebrate what we are doing and reflect upon ways in which we can widen our hearts to allow God's grace to work through us to build His Kingdom.

Bishop John

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Generous Giving for Life

Even in challenging financial times, giving what we can to help the mission and ministry of the church is an important part of our Christian commitment. The Church of England wouldn't exist without the generous gifts of church members - clergy can be paid, houses provided and churches maintained.

The diocesan Stewardship Committee is working with many churches in the diocese to help them look at giving using the ‘Giving for Life' programme. St Leonard's, Beoley, near Redditch, is just one of the churches which has embraced the scheme and has benefited from the support of the Stewardship team.

Canon David Rogers, vicar of St Leonard's and Team Rector of the Holy Trinity Team, says, ‘We have accepted that the principal of reviewing our annual giving is a spiritual discipline, not just a practical necessity.'

The Diocesan team offers three presentations in church in successive weeks, outlining the programme to the congregation. David Rogers was particularly impressed and grateful for the generous gift of time that the team of volunteers was prepared to invest in helping St Leonard's get to grips with ‘Giving for Life'. David said, ‘Alan [Hughes, the volunteer head of the stewardship team] came to many meetings and helped us to understand the process from the outset.'

Some members of the congregation were hearing the message about stewardship and giving for the first time and others were being reminded of how what they give to the Church can help to ensure God's word is heard both locally and in the world. David was delighted that many people responded to this message and the church has seen a very positive uplift in new giving.

Giving for Life, is a nationally devised giving programme, endorsed by our Diocesan Synod as the successor to from ‘First to he Lord' which puts squarely before us in our congregations four ‘vital concepts' -

Discipleship, Lifestyle, Mission and Generosity

Discipleship - The claim of Giving for Life is that how we handle money, wealth and possessions is a central part of our discipleship.

Lifestyle - teaching that generous giving cannot be from our spare cash.

Mission - Our giving of time, money and talents resources God's mission in the world.

Generosity - one of the values that should mark us out as Christians - whether the generosity in giving money shown by the widow's mite, the generosity of the Good Samaritan in engaging with the needs of strangers, or our generosity in time or talents.

David concludes, ‘Giving for Life is about releasing the generosity of the people of God' - which seems to have worked very well in Beoley. If you wish to find out more about ‘Giving for Life' please go to http://www.parishresources.org.uk/givingforlife/.

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A Time to Remember - Baby Memorial Services

The Department of Spiritual and Pastoral Care from the Worcestershire NHS Acute Trust offers a very special service as part of their invaluable work across the NHS. The baby memorial services are offered to all those who have been affected by the loss of a baby. The short informal service of poems and music includes the opportunity to light a candle in memory of a baby or mark what would have been a special birthday of their child had they survived. Afterwards there is time to meet other bereaved parents over tea and biscuits.

The services, which in Worcester are devised in partnership with The Miscarriage Association, National Childbirth Trust, and The Cedar Tree (Pregnancy Crisis Centre) are an opportunity to come to a safe place where people can set time aside to reflect on the loss of a baby and begin to understand their loss and remember their baby who lives on in their love. People of all faiths and none are all very welcome, immediate or extended family or friends; many people come to mourn a child lost many years before.

Chaplain at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, the Revd Dr David Southall, said: "We meet many parents who have lost babies through early or late miscarriage, still birth or neonatal death and we felt it was important to give them an opportunity to pray for each other and their babies. Everyone is welcome, wherever they are on their path of loss and healing."

There is also a Baby Memorial Garden at the Alexandra Hospital, which the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd Dr John Inge, re-dedicated in 2009. It is a garden designed in twelve sections, one for each month, where parents who have lost their babies through still birth or miscarriage are able to scatter ashes or plant shrubs in memory of a loved one. At the re-dedication, Bishop John said, "It is painful to imagine losing a child, perhaps especially a longed -for baby, and it is wonderful that grieving parents are able to come to this memorial at the Alexandra Hospital which l pray will help them in their loss." In the hospital's Multi-Faith Prayer Room is a Memorial Book where babies' names can be entered and visited.

Chaplains minister across the three hospitals in the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust: The Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, Kidderminster Hospital and Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Worcester. They help NHS Trusts fulfil their obligation to ensure that the privacy, dignity, religious and cultural beliefs of their patients are respected. Chaplains offer support at times of crisis or distress, regardless of your faith, beliefs or situation. They also offer support for the emotional and spiritual well-being of patients, visitors and staff.

The ‘Time to Remember' service will be held on

Saturday 15th October 2011, 2.00pm - 2:45pm

St Peter's Baptist Church

(Eden Close, St Peters Drive, Worcester WR5 3TZ)

and

The Baby Memorial Service

Saturday 29th October 2011, 11am - 11.45am

St Peter's Church, Ipsley, Redditch

For further information, please contact:

The Revd. Dr. David Southall (Chaplain) Worcester Royal Hospital (01905) 763333 EXT 30266 Bleep 348

The Revd. Andrew Fisher (Chaplain) The Alexandra Hospital -
Direct Line: (01527) 505723

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The September edition of the Diocesan News is available below to copy and paste. Photos can be downloaded at:

www.flickr.com/photos/58261440@N06

Back to Church Sunday - 25^th September 2011

The day when we are encouraged to invite people to come back to church is becoming a regular feature of our church year. Over 100,000 people came back to Church last year across the country. Statistics show that in participating churches an average congregation increased by over 20%; that figure was 40% in the Diocese of Worcester. We were ranked 3^rd out of 58 participating dioceses and other denominational groups, for the number of churches taking part.

St Barnabas with Christ Church in Worcester has been participating in Back to Church Sunday for several years with mixed results but felt that last year it made a perfect focus for showcasing the work going on in the parish. St Barnabas celebrated its 125^th anniversary in 2010, which gave opportunity to reflect on the successes of the past and also launch an ambitious plan to re-develop the back of Church to help safeguard the future, developing mission and vision. One year on there's much to celebrate but still much to do.

In preparation for Back to Church Sunday, a questionnaire, based on the marks of a healthy church, is being sent out to everyone on the electoral roll. People are also invited to send back ideas and a view of what is going well and what needs to be developed in the parish. An invitation also encourages everyone to come to St Barnabas on September 25^th to share in the worship-centred discussion and stay on for lunch afterwards. The archdeacon will be on hand to work through the results of that with people at a special evening afterwards.

The 25^th will also be a chance for the congregation to meet Rick Tett, the new Community Missioner, who will be based at the Tolladine vicarage. Rick will be helping develop a Christian Community House as a focus for hospitality and Christian presence in the locality.

Meanwhile at Christ Church in Tolladine on the 25^th, there will be a Harvest Service with Harvest lunch to follow, linked into a newly launched monthly After School Club at nearby Gorse Hill School which is one of three schools that the Church has been visiting for three years leading weekly "Open the Book" Assemblies. The Club will be making Harvest decorations for the Tolly Centre which houses Christ Church. The previous week though, a similar club kicking off in St. Barnabas School will link with a re-launch of children's and youth work at St Barnabas for the new school year. Known as BBatS (Barney's Bunch at School) they will link with the all age service on the 18^th, or "BBatS to Church Sunday"!

The Revd. Peter Haddleton, Rector of the Parish says, ‘September marks a new start for us in lots of ways. We feel sure Rick Tett and his family will connect with many in our community for whom the Church has seemed irrelevant. In other ways, there is much good will towards the Church here; and we want everyone to feel they can contribute to our vision of the Church being right at the heart of our community. This year, Back to Church Sunday gives us an ideal way to knit together these different but complementary strands of mission."

Look out for what your own church is doing for Back to Church Sunday. Sam Setchell would love to hear what you make of it. Please contact Sam Setchell at

‘Confidence in our Calling'

The Diocesan Clergy Conference takes place at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire (part of the Swanwick family of Christian conference centres) this month from September 26^th until the 29th.

The theme of the conference will be ‘Confidence in our Calling'. Its purpose is to encourage and refresh clergy in their calling so that they might the more effectively minister in God's Church. They will be assisted in this by keynote speakers the Revd. Prof. Alister McGrath, Ann Morisy, Andrew Dilnot and Cathy Ross, who will be leading a daily Bible study. The speakers will reflect on faith from various perspectives and help clergy to stand up for it in a sceptical and sometimes hostile environment. Clergy will also engage in group discussions and attend workshops and seminars on subjects ranging from stress-busting to financial planning, use of technology in worship and senses in praying, drama and caring for the environment. There'll also be entertainment and a time to relax!

Bishop John commented, ‘These fast changing times provide great opportunity as well as challenge for clergy. I hope and pray that this Conference will encourage and refresh us all in our particular calling. It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to be together to seek God's inspiration and guidance. I hope that it will also be a very enjoyable time for everyone who comes'.

The end of the conference will also the 2020 Group launching the ‘Kingdom people' resources to help us all in our parishes discern together where God is leading us in mission for the decade ahead.

Canon Robert Jones, who has led the planning group said ‘It is refreshing and inspiring to come together as clergy and take a good look at our work together in a more relaxed way, stepping back from the parish. We are looking forward to being together with colleagues from our links abroad and returning to our ministry and parishes with renewed strength and confidence in our calling.'

A special prayer for the Conference written by the Bishop's Chaplain, the Revd Lizzie Shipp.

Almighty Father,
you have called us to be priests
and ministers in your Church:
help us to hold fast to you
through prayer and work.
Give us confidence in your calling,
that we might prefer nothing
to your work:
that you may be glorified
and the world sanctified,
through Jesus Christ Our Lord,

Amen.

Bishop David's Letter

At the point when I was first seeking to respond to God's calling me to ordained ministry a wise priest said to me, "David, clergy are like horse manure - spread thinly they get the garden growing, but piled up all together they just make a stink!" It was an old joke even thirty years ago, but it's one I remember whenever I'm off to attend the House of Bishops or General Synod, and it has come to mind again as we get ready this month for the first Diocesan Clergy Conference we have had in my time in Worcester.

Like most of the jokes that pass the test of time, it has a grain of truth in it. The Church's licensed and ordained ministers are called to spend the vast majority of their time in their parishes and chaplaincies, growing the Church and Kingdom through their distinctive contribution to the ministry of all the baptised that is God's mission. And I've spent more hours of my life than I care to recall in clergy meetings that have descended into either competitive bragging, "my ministry is more fruitful than yours", or communal whinging about difficult funeral directors, over-demanding bishops and the intricacies of the Faculty system.

Also, like most good jokes, it's an exaggeration.

I'll be packing my bags later this month with a real sense of excitement and expectation. I'm looking forward to spending several days in the company of a large body of people deeply committed to living and proclaiming the Christian Faith and to responding to what the Holy Spirit is up to in the Diocese of Worcester. As we share our individual stories, I'll be looking to recognise the common themes and patterns that are the clues to where the most significant opportunities and challenges are arising, and hence where a Bishop's contribution can be most effective. I'll be enjoying praying with a body of people who, more commonly, I am praying for. And whilst the formal sessions and worship will be vital ingredients of the event, I'll also be looking forward to the informal chats and socialising that strengthen the friendships among us and so underpin the more formal occasions when I meet with our clergy and lay workers back in the Diocese.

So please pray for the Conference, for all who will be attending it, that we will be inspired both by God and each other, and return to Worcester strengthened for the time ahead.

______________________________________________________________________________________

The August edition of the Diocesan News is available below to copy and paste. There is no Bishop's letter for August. Photos can be downloaded at:

www.flickr.com/photos/58261440@N06

Eco Vicarages

In line with the our diocesan policy to reduce our negative environmental impact on the planet, two new ‘Zero Carbon' vicarages are now being built in the Diocese of Worcester. As the Archbishop of Canterbury has said "For the Church of the 21st century, good ecology is not an optional extra but a matter of justice. It is therefore central to what it means to be a Christian".

Redditch and Kingswinford arethe sites of a new generation of ‘Eco Vicarages'. They are being built to a completely green specification - putting environmental considerations at the top of the priority list..

These vicarages are being built from low carbon materials, for example recycled aggregate concrete blocks for the walls and a slate roof, and are designed to require the minimum amount of energy to run. Recycled newspaper is used to insulate the loft and the windows are triple glazed. No central heating boilers will be fitted, the heat being provided by solar gain and that generated by the occupants; the houses have high levels of air tightness. Hot water will be provided by solar panels on the roof and electricity by electricity generating panels. There will also be a rainwater collection system for flushing the toilets and supplying the outside taps and the landscaping of each site will be designed from an environmental point of view.

Mark Wild, the Diocesan Surveyor, said: "We are leading the way in alternative vicarage design and the recent visit from other diocesan surveyors and property managers underlines this. Building the vicarages in this way demonstrates our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint. We anticipate that it will cost around £100 to heat the house for a year compared to £2000 for many of our current vicarages."

The cost of these new vicarages is being financed from the sale of existing houses, which were no longer viable as vicarages, in terms of layout and cost to run, or were not needed as there are fewer clergy.

Experience of building in an eco-friendly manner has already been gained through the development of the Archdeacon of Worcester's office. This was built as an extension to his home to similarly green specifications. However, the two vicarages will be the first complete houses to be built in this manner.

If you wish to know more about the Diocesan Environmental Policy, or find out how you can make a difference, please go to: http://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/EF/82

The Big Bible Study

The King James Bible is a book that changed the world; its phrases are on the lips of millions, its cadences the music of English literature. In America it inspired the rhetoric of politicians from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King, and has thus been a potent weapon in the struggle for freedom and social justice.

The King James Bible was the culmination of an heroic 80 year struggle to give the English people a Bible in their own tongue. William Tyndale (1494- 1536) was the first to translate the New Testament from the original Greek. It was a capital crime to render the words of scripture into English and after publishing further editions of his New Testament, and an incomplete Old Testament, Tyndale was arrested by the agents of Sir Thomas More and burned at the stake. But his dream of creating a Bible that could be understood by the simplest ploughboy had been realised. Ironically, just two years later Henry VIII commissioned the first authorized translation of the Bible into English. The compiler of this ‘Great Bible', Myles Coverdale, relied heavily on Tyndale's work, whose phrases were now part of the English language.

Events to mark the 400^th anniversary of the King James Bible have been going on all year across the country. On 24 September, as part of the anniversary year, the Big Bible Study will be hosted at Worcester Cathedral. The ecumenical event will involve two different styles of bible study, which look at modern versions of the scriptures, and will be led by Bishop John, along with the Roman Catholic Archbishop for Birmingham, Bernard Longley.

Sue Adeney, part of the organising group, explains the structure of the Big Bible study morning at the Cathedral: "We'll be starting at 10am with a dialogue between the Bishop and Archbishop on the impact of scripture on our culture and the life of our churches. After this we'll split into groups of around 15 people which will be spread throughout the Cathedral and will look at the passage using a meditative approach known as Lectio Divina. There'll then be a second address which will lead into use of the imagination in engaging with the scriptures from an Ignation perspective, concluding with an invitation to people to enter into a Bible scene using this method. The whole process will be directed centrally the bishops, there will be no group leaders."

Following the bible study there will be a period of responsive worship after which participants can stay to share in a picnic lunch together. There will also be a marketplace of bible organisations and hopefully a parallel opportunity for children and young people to participate. The University of Sheffield Theology Department will be staging an exhibition in the Cathedral on the day.

Churches are encouraged to bring a group and maybe invite those who normally do not participate in Bible study groups. The shared picnic lunch will give churches an opportunity to share a meal together afterwards and maybe have a look at what the Cathedral has on offer like a trip up the tower or a tour.

Sue continues: "We hope that this will be a refreshing approach to bible study and a wonderful way of rediscovering the bible alongside our fellow Christians from other churches".

If you think that you would like to attend, please email: .

_______________________________________________________________________________

The July edition of the Diocesan News is available below to copy and paste. Photos can be downloaded at:

www.flickr.com/photos/58261440@N06

A photo of Bishops John and David is available on page 2 of our flickr website.

Bishop John's letter

The fact that this year is the 400th anniversary of the publication of the ‘Authorised' or ‘King James Version' of the Bible has been well publicised. And rightly so. No book has had more effect on our culture. It changed the way we think and speak.

The King James Bible is not just a literary masterpiece, though, it is the Word of God. For the Old Testament writers, the word of God is both a word and an action. God's words actually do something. The first mention of God speaking in the Bible comes right at the beginning of the Book of Genesis ‘Then God said "Let there be light" and there was light. So God spoke and a universe came into being. As the psalmist put it ‘By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; he spoke and it came to be.' The Word of the Lord still does remarkable things.

Robert Hicks was born tongue-tied and dyslexic. He was abandoned by his mother, beaten by his father and spent his childhood in and out of children's homes. He left school illiterate and worked as an errand boy for a local grocery shop where one of the staff, an ex-nurse, realised that he was physically tongue-tied. He had an operation, after which the surgeon recommended that he should copy words out from a book and practise reading them as he did so. The only book he could find was a battered King James Bible so he used that. For two years he copied and read it, slowly and painfully, and it was an exercise that changed his life. He found faith and a new determination to succeed. He joined a rising new company called Tesco, then became marketing director for the Co-op and opened the first hypermarket. Later he took over Scripture Union and within a year turned it around. He is best known for founding Back to Church Sunday. He was once interviewed by Esther Rantzen who said afterwards: ‘During all the years I've spent making programmes I've been particularly interested in the stories of people who've had very tough childhoods ...,of all these stories the most inspirational was the story of Robert Hicks.'

The Word of God changes lives. I pray that it will go on changing mine, and yours, and many, many others.

+John

‘Alpha for all in Worcester'

Alpha courses are designed to help those who are not church goers to understand more about the church and Christianity. The course offers people the opportunity to explore some of the ‘big' questions in life, in a relaxed setting. It gives those who may never have been to church the chance to discuss belief, Christianity and their own questions.

There are 7,000 courses running across the UK in a wide range of settings including gyms, parent and toddler groups, prisons, hospitals and schools.

This year in the Diocese of Worcester we will be running ‘Worcester Alpha:' a pilot, large-scale Alpha course which aims:

To serve churches in and around Worcester who might otherwise find it difficult to run their own Alpha courses;
To partner with these churches in order to attract friends of churchgoers who are interested in finding out what Christianity is all about, in a relaxed setting;
To offer Alpha to people outside of our churches through publicity in and around Worcester;
To introduce many of these people to our living God, through faith in Jesus, through a credible, friendly Alpha course.

Without detracting from Alpha courses already being run by churches in the diocese, the course aims to involve as many parishes as possible in this pilot, which will run in the Old Palace in Worcester on Wednesday evenings from October 5^th to December 7^th, 2011.

The course is designed as a complementary option to what is already happening around the diocese. This is an initial pilot for churches in the Worcester area. If it's successful and there is a perceived need, courses will be rolled out in other parts of the diocese.

The idea is for churches to book a table of 8-10 people onto the course. This should ideally include one discussion group leader, one helper and 6-8 other people who have been invited by your own churchgoers, who may also accompany them if appropriate. Don't worry if you cannot fill a whole table, tables will be put together from a few churches if necessary. It is hoped that parishioners will invite friends, family, neighbours and colleagues; publicise the course with a poster on your external notice board(s), websites, magazines; consider nominating individuals from your church who might be willing to lead the discussion or join the general support team.

If you are interested, please contact Peter Penhallow (07939 561378/ ) or Andy Sheppard (07990 510100/ ) by the 15^th July. We would also like to invite you participating churches to contribute £100 towards the cost of running Worcester Alpha, which includes the cost of tailored invitations, posters and course manuals which we will send you. This corresponds to just £10 per delegate for a ten-week course. Tables will be allocated to churches on a first-come-first-served basis.

The Three Choirs Festival

The Three Choirs Festival is the world's oldest classical choral festival, rotating annually between the cities of Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester.

It is the turn of Worcester to host the festival this year from August 6th to 13^th. The Philharmonia Orchestra, based in London, will be the orchestra in residence for the festival week. 62 events will take place in 16 venues around the City and County supported by a further 40 or more free and ticketed events organized by the annual Worcester Festival who act as our fringe. The City of Worcester will be transformed for festival week into a musical and cultural mecca! The finale is a ‘Night at the Opera', with Sir Thomas Allen, a rousing climax to the musical week.

The main festival programme includes: Elgar Dream of Gerontius, Mozart Requiem, Mahler Symphony No 3, Brahms German Requiem, Handel Dixit Dominus, Vaughan Williams An Oxford Elegy, Beethoven Mass in C, Bruch Violin Concerto, Elgar Caractacus and an opera gala evening with Sir Thomas Allen.

Guest conductors include, Sir Andrew Davis, Susanna Mälkki, Harry Christophers and Christoph Mueller alongside our own Artistic Director Adrian Lucas, and the Artistic Directors of the Hereford Festival (Geraint Bowen) and Gloucester Festival (Adrian Partington).

Guest Soloists include the international baritone Sir Thomas Allen, the composer and jazz pianist Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, Classical Female Artist of the Year Alison Balsom (trumpet), Sarah Connolly CBE (Mezzo soprano), BBC New Generation Artist Tai Murray (violin), Matthew Best (bass), David Briggs (organ), Elizabeth Watts (Soprano), virtuoso recorder player Piers Adams , Italian organist superstar Paolo Oreni, Jamie Walton (cello) and Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo soprano).

Guest Ensembles include The Academy of Ancient Music, The Sixteen, Florilegium and The Melchior Ensemble

2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack, the underlying theme of the festival week. The highlight will be a performance of John Adams monumental cantata, ‘On the transmigration of souls', commissioned in 2002 and recalling the fall of the World Trade Center in New York. This piece will sit alongside the Mozart Requiem, Barber Adagio and Mahler Adagietto.

Of course many of the most exciting concerts will take place in the city's fabulous Cathedral, which will be transformed into a buzzing concert venue with first class summer refreshments served on the Cathedral Green, along with a few