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May 2010 |
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Please feel free to circulate these stories by email or by cutting and pasting into your church newsletter or magazine or printing them out and pinning them on your noticeboard. E-News is sent out to all who have submitted their details to the Email Directory of the Methodist Church in Britain. Visit www.methodist.org.uk/signup to subscribe. If you wish to unsubscribe please visit www.methodist.org.uk/signup to remove your details. Ken Kingston, E-News editor: newseditor@methodistchurch.org.uk
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The Methodist Church has launched their first app for the iPhone and iPod touch. The Methodist App enables people to view daily Bible studies, prayers and news from the Church.
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Moved by news of the disaster that killed around 230,000 people, made a million people homeless and devastated the country’s infrastructure, thousands of Methodists across Britain responded to appeals for funds issued jointly by the Methodist Church and the Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF). To date over £800,000 has been raised. Some of the money raised by the Methodist Church’s World Mission Fund is being used to purchase, transport and set up large tents in Haiti to be used as temporary classrooms, ensuring that children’s education in Haiti continues. Eight schools have been totally destroyed and seventeen so severely damaged that students and teachers are afraid to use them. On hearing this news, the Revd Gesner Paul, president of the Haitian Methodist Church, expressed his gratitude saying, "Thank you for the marvellous work that you have been doing in promoting the cause of Haiti at this critical time in the life of our nation and Church, even under difficult circumstances for you. We thank God that this work has started to bring such fruit, especially as we were wondering how would we face the relief and reconstruction work that has to be done." Other money is being used to support the salaries of teachers and church pastors in the worst affected areas for the next few months. Donations to MRDF’s Haiti appeal have been used to provide food, clean water and emergency shelter to thousands of people affected by the earthquake. At a malnutrition clinic in Port-au-Prince, hundreds of children were given enriched milk, spinach, beans and rice in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. For more details, click here. |
The booklet is designed as a starting-point to help people to get more engaged with the Bible in their daily lives, in advance of Biblefresh - the Year of the Bible in 2011. Readers will find contributions from authors as diverse as Martin Luther, Helen Keller and Oscar Romero. "The Bible is foundational for Christian faith," said the Revd Alison Tomlin, president designate of Conference. "But often people feel that it is not easy to understand, or that it might not have anything to say to them personally. I hope that people will be encouraged to find their own way of listening to God through what they find here, because I believe that God continues to seek a deepening relationship with all of us, no matter who we are." Glimpses of the Word is ideal for personal or group reflection, but churches are also encouraged to share its insights with their communities by giving the booklets away. It is available from Methodist Publishing at £5 for 50 copies, and can be purchased online. |
A new booklet, Glimpses of the Word, offers readers an inspiring collection of images, prayers and reflections on the Bible. Readers are encouraged to listen to Scripture and consider what God might be saying to them personally.
Key events include: Through the Conference website, you can listen to the debates as they happen (thanks to Premier Christian Radio) as well as being able to apply for tickets to attend the Opening of Conference (26 June), the Conference Service (27 June) and Ordinations Services (27 June) - subject to availability. |
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Entries will be judged on partnership, storytelling and photography. Winners will receive a grant of up to £500 from MWM, shared between the overseas partner and the local church. The closing date is 2 September 2010. For more details, click here. |
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The Mayor's statement came just days before the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, which taking place this month in New York. He said, "There is a danger that we consider nuclear weapons to be simply an unfortunate fact of life we can do nothing about. This would be a grave mistake. Now is the time to map out the road to global zero. At the NPT Review Conference our governments must clearly demonstrate their stated commitment to the elimination of all nuclear weapons." The campaign, entitled Now is the Time, invites people to sign an online petition calling on all governments to demonstrate their commitment to a nuclear weapons-free world at the forthcoming conference. The Churches are pressing for governments to put all bomb-grade material under international control and commit to making the use and possession of nuclear weapons illegal through a new Nuclear Weapons Convention. For more information click here. |
This year’s Methodist Conference takes place in Portsmouth, at the Guildhall. 
Former president of Conference, Neil Richardson, joined 36,000 runners in April as he completed the London Marathon for MRDF. Neil raised over a £1000 in the process. "If my run has flagged up the importance and value of MRDF's work with some of the poorest people in the world, and raised extra funds for them, then I am really happy with that," he said. Following in Neil's footsteps is Lucas Meagor, who is planning to run his 7th marathon for MRDF when he takes his place at the starting line at Lake Windermere on 15 May. The run, which will raise money for those affected by the disaster in Haiti, is part of Lucas' longstanding commitment to run marathons in support of the work of MRDF. A few weeks later, in June, Stephen Dando, a member of Southwell Methodist Church in Nottinghamshire, will be fulfilling a lifelong dream by walking 190 miles as part of the Coast to Coast walk, supporting the work of MRDF in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Click here to find out how you can help these supporters make small miracles possible. |
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What is Arminianism in the 21st century?
The conference takes place at St John's College, Durham from Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 September 2010. For more information contact Theresa Phillips, St John’s College, 3 South Bailey, Durham DH1 3RJ |
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It takes place on Saturday 9 October 2010, from 10.30am to 3.45pm at Carrs Lane United Reformed Church, Birmingham B4 7SX The speakers are: For more information, click here. |
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The Faith and Order Network is hosting a conference on an Arminian exploration of issues of equality and diversity, participation and fresh expressions. Much of Methodist theology is based on Arminianism, in that grace and salvation are available to all, without limit.