The Methodist Church
30 August 2013

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The Week Ahead
The Methodist Church
Hi everyone, 

Welcome to all the new subscribers to the Week Ahead! Glad to hear many people had a great Greenbelt. We are thinking of all those ministers who have been stationed to new circuits and districts as we move into the new Connexional year.

Toby will be staffing the out-of-hours media support line this week (07881783812).


Wishing you a wonderful week,
                                Karen
Churches urge caution over Syria

Leaders from the Methodist Church in Britain, the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the United Reformed Church released a statement on the crisis in Syria this week. You can read it here alongside an accompanying prayer written by the President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd Ruth Gee. Media coverage of this release has included the Telegraph, Ekklesia, and Premier Radio. The Revd Ruth Gee will be interviewed by BBC Radio Tees on Sunday morning. Look out for a blogpost on the JPIT website over the next few days.
Learning Network launch next week

The Learning Network will launch on Monday. Look out for a press release about the Network next week. There are around 20 regional vacancies for Learning and Development Officers. The closing date is noon on 23 September, so there is still time to be part of this work. See here for the latest updates.
Start of the new Connexional year

Sunday 1 September is the start of the 2013/2014 Connexional year. We will be praying for everyone starting new appointments and roles across the Connexion. We will also be praying for Tamara Wray, the incoming Methodist Youth President, who begins her new role on Sunday. You can keep to date with her activities through the Youth President's blog.
Together for the Common Good

The Together for the Common Good Conference has less than a week to go before booking closes. The few remaining places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To be part of this unique gathering you will need to register before 3 September at 12 noon. Speakers included the Revd Ruth Gee, President of the Methodist Conference.
Bangladesh: Conference next week

The Methodist Church, as part of the UK Churches' Bangladesh Group, will join a global coalition of Churches to launch a campaign against the plight of Bangladeshi garment workers. The coalition will meet on 5 September at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, at 12pm to discuss workers' rights. Read more here. Listen to a podcast here. We will be covering the events of the Conference and will keep you updated with the outcome.
JIC report on Anglican-Methodist Covenant

Next week the Joint Implementation Committee's short and long reports on the Challenge of the Covenant: Uniting in Mission and Holiness will be uploaded to the Methodist website, along with A Quick Guide to both reports. We'll let you know when they are online. There will also be a press release on the reports that will be issued next week.
Inter Faith Week and Speed Faithing

A heads up on Inter Faith Week which will run from Sunday 17 to Saturday 23 November in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Methodists have been involved in marking Inter Faith Week in previous years at both national and local level. In 2011, Methodist Church House put up a window display for the whole of November. Local Methodist churches were also involved in marking the week, either individually or through participation in events organised by ecumenical or inter faith initiatives. One of these events is "Speed Faithing" where participants move around a room spending three minutes at a time with someone of a different faith and asking questions about their traditions and beliefs. Find out more here.
Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year

The Jewish New Year begins on Wednesday 4 September to Friday 6 September. We wish the Jewish community a Happy New Year! The Jewish celebration of Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles, begins on 18 September. Thinking ahead to Inter Faith Week, churches might like to link this ancient biblical Jewish festival with their own harvest celebrations.   
Reflections

In the coming week the Prayer Handbook will be encouraging us to pray with Christians in West Africa, Britain and Ireland and Southern Africa. The theme for next week's A Word in Time Bible studies is The New Israel written by the the Revd Dr Stephen Mosedale.
Video Friday: Hallelujah Corus

Why not celebrate the beginning the new Connexional year by watching this version of the Hallelujah chorus!

On the box

Paul O'Grady's Working Britain: Monday 12.50am BBC 2
The comedian presents the first of two programmes in which he explores the history of the British working class. For Paul, these were the people who made Britain great, from the dark days of the Industrial Revolution to the hairnets and rubber gloves of the factory line. But what happened when these jobs were no more? Travelling from his childhood town of Birkenhead to Clyde in Glasgow, he discovers the factories and mines that were at the heart of industry and the effects of their disappearance. He also speaks to people who are keeping the culture and values of the class alive and tries his hand at some typical jobs to see whether the sense of pride has survived.

Britain's Big Wildlife Revival: Tuesday 9.35am BBC 2
Countryfile's Ellie Harrison is joined by BBC wildlife presenters to highlight the plight of Britain's endangered species, focusing on a different creature each week, and Mike Dilger provides viewers with tips on how to turn their gardens into havens for at-risk animals. In the first edition, Iolo Williams explores the lives of red and grey squirrels in north Wales and the Lake District, Nick Baker learns about the adder's strange habits and Gordon Buchanan goes on a Highland quest in search of the Scottish wildcat. Plus, Ellie finds out how the red kite came back from the brink of extinction.

Radio

Sunday Worship: Sunday. 8.10am. BBC Radio 4.
The morning service from the Charles Wood Summer School at St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh, led by the Rev Dr Peter Thompson. The preacher is the Very Rev Gregory Dunstan and Nigel McClintock directs the music.

Crossing Continents: Inside Gay Pakistan. 8.30pm BBC Radio 4.
Mobeen Azhar looks at the gay scene in Pakistan. Although homosexuality is illegal in this religiously conservative country, the community is managing to thrive with the help of social media. He meets gay people at parties, shrines and hotels, including an NGO worker who shows him one of Karachi's prime cruising locations, and speaks to a man who, under the guise of a masseur, sells sexual services to men. With greater difficulty, Mobeen is introduced to a lesbian couple, who believe it is too soon for the gay community to fight openly for its political rights.

See The Radio Times for further listings.

The Week Ahead is a regular mailing sent to
DCOs, District Chairs, Lay Workers, District Administrators,
DDEs, Ministers and Methodist Council Members. It aims to give people a heads up on upcoming events and opportunities, as well as highlighting new information and resources. We don't always remember everything, so please do email us if you have any feedback or ideas for items to include.  
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