24 May 2013

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St Paul’s Cathedral Easter Eve confirmation service

25 January 2013 By

Clergy are welcome to present candidates either for confirmation only, or confirmation and baptism. Those wishing to present candidates are asked to contact Mrs Susan Charles, the Liturgical Administrator, at the Chapter House or susanc (Email: susanc [at] stpaulscathedral.org.uk) by Monday 25 February please – the earlier the better.

The service is at 6pm this year – an hour earlier than in previous years.

Please send Mrs Charles the following information for each candidate you wish to present:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Date of birth
  • Date and place of baptism (or name and occupation of parents for candidates for infant baptism)
  • Name of presenting clergy
  • Parish

In order that the Bishop (The Bishop of London) can know something of the people he is confirming, and be able to pray for them more specifically before the service, please also ask your candidates to handwrite a short biography. Please then send the biographies to Susan Charles who will collate them and pass them to the Bishop.

If any candidates or their supporters require the services of a BSL interpreter, please inform Mrs Charles by 25 February at the latest.

Due to the administrative requirements associated with this service, only those candidates who have been notified to the Cathedral by Monday 25 February, and whose information is complete by that date can be included in the service.

The Rehearsal will take place at 4.30pm on Saturday 30 March. Please come with your candidates, meeting under the Dome for a walk through. The rehearsal will start promptly and will last around 40 minutes. Please allow plenty of time to arrive, get to the right part of the cathedral and be ready to start at 4.30. It is very unfair on young people if they miss part of the rehearsal, and spend the service worrying about where to be and what to do. After the rehearsal refreshments will be provided in the Crypt where the candidates will also meet the Bishop.

Please bring along your Confirmation Register – any Baptisms will be recorded in the St Paul’s Baptism Register.

Presenting Clergy robe in the Dean’s Aisle (surplice and white stole).

Filed Under: Information

Keeping the Promise: Scouting & GirlGuiding Promise consultations

16 January 2013 By

Both Girlguiding UK and UK Scouting are currently conducting consultations into their new members “Promise”. They are independent of each other and the two consultations are intrinsically different but both potentially noteworthy for the Church.

UK Scouting is consulting about developing a membership Promise for atheists, which closes on Thursday 31st January 2013.

Girlguiding UK is consulting about the Promise currently taken by all its members, to enquire whether to drop references to God and the Queen in the oath. It closes on Sunday 3 March 2013.

Both consultations are open to non-members as well as members and can be completed online and via post.

“Keeping the Promise” asks those with links to uniformed organisations in the Church and other interested parties to complete the consultations with a view to the retention of the reference to God and the Queen.

Church Engagement

While there is no formal link between the Church and uniformed organisations, many parishes across the country have close links to their local groups. Uniformed organisations routinely meet on church premises, parade services are a part of the regular worshipping life of many parishes, volunteers for groups often come from parish churches whilst for churches themselves their work with the uniformed organisations forms an integral part of the engagement with young people. It is also worth noting that for Guiding, many units across the country are ‘sponsored’ by their local church. Open sponsorship indicates a close link between the church and the unit but allows girls of any faith or no faith to join.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Information

Legal changes for the procedure for publishing banns of marriage

19 December 2012 By

The procedure for publishing banns of marriage on a Sunday has changed. As the Diocesan Registrar, Paul Morris, explains:

Until now, the law has required that banns be read at the morning service (if there is one) on a Sunday, even if the main or principal service is actually at some other time of day.

With effect from Sunday 23 December 2012, that requirement has changed. Banns must now be read at the principal or main service, whether that is in the morning or not.

In addition, banns may be published at any other service on the same Sunday, as well as being read at the principal service.

Another change is that the wording for the publication of banns contained in ‘Common Worship: Pastoral Services’ is now given statutory authority, even though in practice the wording is already in use. For the avoidance of doubt, the Common Worship and Book of Common Prayer forms of wording now have equal statutory authority. Either form may be used.

Please note that if banns are published more than once on the same Sunday, both publications are the same ‘time of asking’.

A note from the legal office of the Church of England is also attached.

Legal changes for the procedure for publishing banns of marriage
Title : Legal changes for the procedure for publishing banns of marriage
Size : 222 kB
Filed Under: Featured articles, Information

‘One Size Fails All’

30 November 2012 By

On Wednesday 28 November, Demos launched the results of a new analysis of poverty called ‘Poverty in Perspective’.  The study looked at the types of people living below the poverty line, on low incomes, to understand who these people are and what their lives look like.

Demos applied 20 indicators; things like low qualifications, overcrowded housing, fuel poverty, mental ill health, lack of family support and low political participation and then looked for patterns.  Because of the interlinking nature of poverty they found there were certain groups who had the same indicators clustered together and came up with 15 ‘types of poverty’.  These 15 types can be seen in three cohorts:

  • Five types of households with children
  • Five types of households without children
  • Five types of pensioner households

 “It recognises that low-income families are not a homogeneous group requiring a one-size-fits-all response, but a diverse collection of people, needing different strategies to tackle the types of poverty they face.”

Full House Families

For example under the group of households with children they recognise a type of family they labelled ‘Full House Families’:

“Just over one in five families in poverty (22 per cent) fit into this group. These tend to be very large households, containing multiple adults and young children. Members of this group are more likely to be from Asian and other BME backgrounds, many without English as a first language. They are able to heat their homes and are not behind on bills, but housing conditions are more likely to be overcrowded. Their qualifications range from low to degree level, but their rate of employment is low, with only one or two family members in work. The live in deprived but reasonably supportive neighbourhoods, and get more support from families.”

Insecure Singles

Another group were the ‘Insecure Singles’:

“This group accounts for just over one in five of all childless, working age households in poverty. These are overwhelmingly single adult households, predominantly renting their homes, whether in private or social housing. Members of this group tend to be deprived and lack consumer durables, and are often behind with paying their bills. They report struggling financially, and the majority are unemployed. They are highly likely to experience physical and mental health problems. They live in the most deprived neighbourhoods and receive mixed levels of support from neighbours and family.”

For each of the 15 people types there is a helpful infographic which shows the characteristics and struggles facing.  You can find out more about these here.

Promoting partnership

The report intends to inform policy makers and prompt joint working and partnerships in agencies that might not normally work together.  The recommendations are broken down and specific to each people group bringing a new perspective on tackling poverty at a household level.

 “Bringing adult skills, health outreach, debt and budgeting advice services into social housing locations to help households tackle their problems on all fronts simultaneously requires considerable coordination and the will to work together for a joint outcome – not an easy feat in the current economic climate of payment by results, cost shunting and competing priorities.”

This report is interesting for churches trying to understand the shifting trends and patterns of poverty in their communities and find innovative and specific ways to respond.  Some of the interesting inidicators are around family support, community engagement as well as political engagement.  Churches already do so much to support and strengthen families and communities and could take the opportunity to identify those with low levels of participation to work with them to build up their confidence and connections to create stronger resilience and support networks.

Filed Under: Community Ministry, Information

London Missional Housing Bond: social investment for the Church’s mission in London

27 November 2012 By

A new Bond is in the final stages of development by a partnership of churches and Christian organisations seeking to raise £2 million of social investment to support the mission of the church in some of the most deprived communities in London.

The Bond was initially developed by the Parish of St Paul’s Shadwell and the Contextual Theology Centre. They are now working with the wider Diocese and the Eden Network, supported by Affordable Christian Housing. All of these organisations are helping to grow churches and transform communities in the most deprived parts of London. The Bond will enable them to purchase and provide affordable rented housing for some of their Christian workers in these neighbourhoods.

Investors will be able to invest for up to five years in return for a fixed rate of interest of up to 2%. We will be offering a financial return, but the main benefit will be the social return from partners who are seeking to transform communities in London. This is the first Missional Housing Bond of its kind, but we hope it will be the first of many.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Information, Mission

Electoral Roll renewal in 2013

21 November 2012 By

Information from Andy Brookes, General Secretary, regarding the renewal of electoral rolls in 2013:

Many of you are well versed in the six yearly renewing of electoral rolls. If so, skip ahead a few paragraphs to the changes we are making in 2013.

For those who are new to this, some background.

Each year around APCM time individuals have the opportunity to join the electoral rolls of our churches (with a small number resigning if they take the trouble). Every six years each church’s electoral roll is redone from scratch, with all members having to sign up afresh. You need to make this happen in early 2013, getting all your flock to sign anelectoral roll form.

This is more than just a statistical clean-up.

In the past 20 years, electoral rolls in the London Diocese have grown 60-70%. (The exact number depends on the base year; see Another Capital Idea for more details.) Any of you who have used this statistic with your congregations will know the encouragement and surprise it generates. However, we can only make this statement because each church does the collection work – thank you; and it is important to ensure that electoral rolls are realistic.

Under London Challenge many of the successes were achieved through our working together:  on Fairtrade, the environment, the2012 and much more. Our Capital Vision 2020 will build on this theme. We need to continue to do more together.

Changes in 2013

Many participants in Capital Vision engagement workshops asked us to raise our communications game. The ability to communicate further encouragement direct to members of electoral rolls will aid that objective.

The statutory electoral roll application form does not collect email addresses or phone numbers, but to enable that improvement in our communication to happen, a new box headed ‘Additional Information’ has been added at the end of the form. This contains an invitation to the electoral roll applicant to provide their email address and telephone number.

As you know, this information is vital to the smooth functioning of a parish. We also want to be able to use these email addresses to share, on behalf of the Bishop of London, important news and events in the life of the Church in the Diocese of London.

You should note that the request for ‘Additional Information’ has been worded to reflect best practice and covers use of the information provided both by the parish and by the Bishop.

Please use the new form, which should replace any used in the past, or if you prefer you can simply copy and paste the new box on to the end of your existing statutory form.

The mechanism for transferring electoral roll information to us will be a straightforward upload of a simple spreadsheet through a secure website. But this is for another day. The important thing is that your church include the new box for ‘Additional Information’ provided on the electoral roll form.

Documents to help with the preparation of your new electoral roll are attached: the application form, a notice to be displayed, plus a quick guide and a more detailed guide to the process. These documents – and many more relating to APCMs – are available on the diocesan website.

Filed Under: Information, PCCs, Synod

Emergency pastoral ministry essentials in one pocket-size companion

25 October 2012 By

Clergy perform thousands of emergency pastoral services in the community every year, prompting Church House Publishing to compile the essentials for pastoral ministry in a portable, easy-reference volume.

Launched on Wednesday, 10 October at St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, London, Common Worship: A Pastoral Ministry Companion includes liturgies, prayers and readings for:

  • Emergency baptism
  • Prayers for the sick and their families
  • Holy Communion at home or in hospital
  • Reconciliation services (not present in previous Pastoral Services or Ministry to the Sick volumes)
  • Prayers with the dying and at the time of a death
  • Prayers for use at home before and after a funeral
  • Passages of Scripture and Psalms in both modern and Prayer Book versions

The Bishop of Wakefield and chair of the Liturgical Commission, the Rt Revd Stephen Platten, said at the launch:

“Caring for the sick and people in times of crisis stands at the heart of Christian ministry. This companion will be an essential resource when a priest is offering pastoral care.”

The elegant and discreet volume – bound in soft-touch imitation leather with two ribbons – is the ideal size for keeping to hand in a pocket, bag or car glove compartment.

Common Worship: A Pastoral Ministry Companion is published by Church House Publishing as a soft-cased hardback (with two ribbons), ISBN 978 07151 2203 7, priced at £20.

It is available from Church House Publishing at the special price of £16.00 until 31st October.

Alternatively it is also available as a Kindle eBook.

Filed Under: Information

Cursillo in the Diocese of London

27 September 2012 By

Cursillo is a movement of the Church providing a method by which Christians are empowered to grow through prayer, study and action and enabled to share God’s love with everyone.

We are eager to share how Cursillo can contribute to transforming Christians and supporting parishes more widely in London, where it operates with the support of Bishop Richard and under his authority.

We would be delighted to give a short PowerPoint presentation to any interested groups in the Diocese and to answer any questions, such as at a PCC meeting, or to folk over coffee following a Sunday service. Please don’t hesitate to contact any of us if we can help in this or any other way.

Contact:

  • Sue Cobb, Publicity Representative. e: suecobb2003 (Email: suecobb2003 [at] yahoo.co.uk), t: 020 8582 2734
  • Jennifer Neve, Lay Director. e: j.neve (Email: j.neve [at] turretgroup.com), t: 01923 692672
  • The Revd Alison Tyler, Spiritual Director. e: ar.tyler (Email: ar.tyler [at] ntlworld.com), t: 020 7207 0756.
Filed Under: Information

How to play Paralympic sports in your youth group

14 September 2012 By

Today’s article was inspired by one of our youth workers, whose 11-14s were so excited by watching the Paralympics that they’ve asked to do some Paralympic sports in their youth group.

Paralympic sports often require different skills to those displayed in more traditional sport – in Boccia, which I’ve chosen to profile, concentration, accuracy and tactics are far more important than speed, strength or mobility. And it’s something which those of any ability can play – for those with severe mobility impairment, a ramp is used to direct the ball, with an able-bodied assistant moving the ramp into place, following the player’s instructions.

If you’ve enjoyed watching the Paralympics, why not introduce some Paralympic sports into your youth, children’s or seniors’ programme this term?

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured articles, Information, Olympics, Paralympics, Youth ministry

We are the Body of Christ

20 August 2012 By

This week’s post comes from Revd Barry North, disability adviser in Chichester Diocese. As the Paralympics approach, our attitudes to disability are challenged. Barry draws out some of the implications.

We are the Body of Christ, in the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body

But are we one body? Do our churches exclude some people?

It is important that everyone should be given a warm welcome into the House of the Lord, there should be no barriers to the worship of God, but sometimes our churches can appear to be less-than-welcoming to people with disabilities.

As Christians we are horrified at the suggestion that we are not welcoming but sometimes our church life and buildings can appear to be ‘unfriendly’ to people with disabilities. This is not a deliberate policy but can occur through a failure to think through our approach to disability. Churches very rarely discriminate intentionally but may fall into a trap of unwitting discrimination. Think about your church… does it have steps at the entrance? Can everybody read your weekly news-sheet? Does everyone use the microphone? For people with disabilities these questions are important because there can be barriers that prevent some people from being part of the one body; getting things wrong can create problems.

In 1 Corinthians 12:12ff St. Paul tells us that ‘Christ is like a single body which has many parts’ and then goes on to explain how the Body of Christ – the church – has many parts which all work together. Paul reminds us that all parts of the body are of equal importance. However, some people with disabilities find that it is difficult for them to feel fully part of the body of the church because attitudes, barriers, or lack of provision, exclude them from full participation in church life.

As Christians we should welcome all people into our churches, we should enable everyone to fully participate in worship and in church life; no-one should feel unwelcome or excluded. It is good, therefore, to take some time to explore the attitudes and facilities (or lack of them) that people with disabilities may encounter when coming to your church – and to do all that is possible to change things to give a full and complete welcome.

After speaking about the body in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul goes on to his ‘great hymn to love’ in chapter 13. If we truly seek to be the disciples of Christ we will reflect the love that he showed us on the cross by welcoming everyone into our churches.

The Practicalities

In order to offer the best possible welcome to all people, every church should examine its buildings, practices, and, above all, attitudes to see how welcoming these are for disabled people.

Some considerations of the practical implications of various disabilities can be downloaded here:

Practical considerations

For an access audit to assess how your church shapes up, visit the Buildings pages.

These charities offer further help and information:

Don’t be overwhelmed!

Some changes can be costly and time-consuming, but there are some easy changes which cost nothing and can be made quickly.

  • Encourage all speakers to use a microphone appropriately - if you have a hearing induction loop, whatever’s said through the microphone can be heard. Even if people can project well, they should use a microphone for the benefit of hearing-aid users.
  • Make a large-print newsletter – people whose sight is deteriorating may not feel able to say that reading small print is difficult. Provide some large print copies alongside large print hymnbooks and bibles etc.
  • Clear the clutter from the disabled toilet – it’s not a cupboard, and clearing the room makes it easier to use. Adding nice soap or flowers, and posters about forthcoming events at eye-height when seated is a thoughtful gesture.
  • Communicate what you do – before people come to your church, they’ll probably look you up online. A brief note on your website describing the facilities and adaptations, with perhaps a contact number/email for a disability advocate within the congregation will help, as will making sure your entry on A Church Near You is accurate.

I hope that begins to approach a subject that can easily feel daunting. With all members of the Body of Christ able to come together and worship, the body itself is more able to function.

Filed Under: Information, Olympics, Paralympics

Archdeacons’ visitation news, Spring 2012

24 May 2012 By

Copies of the latest edition of Archdeacons’ Visitation News are on their way to churchwardens. You can also download a copy below.

This edition includes gems such as:

  • Are you allowed to baptise a baby in meat broth?
  • What’s the point of Parish Returns?
  • Hands Off Our Church Roofs!
  • Open Churches 2012
  • Mission opportunities at the 2012 Games
Archdeacons' Visitation News Spring 2012
Title : Archdeacons' Visitation News Spring 2012
Size : 1 MB
Filed Under: Information

Marathon-running clergy

27 March 2012 By

We’re looking for Diocese of London clergy who are running this year’s London Marathon for a news item. Please let Robert Hargrave (Email: robert.hargrave [at] london.anglican.org) know if you are interested.

Filed Under: Information

God and Sport

13 February 2012 By

Sport! You may love it or hate it but you can’t really escape it. And with Olympics on the horizon, it’s going to demand even more of our attention! But how are Christians to engage with sport? Do we treat it with suspicion or celebrate it with joy? And what on earth has it got to do with God? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Information, Olympics, Training

Easter Eve confirmation service at St Paul’s Cathedral

10 February 2012 By

Clergy are welcome to present candidates either for Confirmation only, or Confirmation and Baptism.  Those wishing to present candidates are asked to contact Mrs Susan Charles (Email: susanc [at] stpaulscathedral.org.uk), the Liturgical Administrator, at the Chapter House by Wednesday 7 March please – the earlier the better.

Please send Mrs Charles the following information for each candidate you wish to present:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Date of birth
  • Date and place of baptism (or name and occupation of parents for candidates for infant baptism)
  • Name of presenting clergy
  • Parish

In order that the Bishop can know something of the people he is confirming, and be able to pray for them more specifically before the service, please also ask your Candidates to handwrite a short biography.

Please then send the biographies to Susan Charles who will collate them and pass them to the Bishop.

Due to the administrative requirements associated with this service, only those candidates who have been notified to the cathedral by Wednesday 7 March, and whose information is complete by that date can be included in the service.

The Rehearsal will take place at 5.30pm on Easter Eve. Please come with your candidates, meeting under the Dome for a walk through. The rehearsal will start promptly and will last around 40 minutes. Please allow plenty of time to arrive, get to the right part of the cathedral and be ready to start at 5.30. It is very unfair on young people if they miss part of the rehearsal, and spend the service worrying about where to be and what to do. After the rehearsal refreshments will be provided in the Crypt where the candidates will also meet the Bishop.

Presenting Clergy are very welcome to robe for the Service (cassock, surplice and white stole).

Filed Under: Information

Stand up and stand out for World Aids Day

31 October 2011 By

This World AIDS Day you can join Terrence Higgins Trust in raising awareness of HIV and remembering those who have lost their lives to AIDS by:

  • Wearing your Red Ribbon with pride and encouraging others to buy one too
  • Holding a commemorative service and reminding your community that the HIV epidemic is still around today
  • Holding a collection after the service to raise vital funds to help Terrence Higgins Trust to continue supporting people living with HIV.

In the UK, the number of people living with HIV will reach 100,000 before the year is out. There is still no cure. HIV thrives on ignorance and shame. After 30 years, it is time to end the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS once and for all.

To order your Stand Up, Stand Out red ribbons and other World AIDS Day materials please fill in the order form from below and return it to Terrence Higgins Trust by fax or post. Alternatively, you can order online and find further fundraising ideas at www.tht.org.uk/worldaidsday.

Filed Under: Featured articles, Information