The Mailing 2010/02
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Countdown to Leicester
The Churches of the East Midlands Area of the Congregational Federation are looking forward to welcoming you all to the 39th Assembly of the Congregational Federation to be held on Saturday 8th May 2010 in Leicester. The venue is the Samworth Enterprise Academy, which is an impressive large modern educational building, opened about two years ago, and situated on the outskirts of the city. The address is is Trenant Road LE2 6UA. It is close to the outer ring road (A563), and is within easy reach of Junction 21 of the M1 motorway as well as other handy road links.
There are extensive parking facilities for cars and coaches on site, and excellent disabled access to the building. If coming by train then there are taxi or buses available from Leicester Railway Station with excellent links to various parts of the country. For those travelling from afar, the East Midlands Airport is not far with a rail link into Leicester. Leicester is a bustling multi-cultural city, with many local attractions, both within the city and in the immediate lovely countryside. Information about all these is available from the Tourist Board website link opposite. Hotel and Guest House accommodation can also be accessed from that site.
If you are staying in the area over the weekend, you will be very welcome to join in worship at any of our East Midlands Area churches. You will find details of the times of services in the current Year Book, and you will need a road map. You can also find details of these churches on the Federation’s web site.
We are particularly pleased that we in the East Midlands Area are hosting the Assembly this year as Rev Sandra Turner, who will be welcomed as the new Federation President during the afternoon, grew up in the Leicester area. In her younger days Sandra attended Clarendon Park Church. Later,
she and John were active members at Narborough Church for several years prior to Sandra becoming the pastor at nearby Ullesthorpe C.C.
It was during her time at Ullesthorpe that she completed her training and was ordained there, and we missed them both very much when they moved on to the North West Area in 1996. Sandra and John always did things as a team”, and I’m sure this special year will be no different. We send them both our love, and wish them every blessing for what we hope will be a very memorable year in their lives.
Setting the standard - Child Friendly Church
Is your church a good place for children to be? Child Friendly Church is a new award scheme in the Federation, launched this month to recognise excellence in children’s ministry. Awards will normally be made at May Assembly. Because it sends a very positive message to local people, backed up by the assurance of national standards, the award can be an effective aid to mission. Churches wishing to work towards the award begin by getting a Child Friendly pack from Stephen at the Youth and Children’s Office
stephen.haward@congregational.org.uk or call 0115 9111460 The pack is free
Window on the World - "Hold the Christ-light"
Window on the World is the holiday conference organised by CWM European Region, taking place from 7th-13th August 2010. The conference is an opportunity to meet the world church and learn more about mission. In 2010 worship will be led by “Siyaya,” a group of young people from the JL ZWANE Centre, Guguleto, South Africa. The group have travelled to many countries taking their lively music and worship, including a 2008 visit to Washington DC with Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Cape Town. Revd Elizabeth Joy, Executive Secretary for Mission Education at CWM will lead evening worship and Revd SHou-Hui Chung a Mission Partner from Taiwan willlead early morning prayers - a truly world church worship team! Revd Dr Janet Wootton will inspire the conference through the theme “Hold the Christ-Light.” Janet is Director of Studies in the Congregational Federation and well known hymn writer, author and theologian. The theme will focus on the relationship between mission and worship – how worship inspires the church to do mission and missioninforms the church at worship.
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The conference gives plenty of activities forpeople of all ages. Each morning there is a lively programme for children and young people. Afternoons include making use of the outdoor activity facilities, time to explore the surrounding area, interest workshops and evenings are filled with entertainment for all ages. The venue is The Pioneer Centre at Cleobury Mortimer, near Kidderminster. The Centre has excellent outdoor activities for all ages, including abseiling, swimming, climbing and fencing. Accommodation is mostly in en-suite rooms for 2, 3 and 4 people.
For more details contact CWM Europe who have recently moved offices to: Council for World Mission Europe
Colin Sanders Innovation Centre
Mewburn
Bunbury
Oxfordshire
OX16 9PA
Telephone: 01295 817621
President retuns with better understanding
As part of the CF team visit to the Dominican Republic Onè Respé programme Jill Stephens returned home a different person “I returned home to England with a better understanding of the work of Christian Aid and their work in support of partners both at the grassroots level and through the work of advocacy and education. We truly appreciated everything that Geoff and Pippa did, which will help us raise the profile, not only of Onè Respé but also of Christian Aid among our churches.
Following the recent devastation of the earthquake in Haiti, it is only too easy to imagine the desperation that will now drive even more Haitians into the Dominican Republic. Those already there face the additional anguish of not knowing anything about the fate of their loved ones and pain of their suffering. Onè Respé, in particular, needs urgent resources if it is to have a significant impact within this unfolding human tragedy.”