Welcome to Enews+ for December 6
The latest resources, important information and more.
This is for all clergy, Churchwardens, Treasurers and PCC Secretaries, and is your chance to find out what is going on….

In This Edition
  • From the Desk of the Diocesan Secretary
  • New from Church House
  1. A COVID-19 Update from Jonathan
  2. Lay Training Team: Pastoral Care Training
  3. Stewardship and Income Generation Team: Ways to encourage giving this Christmas
  4. Money For Mission: Issue 30
  5. Children, Young People and Families Team
  6. Communications Team: Advent Events
  • Resources
  • Vacancies
  • Other Useful Links and Information
From the Desk of the Diocesan Secretary
Dear all,
 
I have over the few weeks said on more than one occasion to the kids, "do you remember last year when we did …." only for them to point out that it wasn’t last year at all, but this year. 2021 seems to have lasted longer than 2020, which, bearing in mind how tired we all were this time last year, is no mean feat. It has been a long and tiring year for everyone, and I know that all of you involved in keeping our churches going have made huge efforts. Much has been asked of you and much has been achieved. All of us at Church House are incredibly grateful for what you have done and continue to do.
 
Our final Enews+ of the year contains a range of information about support, training and resources that are available. These bulletins are created to be looked at the most convenient point for you. Also included is the link to the latest COVID-19 guidance. We will send further updates on this should anything substantive change, but if you need any help/advice then please do email us at [email protected].
 
As we journey through Advent I know there will be much busy-ness. We are here to support you so please do get in touch if there is anything you need. I will be holding you all in my prayers, and praying for energy and peace over the coming season as we celebrate the Light coming into the world.
 
Jonathan
New from Church House
A COVID-19 Update from Jonathan
Revised Church of England guidance for places of worship was published recently and I thought it important to share it with you, as it’s both informative and also reassuring in that established safe social behaviour, including singing, may continue at this time. This guidance may be read here and has been produced to help churches navigate the current situation in relation to the COVID-19 virus. It reflects Government guidance as well as that from public health bodies and will be updated as that evolves. 

The national church’s view is that, while we have a high number of cases of the virus, we also have a population where previous infections and the national vaccination programme mean the majority of people have some immunity. Levels of immunity do vary individually and for some people they will continue to be significantly vulnerable to the virus and its potential long-term effects. The emergence of the Omicron variant of the virus may have an impact on the situation. However, for places of worship it is still up to individual churches to decide the precautions they wish to take based on their own risk assessment to protect others and themselves. The circumstances in each parish will inform local decision-making and diocesan staff are happy to advise and help.

Any further changes to Church of England guidance will be placed on the diocesan website’s COVID-19 section, which may be viewed here.

If you have any particular questions or queries, please email them to [email protected].
Lay Training Team: Pastoral Care Training
If you are looking to develop or strengthen your Pastoral Care Team, you may like to know that new online dates have been confirmed for levels 1 & 2 of the Lay Pastoral Worker Pathway.
 
In addition there is an ongoing self-paced option for the Level 1 course which offers immediate access upon self-enrolment: https://learning.leeds.anglican.org/course/self-paced-pastoral-conversations-course/
And lastly, there is a new self-paced course, Pastoral Principles for Living & Learning Well Together: https://learning.leeds.anglican.org/course/pastoral-principles-for-living-and-learning-well-together/
Please follow the links for more information, or alternatively contact Mandy Aspland (email: [email protected]; Tel 07847 539407).
Stewardship and Income Generation Team: Ways to encourage giving this Christmas
Christmas is a time when we normally see more people attending church services, perhaps for the first time. Many people will want to give to our churches and we should make this as easy as possible for them, bearing in mind many people no longer carry cash.
The National Giving Team have put together a list of festive resources to help you grow giving this Christmas including:
  • Customisable giving posters and welcome cards
  • A customisable Christmas giving animation
  • Top tips on getting the most out of your contactless card reader this Christmas
  • Ways to encourage online giving.
Find out more here.
Money For Mission: Issue 30
This is the place to access Money For Mission, the newsletter from the Finance and Stewardship and Income Generation Teams. The most recent edition can be found here, with information including:

  • The Parish Giving Scheme
  • 10 Ways to Grow Church Income in 2022 - NEW WEBINAR
  • Ways to Encourage Giving this Christmas
  • Grants from the Diocese of Leeds
  • Carbon Net Zero
  • Green Journey
  • Parish Share Key Date and Arrears Policy
  • Training

If you would like to receive Money for Mission directly, you can sign up for direct mailing by clicking the link in the newsletter.
Children, Young People and Families Team
The Employed Workers meeting on Tuesday, January 11 is an opportunity for those employed to work with children, young people and/or families to meet together on zoom to share, pray and encourage each other – please do invite any children and or youth workers you employ to join in.
The next three sessions of the Working with Children and Young People are detailed below – choose which of the sessions are most helpful for you, or book for them all!

An Introduction to the Mission Toolkit on Thursday, February 10 is an hour exploring the missional training and resources we offer to support parishes to engage, nurture and disciple children, young people and families and grow leaders.
Communications Team: Advent Events
Advent is well underway across our diocese and the doors are open for safe social gathering in our many and varied places of worship.
Children and families are taking part in Nativity performances in our schools and churches and ever-popular Christingle services will once again prove to be hits with young and old.
Our three cathedrals are ready for the annual influx of guests at carol services and choir concerts and everywhere our clergy and lay leaders are reaching out, quite literally, into the public square with drive-in carol singing in car parks and other locations.
To find out what’s going on, or to add your own Advent and Christmas events, please visit our special Advent website section here or email [email protected].
Resources
The Church of England's 'At the Heart of Christmas' resources include reflections, online services, printed materials and more. See them here.
There is also a new advert for the campaign, which can be seen and shared here.
The Diocesan website has our Advent section on it, with a list of services being held this Advent and Christmas in churches across the diocese. See it here, and please share your services with us by emailing [email protected].
The Diocese of Leeds has recently launched its resources to help churches reach carbon net zero by 2030, 'Saving Creation: Strategic Action to Combat Climate Change'. These include a video, toolkit, and case studies, with more to come. Read more here.
A resource pack to help churches better support people with disabilities has recently been produced by the diocese and churches across the British Isles. Called ‘A Welcoming Church’, it has been produced by the Diocese of Leeds in collaboration with Dublin and Glendalough Youth Officer Susie Keegan, and The Church of Ireland Youth Department. Read more here.
Living in Love and Faith, The Church of England’s landmark set of resources on questions of identity and which draws together the Bible, theology, science and history with powerful real-life stories has now been published. The product of three years’ work includes a 480-page book, a series of films and podcasts, a course and an online library of other publications. Find more here
The latest edition of the Prayer Diary is now online to download.There are fresh prayers for Sudan as well as prayers for Tanzania. Download prayers here.
For information, resources and more, visit www.leeds.anglican.org
Vacancies
HM/YOI Deerbolt and HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange are looking to recruit a new Ordained Anglican Chaplain to provide for the religious care of prisoners and staff in the Anglican faith tradition and appropriate pastoral care for all irrespective of faith or tradition. Find out more here.
Other Useful Links & Information
For safeguarding issues, contact our advisers on:
[email protected] or call 0113 353 0257 
Carla Darbyshire - Safeguarding Team Leader
Jenny Leccardi - Safeguarding Adviser
Narinder Lyon - Safeguarding Adviser
Nikki Rose - Assistant Safeguarding Adviser
Moves and Appointments

Revd Nathanael Poole to be Interim Minister (0.5) at St Margaret’s Frizinghall. Nathanael will continue at Fountains Church Bradford as Associate Minister with a reduced deployment of 0.5 (Bradford EA)

Rt Revd Bill Godfrey to be Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Leeds

Revd Jemma Sander-Heys to be Vicar of Oakworth (0.5) (Bradford EA)
The Who's Who directory lists clergy & diocesan staff (email addresses & phone numbers). Access it here 
Contact us with your news
Please contact the Communications Team with your news so we can share it with the wider diocese. Our regular Enews is published twice a month. Area news stories to [email protected]  
© Anglican Diocese of Leeds, 2021
Church House, 17-19 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2EX
 0113 200 0540

Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily represent those of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Finance

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