Welcome to the Enews for January 11

The latest resources, news and more.

Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  

Contact enews@leeds.anglican.org with your news. 

Progressive efforts by farmers to produce good food and manage the countryside will be celebrated at Ripon Cathedral’s Plough Sunday Service, supported by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. All are welcome at the service on Sunday, January 14 at the start of a new year which brings fresh opportunities and challenges for British agriculture. Read more here

A Thanksgiving service for the life and ministry of the Rt Revd Colin Buchanan, Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Leeds, is to be held at Bradford Cathedral on Saturday, January 27. Read more here

Weekly free ‘Wednesday@One’ organ recitals have returned to Bradford Cathedral after the Christmas break, based around the six Trio Sonatas by JS Bach. This season will feature a line-up of talented organists and includes dates focused around Ash Wednesday, International Women’s Day, and Holy Week. Read more here

A retired priest in our diocese has written an anthology of poetry. The anthology, entitled ‘Plainsong’, contains 80 poems on a variety of subjects, sacred and secular, and has been written by the Revd Trevor Vaughan. Read more here

A new Christmas star appeared above Keighley, thanks to team work by Revd Mike Cansdale of St Andrew’s, local councils and businesses. Bradford Council’s Festival Lights team made the two metre high star and Keighley Town Council paid for it. Town Clerk Joe Cooney said “When Rev Mike Came to us with the idea we were really keen to help add something a little extra special.” Read more here

Seedbed — online training delivered by key practitioners for lay people exploring church planting or resourcing mission.

Church Planting Track, for starting new Christian communities. Delivered weekly on Thursday evenings online. Starts at the end of January 2024, costs £85 for 24 sessions.

Resourcing Mission Track, for leading mission in the church. Delivered monthly on Saturday mornings online. Starts at the beginning of February 2024, costs £70 for 9 sessions. 

Our vision is to equip a thousand leaders to play their part in church planting and resourcing mission — is God calling you? 

For more information or to register for this online course, find out more here.

Got great ideas for carbon cutting lighting or heating projects or just simply insulating your church pipework? Now you need funding advice? This webinar is part of the Diocese of Leeds Saving Creation programme. It is designed to support parishes who have started on their journey to net zero carbon, have a net zero plan and are thinking about how to fund the projects needed to decarbonise your buildings. The Diocese of Leeds recognises that for many churches finding the funding to put into action a heating or lighting project to cut the carbon footprint can be the most challenging part of the net zero carbon journey. More details and booking here.

On this Quiet day we will explore the gift of prayer. We will find inspiration in the Scriptures and Christian tradition to deepen our awareness of God who is not far away but ‘in whom we live and move and have our being.’ We will practice different ways of praying during the day: silence, contemplation and the Ignatian way. Everyone is welcome whether you have an established practice of prayer, whether you struggle with prayer or simply want to find out more about it. This is a free event, but please contact the Hall to book your place. Find out more here.

Eligibility criteria, discernment information and an initial enquiry form have been sent to all incumbents, chaplaincy team leaders, PCC Secretaries and Churchwardens in September 2023. A reminder will be sent in early January 2024. The deadline for initial enquiry forms is 1 March 2024. Once an initial enquiry form has been received an application pack will be sent out.

More details and the Application Timeline can be found here.

If you require any specific help or information, please do contact the School of Ministry administrator at shuna.hartley@leeds.anglican.org.

A 12 session journey looking at the Christian faith, your own faith journey and developing theological skills. All students will be encouraged to create a portfolio of your new skills. Potential LLM candidates need to submit their portfolio for review. This course is a pre-requirement for LLM training. 

Further information on dates and booking links can be found here: Spring-24 and Summer 2024. Portfolio submission deadlines for both courses are compatible with the 2024 application timeline for LLM applicants.

If you require any specific help or information, please do contact the School of Ministry administrator at shuna.hartley@leeds.anglican.org.

This retreat is especially for those who live with or care for loved ones who struggle with physical or mental health challenges. There will be space to rest and time to receive from God, and opportunities to learn from Scripture and other spiritual resources about compassion and love for those who care deeply for others. Led by Henriette Howarth. For more information, please contact henriette.howarth@leeds.anglican.org. Find out more here.

Follow Me is a series of inspirational teaching sessions held at Wakefield Cathedral and organised by the Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Revd Tony Robinson, an opportunity for people to learn more about discipleship.

Evensong at 6.30pm, complimentary supper will be served from 7.15pm, (both optional). Teaching sessions from 7.45pm until 9.15pm. To book your place and for supper please email Bishop Tony’s PA, including any dietary requirements, to: caroline.asquith@leeds.anglican.org

Mobile: 07776 963653

Holocaust Memorial Day is held every year on the 27th January, and on the nearest Sunday we are holding a service of music and prayers to mark the occasion. All are welcome to join us for Choral Evensong, a choral setting of Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer (1662), sung by the Cathedral Choir during term time. This is a meditative service in which the congregation participate through their presence and prayerful engagement with the spoken and sung texts. Choral Evensong on a Sunday also includes a brief sermon. Find out more here

This day is aimed particularly at leaders and worshippers in smaller local churches (typically 15-55 worshippers on a regular Sunday). With input from Revd Jolyon Trickey & others from ReSource, we will encounter God afresh, renewing our confidence in the inextinguishable power of biblical hope. We will also have time to worship, to reflect, and to wrestle together with the practicalities of living hopefully in our own little local and ‘ordinary’ churches. Find out more here

The historic churchyard will have a wonderful natural display of snowdrops for people to enjoy, as well as stalls and refreshments.

Cost £10.00, which includes hot drinks, please bring a packed lunch. To book your place please email: caroline.asquith@leeds.anglican.org

Mobile: 07776 963653

When Jesus calls us to follow him, he is inviting us into a lifelong journey of transformation and renewal. How are we living that out as disciples of Christ? On Fire Mission is inviting you to come as you are and join us at OFM onsite 2024 for a time away to recharge, to discover fresh perspectives and insights, and to become part of a Spirit-filled, creative, sacramental community; equipping Christians to become agents of renewal in their local context. We will be joined by a host of great contributors, from across the OFM network and beyond, offering great teaching, inspiring workshops, dynamic worship and much more. Find out more here

As we talk about Parish Share in 2024, hear a message from Bishop Nick giving a big thank you to all those who give their money generously, individually and through their parishes, which pays the Parish Share.

Watch the video here.

We are looking for someone to join our Children, Young People and Families team to be our Mission Support Lead. The Mission Support Lead will be an integral part of the Children, Young People and Families team. As part of the team, they will share the responsibility for the overall diocesan offer to parishes in their work with children, young people and families. They will play a key role in supporting parishes in their missional planning to engage, nurture, disciple and grow leaders with children, young people and families across the different contexts and church traditions of the Diocese. Find out more about this role here

We are looking for a new 3 day a week, 24 month fixed term Funding Officer to join the passionate, vibrant and friendly team in the Diocese of Leeds. In line with the Church of England’s Routemap to Net Zero Carbon, the Diocese of Leeds has an ambition to achieve net zero carbon (NZC) by 2030 across our diocesan estate. To support our extensive programme of work we are seeking an experienced Funding Officer to work alongside a growing vibrant and committed diocesan team of NZC officers. Find out more about this role here

We invite you to apply to join our team as a Primary School Adviser in the Diocese of Leeds. As a primary school adviser, you will be at the forefront of educational innovation and progress. Your role will encompass providing invaluable guidance, fostering collaboration, and leading professional development to elevate the standards of education within our 237 schools. Find out more about this role here

Please contact the Communications Team with your news for future editions. The Enews is published twice a month. The next edition will be sent out on January 25. Area news stories to enews@leeds.anglican.org