Welcome to the Enews for November 28

The latest resources, news and more.

Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  

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

The next round of Give To Go Green has started, and the diocese is encouraging all churches, both those already on their Net Zero Carbon journey as well as those just starting out, to get involved. Give To Go Green is a match-funding pilot project from the Church of England, doubling donations from local fundraising towards carbon-cutting building projects. Read more here

The Diocese of Leeds is committed to sharing and supporting Fairtrade, and has launched a refreshed website page with resources for parishes. At Diocesan Synod in 2016 a motion was approved supporting our diocesan commitment to Fairtrade, which was reaffirmed with another vote at Synod in 2024. Read more here

Schoolchildren are enjoying special services designed just for them, thanks to a fresh link between a new clergyperson and a new headteacher. Revd Lindsey Barber of St Nicholas, Cumberworth in our Huddersfield Area only arrived in post on Sunday, September 1 and quickly teamed up with Fiona Claxton, headteacher at Cumberworth First School. Read more here

The Diocese of Leeds was pleased to host the Rt Revd Moses Yamo, Bishop of Rorya in Tanzania, on a visit last week. Bishop Moses arrived on Monday, November 18, and got to experience snow and have his first ever snowball fight. Read more here

How we can respond to issues of domestic violence against women is in the spotlight. Monday, November 25 was White Ribbon Day, encouraging men in what they can do to tackle issues of violence against women. Read more here

Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP took time to meet with a small group of Leeds clergy at St Peter’s Bramley to discuss their how things are going in their area. The Leeds West and Pudsey MP was keen to hear about the experience of local clergy as they work with local communities, said Revd Julia Wilkins, Rector of Bramley, who hosted the event. Read more here

“And who is my neighbour?” was the subject of the Annual Harold Wilson Lecture 2024, given by the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, and organised in collaboration between the Diocese of Leeds and the University of Huddersfield. The event was introduced by Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, and concluded by the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield. Read more here

One of our Wakefield area churches is going to be able save money and serve their community better, thanks to a new grant from the government. St Giles’ Pontefract has been awarded some £74,000 in a grant to implement energy efficiency measures in their community building. Read more here

Marrick Priory are looking to recruit five new trustees. Marrick Priory is a Christian outdoor education and residential centre, based in a building with 850 years of Christian faith, history and tradition. Read more here

Harrogate School of Theology and Mission are pleased to offer a new autumn programme of lectures, with speakers including Dr David Moffit, the Revd Dr Alan Garrow, the Rt Revd Arun Arora, Bishop of Leeds, and more. All lectures are offered in person, at St Mark’s Harrogate, starting promptly at 10am, but preceded by breakfast. The lectures are also available by live-stream (on Zoom) but you’ll have to make your own breakfast!

Find out more and book here.

Your lived experience and expertise can make a difference to your local and wider community. After our very successful consultation events, where we consulted with over 100 women across Bradford District, we will now be delivering a course with four training sessions on Board Readiness.

These sessions take place on

• Tuesday, December 3
• Tuesday, December 12

Please note you are signing up to the full course (all four sessions). Lunch will be provided.

Click here to find out more and to book

This course is part of the Listening Well series and serves as a taster course for anyone interested in the Lay Pastoral Worker pathway and anyone interested in the Spiritual Direction Training course.

In the level 1 Pastoral Conversations course , we explore how to move from a social conversation with a friend into a pastoral conversation with someone in need. In this Spiritual Conversations course, we continue to develop the the idea of moving from one kind of conversation to another, by reflecting on ways to recognise where God is at work in a situation, and open up a space for the person to share how their faith relates to their life circumstances. In other words, how to move from a pastoral conversation into a spiritual conversation.

More details and booking information can be found here.

"Prayer in the Risen Lord: helps from scripture and the

saints."

Led by Br Philip Nichols, Prior. Before the busy-ness of December, this will be a day for refreshment and guided reflection in the peaceful, meditative surroundings of Mirfield. All most welcome.

Tea and coffee provided, bring your own lunch

Suggested donation: £10 (bring on the day)

To book your place email

caroline.asquith@leeds.anglican.org.

Leeds School of Theology is offering in person teaching starting in January 2025 at St George's Leeds.

Our 2025 Dayschool offers accessible theology training over ten saturday sessions delivered in person in the centre of Leeds. In each session you will hear from our teaching team, discuss the content with other students, ask questions and form friendships.

Please click here to find out more.

Now is the time to start exploring a vocation to Lay Ministry with your incumbent, your Episcopal Area Warden of Readers and/or the diocesan Vocations Team. 

Expressions of interest are invited for LLM training with a start date of September 2025.

Eligibility criteria, discernment information and details of the application process together with an Expression of Interest form have been sent to all incumbents, chaplaincy team leaders, PCC Secretaries and Churchwardens in September 2024. A reminder will be sent in early January 2025. The deadline for an expression of interest is Monday, March 3, 2025. 

Application/sponsor/referee forms are only sent out after an expression of interest has been received.

Click here to find out more.

If you require any specific help or information, please contact the Ministerial Development Administrator at shuna.hartley@leeds.anglican.org.

This Silver level course is for anyone wishing to:

• Gain an understanding of various aspects of the environmental crisis including: climate change, biodiversity loss, implications for social justice, animal welfare issues, issues of waste and water.
• Gain an understanding of the nature of Mission and how environmental mission fits within them
• Gain an understanding of the role of lifestyle choices in both discipleship and effecting change
• Gain an understanding of how to implement the Church of England Net Zero Target Strategy, and Eco-Church in a local parish context
• Consider how the resources provided nationally and by the Diocese can be used in a parish context
• Receive training in the skills required to be an effective Parish Environment Officer

Click here to find out more.

If you require any specific help or information, please do contact us at layministry@leeds.anglican.org.

Ever wondered what theology means and how to study it? Need some guidance on how to dig a bit deeper? Don’t know where to start? This free and updated course is for you! Don’t miss out - sign up now for a March start.

Introduction to Theology (ITT): A 12-session journey looking at the Christian faith, thinking about your own faith journey and developing theological skills. This is a great place to start when considering where God is calling you. Attending this course is a pre-requirement for Licensed Lay Ministry training in the diocese of Leeds and is also useful for those considering any of our other Lay Ministry pathways.

In recognition of travel and internet accessibility issues, we are introducing a new hybrid version of the course. It will take place in Leyburn and Gargrave in–person with a local host/facilitator and the teaching sessions will be via Zoom.

Click here to find out more about the in-person course.

Click here to find out more about the hybrid course.

Booking deadline for the in-person course is Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Booking deadline for the hybrid course is Sunday, February 9, 2025.

If you require any specific help or information, please contact the Ministerial Development Administrator at shuna.hartley@leeds.anglican.org.

We have arranged a coach trip from Wakefield Cathedral to Chester on Wednesday, December 4.

The trip is to visit the Christmas market and the wonderful Festival of Christmas trees inside Chester Cathedral.

The coach leaves Wakefield Cathedral at 9.30am and returns from Chester at 6pm.

The cost is £20.

Please email Terry Rigg at terryrigg42@googlemail.com to book.

Led by Cathedral clergy on Zoom.

An hour of guided prayer and reflection ending with Night Prayer. The perfect antidote to the bustle and busy-ness of December, and a chance to refocus spiritually in the run-up to Christmas.

Click here to find out more.

A series of five lectures at St.Cuthberts Church, Pateley Bridge, HG3 on Wednesday evenings at 6.30 for 7.00pm between September and January.

• Faith and Reason - Wednesday, December 11, 2024
• What is Christianity? - Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Whilst booking is not essential, due to high demand it would help if anyone who wants to attend could advise the Revd Darry Hall on horlix@aol.com.

In the busyness leading up to Christmas, you are invited to find some peace and stillness. With the help of Scripture and other sources of inspiration, we journey deeper into advent. To book your place, please email charlie.scott@leeds.anglican.org.

Click here to find out more

Come and listen to the St Peter's Consort Christmas concert. Tickets £12 on the door.

Hear from the Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, about parish share and how we are supporting parishes across the diocese.

Watch the video here

Every Good Work is a project growing new young disciples across the city of Wakefield. The Project involves the Diocese of Leeds is working in partnership with three local churches who have a strong track record of serving their local communities. National funding has been made available for us to work together with other local partners to engage with young people in schools and other settings, to work with them in developing social justice projects, and to develop new worshipping communities that are shaped by and ultimately led by young people. We are seeking a youthworker who will help us deliver this vision alongside committed church leaders and a broader support team. The youthworker will be based at a St George’s Church, Lupset and will work with the team to develop and deliver the project over five years. Find out more about this role here

Are you ready to inspire confidence, transform communities, and make a difference that lasts a lifetime? If so, we invite you to apply for this transformative role as a Primary School Adviser in the Diocese of Leeds for an Easter or September start in 2025. As a Primary School Adviser, you will play a pivotal role in encouraging confidence, fostering collaboration, and driving excellence across our 236 schools. Your work will not just support schools; it will shape the futures of countless young people and their communities. 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 December 12. All news stories to communications@leeds.anglican.org. Many thanks!