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Diocesan Enews
Welcome to the Enews for March 5

Welcome to the latest Enews with events, resources, news and more.
Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  
Contact  [email protected]  with your news. 
News
The Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs division has published advice to parishes on practical steps to reduce the risk of infection from Coronavirus (COVID-19). The guidance, written by Dr Brendan McCarthy, the Church of England’s Adviser on health issues, drawing on the latest Government advice, is available on a dedicated web page. Read more here
Friendships forged, Christian links strengthened and inspiring mission marked an overseas visit to the link dioceses of Sri Lanka. A team of clergy and laity spent twelve days travelling across the island, having the opportunity to learn about various missional projects set up by the church to help those in need, provide education and share the Good News of the Gospel.  Read more here
‘Switch off the floodlights’, ‘turn down the heating’, and ‘plant a tree’ are all calls to action as part of the Church of England’s first ever Green Lent campaign which started last week. This year, the Church of England’s #LiveLent challenge sets out 40 challenges, topics for thought and prayers to help those taking part along the journey of Caring for God’s Creation. Read more here
How to boost religious education in our region was the subject of a major conference hosted by the Diocese of Leeds. 'Developing Challenging and Engaging RE' offered practical ideas and strategies to develop inspiring teaching of this key subject. Delegates at St George's, Leeds, heard two powerful speeches from internationally-renowned speakers.
Caring for creation continues to be at the heart of the church this Lent, with the Diocese of Leeds’ new environment worship resources. ‘Elements of Worship’ for Ruth Valerio’s Saying Yes to Life has been written and compiled by Christine Jack, Leeds Diocesan Environmental task group member, and pr ovides reflections for Lent 2020. Read more here.
Close friendship and deep ties marked a team from the diocese’s recent trip to Tanzania. During February 16 clergy and laity from the Diocese of Leeds spent two weeks travelling to and across the Mara region of the country. The link with the Dioceses of Mara, Rorya and Tarime in the Anglican Province of Tanzania was formed some 30 years ago and exchange visits have been a key feature of the link since its inception.  Read more here
A worshipper’s photo of her lively and rejuvenated church is a regional winner in a national photography competition. The image, by church member Hannah Owens, was taken last July and shows families dancing at the reopening of St Stephen's, in West Bowling, Bradford. The photo has now been named as the North East winner of Ecclesiastical Insurance's Parish Pixels competition. Read more here
Thirty bishops of the Church of England from across the North will flock to the Diocese of York next month, to take part in a weekend of prayer, witness and welcome, at which the good news of God’s love and life in Jesus Christ will be shared. ‘Come and See’ is the eighth Northern Bishops’ Mission in the Church of England’s Province of York in the last five years. Read more here
Around the Areas
Messages of penitence and redemption that are at the heart of Ash Wednesday were on display in the middle of Bradford. Members of the Fountains Church Bradford team set up in the middle of the city and offered ‘ashing’ to people in the park, which involved having an ash cross marked on the forehead. Read more here
A groundbreaking churchyard mapping project has been launched in our diocese this week. All Hallows, Kirkburton and Emmanuel, Shelley two churches near Huddersfield, received a Sharing Heritage grant of £6,100 in March 2018 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the pilot project focused on their two chu rchyards. Read more here
An exciting programme of digital and social media training courses , to take place at Church House Leeds, has been announced for the coming year. While encouraging people to use Church of England resources such as A Church Near You, the courses will focus on maximising the success of established parish websites, with topics including how to increase online discoverability. Read more here
We need to listen positively “to each other, the environment around us, and to God,” the Bishop of Ripon, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, said at a visit to St Oswald’s Church Askrigg.  Bishop Helen-Ann was greeted by a packed and lively congregation for her first visit to the church in North Yorkshire, where she beat the floods to preside at a family service of Holy Communion. Read more here
The Lord’s Prayer and caring for God’s creation will meet in a series of talks at St Mary’s Church Barnsley this Lent. The talks are taking place on Wednesday evenings during the season, with the first being on March 4 and finishing on April 1. Each will look at a part of the Lord’s Prayer, and how we can use the prayer as a guide for looking to care for our environment. Read more here
Events
The theme of this year’s Lent groups at Bradford Cathedral is Pilgrimage. It will begin on Wednesday, March 11 at 7pm with refreshments from 6.30pm. Led by Andrew Tawn, Director of Clergy Development, they will be looking at what makes places holy, and spi ritual journeys through the Bible. Find out more here
For Clergy, Leaders and PCCs who want to lead their churches into growth, the Big Turn-A-Round Day takes place at St Christopher's Church, Holmewood on Saturday, March 14 at 10am. It will focus on creating a culture of growth, building an evangelistic strategy, making a good plan and clearing pathways for new people. The speakers will include Neil Short, Sharon Kaye and Robin Gamble. Find out more here.
Canon Debbie Child, Diocesan Secretary for the Diocese of Leeds, is to retire from her post on Tuesday March 31 2020. She has served the Diocese of Bradford and, latterly, Leeds since 1991. To celebrate her ministry, Bishop Nick and Dean John invite everyone to a Diocesan Thanksgiving to be held on Sunday, March 29 2020 5.30pm at Ripon Cathedral. Find out more here.
Government plans envisage 300,000 new homes being built in England every year. How should local churches respond to new housing developments in their neighbourhood? On Saturday, June 20 at Moortown Baptist Church the New Housing Hub Conference aims to address this God-given opportunity for welcome, ou treach and building community. Find out more and book here
Is your church discoverable online? The communications team are to offer an exciting range of courses for 2020 to help answer that very question. Some are repeats of popular courses from last year, whilst others are entirely new. Topics covered will include social media, church websites, A Church Near Yo u, creating video and search engine optimisation. Find out more and book onto a course here.
St Peter's Birstall are very pleased to welcome back the Musica Youth Jazz on Saturday, March 21. Their previous concert at St Peter's was a fantastic success and the band has recently been recognised as one of the finest jazz ensembles in the country, being selected to play at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of the Music for Youth Proms. Find out more here.
For further events:
Across the Diocese click here
Across one of the 5 areas : Bradford - Huddersfield - Leeds - Ripon - Wakefield
Training events across the diocese - Digital Learning Platform
Resources
Dignity Through Education is a small association based in Harrogate. It provides additional funding to help the children of Sri Lankan tea plantation workers attend university. Currently 21 students are supported. There are many more awaiting similar help if donors are willing to pay just £12 per month per student. Please contact Theva on [email protected] if you would like to get involved. 
This Lent, the Church of England are encouraging adults and children to engage in God’s plea for us to “Care for Creation”. As part of this the diocese is running an online course enabling study and discussion of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 'Saying Yes to Life' by Ruth Valerio. Find out more here
Church Growth Adviser, Robin Gamble, has just released a new evangelistic booklet. It works especially well alongside the enquiry course START but also operates as a standalone for anyone exploring faith. It costs £5.00 for 10 copies (plus P&P). Please get in touch with Robin on [email protected] if you wish to buy some copies.
The free monthly printed news for March has been delivered around the diocese - check pick-up points and where your church's are here. March's issue includes: a new national church green investing index, Bishop Helen-Ann taking over responsibility for education in the diocese and a look at how contactless giving has been working in our parishes.
"Take responsibility for your discipleship ...join the online learning community" urged Bishop Nick at the close of the Diocesan Lay Conference in 2018. The Digital Learning Platform is full of great information - and you ca n join up now by visiting it and registering 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.
Media
 .. .is the name of Bishop Nick's blog, which includes his appearances in the House of Lords and can be viewed here .
A group from the Diocese have been visiting Sri Lanka, building links with the local church while exploring this beautiful country. They have been recording their explorations in a series of video blogs. Watch all the videos here
Vacancies
The Diocese of Leeds wish to appoint an Assistant Safeguarding Adviser to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. Safeguarding is an integral part of the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Leeds and we believe everyone involved in church activities has a role to play as we deliver our commitment to creating a safer culture and a responsive service for all. 
The Yorkshire Baptist Association is committed to serving, supporting and inspiring their member churches, leaders and ministers in mission focused ministry and service. Within this brief and as a member of the Admin Team, they are seeking to appoint an Administrator to work alongside current team members to provide effective and efficient administrative support to their Regional Team and to their member churches.  
Useful links & Information
For safeguarding issues, contact: 
Jenny Price 07800 740001 
Jenny Leccardi  07872 005189 or
 Narinder Lyon  07872 005309
Moves and Appointments
Revd Kathia Shoesmith to be Interim Area Dean of the Brighouse and Elland Deanery remaining also Area Dean of the Halifax and Calder Valley Deanery. 
Revd Julie Fleming has been granted Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Leeds.
Revd Janet Sargent to be Assistant Curate in the Benefice of Golcar and Longwood, where Janet is to be known as the Associate Priest.
Revd Colin Lingard has been granted Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Leeds. 
Useful Contact Details
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 for future editions. The e-news is published twice a month. The next edition will be sent out on March 19. Area news stories to [email protected]   
© Anglican Diocese of Leeds, 2020
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