Helping Churches grow <

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1 Dear Gedling Deanery members, GROWING DISCIPLES - Wider, Younger and Deeper This was the theme of the vision evening for the leadership teams and PCCs of Churches in our Gedling Deanery and that of Newark and Southwell Deanery. We met at The Minster School on Thursday evening the 29th September. The hall was well filled. Bishop Paul shared with us the vision of welcoming 7,000 new disciples into the fellowship of Christ and his church by He gave us Paul's letter to the Corinthians 5v14. "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died". He shared with us ' that there is nothing better that anyone can do with their life than become a follower of Jesus Christ - it is life changing and of eternal importance. By Advent Sunday (27th November) we are, with our PCCs invited to commit to a growing Disciples plan in our churches for 2017, by listing 3 things we as churches plan to do. We are particularly asked to consider using Nurture courses to give birth to new disciples and to nurture them.. It is realised that many churches already do so. The Start Course, Alpha Course, Emmaus and Pilgrim courses as well as Christianity explored classes are already known. Archbishop Rowan Williams book 'Being Christian' was also commended as an excellent read. Useful internet sites are: Discipleship Resources Reviewed - < and Helping Churches grow < Please consider this important matter in your church, develop your plan and feed back to Portia Newling our deanery administrator at the Deanery Office, St James Church,Lindsay Morgan Hall,Marshall Hill Drive,Mapperley,Nottingham,NG3 6FY Tel: (0115) or Portia.Newling@southwell.anglican.org by Advent Sunday, the 27th November. Every blessing, Richard Turner Deanery Lay Chair

2 GEDLING DEANERY SYNOD SPOTLIGHTS At its meeting on the 4th of October the Synod was challenged to consider how we as Christian people in Gedling serve those who in different ways are not as fortunate as we are. Hannah Buck from Transforming Notts Together spoke of the work of that organization in enabling and supporting the work being undertaken by many churches in running Holiday Clubs, Breakfast clubs, lunch clubs and community cafes. She also spoke of their work with homeless projects, soup kitchens foodbanks, and debt counselling as well as supporting Asylum Seekers. Paul Howard the Diocesan Partnership Officer for older people (and synod rep for Calverton), invited us to consider how we can make our Churches more dementia friendly. St Andrews Church On Mansfield road has done this and many church members throughout the diocese have attended local events providing training in understanding dementia. Through training by the Alzheimers society,many have become dementia friends. Paul invited Synod members to request assistance in becoming a dementia friendly church. <Paul.Howard@southwell.anglican.org> Rev. Mic Johnson curate at St Mark's Woodthorpe as our main speaker on the 4th October spoke to the title The Church, Disabled : enabling the Body of Christ. He highlighted for us that in our diocese we have something in the order of 191,250 people with a declared disability. He noted that people with a disability are more likely to be unemployed, living in Social Housing and receiving benefits. In many ways society with a lack of understanding of the disabled is the agent that disables. It creates isolation. It seems to say 'The disability is yours and yours alone'. Mic challenged us as churches to build relationships with the disabled, to hear their story, to be aware of how they feel and be ready to make changes in how we treat them. He concluded with the challenge that we need to enable the body of Christ. The apostle Paul wrote 'For we are all baptised by one spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free and we are all given the one spirit to drink' (I Corinthians 12:13). Richard Turner, Lay Chair

3 We are delighted to welcome Margaret and David to Gedling deanery. Here's a little bit of their story : Both Margaret and David were born and bred in the east end of Sheffield and have lived in the Diocese of Sheffield for all of their lives. So moving to Nottingham is a big step but a happy one as they respond to the call of God on their lives. Margaret and David celebrated 43 years of marriage in June this year and have three wonderful children Cheryl, Ian and Paul. Over the years their family has grown to include Richard, Joanne and Stacey and they have been blessed with two beautiful grand daughters Abigail and Madeleine. Margaret and David became Christians in the early eighties and were influenced in their faith by David Watson, Billy Graham, John Wimber of the Vineyard movement and Robert Warren. They have served together in a variety of parishes and contexts and Margaret comes with a wide range of experience and skills. Their love for Christ is demonstrated in their passion for mission, ministry and service. David loves all kinds of sport and is a lifelong Sheffield Wednesday supporter. He loves nice wine, Guinness and the sunshine. Margaret loves music, from rock to opera and most things in between, is an avid reader, loves cooking for family and friends, makes great jams, keeps tortoises and finches. Together they love holidays in the sunshine, walking their two dogs Sasha and Cookie and spending time with family and friends. They have big hearts, lots of enthusiasm and can t wait to see what the Lord has in store for them, the parish, the deanery and the Diocese as we all journey on together.

4 NEWS FROM BUJUMBURA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Bujumbura Christian University in Burundi was opened in November 2015.It is now officially recognized by the Burundi Government. The event was celebrated by the Archbishop and Bishops of the Anglican Church of Burundi as an important event for the Anglican Province. Sixteen students were able to start the term despite the problem of high rent prices for accommodation in Bujumbura and the uncertain political situation. Generous church members from England personally sponsored some individual students for which the university is very grateful. Our Gedling Deanery has sponsored Yves Nzunogera. He has now started his second year. He is described by Donald Werner (Vice Chancellor Emeritus ) as an outstanding student. Despite a family death and a bout of malaria, he has done very well, passing all modules in his first year. The university remains very grateful for our prayers and support. This years syllabus is the Synoptic Gospels, Gospel of John, Acts, Epistles of James & John, Major prophets, History of the Church, Liturgy, Pastoral care & counselling. Introduction to Greek,Introduction to Hebrew, Apologetics,Islam and Ministry of the Holy Spirit. You churches contribution is much appreciated. Do continue to pray for Yves and those who teach him

5 is an innovative voluntary agency..offering services in adoption, family support, emotional support to children and young people, safeguarding consultancy and training. Based in Nottingham, they work in the City of Nottingham, the County of Nottinghamshire and surrounding areas. Providing the best outcomes for children and young people is at the heart of everything they do. Many of Gedling Deanery's Churches support the organisation through generous giving. Can you also, through your church community donate a NEW toy or gift to a child in need for Christmas. On the 6th, 7th and 8th December St John the Baptist Churh, Graylands Road Bilborough NG8 4FD will be open between 9am pm to receive these gifts. Many thanks for your support For more information, feel free to contact Sam Wilson at Family Care on

6 DEANERY TREASURER S OCTOBER HEADLINES. As Deanery Treasurer may I simple ask you to note headlines. 1. PCC Discussions - as to deanery share allocation between the parishes. Has your parish had it s say by proposing to write to me before 30 November if you don t write it I can t read it!! The Deanery Finance team are anxious to get your views to be take into account as to how we are going to tackle any new methodology for future parish share allocation. for the next three year cycle commencing in January Good news the Gedling Deanery 2017 increase in our Diocesan allocation has been increased but only be 0.5% - that equates to about 4,450. Some deaneries have had greater increases. Some deaneries have had greater increases as much as 2% - but some with no increases. The methodology engaged by Southwell follows the same pattern for the last seventeen years, reflecting the relationship between ministry provided and church attendance. The number of vacancies within the diocese (now approaching twenty) which is unprecedented and is the highest for some forty years is having a material effect on the ratio. There can be no assumption that the vacancies within our own deanery will be speedily filled since there is an acute national shortage of clerics and perceivably, there may be more attractive parishes then those within the Gedling Deanery. 3. Not so good news at the time of writing, it is anticipated that we will have a shortfall in overall parish share payment probably about 20%. This is despite the overall total amount of combined Deanery parish income for 2015 having remained almost the same as previous year. In short, there is no reason why from a deanery wide point of view, parish share cannot be paid in full. Perhaps the time has come for some parishes to share their fortunate position with those who are not so placed 1. Tim.6 v.18 Commend them to be good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share. Is there a parish out there who is willing to make an additional payment to help stabilise the shortfall?

7 DEANERY TREASURER S OCTOBER HEADLINES....Continued 4. Final year of the three year cycle (2017) approaching and (setting aside the 0.5%) some parishes will have a very marginal increase in their 2017 parish share contribution, but others will have a slight reduction. 5. Clerical vacancies are currently within several parishes, but as indicated somewhat pointedly at the Deanery Synod, given that 91% of expenditure at Southwell is for people it follows that if there is insufficient money coming in then there will be insufficiency for funding vacancies. There is a real connection therefore between full parish share and full clerics. Not unlike Charles Dickens Mr. Micawber s difficulties, we cannot expect to be able to maintain clergy at appropriate levels if there is not the means to pay them!! David Yates - Gedling Deanery Treasurer gedlingtreasurer@gmail.com 14 October 2016 Postscript- You may recall me mentioning in the last newsletter, saving 20p coins towards additional parish share. So far in three months, saving of these relatively small coins = Given that this equates to some 200 per annum if every electoral member followed suit there would be no problem with parish share shortfall.

8 The Vintage Tea on 18th October at St Jude s Church Hall was very much enjoyed food, entertainment and welcome have all been praised. Well done to all who contributed to this much appreciated event. POSTCRIPT -Looking ahead Please distribute to members of your congregations as you wish. This will be an occasional publication Please send any items for inclusion in a future diary of events to Richard Turner / Portia Newling our administrator at the Deanery Office at St James' Porchester. FUTURE DEANERY EVENTS 16th November Care for the Child Parenting Teenagers pm Britannia Hotel 6. Book at 23rd November Preparation for Baptism and Confirmation course. 4 Wednesday evenings, 7.30pm. Venue to be confirmed. Details: revsam@hustwayte.co.uk Portia Newling St James Church,Lindsay Morgan Hall, Marshall Hill Drive, Mapperley, Nottingham NG3 6FY (0115) Portia.Newling@southwell.anglican.org Usual working hours Monday and Wednesday mornings.