Diocesan News January 2021 Diocese supports church mission with 80k in new grants
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Diocesan News
January 2021 www.leeds.anglican.org
Diocese supports church mission Bishop Nick
with 80k in new grants sends message
Grants awarded to parishes by
the Diocese of Leeds in 2020
Covid-19 secure, allowing
visitors to attend worship
of lockdown
are already helping emerging
mission projects to take place.
services without the risk of
coming into close contact with support
other households.
Bishop Nick sent a message
of support to parishes across
the diocese, as the country
entered its third lockdown.
Amongst the key points he
made, Bishop Nick said local
decisions on opening or
closing churches would be
supported by bishops, and he
wanted parishes to contact
the diocese for help without
hesitation.
The Emergence Mission Grants At the start of 2020, St Mary’s
scheme was launched back Kippax also planned to
“The Church House team
in June to facilitate initiatives launch a new initiative called
continue to be available to
that allow church mission to ‘God’s Little Acre’, providing
support you in any way they
flourish in the current context outdoor activities for children
can and can be contacted at
or to revive work that may have that encourage them to
covid-19help@leeds.anglican.
stalled. interact with creation and the
org.
environment (pictured above
As a result, nearly £80,000 was and taken in a Covid secure
“You are in our prayers. Please
awarded, contributing to over a way).
pray for those particularly in
hundred church projects across
the NHS and in education as
the diocese. The project was delayed
they handle this continuing
because of the pandemic but
crisis and uncertainty.
It included building works was eventually launched later
to create an important one in the year, with funding from
“God bless you.”
way system at Christ Church, the diocese helping to provide
Sowerby Bridge. This ensured high visibility vests, gloves, and
the church building was safety spectacles.
I
New Year’s New grants
Resolution for historic
churches - but
Bishop Toby Howarth
deadline looms
Resolution – it is a word worth New grants for 2021 to help
considering as we begin 2021 support our listed churches are
fully aware of the challenges now available as part of the
that will test ourselves and our will remain for years. Covid-19 has Cultural Recovery Fund - with
communities in the weeks and both revealed and widened health three weeks to apply.
months ahead. and other inequalities that cannot
be ignored any longer. The Cultural Recovery Fund
This time last year you, like me, for Heritage has just been
may have firstly struggled to find a The familiar ‘rod and staff’ of the announced and the closing date
New Year’s resolution other than 23rd Psalm are symbols of resolve. for application is January 26
“the usual” and by this point in They speak of God’s resolve to 2021.
January were already struggling to bring us through the valley of the
keep it. shadow of death and into new,
greener pastures. They also remind
To resolve to do something means us, often recalcitrant sheep, of
taking a serious and firm decision, God’s willingness to strengthen our
coupled with a high level of own resolve in following the Good
commitment. Shepherd. We are going to need
both if we are to engage seriously Not all churches will be eligible,
As we look ahead, we know we with the challenges that face us. but it is worth exploring if
must be resolute in our behaviour your church is historically
as individuals, as families and as In Bradford, as in all of our significant and needs assistance
members of society in ways that episcopal areas, I have been to get back onto a financially
are vital to ourselves and everyone. inspired and encouraged by sustainable footing, advises
congregations and clergy who have Becky Nicholson, diocesan Lead
Sadly, it’s no exaggeration to say reached out to their parishes with Stewardship Officer.
that this year, lives depend upon the love of Jesus through prayer,
our personal resolve. witness and support of the most “There is a real will to give
vulnerable. They have done all money to places of worship
A resolution also defined as a good this with creativity, humour and from this fund,” Becky said.
outcome to a tough problem, resolve.
achieved through mutual interest “The scope of the funding
and hard effort. Of course, we will continue for as is quite broad, so I would
long as it takes, drawing on the encourage everyone to
As science and medicine take strength of the Holy Spirit to the think about any works or
us closer to a resolution of the best of our abilities and resources adjustments that will make
Covid-19 pandemic, there are and with the confidence that God their churches welcoming and
problems to address that will need is making all things new. safe for congregations and
more to solve than what those visitors and view the Church
two disciplines can deliver. People That’s what we do. of England guidance notes to
have been left traumatised and check if they are eligible to
economic and mental health issues apply.”
II
Diocese of Leeds online New climate
communities help people stay training launch
connected over lockdown The climate crisis is at the heart
of plans from St George’s Leeds
for this year, with a new series
At the start of 2021, parish- Leeds CandY of training events launching this
ioners are invited to join An online group hosted month. The free programme
and take part in a number of by the Children, Young of virtual sessions aims to help
supportive online communi- People & Families Team in take individuals and churches
ties set up by the Diocese of the Diocese of Leeds. It is on a journey of learning, prayer
Leeds. Hosted on Facebook, open to anyone involved or and action, preparing people
these private groups have interested in ministry with to confront the climate crisis
been created to offer a safe under 18s and their families, head on.
space to share tips,
good news and ideas. The sessions are in three main
Each has its own par- strands (climate thinking,
ticular emphasis and carbon detox and climate
details of each one can advocacy) and run from January
be found below. to July this year.
Leeds CofE Comms Ewan Jones, Environment
Champions Officer for St George’s Leeds,
A group for those in said: “Christian Aid got it right
the diocese interested when they said: ‘Right now,
in all things digital. All millions of the world’s poorest
churches are welcome people are feeling the worst
to share tips, good practice whether you are paid or vol- impacts of climate change, and
and ideas for social media, untary, experienced or new experts predict more floods,
church websites and the A to this line of work. drought and extreme weather
Church Near You platform. patterns to come.
Environment - Diocese of
Leeds CofE Camera Club Leeds “’For those living in poverty, this
Keen photographers are A way to keep up to date means more hunger, conflict
invited to join this online cam- with the latest environment and insecurity, and a more
era club which celebrates the news, views and resources uncertain future for us all.’
events and beautiful places of from across the diocese, to
our young diocese. help you and your church “And, as the Archbishop of
take care of creation. Canterbury said, ‘reducing the
Safe Togetherness - guid- causes of climate change is
ance and support regarding Diocese of Leeds Disability essential to the life of faith.’”
COVID-19 Network
Set up in the wake of the A group for anyone involved St George’s wants to open
pandemic last year, this is a in advocating for people the events to all across the
group designed to give easy with disabilities within the diocese; for more information,
access to information and Anglican Diocese of Leeds. and to book onto the sessions,
church resources for those please visit: www.stgs.org.uk/
across the diocese, regarding climatejustice
coronavirus.
III
Diocesan News - January 2021
News......News.....News.....News.....News.....News
Comfort in a Kids’ video
time of doubt challenge
Revd Canon Stephen helps Faith at
Race, Area Dean of
Barnsley
Home
A new series of video
challenges from our Children,
On the top shelf of my whom nothing was made that Young People and Families
bookcase is an old, green New has been made”. Team is aiming to help people
English Bible, held together keep their Faith at Home.
with black gaffer tape and a Like the events in its texts, my
good deal of hope. I don’t have random collection of memories
an old family Bible such as we recalls how my own faith has
still see on TV programmes, but ebbed and flowed. How I’ve
this is the nearest I have to a been riddled with doubt and
record of my own life of faith. I overcome with joyful certainty.
was given this Bible sometime Even if we don’t all have a
around my Confirmation in the collection of memories such us
1970s, when I was eight or nine mine, we can all recall similar The 12 videos will be released
years old. Since then, every moments that have informed over the coming weeks, with
time I’ve wanted to remember us and our faith in the One a new message or story to
a prayer, a place, a person who creates and sustains, who engage with each time.
or a thought I have slipped often feels distant and unreal,
something between its covers but is also so often present that The videos are designed to
– photos, postcards, prayers, we cannot believe we once be used by individuals and
church notice sheets, sermon doubted. churches, at toddler groups,
notes and more. Messy Churches, Sunday
If, at this moment, you’re in a gatherings, food banks,
This Bible used to be my only place of doubt and perplexity, midweek groups and anywhere
one and is therefore rather remember the two at the foot else that you can use them.
dog-eared too, but over the of the Cross addressed by Jesus: Each activity has resources to
last thirty years or so it has “Behold your son … behold support it, available from the
become more of a repository your mother.” We belong to team.
than a daily reference book. that new family. It is there to
I love it deeply because of sustain us. If you’re in a place A sample video, to help
what it represents and what I of joy, please recall those same illustrate what they are like,
know it stores. It reminds me words and reach out: “Who can be seen on the Diocese
who I am, encased and bound ever does the will of my Father of Leeds websites, and the
together with the printed word in heaven is my brother and resources for each of the
that reveals the Living Word, sister and mother.” challenges can be found on the
the One “through whom all Digital Learning Platform.
things were made; without Revd Canon Stephen Race
For more news, help and advice for parishes, visit www.leeds.anglican.org
IV
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