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Forthcoming Events / Recent News

GENERAL ELECTION 2010

Are your local churches planning to run a hustings meeting for the pending General Election? You can download materials here to help you:

Once you have a hustings meeting planned, please email us so that we can advertise it on this page. Please also notify the national churches election website www.churcheselection.org.uk  so that it can be added to their listing - and you can also download further resources and find out where other church hustings are taking place.

Managing churchyards for wildlife and wildflowers: 10th March 2010

This evening workshop at Rydal Hall, run by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Wildlife in Sacred Places Project wildlife adviser, Simon Harlow, will focus on the best ways to manage churchyards for wildlife and wildflowers. The emphasis will be on simple, practical advice aimed at people who do grass cutting and looking after plants. Entry is free and tea and coffee are provided. The workshop will run from 7.00 to 9.00 p.m. and consist of a short presentation followed by a discussion.
For more information and to book contact janm@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

Discovering our Treasure: 11th May 2010

An exploration of a treasure chest of different approaches to the spiritual life - Rydal Hall, Tuesday 11th May, 10.00 a.m. - 4.15 p.m.
Includes: What happens when we pray, signposts for prayer, Ignatius of Loyola, the Silence of Quaker worship, and desire in prayer.
For more information and a booking form click here.

Wildfire  -  Pentecost 2010

Churches Together in Cumbria are to host a music tour leading up to Pentecost 2010. Roger Jones and a team from Christian Music Ministries will travel throughout the county, performing with local choirs in Kendal, Penrith, Whitehaven, Barrow and Carlisle. Everyone is invited to join in with their nearest venue and enjoy the occasion.

Wildfire is the story of Stephen, vividly brought to life in music and words; of how he and his family were inspired by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and how his persecution and death brought others to faith.

Click on the links below to find more detailed information of how you, your choir and your Churches Together Group can be involved. Also provided are publicity materials and invitations you can adapt for local use.

Come and join in as we spread the Wildfire of God's Spirit throughout Cumbria!

Wildfire Church poster  -  print a poster for your church

Finances  -  view financial considerations for local CT groups

Wildfire Bookmark (front)  -  print a Wildfire bookmark front

Wildfire Bookmark (back)  -  print a Wildfire bookmark back

Wildfire General Information  -  General information about the Wildfire project

Wildfire Handout  -  view and print a useful handout for distribution in your church and area

For more details contact the Wildfire Coordinator Carole Marsden.

Celebrating Together 2010  -  date announced !

18th September 2010. Churches Together will welcome Bridget and Adrian Plass to lead our day. More information to follow but its never too early to get the date in your diary!

Saltmine Theatre Company offers a new production of ‘Faustus’: An Exciting Opportunity for churches.

Saltmine Theatre Company want to bring their adaptation of the literary masterpiece and morality play, ‘Faustus’ to churches in Cumbria. Jesus asked ‘what good is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?’ John Faustus does exactly that - and lives to regret it.  The Saltmine creative team hopes that this production will prompt discussion about the aims we strive for, the values we cling to and the choices we make. Faustus premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe festival in August 2009 when each performance was sold out.  It then toured in regional theatres in October and November, and was also performed at Renewal Christian Centre in Solihull, where it was watched by an audience of 500 and received a standing ovation. ‘Posing fundamental challenges about life choices, response to God, repentance and redemption, Faustus is highly recommended for a stand-alone Christian theatre event and/or church outreach and evangelism initiatives’ (The Baptist Times, September 2009).
The tour dates at present are from 27th September- 9th October 2010 (can be extended should interest be high).  The production requires a 20ft by 20ft stage, with adequate power.  A set up period of 4 hours is needed.  The cost of booking this production for a day is £700.  Churches who host the show can run their own box office to recoup costs. 
For more information about the production or to make a booking phone Joanna Bell on 01384 454807 or email her at creative@saltmine.org.

Nuclear Energy Discussion Morning

A discussion morning on civil nuclear energy organised by Carlisle Cathedral and Churches Together in Cumbria was held on 6th February 2010.
To read more and download papers click here.

Stop Child Detention Campaign: sign petition to Prime Minister

Cumbria Church Leaders have received a request to support the campaign to end the detention of child asylum seekers. Click here to see the information received.  The campaign was sparked by the case of a toddler living in Cumbria. Among other possible actions is a petition found at: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/NoChildDetention.  Rev Rachel Poolman (President of Churches Together in Cumbria and President of the United Reformed Church in Cumbria), Bishop James Newcome (Bishop of Carlisle), Bishop Michael Campbell (Bishop of Lancaster), Susan Aglionby (Convener of the Social Responsibility Forum) and Helen Boothroyd (Social Responsibility Development Officer) have already signed the petition. You are invited to also sign the petition and make it known to others from your churches.
Click here to read a recent article about the campaign in the Independent Catholic News.

Appeal for Unwanted Bicycles - from Haverigg Prison Chaplain

Haverigg Prison has a scheme whereby prisoners restore unwanted second-hand bicycles into working order and then either sell them at low cost through the prison shop to prisoners or their families or pass them on for use in community projects. But they are running short of bicycles! Could your church collect unwanted second hand bicycles from the local community? Collection from your church to Haverigg can be arranged.
Please contact chaplain Rev Glynn Jones: 01229 713152; glynn.jones@hmps.gsi.gov.uk

Mencap Carers Network

This is a new service to provide information and advice to carers who have sons or daughters with a learning disability. To download a flyer click here.  To read the newsletter click here.

Unpaid Work: An Opportunity for Doing Up Your Church Premises?

The Cumbria Probation Service are very keen to hear from churches that could benefit from supervised unpaid work, carried out by offenders under the requirement of a community order. For more information click here.