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Forthcoming Events / Recent News

Appointment of new Ecumenical Development Officer

Churches Together in Cumbria is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruth Harvey as our new Ecumenical Development Officer.      Ruth starts in post on 6th September.

 

Village Hall conferences: 7th August, 4th September, 25th September 2010

Organised by Action with Communities in Cumbria (ACT) about how to make the most of and manage your village hall.  These events are free and include over £25 worth of resources to give away to each hall.  Places are limited so please book now to avoid disappointment by contacting Carl Glynn or Claire Watters on 01768 840827. 
Each conference runs from 10.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. with networking lunch provided.

Managing a Building Project: Churches & Village Halls: 7th September 2010

Organised by the Churches Trust for Cumbria at Penrith Methodist Church. This day will be useful for anyone who is about to make changes to their village hall or church such as adapting or improving it for community use.  Various professionals including architects and project managers will advise on what help is available, when you might need them and how to get the best from them.  Representatives from churches and village halls that have gone through changes will also share their experiences.  Contact: Jemma Metcalfe-Gibson on 07733 88 6284 or jemmamg@ctfc.org.uk.

Forgiveness Ministries: 7th September 2010

Ray and Vi Donovan will speak at 7 p.m. at Crown Street Baptist Church, Millom, about the journey of forgiveness and reconciliation they took after their son was murdered in London several years ago. Free refreshments will be served after the meeting. For more information phone 01229 774601.

Ride and Stride: 11th September 2010

The annual sponsored Ride & Stride is a national event and a major fundraiser for Cumbria’s Churches. Forms are now ready for Ride and Stride 2010. People who take part ride (on horseback or by bike) or walk round as many churches as possible, or that they wish to visit, in one day.  If you are disabled, you may use an alternative mode of transport. You can choose your own itinerary, visiting the places that you want, because there is no set route. You can even cross the county boundary into Yorkshire, where the event also takes place. Participants are sponsored for the number of places of worship they visit in the day. Stewards can also be sponsored by the hour for welcoming riders and striders to your local church. The money raised is split between the church or chapel nominated by the participant (75%) and the Churches Trust for Cumbria (25%)  to support places of worship. Ride & Stride coincides with Heritage Open Days and is a wonderful way to visit churches which might otherwise be closed. For more information see the Churches Trust for Cumbria website.

Home Energy and Sustainability Fair: 18th September 2010

Organised by Sustainable Carlisle and Cumbria Action for Sustainability, this event will take place at Trinity School, Carlisle. The aim is to help inform people how we can save energy and money as well by simple, practical changes to our lifestyles. There will be a range of workshops, talks and demonstrations with plenty to do for kids and big kids alike. The event will showcase some of the leading alternative energy suppliers from around Cumbria as well as a range of community and local interest groups. For more information contact george@sustainablecarlisle.org

Celebrating Together 2010:  Jesus - A Very Bad Role Model?  -  18th September 2010

Churches Together in Cumbria will welcome Bridget and Adrian Plass to lead our day at Penrith Methodist Church. There will also be a question time panel with Cumbria Church Leaders; a great success in previous years. For more details and to book click here.

Here I am Lord: meeting neighbours of other faiths: Huddersfield: 2nd October 2010

Churches Together in England, Liveability and other partners are hosting this event to help churches work with those of other faiths.The event will cost £5 per person, last from 10.30 to 4.30 and will be based in Huddersfield Methodist Mission. For more information contact Janet Bryer on 0113 244 3413 or janet.bryer@crc-online.org.uk. For booking form click here.

Celtic Spirituality: 12th October 2010

An event organised by the Cumbria Spirituality Group at  Penrith Methodist Church.10.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Cost: £10.00. Please bring a packed lunch. Tea/coffee will be provided. To book a place contact Chris Wood: canddwood@tiscali.co.uk; 28, Helme Drive, Kendal, LA9 7JB. To find out more about the new spirituality team for Cumbria click here.

Churches, Housing, Rural Communities: 13th October 2010

A conference at Penrith Methodist Church to explore the use of faith buildings and land for affordable housing and sustainable communities.  We aim to celebrate and share the existing good practice of creating affordable housing and community use of churches and church-owned land in Cumbria and further afield; and to explore the challenges faced in expanding these extended uses within the current climate of policy changes and budget cuts.  Organisers:  Churches Trust for Cumbria Quaker Housing Trust, Cumbria Rural Housing Trust, Housing Justice. For more information contact Julie Batchelor on 07501 469373.  To download a Flier click here.  To download a Booking Form click here.

Cumbrian West Gallery Singing Workshop: 16th October 2010

At St John the Evangelist Church, Lancashire. For more details click here.  To download booking form click here.

To Gaza by Ambulance: Cumbria Inter Faith Forum meeting: 20th October 2010

A talk by Rachael and Paul Milling about their journey to Gaza in an aid convoy. 6.00 p.m. at Stricklandgate House, Kendal, with refreshments. For more details click here.

A Conspiracy of Hope: Creating the future one mustard seed at a time: A national Liveability residential: 27th- 29th October 2010

For the last seven years the Community Mission Team of Liveability (formerly the Shaftesbury Society) has hosted an annual residential event for busy Christians involved in their communities. The aim is to help you find refreshment and renewed passion for your life, work and ministry in this new decade. Led by Tom and Christine Sine, who  will present new challenges that are likely to face the urban poor, those that work with them and our churches as we race into an increasingly volatile new decade, inviting you to create new forms of urban engagement and integral mission, new forms of community living and service in urban centres, new missional expressions of the church in our cities and new lifestyles of celebration, spirituality and service. The event will start at 4.00 p.m. on Wednesday 27th October and end at 3.00 p.m. on Friday 29th October. The venue is Hothorpe Hall, Theddingworth, Leicestershire, LE17 6QX. Cost: single room: £215/person (or £195 when booked before 30th June) including all meals and en-suite room; shared room: £160/person (or £140 when booked before 30th June) including all meals and en-suite room. Click here to book.  Enquiries to Jill Clark: 020 7452 2018.

Fundraising for Faith Buildings: 5th November 2010

Organised by the Churches Trust for Cumbria at St John's, London Road, Carlisle and run by Maggie Durran who has many years of experience of helping churches find a sustainable future.  If you are looking to adapt your church for wider community use, Maggie can advise on how to develop your project and where to find funds.  St John's has successfully raised money to carry out a large re-ordering scheme, and this is an opportunity to see what they have done.  Contact: Jemma Metcalfe-Gibson on 07733 88 6284 or jemmamg@ctfc.org.uk.

Tailored Help with your Church Building Project: Maggie Durran Surgery: 6th November 2010

Organised .by the Churches Trust for Cumbria at St Thomas’ Church, Kendal. Cost: £30 per team of 4 people.  Revd Maggie Durran has many years’ experience in helping churches find a sustainable future.  In these surgeries, Maggie can provide tailored advice on finding additional uses, project management, fundraising and financial development for your own church.  Early booking is recommended.  Contact: Jemma Metcalfe-Gibson on 07733 88 6284 or jemmamg@ctfc.org.uk.

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.

 

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been caught up in the terrible events of the second of June, but particularly they are with the family and friends of those who have been killed or injured. The community grieves deeply at the losses we have suffered; the confusion and pain will be long-lasting.   For a full statement from Cumbria Church leaders please click here

 

50+ Forums in Cumbria

These Forums are for older people to discuss issues relevant  to them, including national and local policies and consultations related to adult social care. Forums meet in Carlisle, Penrith, Kendal, Barrow, Ulverston, Kirkby Stephen, Brampton and parts of West Cumbria. They are seeking more participants. For further details click here or email kay.colley@signposts.org.uk.

Are you an older person who would like to influence the development of day care services in Cumbria?

The Adult Social Care Directorate of Cumbria County Council are in the process of reviewing day services to ensure these best meet people's needs now and remain responsive to future needs. To assist with this process, there are a number of stakeholder groups in the different localities around the County. The Directorate would like to enlist the help of two older people in each area to facilitate this work. The commitment would be two or three quite local meetings of approximately  two hours duration. Expenses are payable. If you are interested please contact Julian Legat, Development Manager, Adult Social Care Directorate. Phone: 01539 713072; Email: julian.legat@cumbriacc.gov.uk

Equipment Services for Elderly and Disabled People in Cumbria

From May 2010 there will be changes to the way daily living equipment services such as commodes and bath seats are operated. Click here to find out more or download the following leaflets:
Advice Centres
Directory of accredited retail outlets
Equipment availability in Cumbria
Occupational Therapy assessments

Volunteer for South Lakeland Carers Sitting Service

Could you help to make a difference to the lives of carers in South Lakeland? South Lakeland Carers is a charity that supports carers to manage their caring roles to their own satisfaction through support, information and advocacy. They are currently recruiting volunteers to the Sitting Service, which gives carers some vital ‘me time’ and enables them to have a break, meet friends or attend appointments. Volunteers ideally have a caring and sensitive personality and are patient and understanding. South Lakeland Carers offers induction, training, support and out-of-pocket expenses. Applicants are asked for interview, references and Enhanced CRB clearance. For more information click here.

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.