Welcome to the New Year -
Video message from Bishop Trevor   go to top of page
Filmed at Goodnestone Church of England Primary School, where two new class rooms were being opened, Bishop Trevor talks on the eve of Epiphany about how we should become Christ for His world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN6_NYPQfwI

News from Canterbury Diocese   go to top of page

The Revd Amanda Evans
It is with much sadness that we announce the death of the Reverend Amanda Evans on 3 January 2012 at Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury. Amanda was licensed as Chaplain of the Living Well and Diocesan Adviser for Healing and Wholeness. Amanda's funeral service will take place in the Quire of the Cathedral on Monday 16 January at 11.00am. All are welcome to attend. To assist with seating and catering arrangements please let Victoria Greatorex know of your intentions by emailing: vgreatorex@diocant.org or telephoning: 01227 459401

'Finding Welcome' Lent preparation event 4 Feb, Ashford
To enable Lent group leaders and ministry leaders to be more prepared for the 'Finding Welcome' Lent course (available at: www.canterburydiocese.org/247liveit/lent2012) a preparation event, uniquely combined with Diocesan Synod, will take place on 4 February at the John Wallis Academy, from 11.00am - 3.30pm. The event, which includes an address by Mark Hope-Urwin, Director of Hospitality at Birmingham Cathedral, is open for Lent group leaders, readers and ministry leaders. Places must be booked in advance: www.canterburydiocese.org/booking/findingwelcome4.2.2012.htm

Parochial fees
Information on Parochial fees and new arrangements for their return can be found at: www.canterburydiocese.org/parochialfees

Video story of 'Ignite'
'Ignite', a community project run by members of St Paul's Church, Cliftonville, has been awarded a grant from the Archbishops' Council and Church Commissioners with the aim of replicating the project elsewhere in the Diocese. Around 60 people attend 'Ignite' each Wednesday evening for meals, social events, and informal teaching with a Christian theme. A video of the project can be seen here

Anyone for Cricket?
A call has gone out from Neville Emslie, Ministry Development Officer, for cricket players to join the Canterbury-Rochester team. Clergy (including PTO), non-clerical players with a bishop's licence (including lay readers, Church Army captains and members of religious orders), full-time church workers in the diocese and chaplains to the forces are eligible to join the team. Prowess in cricket is optional. Contact Neville for details: nemslie@diocant.org

Deepening Discipleship
Do you have people wanting to follow up the Year of Discipleship or to explore potential lay ministry? If you have 10-15 people in your parish or deanery and you can provide a venue in 2012, you may wish to consider the eight session Deepening Discipleship course. Contact Peter Ingrams, pingrams@diocant.org to discuss possibilities; more information on the Deepening Discipleship course at: www.canterburydiocese.org/deepeningdiscipleship

35 Students engaged in ALM Elective Training
A total of 35 students from parishes across the diocese are involved with ALM elective training. Over the next 6 months they will receive training to equip them to serve their parishes. A number of this year's students are studying a second ALM course to develop their ministries further and six students are following the Mission Shaped Ministry course as part of the ALM Mission Enabler elective. How many in your church have gifts waiting to be released through such training? For more information on the ALM programme visit http://www.canterburydiocese.org/alm

Photo Caption Competition   go to top of page

Last month's caption competition winners include:

1. "Maidstone: 'Does it get any better?' Canterbury: 'I couldn't possibly say!'" Christopher Irvine
2. "Excuse me, I'm looking for the Church of England. You wouldn't happen to know...?" John Scott
3. "Do they want a ventriloquist at the Christmas party?" Clive Barlow

To see the other captions visit: www.canterburydiocese.org/caption/december2011

January competition
This photo was taken at the Diocesan House Nativity Play in December. Send your captions to: eshepherd@diocant.org

To view a larger version visit www.canterburydiocese.org/caption/january2012

If you have a photo requiring a caption, please send it to Emily Shepherd

On Offer   go to top of page

Wooden Pulpit
The recent closure and imminent sale of the previous St Michael's Church building (a Victorian 'tin tabernacle') in the Parish of St Leonard, Hythe, has meant that a free-standing wooden pulpit (152cm tall) - see photograph at: www.canterburydiocese.org/onoffer has become redundant. If anyone could offer it a good new home, please contact Brin Hughes (Churchwarden) on 01303 264470 or by email: brin.hughes@btinternet.com.

Free loan of half-grand piano
A half-grand piano (1911, made in Germany by Thomas Lipp) is being offered on a free loan for a few years to clergy, retired clergy or church musician. The piano is in a house near Folkestone where it could be checked by a prospective keeper. The owner is happy to pay local removal costs. Please contact Mrs Birkett: 01303 489093

Philips floodlight covers
Two new, replacement glass covers for Philips floodlights that were originally supplied in error to the church of St Mary The Virgin, Upchurch, are looking for a good home. Each glass cover measures approximately 427mm wide by 484mm deep and is marked Philips IP 55. These are specialised glass covers and their invoice value in 2002 was in excess of £200. Ideally I would like to identify a potential recipient for these covers that also generated some return to St Mary's. Contact Peter Shorthouse: 01634 364676.

Furniture - free to parishes
Furniture on offer on a first come first served basis (must be collected from Diocesan House). Contact Gilly Marsh: 01227 459401 or gmarsh@diocant.org

• 5 x 4 drawer metal filing cabinets
• 1 x small metal table size: 47" x 24"
• 1 x brown desk chair with arms
• 2 x computer desks 44" x 30" - wooden tops and metal legs
• 1 x 3 wooden drawer (for next to or under desk) 32" x 17" x 29" (h)
• 1 x metal drawer unit (for next to or under desk)
• 1 x 8' (h) x 3' shelving unit
• 1 x 4' (h) x 8' shelving unit
• Assorted wooden tables with metal legs (rectangular or half moon)

People and Vacancies   go to top of page

For latest notices visit: www.canterburydiocese.org/peopleandplaces

Organist and Director of Music - St Mary's Goudhurst: www.canterburydiocese.org/vacancies/parishvacancies.htm

Vicar for the proposed West Sheppey Benefice: www.canterburydiocese.org/vacancies

Diocesan Training   go to top of page

Self Supporting Ministers' Consult
Wednesday 1 February 2012, 7.00pm - 9.00pm, Church Centre, St Martin & St Paul's, Canterbury. (NB: the venue has been changed to accommodate the numbers already planning to come.) A consultation of SSMs that will include a look at the role of self-supporting ministry, its opportunities and challenges, theological reflection in the workplace, and fulfilment of vocation. We will also talk about the Ministerial Development Review and how this contributes to self-supporting ministry. Please book a place via: www.canterburydiocese.org/booking/selfsupportingministersconsult1.2.12.htm

Canterbury Diocese Creative Mission Forum
Monday 19 March 2012, 10.30am to 3.30pm
Seasalter Christian Centre
Picking up from, and building upon, the network of Emerging Churches Group, an invitation is extended to leaders from all forms of church around the Diocese with a common interest in creative mission. The focus this time will be on Café Church. Our guest speaker is Penny Marsh, leader of the Café church at Costa Coffee in Bluewater. Coffee and lunch will be provided; there is no cost, but bookings in advance are required: book here.

Self Supporting Ministers' Consult for ministers not in employment
Monday 26 March 2012, 7.00pm - 9.00pm
The Upper Room, St Mary Bredin, Canterbury
Further to the consult above, there will be another consultation for SSMs who are NOT in employment. This will include clergy offering ministry in a voluntary, unpaid or non-stipended capacity.
These consultations offer us opportunity to reflect vocationally and missiologically according to one's ministry context. Those attending the first consultation spend the majority of their ministry and work time with non-church people, those attending the second consultation are likely to minister more substantially in the context of the Christian community. Please book via: www.canterburydiocese.org/booking/selfsupportingministersconsult1.2.12.htm

Bishop's Day for Clergy - 'Accompanying Adventurous Discipleship'
Friday 16 March 2012, 10.00am to 3.00pm, Canterbury Christ Church University Chapel With Dr Andrew Teal, Chaplain of Pembroke College Oxford, and Warden of Fairacres Convent. Dr Teal has been Chair of Oxford Carers' Group and Chair of the Management Committee and is interested in Early Church, Modern Theology and Christian Formation. Bookings via: www.canterburydiocese.org/booking/bishopsdayforclergy.htm

A Day of Theological Reflection for Clergy & Readers
Bishop Laurie Green
Wednesday 25 April 2012, 9.30am - 3.30pm, The Boardroom, Diocesan House
Laurie Green recently retired as Bishop of Bradwell, in the Diocese of Chelmsford. Laurie has been involved in many exciting initiatives, including presenting the case internationally for an Anglican Network on Global Urbanisation. He is the Chelmsford Diocesan Lead Bishop on issues of Regeneration and Development. Laurie spent seven years of his ministry as Principal of the Aston Training Scheme, and as a priest in inner-city Birmingham and London. Full Biography at: www.canterburydiocese.org/BishopLaurieGreen25.4.12.pdf
Booking details to follow.

Canterbury Diocese Messy Church Fiesta
Saturday 28 April 2012, 9:30am - 2:30pm at Seasalter Christian Centre
Following our very positive gathering of Canterbury Diocese Messy Church practitioners this autumn, we would very much like to invite you to our Messy Church Fiesta. This event will include guest speakers; workshops and most importantly a lunch. This event is open to all Messy Church teams, well established or only just starting. The day concludes with an invitation to see first-hand and take part in the Seasalter Messy Church event. Cost for the day is £10 per person to include lunch. Please book your team in here

Fresh Expressions Vision Day
Saturday 12 May 2012 at the United Church Faversham. National and local speakers will introduce stories, updates and practical input, aimed at teams from all denominations. Further information on Vision Days can be found at www.freshexpressions.org.uk/vision

Seminar Day for Clergy & Readers Monday 14 May 2012
Professor David Ford is Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge University and will offer a Seminar Day for clergy and Readers on a topic relating to his current work on the Gospel of John. Booking Details to be published soon.

A Week of Accompanied Prayer for the Clergy 21 - 26 May 2012
Individually guided prayer retreats for clergy, which allow clergy to remain at home whilst meeting with a prayer guide for 30 minutes each day at Canterbury Cathedral: www.canterburydiocese.org/accompaniedprayer/Cathedral%20Clergy%20leaflet%20Week%20of%20Accompanied%20Prayer.pdf
Contact: annemrees@googlemail.com

Date for the diary:
Study Day for Clergy: Deliverance Ministry
Saturday 23 June 2012

The Living Well Events
The first service of the New Year will be on Tuesday 17 January at 11.30am
The Spring programme can be viewed at: www.the-living-well.org.uk/living-well-programme.asp

Children & Young People's (ChYP's) Ministry Update   go to top of page

The ChYP's Ministry page has a growing collection of resources and reflections. Or contact Murray at Diocesan House 01227 459401.

Children's Ministry Volunteer Residential 2012
20 - 22 January, The Oast Houses, Northiam
A retreat, organised by Canterbury and Rochester Dioceses for volunteer children's leaders who work in Sunday School, Afterschool Clubs, Children's Church etc. Cost: £80 per person (which includes a 40% subsidy from ChYP's Ministry). Contact Murray Wilkinson: mwilkinson@diocant.org, tel: 01227 459401
More information on all ChYP's activities available on the ChYP's Ministry blog: www.chypsministry.wordpress.com

What's On in the Parishes   go to top of page

Events in January:
For full details of events visit: www.canterburydiocese.org/whatson/parish/index.htm