This course is open to anyone in our churches who wants to become more aware of those living with dementia in our communities and the issues they face.  It will consider the ways in which the church can respond and support.  You can attend all the sessions, or it is possible to attend just some of them. 

If you would like to discuss the course with the tutor, please contact Rose Akeroyd on dementiaadvisorrose@cofebirmingham.com.

Living Christianity in the Holy Land - A two week experience of Christianity in Palestine on Wednesday 22nd January – Monday 3rd February 2020.

This will be led by Led by Rev. John Howard. Former Mission Partner Israel/Palestine and Deacon Angleena Keizer from the Methodist Liaison Office, Jerusalem.

The internal costs, amounting to £1300, include all meals, transport, accommodation and admission charges.

Please note this does not include the cost of the flights you will be responsible to organise yourself.

For further details please contact John Howard, john_d_howard@hotmail.com
To book a place, please complete the application form and return it as indicated on the form.

I wonder......

A hands on day to experience Godly Play for yourself and reflect on how it might enrich your practice.

This will take place on Saturday 25 January 2020, 9.30am - 3.00pm at The Church at Carrs Lane, Carrs Lane, Birmingham, B4 7SX.

Godly Play is an approach to Christian nurture and education that many people are discovering provides a skill set to enhance their Christian ministry in a whole variety of contexts from churches and schools to care homes and universities.

This will take place on Sunday 26th January at 6.30pm in Solihull Methodist Church with Rev. David Butterworth.

and Sunday 23rd February at 6.30pm in Solihull Methodist Church with Rev. Donald Ker.  All are welcome.

The next political night prayer is on Sunday 26 January at The Cotteridge Church 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm. The theme is Stand Together and is inspired both by its closeness to Holocaust Memorial Day and the longing to reconcile diversity and unity in what seems to be an increasingly unsettled and divided world. With thinking from Citizens UK Birmingham we hope it will enable us to speak the truth as we find it, live with the despair and find hope together.

We look forward to seeing you.  For more details please click on flyer.

This one day free taster course by Citizens UK will offer trainees an introduction to broad-based community organising as a tool for developing effective civil society leadership.

This will be held on Wednesday 29 January 2020, 09.30am to 3.00pm at the Teaching and Learning Building (Room 211), University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT.  Arrival & Registration 9.30am. Prompt start at 10.00am. Light lunch & refreshments will be provided.

Since 2012, Citizens UK: Birmingham have been building the power of city faith, education, union and community organisations to act together to win change for the common good and social justice. Here is a short video clip charting this story: https://vimeo.com/259667616

Register your place to learn about what broad based community organising is, the work of Citizens UK: Birmingham and how your community and organisation can become more powerful.

Please hurry, as there are limited places available.  Click on link for further information.

Who is fleeing persecution and seeking sanctuary?

We will be running our next training course for new befrienders and for anyone who is interested in learning more about refugee issues in January and February 2020.  The course includes an introduction to refugee issues, an explanation of the asylum application process, input from a volunteer befriender and a refugee as well as the practicalities of befriending.

This is a course of 3 sessions. Each session has different content. All new volunteers with Restore need to complete all 3 sessions. Training is offered free of charge but donations towards costs are welcome. For more information or to book a place please contact Restore 0121 661 4275 admin@restore-uk.org

This will be held on Thursday evenings: 30 January, 6 & 13 February 2020 from 7.15pm to 9.15pm at Carrs Lane Church Centre, Birmingham city centre, B4 7SX.

For more details please click here: Restore training course – Jan Feb 2020

Safeguarding Refresher course at Shirley Methodist Church will be held on Saturday 1 Feb 2020 from 9.30am to 1.00pm. 

To register please contact Sue Saunderson, ssaunderson@birminghammethodistcircuit.org.uk.

Solihull Methodist church will be holding a Barn Dance on 8th February 2020 at 7.00pm at Solihull Methodist Church Hall in aid of Solihull's project Camp Joy.

The project is supporting the work of our former minister, Mike Crockett, in Cape Town, South Africa. Camp Joy is a place of "healing, restoration and renewal" and helps to turn around the lives of former gangsters and drug abusers in one of the most dangerous gangland places on earth. Solihull Methodist is raising funds to replace the delapidated and unhygenic washroom and toilet facilities.

Please click on flyer for further information.

This will take place on Saturday 22nd February 2020 at Bull Street Quaker Meeting House (Priory Rooms), 40 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF.  This is event is free of charge.

A day, organised by Church and Peace and Fellowship of Reconciliation, of workshops, worship and conversation exploring the impact of war today and why we need to stop future ones from happening.

The main speaker will be Maria Biedrawa, a peace deacon resident in Northern France. Based on her work in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, she will be talking about what armed conflict really means for people, and what unarmed, non-violent civilians do to face it.

Workshops will provide more opportunity to speak with Maria, a chance to learn about the militarisation of borders and a special presentation looking at the Carbon Footprint of the Military.

To reserve your place and book your lunch (£10) please email: forbesbarbarae@yahoo.co.uk.

Please click on flyer for further information.