'The Changing Shape of Teams' — Working together to become a Transforming Presence

28th November
St Mary’s Great Baddow
9.30am – 1pm

If you are part of a church ministry team then why not have a day out together at the Local Ministry Conference?

This year the theme is how we can develop more effective working in ministry teams with speaker Jean Reed of Grubb Institute.

The cost is £5 per person (CME grants can be used). Details about the conference, poster and booking forms can be found at: www.chelmsford.anglican.org/LMconference or from Sue Denham tel: 01245 294450 email: sdenham@chelmsford.anglican

Other learning and opportunities and events coming up include:

• Mission-Shaped Church for rural ministry - 21st November
• Fresh Expression Vision Day - 28th November
• Fresh Expressions mission-shaped ministry courses 2010 - Starts in January

For more information on the events listed above please contact Revd Charlie Kosla tel: 01245 294419 or email: ckosla@chelmsford.anglican.org 

Anyone who wishes to comment on the appointment of a new Bishop of Chelmsford is welcome to make comments direct to the Acting Diocesan Bishop, The Rt Revd Laurie Green, or to any of the other people who have been duly elected by the diocese to serve on the committee which will now meet nationally (the Crown Nominations Commission), before the Commission meets on 9th December.

For contact details and the latest developments please follow this link.

Monday 30 November 2009
10:30 am - 3:30 pm

The main speaker will be Elizabeth Brown, Canterbury Provincial President.  There will be a session saying "Goodbye" to the old team and "Hello" to the new.  The Celebrant and Preacher at the closing Eucharist will be The Bishop of Colchester. 

For more details visit our online calendar.

We have joined a Christmas advertising campaign organised by ChurchAds.Net by buying bus stop advertising space in Chelmsford. All our churches are welcome to take up two main offers which churchads.net are making - buying advertising space at local bus stops and buying air time for local radio advertising.

This is the UK's first ever church-sponsored Christmas advertising campaign, which is planned to run over the next five years under the slogan "Christmas Starts with Christ".

For more information and to book your advertising space please visit http://www.churchads.net/2009/index.html

ChurchAds.Net has also teamed up with Ecclesiastical Insurance for The Christmas factor.

• Write a new carol and win £1,000 for your church at www.ecclesiastical.com/christmasfactor

In the countdown to Christmas we are just starting to collect the details of all the local Christmas fairs and events across the Diocese. Please send us the details of your Christmas events so that we can publicise them as widely as possible for you.

Coming up this month:

St Martin’s Church, Basildon, Christmas Bazaar, Saturday 21st November

St Mary the Virgin, Birchanger, Christmas Bazaar, Saturday 21st November

Friends of Messing Church Christmas Fayre, Saturday 21st November

St Mary’s Church, Shenfield, Bazaar, Saturday 21st November

Holy Trinity, Southchurch, Christmas Tree Festival, Friday 27th – Sunday 29th November

Friends of Bradfield Church Christmas Market, Saturday 28th November

Chelmsford Diocesan Environment Group (EDG) are running an essay writing competition for people aged 18 -25 with the chance to win a place as a delegate at the UN Climate summit in Copenhagen next month. There are 5 places available.

Click here for details of how to enter.

Submission deadline: Friday 13 November 2009

Entries will be judged by a panel of members from the Diocesan Environment Group.

The winners will be announced by the Bishop of Colchester on Friday 20 November 2009.

Community Initiative Fund applications

The deadline for Essex County Council's Community Initiatives Fund grant is the 6th November

This funds capital projects in the community e.g. works to village halls, public open spaces.

For more information visit: www.communityinitiativesfund.co.uk.

The People’s £100k Community Chest

The Community Chest will be awarding twelve £100,000 grants to projects that will make a considerable difference to neighbourhoods in Essex. 

The deadline for applications is 31 December.

For more information visit: www.essex.gov.uk/communitychest

Church Urban Fund – Mustard Seed Grant

This programme offers grants of up to £5000 to faith groups involved in social action in the community. The grant can be for new ventures or for existing projects.

For more information visit: http://www.cuf.org.uk/mustardseed.aspx

Information on the 2009/10 Inspire course is now available in the Admin Area. Click to view the course brochure.  The programme is designed for anyone who is involved with children in church: Sunday School/Club or Junior Church teachers; playgroup, crèche or after school club leaders and helpers; worship leaders; paid or volunteer Children’s Workers; and clergy and other ministers.

For more details contact Steve Kersys steve@saltshaker.org.uk

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