Author: DigiComms

Do you have a toddler group, Messy Church, or engage with families in your church?

“Don’t wake the baby!” is a newly launched podcast by Elliot and Emma Crippen for parents of under 5s with the aim of building community around Yorkshire to offer mutual support. The pilot series is being released during July and August 2023 with new episodes each week on YouTube and podcasting platforms. Parents can unwind to a wholesome mix of parenting, humour and crafting – sharing experiences with each other and exploring how parenting has changed.

This is a digital ‘New Place for New People’ being sponsored by Yorkshire North and East Methodist District, and being held within The Kairos Movement

Find out more here: www.kairosmovement.org.uk/dontwakethebaby/

Do share with parents you’re in contact with – it’s ideal for those on the fringes of church. Maybe you could use it as a way to keep families engaged while you take a break over the summer. Or maybe you want to publicise it to parents when your children’s groups restart in September.

If you run something that attracts parents or families, do let Elliot know – we can provide you with some leaflets about the podcast. And we can publicise your group to our listeners! digital@yorkshirenemethodist.org

As part of our weekly “sharing church stories” posts in our District Facebook Group, we are encouraging churches to share online how they are providing for their community by creating a #MethodistSummerSpaces post. Try this easy, engaging content idea for your church’s social media this summer.

What is it all about?

Many Methodist Churches offer community spaces and activities throughout the week: holiday clubs, messy church, coffee mornings, cafes, food banks, uniform recycling, warm (or cool) spaces, tech hubs, lunch clubs, youth groups, tabletop sales, and much more.

To raise awareness of the great work Methodists do, and to share church stories with others, whether they are churchgoers or not, we invite you to share a picture or video of one of your church spaces (church hall, cafe, lounge, room, garden or other) along with some text to share about the community activities you’re offering this summer. This can be done through commenting on our weekly post in the District Facebook Group – sharing church stories – but we hope also an opportunity to use it as an engaging post on your church’s social media.

We hope this is an easy way for your church to show off its wonderful community work to the online world, in a different way to the usual church poster and invite. If church life in your circuit is ‘quieter’ over the summer, due to holidays, you may need some fresh ideas for social media posts during July and August. You may also be looking for ways to engage with people in the community who don’t go to church at the moment. In either case, taking part in #MethodistSummerSpaces could help you.

How can my church get involved?

> Pick a “space” in your church (church hall, cafe, lounge, room, garden or other) and take the best picture you can (or maybe do a video!)

> Write some text about what activities are taking place in the space this summer for those in the community. Think about midweek and community-focused events (not church-focused events like Sunday worship, bible studies, or prayer groups). And consider how you might tell the story of the work your church does – this isn’t about inviting people or getting them to come along. It’s about raising awareness and sharing the great work you do for the community.

> Finally, include the hashtag #MethodistSummerSpaces

Post your picture and text on social media (personal or church account – maybe in a local community Facebook Group?) or in the comments of our weekly “Sharing Church Stories” post in our District Facebook Group

Create your #MethodistSummerSpaces post today, or anytime that suits you during July and August. We can’t wait to see your posts!

Top tips

• Use the social media platform that is engaged with the most by your local community.
• Keep your caption as short and sharp as possible, making use of paragraphs to space text out. 
• Choose whether to take the picture portrait or landscape, depending upon the platform you are wishing to share it on. Generally speaking, portrait works well on Facebook and Instagram, and landscape on Twitter.
• If shooting a video, think about light, sound and stability. Make sure the camera is as still as possible. Make sure the speaker is well lit. If they are stood directly in front of a window, they may become silhouetted, making it hard for the viewer to see. Standing them just to one side may be better. Finally, try and record the video with as few people around as possible to cut out any unwanted noise. 

This idea was created by our District Digital Enabler – Elliot Crippen. Inspired by the CofE summer campaign: #StainedGlassSummer

Find more digital resources for churches by Elliot over in our Digital Resources Hub

Welcome Tim O’Brien – Our District Net-Zero Officer!

We are delighted to announce that Tim is joining the District Staff Team from May 2023, Tim’s 3-year role, which is fully funded by the Benefact Trust, is to support churches and circuits continue to join in with the district-wide commitment for the Methodist Church in Yorkshire North and East to be net-zero by 2040.

Reflecting on the role Tim says: 

‘Being interviewed for this Net Zero Officer role was my first experience of being interviewed for a job I actually really want to do!

The District’s realistic, determined commitment to achieving important Net Zero targets is impressive and a crucial aspect of how we live out our calling as people of good news in this generation. I am genuinely honoured to be given the opportunity to help Methodist churches and people play our part in bringing about the creation care agenda shared by so many individuals and communities in ‘God’s Own Country’.

We live near Harrogate and for the last fifteen years or so, my wife, Sam, and I have been part of the Pateley Bridge Circuit and we are now increasingly involved in the District’s Kairos group.

I have enjoyed a varied career in the UK and further afield, working for some or the world’s largest corporations. However, as I mentioned to Sam during the recruitment process for this role, this was my first experience of being interviewed for a job I actually really want to do’!

You can contact Tim by email at netzero@yorkshirenemethodist.org

Kindly produced and complied by the Nidd Valley Methodist Circuit for other churches and circuits to use on Sunday 16th April when many will be at Flourish, our district weekend, in Scarborough. This service is offered as a resource for those churches making ‘local arrangements’ over the ‘Flourish’ weekend (April 14-16 2023) and provides material which can be adapted as required to suit your church and its needs.

• A written service, including sermon, hymns and prayers (can be used in full or in part)
• Full video service for use online or in church buildings
• Sermon / talks from the above service as separate files

Find the online service to watch or share on our District YouTube Channel

Download Resources

Or download any of the above for local use from our Flourish Resources Folder

The Flourish Planning Team are looking for a team of willing volunteers to help make the weekend happen!

These roles will range from Car Park Duty (yes, this will mean wearing a hi-vis vest!) to stewarding on the doors and helping make sure everyone is welcome.

You will need a ticket but will receive some food/drink vouchers for the spa facilities

If you are interested in helping out, please register your interest here https://forms.office.com/e/8hvxLpvHQL Thank you!

We are really excited to share our completed brochure for Flourish 23 – Rooted in Love with you!

Find a digital download of the brochure on our website – printed copies will be available in advance of Flourish, and will be distributed to local circuits shortly

In our brochure you will find:

• Full programme and timetable for the weekend
• Vital Information for the weekend
• Details of all contributors, speakers, musicians, and workshop leaders
• Workshop details and descriptions
• Map of the town and Spa, including venues for sessions
• Children’s, Youth, and Family Programme
• Details on the Marketplace and Flourish Merch
• Learn more about our partners, local & national organisations

https://www.yorkshirenemethodist.org/flourish23/

Are you involved in a Warm Space at or from your church? Or thinking of launching one?
Come and share your Warm Space experiences, stories, and questions at a district ‘YN&E Warm Spaces Zoom Gathering’

It’s a 60 minute zoom, designed to encourage one another, share tips/stories, and a sense of how God is at work in people’s lives!

Warm Spaces Zoom Gathering
Wednesday 11th January
7pm
Facilitated by Ruth Gilson-Webb (Circuits Support Team Leader)

ZOOM LINK:
https://zoom.us/j/4205147439?pwd=WEZ0ZVQ0Y2tlR2R6NUl3cTRQQ25lUT09

Background

The district has offered Warm Space grants to churches running local venues. We are offering this zoom meeting for those involved in running them to come and share stories/experiences/challenges etc so that we can see what’s happening and possibly offer more support.

• 11 churches have had a district WS grant, and have been invited to the zoom gathering.

• 8 further churches are registered on www.warmwelcome.uk as running a WS and have been invited.

• We believe there are other churches also running warm spaces around the district – without district funding and not registered on the warm welcome site. We’d love you to come along!

Introducing Jane Masterman, our new District Safeguarding Officer

Back in the early 1990’s I gained a BA Degree in Informal Education in Youth and Community.  Whilst studying, I was employed by a local Methodist Church overseen by the Methodist Division of Education and Youth (as it was then) to lead the development of a community-based Youth Project in the locality.  With this foundation, I went on to work in a range of roles supporting young people and families primarily within the public sector, both the NHS and Local Authorities in West Yorkshire which has always been my home.

In the past decade, I have worked with many vulnerable young people as the Unit Manager in a Secure Children’s Home, providing secure housing for both young people who have been sentenced to custody for committing an offence along with girls and boys who were placed into secure accommodation for their safety own under Section 25 Children’s Act 1989.  I am also a Consultant Learning Coach supporting prison officers working with young people in Secure establishments nationally and who are studying hard to achieve a Foundation Degree in Youth Justice.

Using the experience, knowledge, and understanding I have gained throughout my career to date, I am now looking forward to contributing to the development of safeguarding practice within the Yorkshire North and East District; and to working with employees and volunteers who play such a pivotal and vital role in the lives of our children, young people and vulnerable adults.

On a more personal note, I am very happily married to Lee,  my partner of 25+ years and currently live in Leeds.  We have one very talented daughter who has recently graduated from University after having studied Music – which is our shared passion as a family.  I love to attend live music events of all genres – but particularly enjoy the gigs that feature my daughter and her upcoming Band.  (…..watch this space)

Find more about our Safeguarding here: www.yorkshirenemethodist.org/our-work/safeguarding/

Contact Jane: safeguarding@yorkshirenemethodist.org

After a year of work by our former District Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and our District Digital Enabler, we are pleased to release this guidance to support local churches and circuits to embed safeguarding within the online space.

The DIGITAL SAFEGUARDING BEST PRACTICE REFERENCE DOCUMENT can be found here:
https://bit.ly/DigitalSafeguarding

A detailed list of FAQs that help unpack Methodist safeguarding policy in an online context, including resources to help with practical application of this guidance. This is an evolving and interactive document, and not a comprehensive list. You can click highlighted links to navigate the document and find additional external resources.

This is a long document, and not intended to be read cover to cover – it will hopefully answer a specific question you have, and is a resource you may want to keep revisiting. If you are looking to get an overview and general understanding you may want to skim through the “short answers” and look at the first FAQ in each section.

The contents of this document have been created by Katy Spencer-Madden (previous District Safeguarding Officer) and Elliot Crippen (District Digital Enabler).

Please don’t copy, reproduce, or adapt (in full or in part) the contents of this document elsewhere, even with attribution – as this provides a greater challenge in keeping advice updated.

You are welcome to point others towards these FAQs via this link: https://bit.ly/DigitalSafeguarding 

For questions or updates: digital@yorkshirenemethodist.org  

Hopefully most are aware of the Connexional Christmas campaign (There is Room) and the useful resources available to download and pre-order for churches – both physical and digital
www.methodist.org.uk/thereisroomresources/

District Resources
Similar to last year, I have created some additional resources to sit alongside this, using parts of the theme and branding the Connexion has provided. But adapting the messaging to focus more on offering ourselves and the good news to our communities (rooted in some of the richness of Methodism)

I have created six designs that cover a range of messages and tones, depending on what might be most appropriate in your local context. All of these, plus last year’s resources from me, can be downloaded (for social media or for print) here:

https://bit.ly/DistrictChristmas2022

I hope this is helpful as you reach out to your communities this Advent and Christmas. Feel free to use these yourselves, or cascade to relevant people. If you want anything customising, amended, or added, just get in touch.

Elliot – District Digital Enabler
digital@yorkshirenemethodist.org