|
Welcome to the March 2006 Children's Workers' newsletter. |
Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter for this month, and a special welcome to all of those who have signed up in the last month. Our numbers continue to grow steadily and we are delighted to send the e-news to anyone who wants it!
|
Respecting Children is launched!
Respecting Children explores the rights and needs of 21st Century children, considers the difference between punishment and discipline, addresses alternatives to smacking and discusses practical ways of creating non-violent environments. The handbook is designed for use through local churches and is flexible so it can be adapted to suit the needs and concerns of local church leaders, carers, children’s organisations, educators and anyone else who might come to use it. Although it discusses positive parenting, this isn’t a “parenting pack”. It can be used in a variety of ways for workshops, talks, house-groups or private study and it emphasises a positive approach to discipline which is about adults teaching children by example. One of the key aims of the CNNV in publishing this pack is to encourage people to campaign actively and to contribute towards ending legalised violence against children. Steve Pearce, Children’s Secretary for the Methodist Church, says: “If we don’t reflect on the effect that our adult way of life is having on children, we are neglecting our responsibility to that generation. We need to think about children more, and this is a rich resource to help us do that thinking and achieve a more respectful world. Respecting Children will help many groups take their thinking and action further.” Peter Newell, co-ordinator of the Children Are Unbeatable! Alliance bringing together more than 400 organisations including the Methodist Church, said: "Christians and members of other faiths are at the heart of the broad and fast-growing campaign for children's human right to equal protection from assault. This welcome new resource shows that children are people with human rights to physical integrity and human dignity just like the rest
of us."
Respecting Children is available at a price of £7 from: CNNV Co-ordinator, 6 Sylvia Avenue, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 4QE. A CD of the handbook is also available for £3. Please make cheques payable to Churches Network for Non-Violence (CNNV). |
The Churches Network for Non-Violence (CNNV) has launched a new resource to support the Church’s teaching that physical punishment is wrong and that children should be treated with respect, love and non-violence.|
More CORE We told you last month about the upcoming events for CORE. You can now get full details of the CORE Conference and a booking form on the CGMC website www.cgmcontheweb.com You will also find information there on Regional Launches around country which will be happening from September through to November. With all this, and the CORE workshops at the Christian Resource Exhibition (www.creonline.co.uk) in Esher and Harrogate later this year means that you should be able to discover CORE before the year is out! Don't delay - book for the CORE Issues conference today! |
|
MAYC Breakout July 7-9 2006 at Blackpool Winter Gardens
This is a festival for those who are in year 7 and above. Come to the action packed weekend of entertainment, interactivity, worship and much more! The weekend will include the final of MAYC's Battle of the Bands so if there are budding musicians out there, send in your demos to MAYC to enter.
Booking for the weekend is now open and there is a discount price of £40 if you book before 31st March. You can book online at www.mayc.info or contact breakoutbookings@mayc.info for a form.
|
9-13 News It has been great to hear about the work going on in your Districts and Circuits with the 9-13s and I will be sharing more of whats going on in our new web pages in May. Would your group be interested in having an input into the content of the new 9-13s pages? Would you or any leaders you know be interested ? How can you do this?
Pen Pals/email – Would your group like to correspond with a group in America? We have been approached by a youth group 11-14s in America who would like to correspond with a group in the UK. E-mail us if you are interested children@methodistchurch.org.uk
For further resources including material that can be used to explore global issues and recycling please refer to the website. |
|
World Council of Churches Steve has just been to the World Council of Churches Assembly in Brazil, as a representative of the Churches Network on Non-Violence. An unexpected visit, stepping in at the very last minute to replace a colleague. It’s a gathering that only happens every seven years and a great opportunity to see people from every Church in every continent. I talked with Bishop Sammy Azariah about the way we want to work together to support the Church of Pakistan’s exciting work in health and education in the north of his country and he asked me for our prayers for Christians there in this time of tension between Muslims and Christians. See some pictures from Pakistan and details of our appeal on the JMA web pages at www.methodistchildren.org.uk and in the April Rainbow. I co-led a workshop on children and violence and it was heartening to hear about the global shift which is taking place as governments change the laws of their countries to give children the same protection from violence as adults. |
|
MAYC Orchestra and Singers Summer Skool at The Gate Arts Centre, Cardiff Are you too cool for skool? Come to the MAYC Summer Skool and get creative! On 21st - 24th |
August 06 you can join the MAYC Orchestra and Singers in a summer skool of workshops in the creative arts. Full details and booking forms will be available shortly. Take up the opportunity to learn a new skill, express yourself and perhaps audition to join the MAYC Orchestra and Singers. Check out |
"I love the World" World Action is talking rubbish! Well, we are talking about recycling as part of our new focus on the environment. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, described climate change as "The most serious environmental threat facing the world today." These changes have been caused by the large amounts of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas that we have been consistently burning for nearly 200 years. The vast majority of climate change experts believe that a global catastrophe will only be avoided if governments take decisive action on their energy policies. As citizens of the world we owe the environment a duty of care so that we have a better legacy to leave our descendants. World Action will be looking at the issue of recycling as a first stage in the process of showing its commitment to the future. At this year's Breakout 7-9 July at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, World Action's theme will be "I love the World" and it will be encouraging you to take part in lots of creative activities around the theme. So if you are interested in coming along checkout: www.mayc.info for more details. Also, if you are an active recycler, or your group, school or church is taking part in a recycling project, please tell us about what you are doing. We want to hear from you now. We need your help in encouraging more people to recycle as many things as possible. Email: worldaction@methodistchurch.org.uk with your tips and ideas about how we can get more people to say, "I recycle because I love the world" |
|
Pakistan
JMA money has been sent to the Church of Pakistan to help with its work in the earthquake region. Many children and adults are still living in large, temporary tent villages and continue to need our prayer and support. The Diocese of Raiwind has been given an enormous opportunity by the government of this Muslim country and Bishop Sammy Azariah has asked partners for help to take full advantage of it. |
We reported last month about the opportunity to raise money for a health unit in Pakistan. We know of a number of churches who have already taken up the challenge. Let us remind you of the situation - Going the extra mile for JMA
|
Martin Thomas, father of Sebastian – a JMA collector, is taking part in a sponsored fund-raising walk on 1 April. The Four Inns Walk is an amazing 45 miles long and passes – you’ve guessed it – four inns in the Peak District. He will be walking over some of the roughest moorland in Britain starting at 6am. We wish Martin well and are grateful for the (literal) lengths he is going to for JMA. If you would like join the sponsorship or send Martin messages of encouragement please contact us at |
If
you require any further information please contact us on children@methodistchurch.org.uk MethodistChildren is part of the Connexional Team of the |
