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0114 272 0455 www.TheMontgomery.org.uk
Christian news, views & events
Spotlight September 2013
Contents
Page
4 President’s Letter
6 Come Alive at The Montgomery
7 The Manor Project
8 Creative Crafters
9 Resources at The Montgomery
9 Minute Secretary
10 Unity in the Church
15 Prayer Page
16 How to Discourage Artists in the Church
19 Book Choice
21 Mile of Coins
22 Introductory Thoughts from Hilary Jones
23 We all like doing things together
24 Church focus: Woodseats Methodist
25 How to Discourage Artists in the Church
26 Theatre Diary
28 City wide diary
30 One
The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do
not necessarily reflect the views and opinions held by The Montgomery
Coverphotograph: © Yuri Arcurs | Dreamstime.com
4
As I understand it, in 1812 a group of concerned
Christian benefactors in Sheffield were concerned
about the lack of education and well being of
young children who were used as what we would
now term slave labour in the newly developing
factories in the city. Their response to this
concern was to found an organisation to educate
those children in numeracy, literacy and Christian
teaching. The organisation operated on the only
day the children did not have to work - Sunday. This organisation was of
course the Sheffield Sunday Schools Union (SSSU), and was founded as a
result of Christians seeing a need and fulfilling it.
One of the founder members of the SSSU was James Montgomery and
after his death in 1864 the organisation raised money to build The
Montgomery Hall on Surrey Street in his memory. The purpose of the
building was 3-fold. It was to house the offices of the organisation. It
incorporated shops, whose rent would help fund the organisation. And it
had 2 halls which amongst other things could offer entertainment to a city
generally lacking fun at the height of the industrial revolution. This latter
purpose is Christians seeing a need for the people of Sheffield and fulfilling
it!
In the twentieth century SSSU became SCEC - a change of name to reflect
its change of purpose as education became free for all and compulsory, so
the organisation served the need to train Church Sunday School teachers
and support them by providing course work, exams etc.
It has been a real privilege to be the President of this organisation over the
last two years. During this time change has been the main feature of the
organisation. I started as President of the Sheffield Christian Education
Council. I now leave the office of President of The Montgomery Arts and
Christian Centre. This change of name reflects a new vision and a new
purpose, in line I hope with those of our founding fathers, one of whose
name we use as our trading style at 'The Montgomery'. Not only has the
name changed but the charity has become 'incorporated' - an important
move for the trustees. Despite significant change, we hold true to the idea
of a group of Christians seeing needs of people in Sheffield and seeking to
5
fulfil them.
The huge changes that have occurred and continue to evolve at and
around 'The Montgomery' are due to the vision, faith and determination of
a team of people and backed by the trustees. Decisions have been difficult
to judge correctly and at times frightening as we try to see where God is
leading us and it has been tempting to think the easiest thing to do would
be to give up the whole operation as many pressures, financial and other,
made things tough. However, we have been convinced God is leading us
to new things as we develop the arts side of the operation, look at
refurbishing the premises and continue to try to support our churches
with appropriate resources.
I remember writing my first article for Spotlight as President and saying
how impressive was the commitment of all staff at The Montgomery, and
that view has not changed. We are blessed to have a superb TEAM
working at and for the organisation who are faithfully committed to serve.
Each member of that team has different skills and abilities, and often we
come to meetings with different views and opinions. Some have led us to
new ideas with clear Spirit-given vision; some are able to understand
financial matters and manage the money; some are good at practical
organisation; others are able to think strategically as we try to plan a
variety of possible developments and opportunities; ALL are prayerfully
committed to this team and their part in it.
Clearly God has provided the right people for the current needs of the
organisation. Because we see this, we are given courage to go forward in
faith, knowing God is leading us on our journey.
So as I leave the President's post, I pray Hilary Jones, who takes over from
me is given God's blessing and joy in all she is called to do. Knowing her
faith and commitment to God, I am sure she will be.
Thank you for allowing me the joy and fulfilment of all that being President
has been for me over the last 2+ years.
Steve Ellis
Steve Ellis
President
6
Come Alive at The Montgomery!
This autumn The Montgomery launches it’s new Alive programme bringing
Christianity and the Arts together.
The first event is the ArtsAlive
workshop day on October 12th where
children and adults alike will
be able to
participate in
workshops
including dance,
drama, circus
skills and puppetry, with an opportunity to show
off their new skills at a performance led by Curley
Wurley the clown and the Saints Alive puppets.
For those less adventurous why not come along to
the performance at 4.30pm and just
enjoy the entertainment.
ArtsAlive will continue next year with
the ArtsAlive Festival taking place in the
summer. The ArtsAlive Festival will be a
competition exploring and encouraging
all types of artistic expression.
Brochures giving full details of this event
including all the categories in the
competition will be available at the ArtsAlive workshops and afterwards from The Reception and Resource Centre at The
Montgomery.
To give you ideas for the festival the new BibleAlive
programme will be launched in the new year with
lots of Bible based ideas to help you study the Bible
and create Bible based art. This new resource will be
suitable for all ages and can be used as a stand alone
Bible study or be used in conjunction with ArtsAlive.
The theme for 2014 will be ‘Journeys’
7
The Manor Project
One of the most exciting
developments which has started in
recent months is the involvement in an
initiative on the Manor Estate which is
now moving at quite a pace. The
Manor Estate, as you will be aware, is a
large post-war housing estate which
was built in an area which had
previously been used as a munitions
storage area during the Second World
War but with the post-war population
boom this was one of the new estates
which developed rapidly. Over the
years The Manor has undergone
many changes but it remains unusual in
that it has no real centre or focal point
and apart from a few shops and pubs.
There are, however two churches, St
Swithun’s which is situated at the top
end of the Manor and William Temple
which is located in the area known as
Manor Park. Both are part of the
Sheffield Manor Parish which also
includes St Aidan’s.
William Temple Church was built in
1957 and, it is fair to say, the years
have taken its toll and is now in need
of repairs and refurbishment. There is
a lot of poverty on this estate and the
Manor & Castle Ward is in the top 1%
of national areas of social deprivation
with high crime rates, poor health,
high unemployment (twice the
Sheffield average) and 80% of residents
classed as ‘Hard Pressed’. There is a
high proportion of single-parent
families and many young people (25%
aged under 19) living on the estate.
The William Temple Church was
originally an Anglican congregation but
is now a joint Anglican/Methodist
church with a membership in single
figures. Over the years this building
and the church members have served
the local community faithfully and both
the building and the people are well
respected locally.
It is served by two ministers, namely
Julie Upton who is the Anglican vicar
who has two other churches, and Liz
Wills who is a Methodist
superintendent minister who has three
other churches. About a year ago they
decided that it was make-or-break
time for the William Temple church
and they started praying about it, as
well as talking to the community and
asking them what they thought. As an
answer to their prayers they learned
that a church not totally dissimilar to
this in West Yorkshire had faced a
similar situation and had radically
altered a traditional Methodist church
into a family soft play centre. They had
ripped everything out and installed soft
-play and other child-friendly
equipment and the place was now alive
again and was ‘buzzing’ with a
worshipping congregation with a much
lower average age and which was
growing and vibrant. This was the
story they needed to hear and this led
to their vision for a revitalised church
on the Manor which could more
8
Creative Crafters Card Craft workshop
1st Friday each
month
1st floor of
The Montgomery
at 1pm, £2
to book a place
telephone 0114 272 0455
effectively meet the needs of the
community around it and especially
children and young families.
Julie and Liz started to share their
vision with the local community and
soon realised there was definitely a
need for such a resource. Manor
Community Childcare Centre, which is
the local nursery, was very excited to
hear about their plans and is now a
major partner in the project along with
other key community groups.
Liz and Julie shared their vision with
their denominational leaders who in
turn shared this more widely with
other church leaders who sensed that
God was at work drawing together
those of different traditions to use
their energy, their gifts, and their
resources to help make this vision a
reality and to serve the needs of the
people of this estate. With the support
which was very evident very quickly
the momentum increased and the
seeds of this new project were sown.
The project is now seeking to appoint
a URC Church Related Community
Worker and this person will work in a
team consisting of a Methodist
Presbyter and Anglican Priest and
hopefully a number of people from the
community. The team will take the
project forward and we look forward
to it bearing much fruit in the future.
July 2013
9
Resources available for sale
Bibles
Bible Reading Notes
Roots
Light Material
Christian books
DVDs
Resources available for hire
DVDs
Soap making kit
Enamelling kit
Badge Making Machine
Godly Play Stories
Parachute
To order or for more information visit the resource centre in the office at The
Montgomery or call 0114 272 0455 or email [email protected]
Christian Resources at The Montgomery
DVD library with a variety of Christian DVDs freely available for loan
to partners of The Montgomery
WANTED - Minutes Secretary
for The Montgomery quarterly trustees meetings.
Tuesdays at 6.30pm
The work of The Montgomery is at an exciting, challenging and critical stage
and anyone willing to give their time voluntarily to this post would join a group
of people who believe God has called each of them to a Holy Spirit led and
inspired initiative, building on the past for the present and future.
More information about the evolving work of The Montgomery can be found at
www.TheMontgomery.org.uk .
To register an interest in this position or for further information email the
Chair of Trustees, Glyn Jones, at [email protected]
10
Unity in the Church Rachel Taylor, the editor of Plexus,
shares her vision of Church Unity
with Lindsey Beagles from The
Montgomery.
LB: Tell me a bit about yourself,
your background and what brought
you to Sheffield?
RT: I grew up in Sheffield. I wasn’t
born here but spent all my early years
here with my family. I grew up in the
Pentecostal church in Chapeltown,
then I was part of an Anglican church,
then a Methodist church and as a
teenager I ended up in Hope City
Church. So many different churches!
LB: You’ve done the rounds then?
RT: Yes I got a good flavour of what’s
going on in the church in Sheffield as I
was growing up. I had a brief period
away after my A’ levels with Hillsong
College in Australia where I studied
music and youth work, but Sheffield
got my heart and I returned back
home and got a job at my current
company WFO print and have been
there ever since.
LB: What took you to WFO?
RT: Total God set up! Basically I came
fresh off the plane from Australia and
needed to pay rent and thought what
can I do? I’m not too bad at spread
sheets, numbers and figures so I went
for any admin job that was going. It
just so happened that my previous
boss at Cadbury’s was having a
meeting at WFO and my current MD
said he couldn’t find a piece of paper.
My former boss from Cadbury’s said
what you need is an administrator. He
said: Yes, I do. Do you know anyone?
And she said yes- Yes I have a brilliant
one for you. So he called me to say
there was a job going at WFO so I
called them immediately, went for an
interview the next day and got it. I
started off as an office administrator
and within 7 years in the company
have somehow become a project
manager working in print design and
websites.
LB: That’s amazing!
RT: Yes it is.
LB: So how come you got involved
with Plexus then?
RT: WFO has been involved with
Plexus since issue one back in 2005 in
that we have always printed the
magazine. Heidi Tiplady (leader at
11
Bushfire Ministries) knew Tina Hudson
(former editor of Plexus at Crosslinks)
and they built a relationship which I
became a part of as I was really
interested in the magazine. Over the
years we got more and more involved,
advertising the magazine and helping
with design etc. To the point where
we would regularly meet up with Tina
just to chat, connect and get excited
about what God is doing in the city.
When we heard that Crosslinks was
folding we had a question mark over
what was going to happen to the
magazine from a business point of view
as it was a regular print job for us and
particularly from a personal point of
view as it is such a great magazine so
we wouldn’t want to see it stop. We
went out for a coffee with Tina and a
few hours later to our surprise she
suggested that we take on not just
printing the magazine but editing it and
populating the content too.
LB: Why did you choose to take
Plexus on?
RT: Because communicating to
Christians in the city is important. We
saw even with the events that we did
in our church that we went to Plexus
as an outlet to let people know in the
city what was going on and we also
looked to see what else was happening
in other churches in the city. At that
time there weren’t too many other
places to go for that information. So
we had already highlighted it as quite a
niche thing and a need in Sheffield.
Communication is a thing I have
personally harped on about. And my
friends will testify to that fact! My
catch phrase is communication is key! I
just think that it is such a foundation
that is required. That even just
information sharing between people in
churches is a foundation on which we
can build relationship. When we
clearly communicate with each other
about what we are doing, it can spark
ideas; it can bring inspiration; it brings
encouragement and you feel like you
are not the only one in the field…in
the city, wanting to see the city revived
and God come and change things.
LB: Do you think this helps unity
between folk in the city?
RT: Yes I think it is one part of helping.
It isn’t the only answer by a long
stretch but I’d like to think it is
something contributing to moving
forward in unity. Plexus itself means a
linking together, facing in the same
direction and moving forward together
so however Plexus can help, encourage
and inform and net people together,
and I hope and pray that it does, even
if it’s in small little pockets of people,
whether it’s directly with people
reading the magazine or hearing about
it or events we‘re involved in, just that
all around it would connect people and
My catch phrase is
communication is key!
12
there would be encouragement for
people to see the kingdom of God
established in Sheffield.
LB: What exactly does unity mean
to you?
RT: What does it mean to me? It’s a
good question. I tend to answer that
one by saying what would it look like? I
guess at the moment the biggest thing
for me is the fruit of unity is brotherly
kindness and I feel that we are in a
season where I am beginning to see
little snippets of brotherly kindness.
There are many fruits of unity if you
ask right now, that’s the first one that
springs to mind. It is not only about
people being willing to work together
but when fruit comes from that you
can get over yourselves and make an
event happen or make something
happen. Unity is much more than that,
it’s on a heart relationship level,
standing alongside someone else and
loving them so much so that it
overarches disagreements or diversity
between our styles of worship, our
theology and our doctrines but come
together on the things we do agree on
and look over the things that we don’t.
So in the past we have had many
opportunities to not work together
stemming from our disagreements but
we need to overcome that and say we
are going to work together on what
we do agree on. There is so much
strength and power in that alone.
Unity for me makes me think of the
body and the many parts and them all
working together and all the parts
being completely different from each
other and in my own life I am always
being challenged to respect and
honour the different parts of the body
and I am not trying to convince people
that things should be done my way and
that what works for me is the way it
should be done for all. I am personally
convicted and challenged to respect
and honour what other people are
doing in the city. And as long as there
is fruit from it, I am up for it and I want
to support it.
LB: So if you wanted to give
someone advice and say what could
they do to make unity happen what
would you say?
RT: Pray. I know that tends to be a
typical answer to quite a few questions
but sincerely pray because without the
Unity is much more than
that, it’s on a heart
relationship level, standing
alongside someone else
and loving them so much
so that it overarches
disagreements
Pray because without the
help of the Holy Spirit, unity
simply is not possible!
13
help of the Holy Spirit, unity
simply is not possible! We cannot
do it ourselves. That’s pride! And
sometimes I think we have tried
and discovered that it doesn’t
really work all that well!!!! So yes,
pray personally with others that
are like-minded; talk about it in
your cell group in your church;
talk about it until you believe it
and then you open yourself up to what
it could look like and God can pop
things into your head and start moving
you forwards and giving you strategic
things you want to be involved in. It
might make sense or not, you might be
challenged in it. There are also things
happening in the city already which are
inter-church gatherings that it would
be really good to get involved with if
you can. Or certainly hook up on line
to get updates from these sorts of
things. That would be a good starting
point to get support from the wider
body in the city.
LB: What makes you passionate
about unity?
RT: Interesting! It doesn’t make sense
that it is something I’ve got to see
come about. Being honest with you I
haven’t always had this burden to see
unity in Sheffield. I’ve been involved in
churches and ministries where I have
been just focussed on my little bit of
what I’m doing and haven’t really
looked up to see what else is
happening in the city. When I was 19 I
went to study in Australia and I can’t
explain it any other way but going to
the other side of the world rather than
me looking back and just seeing
Sheffield and Australia the whole world
opened up to me it just changed my
frame of mind, my mind-set. It made
me think this is so much bigger than
just me and what I’m doing. So when I
returned home in a sense the blinkers
had been taken off and I began to
realise that what God is talking to me
about is not just for me and that as I
began to chat with people we would
connect. It took me to many places but
it lead me to the view of the body
getting bigger and bigger and this
passion of knowing that the only way
that we are going to be prepared to be
the bride for Jesus is if we are working
in unity. I just see it as such a key and I
see such a need for it in Sheffield
where I never used to see it. It really is
a burden and I don’t use that word
lightly. The church has a voice but she
is not heard all the time. I think when
we can get over our division that voice
will really break through and change
the atmosphere of Sheffield.
14
LB: Is there anything that God is
saying to you at the moment about
unity in Sheffield?
RT: For me personally I feel like he is
saying not to repeat the same mistakes
that have gone before but to learn
from the previous generation. Those
who don’t listen to history are
doomed to repeat it. Over the last 6
months or so I’ve been really drawn to
look at the history of Sheffield and
what’s gone on so I can learn from
that before putting our hands to do
something new. I don’t want to
rehash an old idea thinking it is a new
one. God is specifically saying to me
about linking in to the bigger picture
not just with zeal and enthusiasm and
plough in – that’s good and needed-
but look to the bigger picture as this is
needed. I think time and time again
folk have used zeal and enthusiasm and
got themselves into position but the
support hasn’t been there to bring the
project to breakthrough and thus
completion. I believe that there are
not too many cycles to go through. I
feel like we are coming to the
culmination of the ages shall we say so
I want us to get it right I want us to
learn from the people who have gone
before to break through this time.
LB: Is there anything else you would
like to add?
RT: Plexus is a magazine that people
subscribe to. But really it is so much
more than that. It’s about facilitating
unity and relationship between the
churches and Christian folk in
Sheffield. So any way we can do that
we’re interested in so we’ll show up at
any church events and support them
how we can and if there is anything
out there that supports unity we want
to know about it. It’s not confined to a
magazine as we have a sense that we
don’t want anyone in Sheffield to feel
they are alone and not able to
continue with what God has put on
their heart. We want to provide
somewhere to hook into and find
other people who are catching onto
the same heartbeat of God and we can
do this together. So that’s why we are
here and launching our new website in
September so if you have any
comments or think that Plexus might
want to be involved in then you can
contact us through the website
www.plexusmag.com
LB: Thanks so much Rachel we
really wish you all the best with
that.
If you’d like more information about
Rachel or Plexus magazine then visit
www.plexusmag.com
15
Pray for doctors,
nurses and other
workers in the NHS,
Pray for
the
Gideons
and all
who seek
to spread
the word
of God
Pray for couples going
through divorce and
bereavement
Pray for the
unemployed
and for all those
suffering
through the
‘bedroom tax’
Pray for women
and children
suffering from
persecution and
abuse
Pray for a
tsunami of
the Holy
Spirit to
visit our
nation.
Prayer
Pray for an end to
violence in Syria,
Egypt, and Nigeria
Pray for God’s
continuing
guidance at The
Montgomery
Page How good and
pleasant it is when
brothers and sisters
live together in unity. Psalm 133:1
Praise God
for his
unfailing
love © B
ackgr
ound P
hoto
grap
h: D
arre
n H
est
er
Dre
amst
ime.c
om
16
How to Discourage
Artists in the Church
By Philip G. Ryken, President of Wheaton
College, Chicago and a Council member
for The Gospel Coalition.
Many Christian artists live between
two strange worlds. Their faith in
Christ seems odd to many of their
friends in the artistic community—
almost as odd as their calling as artists
seems to some of their friends at
church. Yet Christians called to draw,
paint, sculpt, sing, act, dance, and play
music have extraordinary
opportunities to honour God in their
daily work and to bear witness to the
grace, beauty, and truth of the gospel.
How can pastors (and churches)
encourage Christians with artistic gifts
in their dual calling as Christian artists?
As a pastor and college president, I
have made a sad discovery: the arts
are not always affirmed in the life of
the local church. We need a general
rediscovery of the arts in the context
of the church. This is badly needed
because the arts are the leading edge
of culture.
A recovery of the arts is also needed
because the arts are a vital sign for the
church. Francis Schaeffer once said:
For a Christian, redeemed by the
work of Christ and living within the
norms of Scripture and under the
leadership of the Holy Spirit, the
lordship of Christ should include an
interest in the
arts. A
Christian
should use
these arts to
the glory of
God—not
just as tracts,
but as things
of beauty to
the praise of
God.
In this article, I am taking a fresh and
somewhat contrarian approach by
seeking to answer the question, "How
do you discourage artists in the
church?"
In preparation, I asked some friends
for their answers to my question: an
actor, a sculptor, a jazz singer, a
photographer. They are not whiners,
but they gave me an earful (and said
that it was kind of fun).
Here is my non-exhaustive list of ways
that churches can discourage their
artists (and some quotes from my
friends).
Treat the arts as a window dressing for
the truth rather than a window into
reality. See the arts as merely
decorative or entertaining, not serious
and life-changing. "'Humour' artists by
'allowing' them to put work up in the
hallways, or some forgotten, unused
corner with terrible lighting, where it
can be 'decoration,'" David Hooker
told me.
Philip G. Ryken
17
Embrace bad art. Tolerate low
aesthetic standards. Only value work
that is totally accessible, not difficult or
challenging. One example would be
digital images and photography on
PowerPoint as a background for praise
songs. Value work that is sentimental,
that doesn't take risks, that doesn't
give offense, that people immediately
"get."
Value artists only for their artistic gifts,
not for the other contributions they
can make to the life of the church. See
them in one dimension, not as whole
persons. Specifically, discount artists
for leadership roles because they are
too creative, not analytical, too
intuitive.
Demand artists to give answers in their
work, not raise questions. Mark Lewis
says, "Make certain that your piece (or
artefact or performance) makes
incisive theological or moral points,
and doesn't stray into territory about
which you are unresolved or in any
way unclear. (Clear answers are of
course more valuable than questions)."
Do not allow for ambiguity, or for
varied responses to art. Demand art to
communicate in the same way to
everyone.
Never pay artists for their work. Expect
that they will volunteer their service,
without recognizing their calling or
believing that they are workers worthy
of their hire. Note that Old Testament
artists and musicians were supported
financially.
When you ask them to serve through
the arts, tell them what to do and also
how to do it. Don't leave room for the
creative process. Take, for example, a
children's Sunday school mural: "Tell
them what it should look like, in fact,
draw up plans first," David Hooker
said. Discourage improvisation; give
artists a AAA road map.
Idolize artistic success. Add to the
burden artists already feel by only
validating the calling of artists who are
"making it."
Only validate art that has a direct
application, for example, something
that communicates a gospel message
or can be used for evangelism. Artist
Makoto Fujimura answers the
following question in an interview at
The High Calling: "How then do you see
art as evangelism?" He says:
There are many attempts to use the
arts as a tool for evangelism. I
understand the need to do that; but,
again, it's going back to
commoditizing things. When we are
so consumer-driven, we want to put
price tags on everything; and we want
to add value to art, as if that was
necessary. We say if it's useful for
evangelism, then it has value.
And, there are two problems with
that. One, it makes art so much less
than what it can be potentially. But
also, you're communicating to the
world that the gospel is not art. The
gospel is this information that needs
to be used by something to carry it.
18
Only, that's not the gospel at all. The
gospel is life. The gospel is about the
Creator God, who is an artist, who is
trying to communicate. And his art is
the church. We are the artwork
created in Christ Jesus to do good
works. If we don't realize that fully,
then the gospel itself is truncated and
art itself suffers.
Do not allow space for lament. The
artist's call is to face the darkness
while still believing in the light, to
sense God's silence and sorrow.
Ruth Naomi Floyd asks, "How can
artists of faith trace the darkness and
pain of Good Friday to the joy of
Sunday's Resurrection?"
I could go on. Here are some more
ways to discourage artists in the
church:
Not setting reasonable boundaries.
Not allowing artists to experience
creative freedom.
Asking the input of artists and
deciding not to use it without an
explanation.
Not giving artists the gift of real
listening.
Not preaching and teaching the
unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ.
But the last item on my list is, in
general, make artists not feel fully at
home in the church. Most of the items
on my list reflect a failure to
understand art and to let art be art as
a creative exploration of the
potentialities of creation. This is a
crushing burden because artists already
know that as Christians they will not
be fully at home in the world of art—
they don't worship its idols or believe
its lies. N. T. Wright comments:
In my experience the Christian
painter or poet, sculptor or dancer,
is regularly regarded as something of
a curiosity, to be tolerated,
humoured even, maybe even allowed
to put on a show once in a while. But
the idea that they are, or could be
anything more than that—that they
have a vocation to re-imagine and re-
express the beauty of God, to lift our
sights and change our vision of
reality—is often not even
considered.
So will you make a home for Christians
called to be artists?
Please do what you can to
accommodate them, because they are
pointing us toward eternity. As W.
David O. Taylor writes in For the
Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision
for the Arts:
Whether through paint or sound,
metaphor or movement, we are given
the inestimable gift of participating in
the re-creative work of the Triune
God, anticipating that final and
unimaginable re-creation of all matter,
space, and time, the fulfilment of all
things visible and invisible.
This article first appeared at The Gospel
Coalition website: www.tgc.org
19
Book Choice This quarter Louise has selected a good
range of books all with a unity theme.
Our Life Together - A Memoire In
Letters
Jean Vanier
ISBN 9780232527407
An inspiring life told
through the letters that
turned a community
into a movement. By
any measure, Jean
Vanier has led an astonishing life. He is
the founder of the international
movement of L'Arche communities as
well as Faith and Light, organisations
that bring together people with
developmental disabilities and the
friends who share their lives. He
espouses the philosophy that the
marginalised, weak and lonely can teach
us great things and that true spirituality
can only come from our relationships
with the less fortunate
Bound Together
Chris Brauns
9780310495116
In Bound Together,
Chris Brauns unpacks
the truth that we are
bound to one another
and to the whole of
creation. He calls this,
'the principle of the rope.'
Grasping this foundational principle
sheds new light on marriage, the
dynamics of family relationships, and
the reason why everyone lives with the
consequences of the sins that others
commit. Brauns shows how the
principle of the rope is both bad news
and good news, revealing a depth to
the message of the gospel that many of
us have never seen before.
Unity In Process
Clive Barrett
ISBN 9780232529432
Contributors from
across the Christian faith
draw on their personal
experience and stories,
revealing the vast
amount of understated
ecumenical activity taking place, and
relationships being formed. However
unity might be perceived in the future,
that vision is being shaped by the
practice of unity today. Part 1 of the
book looks at the huge amount of
ecumenical activity going on at national,
international and at local level. Part 2
enables reflection upon these
relationships from a range of thematic
perspectives.
The Basis of Christian
Unity
Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones
ISBN 9780851518466
A re-publishing of Lloyd-
Jones’ addresses to the
Westminister Fellowship
on John 17 and Ephesians
4. Given against the background of the
20
ferment of discussion and debate
engendered by the ecumenical
movement of the time and
demonstrated that unity is never
something arrived at by ignoring or
minimizing truth. The debates have
moved on, but this lucid examination
of the issues underlying Christian unity
remains as relevant as when first
presented in 1962. It points to timeless
truths which should never be
obscured.
Better Together Devotional
Rick Warren
ISBN 9780310326984
Better Together
Devotional Journal- part
of the Living with
Purpose series by Rick
Warren - is a dynamic
individual or small
group devotional journal that will help
you learn how to fulfil God's five
purposes for your life. It includes the
biblical support behind each purpose,
the ways it applies to you and your
circle of influence, and how you can
use this knowledge to benefit God's
kingdom. Better Together will deepen
your understanding of how God uses
community for your own good and
growth, as well as help you cultivate
deeper relationships with those
around you.
This devotional journal is designed for
use with the Better Together DVD
and Better Together Study Guide.
United In Marriage by One Lord
Graham Roberts
ISBN 9788173627224
Provides biblical, Christ-
centred, pastoral and
practical guidance for
those grappling with the
critical issue of interfaith
marriage. The book's
letter and email format treats a variety
of difficult subjects surrounding
interfaith marriage with warmth and
sensitivity. Roberts believes that the
life and witness of Christian couples
and families united in their allegiance
to Jesus Christ is essential to healthy,
growing churches and the building of
God's kingdom.
The Power of Praying Together
Stormie Omartian
9780736910033
Stormie and her
longtime pastor, Jack
Hayford, look at the
benefits and power of
praying with others.
Readers will discover
how to find a prayer partner, create a
prayer group, tap into the power of a
praying church, unite in prayer as a
nation, cover the world in prayer.
More than just a "how to" book, The
Power of Praying® Together helps
readers discover that when they are
willing to link their hearts with others
before God, they open themselves up
to a wider, more interactive world of
prayer.
21
Recovering The Unity Of The
Bible
Walter Kaiser
ISBN
9780310320241
Kaiser challenges the
common scholarly
posture that sees
mostly diversity
throughout the biblical canon, pointing
instead to the way several Biblical
themes substantially support the case
for unity, including: - Messianic
Promises - The People of God - The
Law of God - The Doctrine of
Salvation - The Mission of the Old
Testament Recovering the Unity of the
Bible exhibits sound techniques for
students, pastors, and Bible teachers
who seek to make sense of the Bible's
many and different texts.
Creating Community
Simon Reed
9780857460097
There is much talk today
of 'new ways of being
church' and 'new
monastic spirituality'. As
Simon Reed explored the
Celtic roots of the Christian faith, in
community with others who drew
inspiration from our spiritual ancestors
in the British Isles, he came to realise
that the third millennium church has
much in common with the first
millennium church, and more
importantly, much to learn from it.
These books are available at most
Christian bookshops but don’t forget
members of MACCS Partner churches and
individual partners can order them at The
Montgomery at reduced prices.
The Mile of Coins Collection is growing!
28% of a mile is now complete!
£585 has been raised
Support our redevelopment project by helping us to collect one mile of coins. This will raise between £792 and £113,344 depending on the mix of coins collected. If you have any coins to donate or would like a collection box then please call at the reception resource centre at The Montgomery.
22
Introductory thoughts
from Hilary Jones,
President Elect at The
Montgomery
As Sheffield Christian Education
Council (SCEC) metamorphosed into
Montgomery Arts and Christian
Centre Sheffield Ltd (The
Montgomery) we definitely sensed that
this was a leading of the Holy Spirit
and that we needed this ‘new
wineskin’ in order to hold the new
wine that God is pouring into The
Montgomery.
I first became involved at The
Montgomery as part of the prayer
team at a time when God was
imparting the blue print for the future.
We began to worship, pray and seek
God together for the way forward. I
believe these times were significant in
helping to lay the foundations of the
new vision. Our prayer at The
Montgomery is that this vision will be
wholly laid on the foundation of Jesus
Christ and will be an expression of the
Heavenly Father’s love, creativity and
refreshing for the people of Sheffield.
One particular desire God has placed
in me, and many others I know, is to
see the Church of Sheffield
increasingly being exactly as Jesus
prayed in John 17 verse 21 ‘that they
all may be one just as You Father, are
in Me and I in You, that they also may
be one in Us so that the world may
believe and be convinced that You
have sent Me.’ What a journey of the
heart this is!
On a personal level – as a child I
attended (reluctantly at times)
Greenhill Methodist Chapel. I still visit
regularly the Transformation Sheffield
Prayer Meeting held there. I was ‘born
again’ whilst working in Dallas, Texas
and at that point many of the beautiful
Methodist hymns came alive for me.
One Wesley hymn in particular ‘And
Can it Be’ which includes the words
‘My chains fell off, my heart was free, I
rose went forth and followed Thee’.
Hallelujah! On my return to the UK
and as a new Christian, I became a
member of the Oaks Christian
Fellowship in Dronfield where I
remained for about 13 years. At
present I have connections with
people from many different church
denominations in the Sheffield area. I
23
regularly attend my local Methodist
Chapel and have a great appreciation
of the Methodist Church’s spiritual
heritage.
I will endeavour as president to serve
wholeheartedly during my term of
office. I am at heart ‘a Mary’ who
loves to sit at the feet of Jesus and
listen to His voice. I find that out of
that closeness I am generally in the
right place at the right time during the
rest of the day, doing and being what
He has called me to do and be. I am
trusting that this will hold true of my
two years as President.
I would be very pleased to be invited
to your church – to speak at
midweek, children’s or Sunday
meetings or simply for informal
fellowship, coffee mornings, prayer
and/or worship. Great ideas emerge
from casual conversation and there
may be fresh and innovative ways that
The Montgomery can help build the
life of your church and community.
I am very much looking forward to
getting to know you.
Hilary Jones
President Elect
We all like doing things
together.
Imagine you got tickets for the final of
the London 2012 Olympic 100m final
and your seat is right on the finish line!
When you arrive, there is no one else
in the stadium and no TV coverage.
This bland experience would be hugely
different from the reality of the
crowds the excitement and the
exhilaration you would remember for
the rest of your life.
Imagine you have a friend who’s
recovering from cancer and you sign
up for a charity race to support cancer
research – you turn up at the start line
but there’s only you there – the sense
of challenge and
achievement is not
just about running
around a course, it’s
about doing it
together to combat a
devastating disease.
We as the body of
Christ need to be
united to encourage each other and
those we know to live our lives as
God intended us to. God has made us
to be interdependent and to live in
community – as a result we love doing
things together - the whole is far, far
greater than the sum of the parts and
so much more can be achieved and in
a much more dynamic and effective
way than doing things on our own or
24
in small isolated groups. The central
images in the Bible of community, the
body of Christ, the unity of the Trinity
and the vine and the branches make
this very clear.
I am the coordinator
of Run for the
World (R4TW), an
initiative of
Operation Mobilisation, which
encourages communities around the
world to unite in sport to transform
communities. On one day, 28th
September, we are trying to run
around the world in a day by holding
an event in each of the 24 time zones
and accumulating together a total of
40,000km (the circumference of the
earth). The main aims of the event are:
to build Relationships; Fundraise for
various transformational local and
global projects; unite Together as the
body of Christ to achieve something
that we could not possibly do on our
own and; promote spiritual and
physical Wellness.
In Sheffield we are uniting together to
transform the lives of young people by
supporting youth projects and
charities, as well as
encouraging church
youth groups to use
the event to raise
money for their own
projects. The Fun
Foam 5k in Weston
Park is the first of its
kind in the UK and is
designed to be
fun and exciting
for all ages.
The only fun
run that
doubles as a
human car wash where giant foam
cannons in a number of stations on the
5k course bring excitement and fun to
the event - and absolutely no
STOPWATCHES! Two foam stations,
an inflatable obstacle and celebrate at
the finish line with a big foam party!
Come and join us, have fun and invite
your friends, family, groups, etc. and
join with the rest
of the world. The
more we have the
better in order to support these
amazing projects and homelessness
charities.
Weston Park, Sheffield Saturday
28th September 10am
To register online and start raising
money go to www.r4tw.org/sheffield
or contact Graham Sandersfield for
more information about how you can
use this event to benefit your projects
25
Church
Focus FACTS
Minister: Rev Phillip Borkett
Community Outreach Worker: Richard Wilshaw
Location: Holmhirst Rd, S8 0GU
Denomination: Methodist
Congregation: Mixed ages,
Contact: 0114 274 5449
Website: www.woodseatsmethodistchurch.com
Woodseats Methodist Church
The church buildings date back to 1916/1917 and are close to
the site where John Wesley preached at Booth’s Farm in Woodseats,
however, the church now known as Woodseats Methodist Church was an
amalgamation of the three Methodist churches in Woodseats (Scarsdale Rd
(which had previously closed in 1966), Chantrey Rd, & Holmhirst Road) in 1977.
We hold two services each Sunday, one at 9.30am which is All-Age worship,
the other at 10.45am in a more traditional style, occasionally for ‘special’ dates
or anniversaries the two congregations worship together at 10.00am. We work
closely with our ecumenical partners in Woodseats and have a shared Youth
Worker with St. Chad’s (Anglican)
We arrange Messy Church events and a Holiday Club in February half-term and
invite the community to come and join us, other Fellowship and House Groups
meet regularly.
The premises are open for community use seven days and numerous activities
are held throughout the week, including
Holmhirst Road Pre-School using the lower
floor of the premises each weekday and
Toddler Groups meet Tuesday,
Wednesday and Friday mornings. We seek
to offer a warm welcome to all who come
onto the premises. .
We are here to be the people of God; to follow
the way of Jesus; and by witness and example
to bring others to Christ.
26
Autumn / Winter Season at
The Montgomery
September
Kabaret Neo-Nowka
Sat 21 8.00pm Tickets: £23/19
The Boggle presented by Lawrence Speck
Fri 27 1:30pm Tickets: £7
October
Show Stoppers 2013, Ellesmere Operatic Society
Thurs 3 – Sat 5 7:15pm (2pm Sat matinee) Tickets: £23/19
ArtsAlive The Montgomery Family Fun
Sat 12 Workshops 2.00pm Tickets: £4
Show 4.30pm Tickets: £3
The Quangle Wangle’s Hat and Other Tales by Edward Lear The Montgomery in partnership with Griffin Theatre Arts
Fri 18 4:30pm Tickets: £6
Dave Giles, BriBry and Danny Gruff presented by Upload Live
Fri 18 7.30pm Tickets: £10
Peter and the Wolf Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre
Fri 25 4:30pm Tickets: £7
No Sense Nonsense: A Big Draw Event
The Montgomery & Art in the Park
Tues 29 12.00-3.00pm Free
27
Please note that disabled access is not yet available
Discounted parking at Arundel Gate! Park for £4 before 4pm
and £6 after 4pm for 24 hours! Simply park and collect your yellow chip on
arrival, take it along to The Montgomery and scan the chip at the scanner
located on the 1st floor. The chip will automatically discount at the pay station.
November
Welcome To Our World Sylvaine School of Dance
Thurs 31 - Sat 2 7.00pm (2pm Sat matinee) Tickets: TBC
Shakespeare Schools Festival
Wed 13 - Fri 15 7.00pm Tickets: £8.50/6.50
Alice in Wonderland Proteus Theatre Company
Tues 19 7.00pm Tickets: £10
Wed 20 1.00pm Tickets: £10
December
Our Favourite Things Lord’s School of Dance
Wed 4 – Thurs, 5 7:15pm Tickets: £9/8.50
Dance School Show Stepping Out Dance School
Thurs 12 - Sat 14 6.30pm Tickets TBC
The Producers SHU Drama
Fri 20 - Sat 21 7.30pm Tickets £10
28
Diary Dates SEPTEMBER
3rd A special night of prayer for Rotherham Show 7.00pm - 9.00pm at
Rotherham Pentecostal Church. Organised by Churches Together Rotherham
6th Creative Crafters See page 8 for details
6th – 8th Making Sense of Fragments – The Jesus in the City UK Urban Mission
Congress in Manchester.
7th Special United Service, The Bandstand, Clifton Park, Rotherham. 12.00
noon. As part of the Rotherham Show (Churches Together Rotherham will be
conducting a short 20 minute service. Parking passes can be obtained by
contacting Adrian Dexter on 07790030899.
7th Reality Check Illusion show with Todd Alexander @ Swallownest Baptist
Church www.swallownestbaptist.org.uk
7th-8th Our Journey into God with our Friends in Heaven Led by Bishop
Jack Nichols (former Bishop of Sheffield) £80 residential/ £60 non-residential
at Whirlow Grange Conference & Spirituality Centre, Sheffield S11 9PZ .
www.whirlowgrange.co.uk/our-journey-into-god/. Call 0114 2363173 to book
10th Playing with Parables Day Whirlow Grange Spirituality Centre 9:45-15:45
£21 A retreat to explore parables using the art of Godly Play.
www.whirlowgrange.co.uk/playing-wih-parables 0114 236 3173.
14th Godly Play Training Three day course must also attend 28th Sept and 12th
Oct 9.00 – 16.30 St Stephen’s Church, Netherthorpe, Sheffield, S3 7PL £130
including lunch and refreshments. [email protected]
17th Simple Quiet Day Whirlow Grange Conference & Spirituality Centre,
Sheffield S11 9PZ £12 inc. packed lunch (9.45am – 3.45pm)
18th Pray & Love: The Jesus Journey led by Philip Roderick Whirlow Grange
Conference & Spirituality Centre, Sheffield S11 9PZ £6 (7pm – 9pm). This is
the first in a series of three evenings, each a standalone event, but you are
encouraged to join Philip for all three. www.whirlowgrange.co.uk/pray-and-love-1/
20th A call to the Mountaintop with Dr Howard Morgan from Atlanta, USA.
Celebrating a day with worship and teaching at Bush Fire Ministries, 427
Halifax Rd, Grenoside, S35 8PB. Starting at 10.00 am. Tea/coffee will be
provided but please bring own lunch. A love offering will be received during
the meeting. 0114 2451599 or 07940222707 [email protected]
22nd Minister’s Fellowship Meal Curry Buffet Night (for leaders and leadership
teams). A time for fellowship, friendship and building of relationships among
key leaders and leadership teams from across the borough. Organised by
29
Churches Together Rotherham, please contact Adrian Dexter for details on
07790030899.
24th ONE Sheffield at The Montgomery See Page 6 or www.onesheffield.org
OCTOBER
4th-6th A Weekend with the Saints A Godly Play practitioners course, Going
deeper into the stories of the Saints from Volume 7. Residential at Bretton
Youth hostel nr Eyam, Hope Valley, Yorkshire, S32 5QD. Cost £145 - to include
full board and basic accommodation in dorms. Bookings www.godlyplay.org.uk/
4th-6th Radical Obedience Conference @ The Hub, Rotherham
www.thehubcentral.org.uk
19th Sheffield Praise Day @ Ponds Forge www.jesus.org.uk
NOVEMBER
1st-2nd Fabulous Conference @ Hope City Church with Jeff Lucas & Kevin Loo
www.hopecitychurch.tv
16th Re-Imagining Worship and Preaching for Today a conference for Lay and
Local Preachers, Readers, Worship Leaders and Ministers at Central United
Reformed Church, 60 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 2JB, 9am for 9.30 to 1pm. The
lead speaker is Bishop Steven Croft, Bishop of Sheffield. Cost £5 per head,
Organised by the Yorkshire Regional Training Partnership and the Anglican,
Methodist and United Reformed Churches. [email protected].
JOB VACANCIES
Church of St. Columba, Crosspool Children and Families Missioner (part-
time) 20 hours per week, Salary £8 500 - £9000 p.a. Building on the excellent
foundations laid by the previous post-holder, we invite you to join our team in
the next phase of our growing ministry with children and families. Closing date:
Friday 20th September, Interviews: 4th October. www.stcolumbacrosspool.org.uk/
Prospects Support Worker (Learning Disabilities) in Crookes and
Stannington. Prospects is a Christian charity helping to transform the lives of
people with learning disabilities by breaking down the barriers that limit individual
choice. We are now recruiting staff for our brand new service in Sheffield to
provide a Christian service to enable people with a learning disability that we
support to live their lives to the full. For more information about Prospects see
www.prospects.org.uk. For a recruitment pack email [email protected]
Organist wanted Could you give an inspirational and helping hand to 3 rural
parishes, strapped for cash of course, who have wonderful and different organs:
St Cuthbert’s Fishlake, St. Mary’s Kirk Bramwith and Trinity Sykehouse. Please
contact Eve [email protected] OR 01302 841396
30
24th September 2013
7pm-9.30pm
The Montgomery
Surrey St
Sheffield S1 2LG
Encouraging
Refreshing
Uniting
You are invited to a time of fellowship, refreshment, worship and prayer.
Let’s learn from one another what God is doing all over Sheffield and
then worship and pray together for the good of the city. Let’s do what
Jesus prayed in John 17:21and be one …so that the world will believe the
Father sent Jesus.
John 17: 20-21 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will
believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as
you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may
believe that you have sent me.
Sponsored by The Montgomery and Plexus; supported by individuals like
you from many different churches all over the city.
Further details from www.onesheffield.org
Or contact
The Montgomery: 0114 2720455 [email protected]
Hilary Jones: 01909 774349 [email protected]
Spotlight is produced by The Montgomery, an operating name of Montgomery
Arts & Christian Centre Sheffield Ltd, a non profit making company limited by
guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 07963026. Charity No. 1148489
For more information about our activities or resources please call into or
telephone us at the Resource Centre in reception on the first floor of The
Montgomery. Our opening times are 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday with late
night opening on Tuesdays until 6pm
Articles for the next edition of Spotlight need to be in by:
Tuesday 19th November 2013
THE MONTGOMERY
Surrey Street
SHEFFIELD
S1 2LG
Tel: (0114) 272 0455
email: [email protected]
website: www.themontgomery.org.uk
Please note disabled access is not yet available at The Montgomery