This month Bishop Lee invites us to major on hope in Advent.
In the season of Advent, Church tradition encourages Christians to turn their gaze to the wrapping up of history as we know it. To give attention to the four last things: heaven, hell, death and judgement. The readings set for Advent usually include [...]
Here’s how you get to the important Countdown to Copenhagen The Wave in London on December 5th! It’s shaping up to be a huge event with thousands of people from across the UK preparing to flow through the streets of London in support of a safe climate future for all. See www.the-wave.org.uk or Christian Aid’s ‘The [...]
An article in last week’s Financial Times, headed ‘Vicars’ pensions under threat as church is seduced by equities cult’, is misconceived and fails to take adequate account of the scheme’s relative age compared to other schemes, says Dr Jonathan Spencer, Chairman of the Church of England Pensions Board:
“The scheme concerned is responsible for paying pensions [...]
To: Licensed Lay Ministers, Incumbents, PCC Secretaries, Acting Dean, Area Deans, Warden of Readers
6 November 2009
Dear colleagues
Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) and their Expenses in the Diocese of Bristol.
I am writing as Chair of the Council for Licensed Lay Ministry (Readers Council) to provide you with our Diocesan Policy guidelines for the remuneration of [...]
This is the major issue that will be raised on 29th October at St Michael’s Chester Square SW1W 9HH at the conference on A Mission-shaped Church for Older People at which Bishop Graham Cray (Archbishops’ Missioner and Team Leader of Fresh Expressions) will be present to take the platform at the [...]
The latest edition of the Diocesan Newsletter is now available.
For articles, events highlights and the monthly housekeeping information for PCCs and Clergy, please visit:
Newsletter page >>
Download the newsletter direct (PDF) >>
Dear Colleagues,
SWINE FLU: STATEMENT FROM THE ARCHBISHOPS TO THE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS
At the end of July the Department of Health advised us that the pandemic had reached the stage at which ‘it makes good sense to limit the spread of disease by not sharing common vessels for food and drink.’
In the light of this we [...]
The Cycle of Prayer for October is now available via our Cycle of Prayer webpage.
“Prayer is the test of everything;
prayer is also the source of everything;
prayer is the driving force of everything;
prayer is also the director of everything.
If prayer is right, everything is right.
For prayer will not allow anything to go wrong.”
Theophan the Recluse (1815-94)
Visit [...]
Dear friends in Christ
You will have heard by now about the ‘Blue Wave’ rally which is happening in London on 5 December and the coaches which have been organised.
Churches, congregations and Christian relief agencies are in the forefront of drawing attention to the need for action in response to Climate Change. The rally – [...]
Recently I was talking with a group of our colleagues about ministry issues. I am of course aware that leadership is not a ‘done deal’ within the Church of England, partly because many people assume that leadership is at best benign dictatorship and at worst, dictatorship plain and simple.
An oft quoted cliché is that the [...]
Daphne Hardwick from Christ Church Swindon is currently travelling in West Ankole for a month to survey medical provisions in West Ankole Diocese. Please pray for her, and she will post a diary of her experiences in the Diocesan forum while she is there.
Visit the Diocesan discussion forum for the latest from Daphne >>
The Cycle of Prayer for October is now available via our Cycle of Prayer webpage.
“Time spent in prayer will yield more than that given to work. Prayer alone gives work its worth and its
success. Prayer opens the way for God Himself to do His work in us and through us. Let our chief work as
God’s [...]
This is a short review of the CAP (Christians Against Poverty) money handling course of only three evenings, that was held at a local Church.
The course was run by four people on Tuesday evening 7.30 to 9pm, Pete, Julia, Geoff and Nic and 8 people attended in all. We watched a DVD and heard [...]
It is very tempting to stick with our favourite parts of the Bible and avoid the parts that are distinctly uncomfortable or even offensive to our understanding. This month Bishop Lee asks us not to rush for our scissors or rubbish bin and allow God to engage with us through those Scriptures which trouble us.
According [...]
Rene Descartes, the 17th century French philosopher famously said, ‘I think, therefore I am’. I would like to argue that the converse ‘I am, therefore I think’ should also be true. Why is it, then that so many Christians seem to be afraid to think deeply about their beliefs and much prefer to park their [...]
Why not run a radio advert inviting people back to church on Sunday 27th September? This brief looks at the resources available, and offers advice and answers to common questions.
Why run a radio ad at all?
With Back to Church Sunday (B2CS) approaching very quickly, now is the time to start spreading the message about the [...]
Diocese of Bristol | The Bishop of Bristol’s Office
The new Diocesan Strategy for 2010-2015, ‘Releasing the energy’, gives focus to much of our work as a Diocese. As a result, it is important that we are organised in a way that means we can concentrate on our priorities and deliver our core work to a [...]
BBC1’s The Big Questions | Broadcasting live from Bristol | Sunday morning, September 13th
The Big Questions, BBC1’s topical ethical debate show, is now well into its highly successful second series. We’ll be broadcasting again live from Bristol on the morning of Sunday September 13th and we’d like to invite you to be part of [...]
A Retreat with R S Thomas for Priests & Licensed Lay Ministers at Abbey House Glastonbury 16 – 20 November 2009
Conductor: The Reverend Simon Tatton-Brown
The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit was founded over sixty years ago by Canon
Ralph Peacey of Bristol Cathedral to encourage clergy in the Diocese of Bristol to make an annual corporate [...]
A secular group is demanding that tourism groups stop promoting a ‘creationist’ zoo which questions the traditional view of evolution.
The Noah’s Ark Zoo is accused by the British Humanist Association of misleading tens of thousands of visitors annually and ‘threatening public understanding’.
Full story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1209474/Outrage-Noahs-Ark-creationist-zoo-denies-Darwins-theory-evolution.html
The Archbishop of Canterbury shares concerns for the planet in a new videocast encouraging viewers to sign up in advance, via the internet, to the Church of England’s environmentally-themed online Advent calendar for 2009, with its daily green challenges and thoughts. Launched today, the Ready Steady Slow videocast is available on the website www.whywearewaiting.com and [...]
British church leaders have expressed support for a Climate Change Day of Prayer on 4 October in the run up to the next United Nations climate change summit due to take place at the end of the year.
“I shall be joining Christians from many different churches on 4 October in praying to the Author of [...]
Your witness……
Recently I heard an excellent speaker, Gary Hamel, a Christian man, who the Wall Street journal names as “the world’s most influential business thinker”. One of the things he said that made my heart skip a beat was this.
“Few outsiders (to the Christian faith) know a Christian who lives a life of distinction”
At [...]
The spread of swine flu across the UK continues to give cause for concern and government is making plans to cope with a pandemic outbreak which may have serious consequences.
The leaflet linked below provides advice and information based on what is known at the moment and if needed further information will be circulated to clergy.
Diocesan [...]
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to Bishops in the Church of England recommending the suspension of the sharing of the chalice at communion.
The Archbishops’ letter follows advice from the Department of Health not to share “common vessels” for food or drink.
For those who wish still to offer both bread and wine, the [...]
Joe Hasler reports on ministries in Lockleaze, Bristol
Working in Lockleaze, a housing estate in Bristol, as a Vicar of an Anglican church on the edge of the City, the part I play has been slowly changing. I am no longer here to look after the parish but more to help local people look after the [...]
With so much attention focussed on welcoming new people into our church communities we sometimes don’t pay sufficient attention to those who are leaving. This month Bishop Lee looks the importance of closing the back door if we are looking for growth in numbers.
‘Growth in Numbers’ is a key strand in our Diocesan Growth [...]
The Diocese of Bristol welcomes 16 newly ordained priests and deacons. On the weekend of the 27th and 28th June, a fresh batch of nine deacons and seven priests were ordained at Bristol Cathedral by Bishop Lee Rayfield.
We gladly welcome them to a growing ministry in the Diocese of Bristol, and pray that [...]
Inviting you to a free seminar in Bristol
Your church and the web: Creating a successful website for your church
• Would you like some top tips for improving your existing church website?
• Do you want ideas as to what makes an effective church website?
• Are you considering having a church website for the first time?
If any [...]
To assist local organisations in their search for funding, The Diocese of Bristol has taken out a subscription to GRANTnet – a straightforward free to use service from GRANTfinder, which can help you to identify suitable funding for your activity or project. Whether you are a Parish Church, School or a community or voluntary [...]
Susan Boyle, favourite to win Britain’s Got Talent, couldn’t in the end cope with the pressure and had to be admitted to a private psychiatric clinic for help.
Ten year old finalist in the same programme, Hollie, burst into tears in the semi -inal and had to start again (very brave young lady).
The English cricket team [...]
What drives someone to become ordained, or licensed as a Lay Minister? Read personal accounts of peoples journeys in this new section of the Diocesan website (links below).
Those being ordained for Christian leadership are not ‘perfect’ or ‘superhuman’. They are ordinary people who have said ‘Yes’ to God’s call and are seeking to live their [...]
We have a regularly updated Cycle of Prayer to help direct your quiet times.
The Cycle of Prayer is put together by John Bradley and Colin Lunt, and will be published quarterly on this site. It is available for download as both text and PDF files from our ‘Cycle of prayer’ page, in the Ministry resources [...]
The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) is once again coming to Bristol this autumn and leaders from churches in the Diocese of Bristol can make use of discounted rates.
‘This is an opportunity not to be passed by,’ says Bishop Mike who is hosting the GLS at elim@bristol in central Bristol on 2 and 3 October. [...]
The Archbishop of Canterbury is urging churches to use Environment Sunday (June 7) to pray for the planet and campaign for climate change in the run up to the important UN talks later this year in Copenhagen.
Dr Williams said it was vital for Christians and people of all faiths to take a lead in praying [...]
Report of the meeting held on 9th May 2009 at St Paul’s Church, Covingham, Swindon.
The full report is available using the download links below. Information in this report:
1 Introductions and welcomes
2 Prayers
3 Appointment of the members of the Bristol Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd
4 Bishop’s Address
5 February General Synod Report
6 Question Time
7 Report of [...]
Revd. Canon Andrew Evans.
The Gauzebrook Group of Parishes serving:
Alderton, Easton Grey, Foxley, Hullavington, Luckington, Norton, Sherston and Stanton St. Quintin.
Area Dean, North Wiltshire Deanery.
Bishop of Bristol’s Adviser for Rural Ministries.
Officiating Chaplain 9 Regt. RLC, Buckley Barracks.
The Rectory, Rectory Close, Stanton St. Quintin, Chippenham, Wilts SN14 6DT
Tel: 01666 837187 Mobile: 077 17375032 [...]
Fling Wide the Doors!
I am very glad to have this last opportunity of writing to you all before I retire. Bristol has been a great Diocese and a great Cathedral, and my time as Dean has been a wonderful climax of my ministry.
The abbey which later became our cathedral was originally built as a mission [...]
From May 11th, all articles available online through this website will offer the option of commenting.
To comment on an article, simply scroll to the bottom of the article page (eg. this page), enter your name, your email addess and type your comment. If you’d like to remain anonymous, feel free to enter the name [...]
Bishop Lee Rayfield’s address to Diocesan Synod, 9th May 2009.
Last night Bristol Diocese closed one chapter of its life and welcomed another at Longwell Green Leisure Complex, just off the Bristol ring road. More specifically at ‘Frankie and Benny’s’ restaurant where members of the now disbanded ‘Growth Group’ reflected on their time as a [...]