Street Chaplains – on the streets again
Now looking for volunteers for January, February and March.
[More...]
Street Chaplains Web Site
On Friday 22 November from about 11.00pm until 1.30am in the early hours of
Saturday, several small teams of Street Chaplains could be seen in Leeds between the
Corn Exchange and the rail station.
The volunteers from a number of the
city centre churches
gathered in the café at Holy Trinity Church
in Boar Lane at 10.15pm
to be briefed by the Revd Adrian Burdon who is the link with
Safer Leeds,
West Yorkshire Police,
and British Transport Police.
High visibility tabards with STREET CHAPLAIN on the back were handed
out to most of the volunteers. There weren't enough to go round as
more had turned up than had been anticipated. Telephone numbers were
given out so that we could report serious incidents, but the strong
advice was not to get involved if there was violence and to call the
emergency services if necessary.
The two Police Community Support Officers who patrolled the area
introduced themselves and gave out a contact telephone number.
Out on the streets there were groups of mainly young men and women,
inadequately dressed against the cold wind,
making there way to clubs and bars. Near the entrances the clubs
(entrances which are often no more than a door leading down into
a basement underneath the neighbouring shops and restaurants) there
were small crowds waiting to go in, smoking, chatting, occasionally shouting.
The traffic was light – dozens of taxis, the occasional bus,
one or two private cars.
The rail station was busy with people in more suitable clothing
looking to get a train. Away from Boar Lane, Duncan Street
and the area around The Calls and Call Lane the streets were quieter.
Each team stayed out for about 40 minutes, returning to base for
a hot coffee or cup of tea and maybe a biscuit provided by the base team
before returning
to the cold street. Most teams went out three times before we gathered
together at 1.30am before going home.
The teams had not gone unnoticed. Every team had spoken with someone.
Often it was no more than to give directions or exchange an brief
greeting. One team had encountered someone who needed to talk, another
had helped someone find and get into a taxi. The view of the PCPOs
was that it was rather quiet for a Saturday night.
The group was probably too big, and five on-the-street teams too many.
The Street Chaplains will be out again on 12 and 19 December,
and it is hoped that there will be 12 volunteers on each
occasion with three teams on the streets.
Adrian would like to have a number of such groups of 12 who would
each go out once a month throughout the year. If you would like to
become involved please get in touch with Adrian.
An earlier item on street chaplains ...
^^^ 22 November 2008 ^^^
Visit to Brno in the Czech Republic
Brno city centre from the castle
Our superintendent minister, Adrian Burdon, and Ken Tait were part of the
delegation from Leeds to Brno in
the Czech Republic. The visit (from
20th September to 23rd September) was organised
by Leeds City Council
as part of the twinning relationship between Brno
and Leeds.
The delegation was led by the
Lord Mayor of Leeds,
Councillor Frank Robinson,
and other members of the group included the Leeds-based band,
Bassa Bassa.
Jana and Adrian
|
On the Sunday of the visit, Adrian and Ken attended worship at the
Evangelické Církve Metodistické
when Adrian preached the sermon and Ken gave a short presentation
about Oxford Place. Later they shared a meal with members of the
congregation at the home of the pastor, the Revd Dr Jana Krížová.
On other days Adrian and Ken joined in parts of the civic programme
including an exhibition by the
East Street Arts group and a concert
by Brno schools which was followed by a reception.
More about this visit can be found in the Autumn issue (97) of
Life and Work.
|
^^^ 26 September 2008 ^^^
New Administrator
Trevor Parker took up his appointment as
Mission Administrator
at Leeds Methodist Mission on 1st September 2008.
Trevor has been a member of Leeds Parish Church for the past twenty years
and presently serves as their Hon. Treasurer. He comes from an employment
background of Human Resources Management, having worked principally with HBOS.
Note
There is an article about our previous administrator in the Autumn (97) issue of our magazine
Life and Work.
^^^ 19 September 2008 ^^^
Our Charity of the Year
Our Charity of the Year for 2008-2009 is
Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network.
LASSN was set up in 1999. It has offered support to over 700 refugees and asylum seekers.
These people experience isolation, loneliness, and suffer from the effects of a negative
media profile. Many fear what may happen to them and their families.
A small group has been set up to coordinate our efforts to raise money
and offer support in other ways to this organisation.
During the year to the end of March 2008, LASSN has helped many people:
- 394 ShortStop guests
- 112 Befriended asylum seekers and refugees
- 45 English at Home learners
- 132 Destitute asylum seekers supported through our Hardship Fund payments
- 24 refugee community organisations assisted through the Leeds Refugee Forum
- 1 Community Centre opened for refugee community organisations with 281
people through the door in just one month
^^^ 27 August 2008 ^^^
New responsibilities for our Superintendent
The Methodist Conference at its July 2008 meeting in Scarborough
appointed the Rev Dr Adrian Burdon to be Titular Superintendent
of the Leeds (West) Circuit with effect from 1 September 2008.
This position is to be held concurrently with his appointment
as Superintendent of the Leeds (Mission) Circuit.
A Titular Superintendent is a person appointed to hold the
title of Superintendent of the Circuit for the purposes of:
- undertaking the legal functions of Superintendency,
- the giving of ministerial leadership
- and the encouragement of mission and ministry in the circuit.
The Titular Superintendency carries no responsibility for
individual churches or congregations.
In order to make space for this additional work,
and minimise the impact of it upon his ministry at Oxford Place,
Adrian has relinquished some of his Connexional responsibilities.
If anyone has any questions about this appointment then please
feel free to make contact with Adrian directly.
^^^ 15 July 2008 ^^^
|
Chair, the Universities in Leeds Chaplaincy Trust
An experienced and committed Chair is being sought
for the reconstituted Universities in Leeds Chaplaincy Trust.
The Chaplaincy serves two large, dynamic and differing
institutions, the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan
University. Following a review by West Yorkshire Ecumenical
Council, the Chaplaincy Trust has increased responsibilities
for oversight, management, encouragement and support of an
ecumenical chaplaincy team of three full-time and several
part-time chaplains representing eight Christian denominations.
As Chair, you would provide active leadership of the Trust
and be the main point of contact with denominational leaders
and the senior management of the universities. You would have
an empathy for Christian Chaplaincy and understanding of the
Higher Education context. You would bring strategic awareness,
leadership and team-building skills. The initial commitment is
likely to be around 20 voluntary days per annum, reducing as
the team develops successfully.
For more details of this rewarding and challenging position,
contact the Revd. Dr. Clive Barrett, West Yorkshire Ecumenical
Council, Hinsley Hall, 62 Headingley Lane, Leeds, LS6 2BX.
Tel: 0113 2618053.
Email: clivebarrett@wyec.co.uk.
The closing date for applications is 27 February 2009.
|
Oxford Place Centre
Oxford Place Church is a community of people of different:
- ages
- races
- nationalities
- sexualities
- genders
- backgrounds
- cultures
We are bound to one another through
shared belief in the grace of God
revealed for all people through Jesus Christ.
All are welcome to share in the worship
and the life of the Church.
Oxford Place Church is part of the
Methodist Church of Great Britain,
The Leeds District of the Methodist Church, and
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
It is a member of
Leeds City Centre Churches Group and the
Methodist City Centre Network.
Worship at Oxford Place
Sunday morning: All-age worship at 10.30am.
Sunday evening (second Sunday of the month): Taizé-style worship at 6.30pm.
Sunday evening (third Sunday of the month): Time to Talk at 6.30pm.
Wednesday lunch-time:Holy Communion at 12.30pm.
More information...
The Lounge Café
Why not come in for a quick coffee during the morning or
for hot snack or a sandwich at lunch-time. The Lounge Café
is open each weekday from 10.00am till 2.00pm most of the year. It closes during holiday periods.
Oxford Place Centre is open Monday to Friday as well as on Sundays.
More information...
Can you help?
Why we are asking...
In addition to being a place of Sunday worship,
the Leeds Methodist Mission has a distinctive weekday ministry to Leeds City Centre.
As we are a relatively small congregation, the continuance of this ministry depends
upon the support of volunteers from throughout the district.
Please help us to maintain a Methodist presence in Leeds City Centre.
We can accept offers of any amount of time – a day per week,
or perhaps every couple of weeks, or even monthly.
Read more and make us an offer!
Online information from the Methodist Church
The Methodist Church of Great Britain provides a number of on-line resources:
-
The Buzz
– Good news from Methodist Churches around the country
-
E-news
– a monthly electronic news bulletin from the Methodist Church of Great Britain
-
Momentum NEW
– Reviews, interviews and resources
-
Connexional Noticeboard NEW
– Notices of events and activities listed by Methodist district and by county
There is also an on-line discussion forum:
|