Bishop's Comment

Willing to change
Now we’ve had time to break our New Year’s resolutions it is almost time to start considering what to give up for Lent.   More>

Topical Comment

Bishop of Northern Malawi thanks Birmingham for support
The Bishops of Northern Malawi and Lake Malawi visited Birmingham during January.   More>

News

Join the Carbon Fast during Lent
06 February 2012
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Community Launch for Near Neighbours
01 February 2012
A new initiative which aims to turn neighbours into friends is holding a launch event in Central Mosque on Friday 3rd February, as part of World Interfaith Harmony Week.  More>

Announcement: sale of scrap metal
30 January 2012
The Church has campaigned for a long time for legislation to outlaw cash transactions for scrap metal.  More>

Hodge Hill Seeks Heroes
30 January 2012
Community groups in Hodge Hill are on the hunt for everyday angels who make the world a better place for those around them.   More>

Lent Courses
30 January 2012
A variety of Lent Courses are available.  More>

The search for Games Pastors is on
30 January 2012
The search to find more than 800 volunteers to act as Games Pastors during the London 2012 Games, has begun.  More>

Free pack helps churches respond to the 2012 Games
30 January 2012
A vast compendium of resources is now available to help churches make the most of their engagement with the 2012 Games.  More>

Church pools its buying power to save parishes £10 million a year
26 January 2012
13,000 Church of England parishes can now benefit from reduced prices for essential utilities and services.  More>

National Marriage Week 2012 (7-14 Feb)
26 January 2012
Events are taking place both nationally and locally, and dioceses and churches are encouraged to give their support.   More>

Renewal of marriage vows at Birmingham Cathedral
26 January 2012
St Valentine’s message of love will be celebrated in Birmingham Cathedral on Sunday 12 February as couples are invited to come along and re-new their marriage vows.  More>

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations begin with Ceremony of Carols at Birmingham Cathedral
26 January 2012
Celebrating HM the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Cathedral and other choral foundation choirs across the country will sing anthems from a new Choirbook for The Queen throughout 2012.  More>

Homeless will be allowed to sleep inside Birmingham Churches
24 January 2012
THE homeless will be allowed to sleep INSIDE Birmingham churches during a unique project to help get them off the freezing streets.  More>

Birmingham Film Series
24 January 2012
B1 Church are very excited to be working with the charity Unchosen, The Adavu Project, Birmingham Community Safety Partnership and Costa Coffee in the Bullring, to bring a film series to Birmingham at the end of February and the beginning of March.  More>

Selection of Candidates for Reader Ministry
18 January 2012
Do you feel God is calling you or someone you know to this ministry within your own church? Well, the time to act is now, as applications for the next Reader Ministry selection conference are now invited.  More>

Encouragement to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with the whole community
18 January 2012
The Church of England is encouraging its 13,000 parishes to engage with communities to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  More>

Small Advertisements
18 January 2012
Items for sale, wanted and other small adverts.  More>

£10,000 prize for commissioning new art for parish churches
18 January 2012
Parishes throughout England can apply for a £10,000 prize for the best developed proposal for commissioning a new work of art for their church.   More>

Update from the Church of England
16 January 2012
A monthly update from the Communications Unit of the Church of England.  More>

'Call the Midwife'
12 January 2012
There is a new six part television series due to commence on BBC1 this coming Sunday, 15th January at 8.00 pm. The story concerns Sisters of the Community of St. John the divine, Alum Rock when they had a Part 2 Midwifery Training School on the district in the east end of London.   More>

St Bartholomew's Allens Cross plant a community orchard
12 January 2012
Towards the end of last year, St Bartholomew Allens Cross planted a community orchard within the church site. Bishop David also helped to plant some.  More>

MBE Award
11 January 2012
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Rachel and The Roosters helping to raise funds
11 January 2012
St David’s Church, Shenley Green has a well established tradition of live musical entertainment, ranging from the monthly impromptu folk sessions in the narthex to concerts with semi professional bands and musicians.  More>

Church Chair Design Competition
10 January 2012
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Notification of Appointments
09 January 2012
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Courses

Listening Skills Week
A skills based course which also provides the basic counselling theory necessary to understand what constitutes good practice in listening in pastoral care.  More>

Top Up Your Theology Week
Canon Dr Christina Baxter, Revd Dr Andrew Angel and other Faculty share the latest developments in theology.   More>

Pastoral Ministry and Christian Spiritual Direction
An exploration of the nature of Christian ministry, broadly defined.   More>

3D Course
Would your Parish benefit from holding a 3D course?  More>

Safeguarding Adults - Basic training sessions for 2012
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Signposts
If you are exploring the possibility that God might be calling you to the ordained ministry .... then this is for you.  More>

Science, Religion and Atheism
Is the discussion between science and religion affected by its narrator, be they theist, atheist or agnostic?   More>

Believing in Baptism?
This year we propose to explore the theology and practice of baptism, approaching the topic by way of integrated theology.   More>

Healing & Wholeness - An opportunity to explore the nature of the healing ministry
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Legal and support aspects relating to asylum seekers
Half day course for Clergy and other church leaders on the legal and support aspects relating to asylum seekers and others with immigration issues.   More>

Birmingham Cathedral Lent Course 2012 ‘Confident Christians in a Multifaith City’
Come and learn about our Christian faith… how to live alongside members of other faiths with confidence and respect … discuss a range of opinions to help you form your own…hear Christian practitioners and theologians reflect on their experience…come and worship.  More>

Growing Gifts Study Days Spring 2012
This day will give us a chance to think about central issues in our Christian belief and to do this with the world of today in mind.  More>

Biblical Study Break: Rediscovering Jesus
Explore the contribution that all the Gospels make to our reconstruction and understanding of the person at the heart of ‘the Jesus movement’.   More>

Faith Communities - Spring Seminar Programme
Church law can make some activities more complicated than in other contexts. We specialise in looking at issues from the perspective of Faith Communities – the rules, regulations and how to preserve your faith distinctive.   More>

Events

Tuesday Talks
31/01/2012
Time: 1.10 pm.  More>

Engaging with Muslims
31/01/2012
Time: 10.00 to 16.00. A day event for Christians to explore why and how to engage with Muslims. Bookings: www.christianmuslimforum.org  More>

“Faith In Justice” Conference
02/02/2012
Time: 10.30am – 3.45 pm. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of Dharmic Faiths with other faith communities and to raise awareness of JDC's multi-faith project during World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012.  More>

Choral Eucharist
02/02/2012
Time: 7.30 pm. Choral Eucharist for Candlemas. Preacher: The Dean  More>

Wholeness & Healing Service with Communion
04/02/2012
Time: 9.00 am.  More>

Belief and Being in School II
04/02/2012
The aim of the conference is to bring together Christian and Muslim teachers and teaching assistants from mainstream schools to get to know each other and share their experiences as people of faith in a school environment. For more details see: http://christianmuslimforum.org/index.php/events/event-listing/621/  More>

Candlemas Evensong & Concert
05/02/2012
Time: 6pm The Community will sing evensong of Candlemas, enjoy a wine and cheese celebration and then return to church for an evening of music provided by friends – this will include the new organ, a string quartet, a brass ensemble, a clarinet recital, and some singing reminiscent of the Last Night of the Proms. Please purchase your ticket in advance.  More>

Mothers' Union Display for 'Wave of Prayer'
06/02/2012
6th - 12th February. During open hours.  More>

Tuesday Talks
07/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm.  More>

Choral Communion Service
08/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm.  More>

The Diocesan Scheme for Offering Pastoral Care and Community Skills
08/02/2012
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm, preceded by lunch at 12.30 pm. A consultation for clergy who would like to know more about the approved diocesan scheme for lay people offering pastoral care and community skills. Please book in advance.  More>

Transforming Outreach using sports ministry and the Olympics
08/02/2012
Time: 7-9pm. What better motivation than the Olympics to start engaging with young people and the community than through sport and fitness. This evening will be an interactive evening including theology and models of good practice. Come, be inspired and share your stories and ideas. Contact Jelena to book.  More>

Don’t do God? How to have easy conversations about Faith in everyday situations
09/02/2012
Time: 10 am to 1 pm (with lunch). Led by Dr Andrew Smith, Bishop’s Director of Interfaith Relations, Diocese of Birmingham. Getting people of different faiths into the same space is the beginning of process that can be hugely enriching, transformative and exciting but it does not happen naturally. How do conversations move from the superficial to the spiritual without feeling artificial and stilted? This course is aimed at anyone who is running events, particularly Near Neighbours events, which bring people together and would like some fresh ideas to help stimulate ‘God’ conversations. Please register at admin@faithfulneighbourhoods.org.uk  More>

Wholeness & Healing Service with Communion
09/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm.  More>

Friday Recital
10/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm. Pro Cecilia Valentine's Day Recital  More>

Church Textiles open day
10/02/2012
10 - 11 February An invitation to anyone who would like to see what the team can create for your church. www.church-textiles.co.uk  More>

Young Vocations Conference
13/02/2012
13-15 Feb A national conference for young people aged 16-19 who would like to explore the idea of being ordained into the Church of England. callwaiting.org.uk/conference.aspx  More>

Tuesday Talks
14/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm.  More>

Holy Communion Service
15/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm.  More>

Friday Recital
17/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm. Thomas Rhodes - guitar and Sophie Hickman - flute  More>

Choral Evensong with Visiting Choir
18/02/2012
Time: 3.30 pm.  More>

Choral Evensong with Visiting Choir
19/02/2012
Time: 3.30 pm. Choir: St Luke's Chelsea  More>

Tuesday Talks
21/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm.  More>

Choral Communion Service
22/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm.  More>

Ash Wednesday Choral Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes
22/02/2012
Time: 7.30 pm. Preacher: Dr Andrew Smith  More>

Friday Recital
24/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm. Birmingham Royal Ballet  More>

Tuesday Talks
28/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm.  More>

Holy Communion Service
29/02/2012
Time: 1.10 pm.  More>

City Women Lunch
29/02/2012
Time: 1.00 - 1.55 pm. You are warmly invited to the first CITY WOMEN lunch of 2012. After the lunch Amy Brann, who works as a organisational coach, will speak briefly about having an increased sense of Christian hopefulness in daily working life following which there will be time for discussion in small groups. You can now book at our website http://www.chaplaincyplus.org.uk/events/city-women-lunch-3/ ‎ or contact Clair Dinsdale.  More>

Engaging with Christians
29/02/2012
Time: 10.00 to 16.00. A day event for Muslims to explore why and how to engage with Christians. Sessions: Why is it OK to engage with Christians? What should we know about Birmingham Christians? Muslim Responses to Christianity. Da’wah and Christian Mission. Speakers: Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra and Imam Dr Musharraf Hussain OBE. Afternoon speakers: Julian Bond, Christian Muslim Forum and Dr Andrew Smith, Faithful Neighbourhoods  More>

Chaplaincy in Education
01/03/2012
10.00am – 4.00pm. A day conference exploring new opportunities in school and college chaplaincy. Inspirational stories, opportunity to network, focus groups. More information at: www.scriptureunion.org.uk/chaplaincyineducation   More>

Growing with God
03/03/2012
Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Growing with God is for everyone in church who works or helps with children on Sundays or midweek. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get new ideas, meet others doing the same work, discover new resource, worship together and be inspired by the workshop leaders. Full details of the workshops and a booking form are at: http://www.birmingham.anglican.org/upload/pdf/GrowingWithGodBooklet12.pdf   More>

Raids on the Unspeakable
09/04/2012
9-11 April 2012 All are welcome to the Thomas Merton Society’s conference. Key note speakers: Liz Carmichael; Jim Forest; Jonathan Montaldo To book, or for further details, please visit the website or contact: Booking secretary, Kymin Cottage, Westhide, Hereford HR1 3RG www.thomasmertonsociety.org.uk  More>

Individually-Guided Retreats in the Ignatian tradition
01/10/2012
1st - 7th October These residential Retreats are conducted in silence with an experienced guide to work alongside you as you pray with scripture and other aids, according to your individual need and temperament. Guides; Rob Hingley and Frances Henley-Lock.  More>

Individually-Guided Retreats in the Ignatian tradition
22/10/2012
22nd-27th October These residential Retreats are conducted in silence with an experienced guide to work alongside you as you pray with scripture and other aids, according to your individual need and temperament. Guides; Pauline Green, Rob Hingley, Rachel Willard, Janet Lindsay-German.  More>

Vacancies

Caretaker - Christ Church Selly Park
Due to increased bookings, we now need a caretaker to help clean and maintain the building, welcome hirers and lock up the building after functions.
Salary: £7.50 per hour
Closing date for applications: 17/02/2012
More Details>