Partnership in World Mission E-News : 18 Feb 2011

This is the first issue of the new Living Faith Worldwide e-news from the diocesan Council for Partnership in World Mission (PWM). Our hope is that it will help keep all of us in the Diocese of Oxford up to date with ways in which we can -- and do -- join with Christians worldwide to share in God's mission. We'll be including resources, news from the diocesan links and from parishes, a calendar of upcoming events, and prayer requests. Information for inclusion, comments and suggestions should be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

1) Resources

Church Mission Society (CMS) -- Lent Resources and other materials
CMS new churchresources for Lent are now available.  "Mission and the Cross" helps churches explore the meaning of the cross in terms of mission today through a number of stories from CMS mission partners, small group materials, daily devotional scripture readings and suggestions for various Lent ‘Meals with a Meaning'.

In addition, CMS recently organised the national34th man tour featuring released Chilean miner Jose Henriques and CMS Mission Partner Alf Cooper. The tour profiled the amazing stories of answered prayer during the Chilean mine rescue. Over 600 people heard the stories in Oxford Town Hall on 28th January.

CMS website also has materials from theBishop of Egypt, speaking about the recent political crisis facing the country.

21M:  An "oldie but goodie" from CMS
Participants at our World Church day on 1 December responded positively to CMS'21M resource, still availablehere. 21M is an eight-part DVD resource that explores the Five Marks of Mission, "using group activities and games, Bible studies, interviews with current thinks and practitioners and examples of mission in action around the world. . . .The resouce aims to inspire churches and groups to put the Marks of Mission into practice." You can download the leaders'pack free to get a sense of the resource as a whole.

Futureshape?
"Climate change, over-consumption and threats to biodiversity are all emerging as serious issues for governments and activists. But do these issues have any serious connection with the Christian faith?  FutureShape? can help your church begin to get to grips with these issues from a biblical perspective. The resource includes six studies for ministers, six small group studies, feature videos and bonus material." A great resource from BMS World Mission for involving churches with the fifth mark of mission, care for creation. .Downloadablehere.

Tearfund -- "One Voice" Prayer Week
"We are One Voice. The united body of Christ, praying together for an end to poverty." Tearfund is encouraging churches to join a Global Poverty Prayer Movement. Many will be praying from 27 February to 4 March . . . but the resources for prayer can be used at any time throughout the year. Download the resources and find out morehere.

USPG Lent Resource -- Growing the Church
A useful resource for churches trying to engage with the "Making Disciples" strand of Living Faith in particular. Features five units looking at Growth in Numbers, Depth, Community, Generosity and Learning, with lessons from the world church and the Acts of the Apostles. Available for downloadhere, together with resouces for study group leaders, a reflection and prayer, and other materials.

Wycliffe Bible Translators: Words for Life
Words for Life is the Wycliffe Bible Translators magasine, which includes "snapshots of the latest news from the 1,300 projects Wycliffe personnel are involved with around the world." They illustrate the impact of Bible translation in different countries or cultures.  Clickhere for the latest issue.

2) Diocesan Links News

Växjö
Last summer, our partners in Växjö asked if it would be all right for them to translate elements of our "Living Faith" programme into their context. Eight months later, the project is well underway. The Swedish programme will be called "Till tro!" which can be translated roughly as "Towards faith!" Six leaders from Växjö, including the link coordinator Carin Frennevi, the diocesan secretary and the communications director of the diocese came to Oxford Diocese to learn more about how "Living Faith" is working here. Our hope is that as the two dioceses proceed with their programmes, we can share experiences and learn from each other. During the Swedes'visit, we agreed to begin to share our experiences in some particular areas, including the environment and Fair Trade.
--- From 1st to 5th June, a delegation of students from Växjö, together with the diocesan director of ordinands, will be visiting Oxford Diocese to experience the variety of Anglican church life and to explore Living Faith. They will be staying at Oxford Brookes. If you would be interested in meeting them, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Mike Nunn is putting the finishing touches to his translation of the history of the Växjö Diocese. We look forward to its completion and release.

It would greatly enhance our partnership with Växjö if more of us could understand/speak/read even a little bit of Swedish. We had wondered whether people might enjoy a "day course" in some Swedish basics. If you would be interested, please contact Tony (as above). No prior Swedish skills required!

3)  Around our Churches

Congo Church Assn meets at St Andrew's, Linton Rd (Oxford)
On 11 February, the Congo Church Association held a meeting at St Andrews, Linton Road, at which Bishop William of Boga Diocese and Bishop Isesomo of Nord Kivu Diocese spoke. Bishop William's diocese is one of those to which the Oxford Diocese Mothers'Union is linked. If you would like to receive an account of his talk, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

4) Upcoming Events

26 February -- Oxford -- Economics, Debt and Development: A Christian Perspective
A day led by Revd Dr Andy Hartropp. Sessions on 'Life Beyond Debt': looking at the role of credit and debt in the UK, both in the run-up to the recent banking/economic crisis, and also from here onwards; The Church and economic development: in a Two-Thirds World ('Global South') context, what can Christian churches contribute to economic development? Perspectives arising from research being done with the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS) will be included.  Place: Wycliffe Hall.  Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Cost - £20 (lunch available, £4).  Booking essential :www.wycliffe.ox.ac.uk. or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 01865-274212

28 February to 13 March -- UK -- Fairtrade Fortnight
Working to transform unjust structures . . . one teabag, banana, T-shirt, and biscuit at a time! The Fairtrade Fortnight Church Action Guide ishere; Christian Fair Trade Organisation Traidcraft's Big Brew materials for Fairtrade Fortnight arehere.

3 March -- Woodstock -- Haiti Supper
An opportunity to meet the Revd Gesner Paul, President of the Methodist Church in Haiti. He will be sharing  something of the current situation in Haiti and how the church is responding.There will be a chance for food and conversation and all proceeds from the evening will be going to support the work of the church in Haiti.  Place: Woodstock Methodist Church  Time: approx. 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm  Tickets - £5. To aid with catering, please apply by Sunday 27 February. Available from Sue Beuzeval (01865-849696);  Jonathan Todd (01865-842214);  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

4 to 6 March -- High Leigh Conference Centre (Herts) -- East Central & CMS South Conference: 'Latin America: The New Dimension of CMS' 
Main Speaker: Bishop Henry Scriven. with guests including Alf and Hilary Cooper, mission partners from Chile (Alf is chaplain to President Sebastian Pinera). The conference will explore the ways in which, following its merger with SAMS, CMS is engaging with Latin America. Cost £134/£158 (bursaries available). Full detailshere.

4 to 6 March -- Worldwide -- Shockwave
Freedom to worship Christ is something that our churches take for granted -- but not all can. Open Doors is calling on youth to rise in prayer, stand with persecuted Christians worldwide, and put 1 Corinthians 12:26 into action. They want to create a huge wave of prayer, asking God to build up the church in countries where Christianity faces hostility and persecution. A wide variety of resources are available. Materials are suitable for youth groups, home groups, family prayer, etc. Clickhere for details.

21 March -- Oxford -- Theology, Poverty, Gender and Justice
Christian Aid is hosting this event especially for women church leaders (ordained and lay) in Berks, Bucks and Oxon. Plenary sessions and workshops on Gender, HIV, development insights from Egypt, and Israel/Palestine. Speakers include  Paula Clifford (Head of Theology, Christian Aid); Revd Charlotte Bannister-Parker(Oxford Diocesan Advisor for Overseas Programmes);  Salwa Morcos (COC Bless, a Christian Aid partner in Egypt);  Charlotte Marshall (Middle East Communication Officer Christian Aid). Place: New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square. Time: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. To attend or for more information, contact  Jessica Hall by Monday 14 March ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 01865-246818).

5) Prayer Requests

BibleLands prayer request for partners in Egypt
Please pray for BibleLands Partners in Egypt at this momentous time in the country's history. We think particularly of those living and working in Cairo and Alexandria; the Anglican Diocese of Egypt, Refuge Egypt, St Andrew's Refugee Services, the Deaf Unit, the Salaam Centre and Fairhaven School. These Partners work with some of Egypt's most vulnerable people, many of whom live on less than $1 per day. To find out more about our work in Egypt visitwww.biblelands.org.uk

The diocesan Council for Partnership in World Mission was set up in 1995 by Diocesan Synod in order to: (a) encourage the members of the Diocese of Oxford to recognise, use to the full, develop and increase opportunities for partnership in world mission which exist between them and Christians, churches and institutions outside Britain (b) promote partnership in world mission as a living reality within the diocese as a whole and for every individual within it. For further information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and/or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .