Welcome to our BLOG for the Newcastle upon Tyne District of the Methodist Church.

We hope this will increasingly become a useful resource of information and communication for the District and anyone looking for local church information.

District Map of the Circuits Use the zoom controls and the list down the side for closer detail.

Emergency - Haiti Earthquake Appeal

Christian Aid has launched an emergency appeal after a major earthquake struck the country. Please go to this link to see how you can help:

www.christianaid.org.uk/haiti-appeal

We're back! After an absence of several months (for a variety of reasons) the Joint Public Issues newsletter is once again a feature of the District website. Admittedly, it's a month late but for those of you new to Public Issues it gives you an excellent flavour of what the JPI team are up to.

Joking aside, the team - working across the Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed churches - does sterling work in bringing to the attention of God's people some of the most urgent and pressing issues of the day and, more importantly, pointing us to action we can take in addressing those issues.

One of the most important will be the impending General Election. The JPI team has prepared a range of resources to help churches and Christians contribute to election debates. There are guidelines on hosting hustings meetings, information and a Christian perspective on some of the key policy areas, advice on how to deal with extremist political parties and much, much more. And you can sign up to get the resources directly.

Elsewhere, churches across the UK are rediscovering and giving fresh expression to the old idea of sanctuary in the face of this country's abysmal treatment of asylum seekers. (We are, for example, the only country in Europe, to detain children in the sylum system). There's more information on how we can respond in the newsletter.

PLEASE take the time to read it!

If you want more information on Public Issues get in touch on 01207 570751 or by email at peterc48@uwclub.net

Thanks
Peter Collins
Public Issues Co-ordinator

David Payne has moved from the district and left a space for a representative on the Church and Society Team. ...   more »

Launching BIBLEFRESH in the North East on Tuesday 26th January 2010

Come and discuss how your church can be involved and join a national compaign to bring the Bible back to the Church. (See attached flyer for further details)

Many congratulations to Pastor Onay Lopez on the day he was ordained as an Elder.

Please find attached the Fresh Expressions power point presentation from Saturday's Synod as many had requested a copy of it.

Click the paperclip and follow the download instructions

Have a look at the letter of thanks from our friends in Cuba.

Information Download from Peter Willey