EMBA Newsletter December 2024

Dear ::first_name::

Welcome to the last newsletter of 2024.   

How has your year been?  Can you take a moment in the busy-ness of the Christmas season to look for where God has been at work in your life and ministry through the year? 

And what are you looking forward to for 2025? What are your "hopes and fears" for the year ahead?  This phrase from "O Little Town of Bethlehem" reminds us that whatever lies ahead, ultimately all our times are in the hands of the creator and sustainer of all things, who comes to us as a tiny child.  The final line of the carol is "O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!" 

May you know the  presence of Emmanuel  in this season and through 2025.


Our Advent Reflections series is underway and it has been a joy to hear from Sharon Howe and Jill Willett.  Next week Nick Ashton will be sharing his thoughts. The videos are released on the Wednesday of each week, and you can download them to use as part of your Sunday service.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND DOWNLOAD THE VIDEOS

The series concludes on 20th December with a Christmas message from Mark Clay.


Sign-up for the Ministers Conference closes on 31st December and there are only a few places left.  If you're an EMBA Minister, don't miss out.  Scroll down for links to the signup page.


The EMBA Essentials course for youth workers (paid and volunteers) finished on Wednesday with those who have attended speaking positively about how it has helped their ministry and built their confidence.  We're running it again starting on 22nd January 2025.  It's online and it's free!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP


Are you the DBS verifier for your church?  We would like to keep in touch with you so we can let you know about any useful information such as training events.  Please complete our online Contact Details form to let us know who you are.

CLICK HERE FOR THE CONTACT DETAILS FORM
You can find copies of the newsletter on our website:

CLICK HERE FOR THE WEB PAGE 

Please forward this email to anyone in your church that might be interested to receive it. If you no longer have a role in your church and don't wish to receive the newsletter please email us at hello@embaptists.org.uk and we can remove you from the newsletter list.


The EMBA Team

What's on in the EMBA

There are lots of events and activities happening this Autumn in and around the EMBA.  There's a few listed below but CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LIST

Refresh Women's Conferences in 2025 for your diary Saturday 5th April at Bretton Baptist Church, Peterborough Saturday 20th September at Whetstone Baptist Church, Leicester More details to come in the New Year

Wednesday 5th February to Friday 7th February Hayes Conference Centre With the EMBA Team, Rev Dr Helen Paynter and Phil Knox CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGNUP

Short Courses at St Hild College in Sheffield St Hild is offering four short courses at the start of January. New Testament Greek is fully online, while Hebrew, Intro to New Testament and Rural Mission and Ministry feature a hybrid format that combines in-person and online learning. If you hold a degree and are looking for a quick refresher or continuing education opportunity, these courses could be perfect for you. Additionally, if you're considering a shorter course to explore your interest in theology, this is an excellent choice. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO REGISTER

Project Violet International Symposium 15th & 16th January 2025.    The Centre for Baptist Studies in conjunction with Baptists Together are organising this online Symposium, to which we are inviting academically-engaged Baptist women from around the world to discuss the findings of Project Violet and the actions arising from this extensive investigation into women's experiences of ministry.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER

SPONSORED POST Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but special events and services, extra visitors and festive decorations in your church can increase the risks of accidents and damage. A little extra planning can help keep everyone safe.   Find out more about Christmas risks

Kenny Henry (EMBA Safeguarding Lead) is now the primary contact for all EMBA safeguarding concerns and training enquiries. 

Kenny holds a drop-in "Zoom Surgery" when you can chat with him about safeguarding matters.  It's 6-7pm on the last Thursday of the month online.  Contact Kenny for details and the link.

Baptists Together regularly produces great resources around safeguarding.  They recently produced a video interview with Josh Kane, Mill Hill East BC and LBA Regional Minister, talking about safeguarding and mental health.  This might be especially useful if you have a Renew Wellbeing space or similar community group.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

To contact Kenny, please email Kenny.henry@embaptists.org.uk or call 07498 189 205.
 
Kenny's working hours are Weds 1-5pm, Thurs and Fri 9-5pm.
 

If you have any events happening at your church that might be of interest to the wider Association that you'd like us to include on our website, please get in touch with our Comms Lead Sarah Fegredo by email.

Job Vacancies

Details about vacancies in the EMBA and more widely can be found on the EMBA WEBSITE VACANCIES PAGE

Please have a look at your church's "spot" on the CHURCHES PAGE on our website and let us know if any contact info needs updating.  It would help people to find you if there was a photo of your building and your website and/or contact email address.  We know that the first contact many people have when looking for a church is their website so something that's easy to find helps.  We can also add your social media info.  Contact SARAH with any updates.

Please can we ask that if you are about to go on sabbatical, leave or holiday and want to pause the emails you receive from EMBA, please get in touch so that we can make the adjustments. We'd ask that you do not unsubscribe without speaking to us as this can cause problems with how the EMBA holds your information rather than just not receiving emails. 

Please find the team's contact details here if you need to get in touch with anyone.

Blessings

EMBA Team