Hello everyone and welcome to the first edition of THE BUZZ in 2010.

THE BUZZ is a great resource that brings the whole Methodist Connexion together and allows us to share successful ideas between districts, circuits, churches and church groups. If you have any stories you would like to share, which illustrate how your church is working out the four aspects of Our Calling, then please get in touch.

You can advertise your church, circuit or district events and news on the Connexional Noticeboard on the Methodist Church website. Here's the link: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=1946
After you've held your event, do let us know how it went. Your ideas can encourage and inspire others to try something similar and I'm sure the latest stories below will do just that. The contacts will be pleased to give you more information.

Best wishes
Lynne Newland

© Michael Haworth

What are Baildon and Bradford doing about climate change? What more could Baildon and Bradford do about climate change?  John Anderson, eco-officer at Baildon Methodist Church explains how the church is thinking outside the box and engaging the public.

"In November, Baildon Methodist Eco-congregation, Bradford held a public meeting for 100 citizens, which one Roman Catholic present called ‘inspirational'.

• Five local speakers explained what Bradford Council and Baildon Parish Council were doing
• The concept of Eco-congregation was explained and advocated
• Two new near-zero-carbon buildings were described
• A Christian Aid speaker outlined how climate change is killing now

The second half of the meeting looked at what more could be done. In particular there was much support for distributed electricity generation from wind turbines, domestic roofs etc. Seven displays were viewed by those attending. One aim was to spawn many other such meetings all across Bradford and indeed the country."

Every Saturday morning Queen's Road Methodist Church holds a 'Coffee Break' when folk can get together, have a chat and enjoy a cup of Fairtrade coffee and biscuits. On the first Saturday in November it was decided to do something different, so a 'Coffee Break Special' was held when, as well as enjoying coffee and biscuits, shoe boxes were decorated and filled, as part of 'Operation Christmas Child'.

There were tables laden with gifts that had been given and were waiting to go into the empty boxes, which a team was decorating with bright Christmas paper. When the boxes had been filled they were piled up ready to go to the collection centre.

While this was going on, church members and friends were bringing in boxes which they had already decorated and filled at home. These, along with some from the 3rd Royston Methodist Guides, were added to the pile and when all the available boxes had been filled it came to a grand total of 68 colourful gifts, destined to bring joy to some of the world's most deprived children.

More information about Operation Christmas Child: http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/

© Marion Senior

A book called The Christmas Journey provided wonderful opportunities for two churches to invite almost 300 local school children to experience the Christmas story in an exciting, innovative and interactive way.

First stop on this journey was in Durham - 150 year 2 children and teachers came from four Durham City schools to North Road Methodist Church. The church was emptied of chairs and filled with gazebos. In the first gazebo the children learned about creation and how people had spoiled God's gift. The Journey then took the children through the gazebos and walkways from Mary's kitchen, the hillside above Bethlehem, the stable, the wise man's abode and ended in a contemporary sitting room decorated for Christmas where  they discovered God's plan in sending Jesus.

Anne Offler, circuit children and youth development worker, said:"The Journey was interactive with the children becoming involved. One of the favourite parts was the actual birth of Jesus told by a cow, a sheep, a camel and a donkey puppet as they recalled being disturbed that night by all the events."

Next, on to Keswick - The floods might have been reminiscent of the story of Noah, but the water didn't stop volunteers from Churches Together in Keswick and Neighbourhood, some of whom were struggling with the flooding of their own homes, from taking over 140 children on The Christmas Journey. The decision to continue with the event was made exactly a week after the deluge, despite the fact that everyone concerned felt totally unprepared. 

© Fr Peter Sharrock

Just four days later, Keswick Methodist Church was transformed into the setting for the journey. Over the following two days, groups of Key Stage 1 children from all the primary schools in Keswick and the surrounding area were transported back to the creation story then to Mary's kitchen to witness her encounter with the angel Gabriel, who they then met again on the hillside outside Bethlehem, before entering the stable where the animals told them the story of the birth of Jesus. Next they visited a splendid palace where they talked about the strange gifts of the wise men before arriving back in the present day where, in a living room decorated for Christmas, the children were invited to reflect on how the birth of Jesus offered a new beginning for the world.

The children also made stars to hang on their Christmas trees and took away a booklet so they could share the story told on their journey with their families.  Refreshed with home-made cakes and Christmas biscuits, children, and the school staff who accompanied them, returned to school with a new perspective on the nativity plays which many were busy rehearsing.

Jennet McLeod, superintendent minister of the Keswick and Cockermouth Circuit asks: "Was the decision to go ahead with the event worthwhile?  Very definitely yes! The children asked some searching questions on their journey and we saw teachers with tears in their eyes as they watched their wide-eyed charges travel through time. One little lad commented 'If my sister knew what she'd missed she'd go bananas!'" 

More information about The Christmas Journey from: http://www.christmasjourney.org.uk/