The many people who help serve the communities our Churches work in -many of whom are not 'Ministers' in the old sense of wearing a dog collar and being called 'Rev.'
The work of the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Circuit* is a team effort
Please scroll down if you wish to find important matters for those whose Ministry is in Preaching

 (*If you want to know what we mean by 'Circuit', it may help to visit this page in the Methodist Church website)


 The New Superintendent Minister, Rev. David Hart (here left with one of the Stewards at 'Vic') started work on the first Sunday of September, 2010

We will carry many more details of Circuit administration as soon as we receive them
 

The responsibility for maintaining the life of the Churches rests with the Circuit Meeting and its appointed Circuit Stewards. These are:

Janet Browning
John Baggott
Margaret Baggott
David Chandler
Don Edwards
Brian Gibbs
David Jones
Chris Sledge (Senior Steward)
 Maureen Wood

The Circuit Treasurer, with a huge responsibility for such an large undertaking, is Andrew Shaw
The Property Secretary is Trevor Watkins


LOCAL PREACHERS

 

Our Sunday services depend heavily on the Ministry of Local Preachers and Worship Leaders, and there is a large and dedicated band in our Circuit.
The Secretary of the Local Preachers' Meeting is
Mr John Hopper

RESOURCES FOR PREACHERS


Revd. Peter Grimwood has  provided the following recommendation of a Book for Preachers and Study Groups:


Apocalypse and Allegiance: Worship, politics and devotion in the Book of Revelation by J Nelson Kraybill (Brazos Press)

This is a lively and engaging introduction to the book of Revelation. Those who are familiar with the writings of Walter Wink, John Howard Yoder and Christopher Rowland will be aware of the political perspective that has informed recent interpretation and commentary on the book. They will be aware of the relevance of its message for persecuted and oppressed Christians then and now.
Kraybill shows how the worship within the book can guide and inspire us as we recover our understanding that the faith is prophetic and counter-cultural in its proclamation of Jesus as Lord.
The book is full of photographs illustrating the nature of the culture which the early Church opposed and can be recommended for these alone. Kraybill follows each chapter with questions, prompts for discussion and stories describing the ways in which radical Christians have responded in love, courage and devotion to the challenges posed by the powers that still dominate the world.

Strongly recommended for house group use and for preachers who are sometimes perplexed by Revelation.

(Kraybill is a seminary professor in the USA and a Mennonite pastor.)

 

Previously Rev. Jacky Quarmby passed on the following list of books to consider provided by Revd Susan Graham:

1. A History of Christianity - The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch Published by Allen Lane Hardback : 24 Sep 2009, £35.00 -but surely to be followed by a paperback edition [There is also A History Of Christianity [DVD] [2009] DVD ~ Diarmaid MacCulloch RRP: £24.99 sold by Amazon with Bamber Gascoigne's The Christians [DVD] RRP: £24.99]

2. 50 Key Christian Thinkers - Peter McEnhill and George Newlands Fifty Key Christian Thinkers (Routledge Key Guides) (Paperback) by Peter McEnhill & Peter McEnhill (Author) George Newlands (Author) "A brilliant and acute philosopher who was famed for his learning, his powers of rhetoric and for his determination to pursue all matters, including matters..." (more) RRP: £15.99

3. Quest for the Living God - Elizabeth Johnson Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God (Hardcover) by Elizabeth A. Johnson RRP: £18.99

4. The Creed - Luke Johnson The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it Matters by Luke Timothy Johnson (Paperback - 15 Sep 2003) RRP. £12.95 (This book gets militant Atheists well steamed up as 'arrogant' -GJ)

5. Christian Origins - Christopher Rowland (Paperback) by Christopher Rowland RRP: £22.50 Price: £18.13 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver by Amazon

 

There is also some valuable information about Continuing Preacher Development on a Website from Leeds -HERE

also
The Methodist Church Website has useful suggestions of resources for worship on a SPECIAL PAGE
which is maintained by The Revd Adrian Burdon of the Worship and Liturgy Resources Group. If you have found other sites with useful resources please E-mail Adrian at methodistworship@btinternet.com

 
In our Circuit about 2,500 members are committed to live by the best Christian principles, which our national Conference has tried to define as our Calling.
The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.
It does this through:
    * WORSHIP
    * LEARNING & CARING
    * SERVICE
    * EVANGELISM

 THE CIRCUIT IS IN THE BRISTOL METHODIST DISTRICT

The Chairman of our District Synod

is Rev. Ward Jones