Pottermouth Poem

Pottermouth Poem

A number of Christians have heard the recently broadcast 'Pottermouth Poem' from an ardent Stoke City fan & have commented about its stirring, even 'prophetic' nature. Here's an except from one email:

Dear Lloyd
I don't know whether you've heard of the "Potter Mouth Battle Cry." I heard it on radio Stoke this morning and it was like something moved within me when I heard it. It was like God was saying "do you see what's happening". The battle cry is a rallying cry to the people of Stoke to get behind the lads, it's going out over the airwaves, quite light hearted, but uses words like:

Do it for the sake of the people
Do it for all Stokies
Do it for Stokies all over the world
Do it for the sake of the oatcakes
Do it for the sake of Wrights pies
Do it for the sake of the "duck"
Do it, do, it, do it........................

It's no coincidence that the church have been crying out to God to 'do it' in our city, remembering our heritage etc and asking him to do it again! It seems to me that the 2 battle cries are running parallel with each other, I sense that this is really significant. Some months ago God told me to "keep abreast of the spiritual climate" stay in tune with what's happening. We need to continue to ask for more of God's revelation to us. Praise him for his goodness to us!!!!!!!!!

love and God's blessings
EC

Many of you will be aware that back in September 07 we asked a secular leader who visited one of our Weds night city prayer gatherings to give us some practical targets to aim for in prayer. One of targets he gave us was to see Premiership football as a means of improving the morale of the city. At no time subsequently have we sought to pray for any one football team or to imply that success of football teams is a spiritual barometer. However....co-incidence or God-incidence?

You can watch & hear the Pottermouth Poem on YouTube...amusing or prophetic? You choose....ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmsRwj6Iu04

STAFFORDSHIRE COUNCIL OF VOLUNTARY YOUTH SERVICES [SCVYS]

STAFFORDSHIRE COUNCIL OF VOLUNTARY YOUTH SERVICES [SCVYS]


Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services with Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Consortium of Infrastructure Organisations (SCIO) Volunteer Centres and Staffordshire County Council Youth Service are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic team to develop, promote and support opportunities for youth volunteering in Staffordshire.

Youth Volunteer Advisor
37 hours – NJC SCP 24 £20,099pa plus 3% pension
· To strengthen the Volunteer centres outreach to young people under-represented in volunteering
· To deliver high quality advice and guidance for young people in volunteering across the Chase district and South Staffs District and help place them into a volunteering opportunity.
· To champion youth-led volunteering through the creation of local Youth Action Teams to provide a range of volunteering activities.

Project Youth Volunteer Adviser
18.5 hours - NJC SCP 24 £20,099pa for 37hrs) plus 3% pension
· To support Youth Workers in SCVYS registered groups and defined Staffordshire County Council Managed Youth Projects to involve young people in volunteer and assist Youth Workers to develop new inspiring volunteer opportunities for young people
· To deliver high quality advice and guidance for young people to assist them to access volunteering opportunities that are inspiring, develop skills and attract accreditation.
· To champion youth-led volunteering, by promoting through the Youth Workers the creation of local Youth Action Teams within SCVYS registered Youth Groups and Staffordshire County Council Youth Service managed Youth Projects.

For more information please visit www.wearev.org.uk

Please contact Karen Foster for an application pack on 01785 242782, email karen.foster@staffordshire.gov.uk, Post SCVYS c/o YFC Centre, County Showground, Weston Rd Stafford ST18 0BD. Posts are funded until 31 March 2011.
Application forms only, no CVs. Closing date for applications is 5pm, Tuesday 6th May 2008.

These posts are subject to Enhanced CRB screening.
SCVYS is committed to equal opportunities and is a registered charity 1104690

Government jobs relocation

Government jobs relocation

I received the following encouraging news about new jobs coming into North Staffs from a Christian involved in regeneration. Please the note the specific prayer targets.

Dear Lloyd,
I wanted to update you on developments associated with Government office relocation (getting public sector jobs relocated to North Staffordshire from London and the South East).

You will probably have read in the Sentinel about the new developer agreement at Keele. This is a great move forward, that has taken several years to take to this point. Keele have agreed an 8 acre plot within the Science Park extension will be developed by a consortium called Governetz Helical.

Governetz is a consultancy that works with Government Departments tasked with reviewing their presence in London and the South East. All departments that have a lease break/lease end on their property now have to justify their continued presence in London to the treasury and OGC. Helical is a property company that are developing dedicated sites (one for each region) to encourage Government departments to relocate. Attracting Government use is very attractive for developers. The partnership is fully supported by the Treasury and Office of Government Commerce, who are responsible for delivering the public sector relocation programme.

The agreement with Keele is a major step forward in attracting top level jobs and raising aspirations within the area. The next few months will be significant as there is strong interest in locating to Keele.

Please could I ask for your continued prayers on this issue. In particular,
- that those involved in the development work effectively to attract Government activity
- individuals within departments tasked with relocation are encouraged to make decisions,
- that the business case for locating to Keele stands out clear and strong,
- that the jobs created raise future aspirations within the area and bring benefit to the community.
This has always been a long term project within the area. Sustaining activity over several years, especially when priorities shift and resource is limited is always difficult. The jobs that will be created will also be over several years as the development has not yet been constructed.

Your support and prayers on this issue have been greatly appreciated. I do believe that God is instrumental in this project and that your prayers are a vital element in its success.
Best regards
XX

Bentilee Prayer Walk

Bentilee Prayer Walk

We are invited to join a Saturday morning prayer walk around one of our area's most needy communities.

Taking place on Saturday 26 April, meeting at St. Stephen's Community Church, Dawlish Drive, Bentilee.

9.30am Worship & preparation

10.15 onwards into prayer groups out we go,

11.30 back for tea/coffee/light refreshments
Please come & invest some of your time praying for others.

Pentecost 2008 Prayer and Fasting Rota

PENTECOST 2008 PRAYER & FASTING ROTA

1st April to 10th May 2008

40 days...960 hours...57,600 minutes of prayer and fasting leading up to Pentecost, involving churches and praying groups across the area.

PLEASE SHARE COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR PRAYER TIME ON OUR BLOG. (simply look towards the top right-hand corner, and click "Sign In" if you have a blog account, otherwise click "Create Blog" -- it's simple and it's free!)

3 Prayer themes -
Harvest: for increasing numbers of people to come to faith in Christ.
Healing: for a release of God's healing power on people, congregations and the land.
Glory: for the presence of God to be experienced throughout community life.

4 Prayer targets -
Local: for your congregation, other local churches and Christian ministries in North Staffordshire; for regeneration and community renewal.
London: For God's blessing and protection on England's capital and for increasing unity across the body of Christ.
National: for other UK towns and cities; for denominations; for strategic leaders and "all in authority".
International: for the growth of the Kingdom of God and for peace on earth; for a location somewhere in the wider world with which you already have contact.

Vacancies - Methodist Church

The Chester and Stoke-on-Trent Methodist District

• seeks to recruit experienced and creative people to the following posts to start from 1st September 2008:
  
  Ø Regional Training Officer (part-time 17.5hpw)
  Ideal candidates for the role will have:
  · background in one or more of the following: theological education, training, course design, adult education
  · the ability to deliver training outcomes which reflect the Methodist Church's ethos, 'Our Calling' and ‘Priorities for the Methodist Church’
  The person appointed will also have a regional role with the North West Methodist Training Forum.
  Salary for lay applicants at HE Pathway Level 3 (pay spine 35-46 capped at 39); or standard ministerial terms and conditions + College Tutor’s allowance (20%).
  
  Ø District Development Enabler (part-time 17.5hpw)
  Ideal candidates for the role will have:
  · experience of mission audits and mission strategy
  · experience of implementing organisational development
  · ability to deliver development outcomes which reflect the Methodist Church's ethos, 'Our Calling' and ‘Priorities for the Methodist Church’
  Salary for a lay appointment in accordance with the Methodist Church salary scale for lay employees £31,818p.a. (pro rata; pay review pending); for a ministerial appointment standard terms and conditions will apply.
  
  Applicants for both posts will need to demonstrate the following:
  · a personal commitment to participative ways of working
  · the ability to think strategically
  · a high standard of presentation and communication skills
  · the ability to reflect theologically and enable others to do so
  · an understanding of the voluntary sector
  · experience of team work
  
  Both posts are open to lay or ordained members in good standing of a Church in association with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland or equivalent. Final salary pension scheme is available for both posts.

Closing date for applications: April 30th 2008
Interviews will be held on 12th and 13th May 2008
Further details and application pack is available from: Hazel Griffiths, Methodist District Office, Bishops Wood, Nantwich, CW5 7QD
Tel: 01270 627774, e-mail:chester.stoke@btconnect.com
CHRISTIAN FAITH IN WORD AND ACTION