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 If you are feeling stressed or under pressure right now it is not necessarily a bad thing. Healthy stress keeps us motivated and looking forward. Emotions tell us there is an unmet need deep within and prompts us to go and satisfy that need.
The problem comes when we are stressed more often than not, and it becomes ‘normal’ to feel uncomfortable much of the time. I used to think, when I get older, I won’t be stressed any more and things will fine, I just need to get older… Well, that didn’t work! In fact, stress, anxiety, and depression can be like unwanted passengers who sit on our bus, who don’t pay their fare and take up someone else’s seat. Age does not insulate us from anxiety or stress and nor does it dilute strong feelings. Here are a few simple techniques to deal with strong, unwanted emotions. 1. Name what you are feeling. If you are in a situation where you are feeling big emotions like frustration or anger or fear for example, say to yourself, ‘I am noticing the emotion of feeling stuck’ or ‘I’m noticing there is fear around right now’ or ‘that encounter has left a feeling of anger’. If you find yourself saying, ‘I’m noting I am angry’, try flipping it away from yourself to, ‘I’m noting there’s anger around…’ The words we use make a difference. 2. Reassess what’s going on. We are good at mind reading what someone else is thinking and it is a necessary skill if we want to get on with friends and family. The trouble comes when we try to understand what someone else is thinking from our own point of view. Instead, reassess the situation and consider how the other person might see this situation. For example, someone says they will meet you at the café and pay back the £20 they owe you, but they don’t show up. Instead of thinking, ‘they aren’t going to pay me back. I knew I shouldn’t have loaned them money’ try looking at it from their point of view. ‘They borrowed the money in the first place because they didn’t have enough to get by. Maybe the circumstances haven’t changed’. Or ‘maybe they need the money for their daughter’s school shoes for the start of term’. Just take a different perspective and see how that new view changes how you feel. 3. The helicopter ride. Imagine you are lifting off in a helicopter and you can see a much bigger picture, not just yourself below or the situation that is facing you but other circumstances which might help to put your situation in perspective. Simply, ask yourself ‘just how important is this issue that’s facing me right now in comparison to the bigger picture?’ 4. On the big screen. Imagine you are watching yourself on the big screen at the cinema. Watch yourself in the tricky situation that’s causing you big emotions just like you would at a cinema and create some distance from all that’s troubling you. Just watch yourself on the cinema screen from the back of the auditorium and notice after a while how strong your emotions are now. These simple ways to navigate life’s troubles are all designed to lower our stress levels, calm the mind, and directly affect a part of the brain we need to be in control when things don’t go according to plan. Try them out and see how you feel after a few days practising them and let me know what did and didn’t work for you. Rev Tim Moore Tim is one of our ministers who teaches mindfulness and wellbeing Assistant District Safeguarding Officer for the Yorkshire West and Yorkshire North & East Methodist Districts
The Methodist Church is committed to ensuring its churches are safe spaces for all. We work hard to ensure compliance with legal requirements, develop good practice, provide effective training and give professional advice on individual cases. We have an exciting opportunity to join our team to work alongside the District Safeguarding Officers (DSOs) across the Yorkshire West and Yorkshire North & East Methodist Districts.
If so, this post may be for you. Amongst other things, you will be supporting our Safeguarding standards and DSOs by:
The terms of employment will include:
The geographical area covered by the Yorkshire West District stretches approximately 80 miles from Ingleton in the north to Penistone in the south, and 50 miles from Todmorden in the west to Knottingley in the east. The District is made up of a range of communities and settings, including extensive rural areas, large cities and urban towns, and smaller market towns and villages. Throughout this diverse area there are local Methodist churches of people gathering together as disciples of Jesus Christ to worship God and serve their local communities. The Yorkshire North and East District includes around 200 churches stretching over nearly 80 miles of the East Yorkshire coast, and across much of North Yorkshire, from Northallerton to Wetherby. The District embraces the cities of York, Hull and Ripon, and includes many rural settings as well as coastal and market towns and suburbs. The District seeks the flourishing of all its members and churches, responding faithfully to God’s call in our many and varied contexts. Full details and an application pack are available on request from admin@ywmethodist.org.uk Closing date for applications: Friday, 18th November 2022 at 12 noon Interviews will be held on Thursday, 1st December 2022 at Yorkshire West Methodist District Office, Touchstone, 4 Easby Road, Bradford, BD7 1QX Appointment will be subject to receipt of satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS disclosure Circuit Social Justice Service - Sunday 30th October, 10:30am
This will be broadcast from Meltham Methodist Church and will be streamed to other churches around the Circuit. We invite you to join us as we reflect on the issue of social justice and the challenges it brings. Imagine a fair, more equal and life-bringing society and world… To get there, what is the most important issue that needs addressing? And what is the one key action that needs to be taken to address it? Further details coming soon. We are all on an ageing journey, albeit perhaps at different stages along the way. As we travel life’s pathway we encounter rich and varied experiences. At times, life can seem bountiful with opportunities, but equally there can be challenges and frustrations too, especially in our later stages of life. Change is inevitable and, if we’re honest, we’re not always very good with change. So how do we age well? What is meaningful ageing?
Research has shown that spirituality plays a positive role in the ageing journey. For some, spirituality will be a part of their religious beliefs, but not for all. Spirituality allows the time and space to reflect on the bigger questions in life, searching for meaning, purpose, value and hope. It can also be used as a way of coping with change and uncertainty. The role of spiritual care is gradually being recognised for its health benefits, the potential for improved well-being and sense of peace. For example, Marie Curie advocates spiritual care as an important part of palliative care. Though spiritual care is not confined to end of life care. As part of a national strategy in 2016, the charity ‘Meaningful Ageing Australia’ were instrumental in drawing up the Government funded National Guidelines for Spiritual Care in Aged Care. The charity’s work highlights the importance of and provides practical support for integrating spiritual care into those services accessible to older people, both in care homes and in the community. Their aim is to support those caring for older people to enable them to have a better quality of life. As part of this they created the Meaningful Ageing course, designed to provide people with the skills and knowledge they need to undertake volunteer spiritual care. This can be used in different settings, such as churches, families and for those in residential care homes. The Circuit staff explored this course together earlier this year, and found it helpful in drawing out some of the questions of how to support others as they age, and as we all age together. The course follows a series of 8 sessions exploring the following topics through video, reading, reflection, and discussion: · the ageing journey · spirituality in ageing · good communication · the power of story telling · dementia · a new home/a new way of life · loss, grief, death and dying · roles, boundaries and self-care The Circuit would like to offer opportunities to be part of this course as churches and/or individuals. If you or your church would be interested in finding out more please contact me. Suzanne Bridges  The first two weeks of walking have seen 33 miles covered, 11 churches and 2 graveyards passed through.
Thank you for the welcome has been warm and generous, refreshments and a seat, even if my four-footed friend has washed the floor with her water bowl a couple of times. We have enjoyed meeting people, even if that means you may get bounced, and hearing about the places that make up the circuit. The snapshot of what church means to the congregations across the circuit and there is a great diversity already, the time to help get a feel of this place and wide range of communities that combine to make up Huddersfield. It has been a privilege to have heard some of the hopes and fears, of dreams and doubts of the people I have met. It has been most helpful beginning to build a better picture of Huddersfield Methodist Circuit. It has been a good to join in the buzz of places as people come together, as friendship, love and support is being offered. It has been humbling as people have turned out specially to give a place of rest on the way. The provision of food and drink and even a pocket cross that is now making its way during Len around the circuit. I have heard testimony to the pride and love for buildings around the circuit that have and do serve the community through the generosity of the congregations. I have heard the vocalising of tough choices ahead and the reality of the changes that have been taking place for years but have come into sharp focus by Covid and now the rises in living costs which offer us all an opportunity to respond in ways that fit this age drawn but not limited by the tradition that has brought us this far. I thank God for those who have shared the road and helped me find my way and my bearings as we have picked our way around the odd, unexpected, obstacle as well as choices on paths where the way is not as clear as it looks on the map. Travelling the road together is a privilege especially as it gives time for conversation and getting to know each other better. We do make the road by walking, and I am looking forward to the road that lies ahead. If you want to see where Peter will be next then follow this link  The last two years have caused many of us to let go of old ways and to search for God in different ways. I am hearing that for many of us, our church habits have changed and the way we used to engage with God has been challenged during lockdown. I believe many are seeking to meet with the Lord on a different plane and in a different way.
Lent gives us the chance to stop and re-evaluate our spiritual life and turn our yearning for spiritual connection into a reality. In following the ‘lostness’ of Jesus in the wilderness to the adulation of Palm Sunday we can journey with him in a human and tangible way as we feel every stone in his shoe and every hunger pang he shares with the disciples. If you are interested in finding a new way to meet Jesus, talk about how it all feels or maybe practise ancient tried and tested methods, I am hosting evening sessions over Lent at Dalton St Pauls to offer us the opportunity to meet God. We will capture that warm and safe feeling of Sunday evenings by sharing something to eat, talking about what is alive for us and then welcoming God into our midst. We will learn a new way of touching the intangible by learning contemplative prayer, centring prayer and mindfulness and finding stillness in a frenetic world. Whilst our Lenten journey will begin in the wilderness, we will not take the old familiar route to Easter Sunday morning. Often Lent is seen as a journey of suffering and abstinence, yet we can fail to see it as liberating and illuminating. My hope for our time together is let go of seeing Jesus from outside of us but find the Jesus who is inside and uncover what the Spirit is saying to us internally, as we prepare to discover how full the empty tomb is on Easter morning. I am looking forward to meeting you all, whether you are feeling close to or far away from God. It will be a great opportunity of uniting or re-uniting with God and one another as we make our way together to the cross and beyond. We will meet at 6pm at Dalton St Pauls for some tea and then begin our contemplative journey, finding new skills and ways to touch the hem of his garment. This is a Circuit-wide event, starting Sunday 6th March 2022 and details will be on the plan. Walking with Jesus was never meant to be easy, but his companionship and friendship have always been the reward. Let’s talk and then sit in stillness and silence as we look for his hand in the days ahead. If you want to know more, get in touch. I hope you can make it on the 6th March as we take our first steps together. Rev Tim Moore |
