This is your overdue June's edition of 'Jesus in the City' Urban Mission Congress, Manchester from Friday 6th – Sunday 8th September update.
The Tony Campolo and Curry night. A unique evening of excellent food, uplifting music and incisive discourse! Featuring very special guest Dr Tony Campolo and with music from singer/songwriter Andy Flannagan. We have been asked to make additional booking options and you can book for this night, the full weekend or a specific day by going online at www.jitc2013.co.uk Watch Tony speak about the Congress (http://vimeo.com/61168868) or see more details on our website.
Though the early bird rate has ended and with only 66 days left before the Congress, there are rates that can fit everyone's pocket. For the full weekend it is only £100 including the curry night and Sunday hog roast, for those on a low-wage or unwaged for the weekend £45. Day rates are £35 and £17.50 for low-waged and unwaged. We are still working on the final details of the programme, finding new ideas to bring you for the weekend. We can confirm joining us are guests like Ann Morisy, Bishop Laurie Green, Rev Les Isaac, Marijke Hoek, Niall Cooper, and Stuart Marry-Williams.
To help you understand our theme 'Making Sense of the Fragments' for the Urban Congress, we give you our second voice; Rev Mark Ashcroft who for many years ministered in the inner city community of Harpurhey, Manchester. He writes:
'Poverty of horizon comes as a real shock and heartache. It is there in Manchester estates, when young people find it impossible to travel a quarter of a mile into an area that is unfamiliar to them. The church can often have a similar poverty of horizon in at least two ways. One way is being locked into the way we have always done things round here; this is our identity, part of our culture and it is difficult to help people to a different mind-set or approach. A second way is that we simply don't know what is going on in our neighbouring churches and amongst churches in other parts of the city, let alone further afield; we often find it difficult to conceive of what could happen if we worked together'.
'My particular hope and prayer for Jesus in the City 2013 is that through sharing of new ideas, good practice, and our weakness, Jesus would come amongst us and break down the poverty of horizon and fragmentation in our churches as well as our communities'.
Mark expresses something of the ethos of the congress that, while we may each carry an understanding of the problems, we have a desire to learn from each other. In a consultative process with urban practitioners, looking at content for the congress, we picked up a strong concern not just to have 'experts speaking' but to have a forum for learning from each other, hence we have taken the decision to have 'World Cafe' and 'Market Place' sessions as well as formal input from those with broader experience.
As there is only a couple of months to go before the Congress we have appointed Rosie Critchlow to be our events manager and an administrator, these two experienced staff members will start putting the 'icing on the cake' and firming up details with those who have booked and answering your questions.
You can find more information about the programme, hosting, bookings and costs on the website, www.jitc2013.co.uk. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to seeing you in September.
Your servant in Christ Jesus
Peter Gilson
On behalf of Jesus in the City 2013
154 Church Lane, Moston, Manchester, M9 4HZ
T: 0161 205 7380 M:0790 610 2522
Provisional programme ('subject to confirmation')
Friday 6th September 2013
10.00am Arrival: Registration & Refreshments. Our main venue for Friday and Saturday is Coverdale Baptist, Coverdale Crescent, Ardwick, Manchester, M12 4FG.
11.00am Hello Session: Introduction of the themes, choices and guests.
11.30am Content Block: Setting the scene, key guests will present their outlook on 'Making sense of the Fragments' as a prelude to our 'Open Space' discussions
1.00pm Lunch: Provided for delegates.
2.00pm Open Space: Marijke Hoek will be hosting 'World Café' sessions, picking up aspects of the theme that have come up through input from urban activists.
2.00pm Site Visits: On arrival delegates will be given the choice to visit ministries around the city to see them in action and meet staff. There will be a limited number of places.
5.30pm Evening Meal: Provided for delegates
7.00pm Question Time: Moulded on the hard hitting BBC Question Time, with guest panellists Rev Les Isaac, founder and CEO of Street Pastors, Neill Cooper form Church Action on Poverty, Tony Lloyd Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner and others. Topics and questions will be set by you, the audience, chaired under the careful eyes of BBC Radio Manchester presenter Mike Shaft.
Saturday 7th September
10.30am: Arrival: Registration & Refreshments
11.00am Devotional:
11.30am Open Space: Marijke Hoek will be hosting 'World Café' sessions, picking up aspects of the theme that have come up through input from urban activists.
1.00pm Lunch: Provided for delegates.
2.00 Market Place: Key people in the field and local ministry providers to speak about their topic, answer questions and lead a join discussion around their table. After a given time slot, delegates will be asked to move to another table of their choice – a type of informational 'speed dating'. If you would like to get involved please give us a short portfolio of yourself and your ministry/topic.
2.00pm Site Visits: On arrival delegates will be given the choose to visit ministries around the city to see them in action and meet staff. There will be a limited number of places.
4.30pm Free time
7.00pm Campolo & Curry: We are hosting a three course buffet Indian meal at one of Manchester's finest Banqueting Halls Eastern Pearl, 250 Plymouth Grove, Manchester, M13 0BG. With music from Andy Flannagan and keynote speaker Dr Tony Campolo.
Sunday 8th September
Morning Church Services: Delegates will be encouraged to join their host churches or other suggested urban churches. Dr Tony Campolo will be speaking at a local congregation.
Lunch: Delegates will joined by their hosts for a full Hog Roast using the Brunswick Parish Church grounds and/or indoor facilities (depending on the weather!)
Open Space: Marijke Hoek will be hosting our final time together, with our theme, 'commitment'. – What am I going to do when I get home? How have I made sense of the fragments and how has this changed my outlook?
Saying Goodbye: Though our afternoon will be more fluid we want to ensure where possible that we all have a chance to say our goodbyes together.
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