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You've spent a lot of time organising your Christmas events and services, so make sure as many people as possible know about them!

The first thing to remember is to think about the language you use:

Mind your language

Make your welcome message current and invitational.

We assume people know they are always welcome in church, but the sad truth is that many don’t realise that or find it intimidating.

A genuine, warm, welcome will ease any anxiety. 

However, do try not to use:

• 'Join us' - although it sounds welcoming, many perceive this as them having to join in the activity of an exclusive club that they are unfamilar with. Instead, try 'Come along to...', 'All welcome'
• 'our church' - again, this sounds like they are joining an established club. Instead, try 'the church', or even 'your church' if it fits the context
• Don't go heavy on the theology! Many people who go to church only once or twice a year may not be thinking about the original significance of Christmas; to them, it is a time for families, lights, trees and togetherness - and that is a great start! An invitation to enjoy carols and a Christmas atmosphere will resonate with some more than 'celebrate the birth of Jesus', so be sure to consider all audiences and not just those who are already engaged with the Church. Remember: write for your intended audience, not for yourself!

Where to spread the word

Don't rely on just one method of getting your event known about.

Channels you can use include:

• Posters
• Local event publications
• Local newspapers and local radio stations
• Social media

Poster top tips

• Limit the number of fonts you use (two is plenty) and ensure that they are easy to read.
• Limit the information included to the essentials, if you need to say more include a link to your website or social media.
• Keep it simple - one large image is generally better than lots of smaller ones.
• Don't be afraid of white space!
• Ask someone to check your work before you print.
• Is it clear what the event is?
• Have you included the date, time and place?

How to promote your event on Facebook

Once you have your event planned, you might think the simple option is to post a picture of your poster on Facebook. No! 

Posters shared on your page are not searchable, meaning that anyone looking for an event near them will not see it, as Facebook sees this only as a  picture and doesn't know what it says.

By far the best option is to set up an event on your Facebook page - that will allow people searching to find you and your event.

People can also share the event; reply to say they are attending - and that will show in their timeline, meaning their friends might also see it and want to attend.

It is like word of mouth online!

You can also invite people to the event to help spread the word

Setting up events is easy, and Facebook has a brilliant help section taking you through the process step-by-step.

The tutorials are available as text to read or as a series of short videos, however you prefer to learn.

Find out more here and see an example here.

Promote on X (formerly Twitter)

X can play a great role in promoting your Christmas services and events and now is theperfect time to take a few moments and makesure your profile picture and information are upto date.

Use images but remember that they don't show up in searches so include text too.

Good tweets are engaging, thought provoking and open.

Where possible, use warm and welcoming words, not isolating ones.

For maximum audience reach, look for active community online groups in your area and share the tweet with them.

Don't forget to also include tags like #Christmas #FollowTheStar #Carols #Community, #ChristmasTreeFestival and also include @DioceseofDerby and @churchofengland.

Connect with your community

Putting a poster up on your noticeboard is great, but don't forget to put them up in places that people outside of your congregation can see them.

Think about:your local school, shops, scout and guide groups, library, village hall, WI group and supermarket.

Have a look at local facebook groups and share your event with them too.

Use your local media

Don't forget to let your local newspaper and radio station know about your events.

At the very least, send them a list of your events but better still, send them a well-written press realease.

If your event has a strong visual element (eg a Christmas Tree Festival) let your regional TV broadcasters know too - they're always looking for potential colourful and interesting images.

Stretton Handley School writes:

On Tuesday, 3rd October, Stretton Handley Church of England VC Primary School had a very special visitor.

The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, kindly gave up her afternoon to join the children in a special Collective Worship service.

Staff, governors, parents / carers and members of St Mark's Church congregation were also in attendance.

The school's Church Council members led the service with prayers and the lighting of candles.

Bishop Libby gave an interactive talk to the children which included telling them what she did and what she wore.

She asked five pupils to come out to the front and allowed them to try on each part of her 'Episcopal vestments' and gave an explanation of what each part meant.

Also in attendance was Mr Ernest Fox, whose grandfather originally started the giving of a Bible to Year 2 pupils annually; he gave an explanation of how it all started.

His own father, Sam Fox, took over the tradition when the Sunday school ceased to run in 1960 and the Fox family have continued with the tradition, for which the school is extremely grateful.

On this particular occasion, pupils from Years 3 and 4 who had missed out before the Covid lockdown and unforseen circumstances also received a Bible.

Bishop Libby and Mr Fox presented the Bibles together.

In September 2021, St. Mark's Church started the tradition of giving out 'Special Bears', which came in a decorative bag with its own poem, to all the pupils attending the school.

This has now moved forward and each new starter receives their own "special bear" at the start of the new school year.

These have proved to be very popular and a source of comfort at times for the children.

This small gift confirms the link between the church community and school; let's hope it will continue to do so into the future.

Bishop Libby presented the new children with their own "special bear", but the biggest surprise of the afternoon was when the tables turned and Bishop Libby was presentedwith her own 'Special Bear' by one of the school church council members.

Knitted in purple wool, it came complete with it's own gold vestments showing the school badge.

Bishop Libby was very pleased to receive it and said she would treasure it.

A very pleasant afternoon was enjoyed by all in attendance with a wonderful atmosphere that was difficult to miss.

>> Derby Diocesan Board of Education website

The recent Storm Babet forced the vicar of St Alkmund's, Duffield, to move a wedding to a neighboring parish after river water innundated the church.

St Alkmund's, which is in the flood plain of the River Derwent, was one of many in the diocese affected by the storm.

This is the second time the church has flooded in the past four years and the third time the church hall has flooded.

The vicar, Revd James Hughes, said he had to move Saturday's wedding to nearby St Paul's Little Eaton: “By Friday, previous experience told me that flooding in the church was a distinct possibility.

"So I kept in close contact with the couple and we decided to delay the final decision until Saturday morning.

“With three inches of water in the church building on Saturday, it was a quick decision, not to mention the two feet of water in the church hall!

"When we did the wedding rehearsal on Wednesday, little did we know that things would not go according to plan, though the bride and groom were very understanding about the situation, even though it wasn’t quite what they had in mind.”

The clean-up operation is now underway, though it may be a week or two before services can resume in St Alkmund’s.

It is hoped that the local Church of England school can host the church’s services and there have been a number of offers of help with the clean-up.

Other parts of the village flooded too because the River Ecclesbourne also burst its banks, a scene that was repeated around Derbyshire and in Derby.

The Rt Revd Libby Lane, Bishop of Derby, said: “My prayers are with everyone affected by the flooding as once again so many lives and livelihoods have suffered.

"We give thanks for our local authority teams and emergency services who rose to the challenge of keeping us safe, and for the resilient partnerships across the city and county that facilitated such a coordinated and generous response to the crisis.

“The people of Derbyshire have an incredibly strong sense of community and I know that many neighbourhoods, businesses and individuals are rallying round to support those who need it most.”

A weekly series offering tips and ideas to help you promote your events and services to your local community and further afield.

11 October 

More than 70 Bishop's Badge Awards have been presented to church and community volunteers in the Diocese of Derby this year.

The final presentations were made in a special Celebration of Lay Ministry, in Derby Cathedral on Sunday, 1 October.

The annual awards celebrate lay ministry and service in church and community, and recognise the distinguished service and dedication of many individuals contributing in Jesus’s name to the mission of the church.

Bishop Libby said: "It is always a pleasure to mark and celebrate the gifts of people across the Diocese of Derby and to thank those who offer so much to develop and sustain the life of the church and its work in the wider community.

"We give thanks for the often hidden, yet crucial and remarkable work of people who do not seek recognition, but whom we honour specially today."

>> See the photos from Sunday, 1 October

>> See the photos from Sunday 17 September

There were three Bishop's Badge Services this year.

The first was held to celebrate generosity and courage shown by school children towards others.

The other two services, held in September and October, recognised missional innovation and missional long service in parishes, churches and communities thoughout the diocese.

Recipients of the Bishop's Badge are nominated by clergy in the parishes of the diocese and the reasons for the nominations can be wide and varied.

On receiving his Bishop's Badge in September, John Sterland said: "My late father whilst being a member and former tower captain of St Andrew’s (Swanwick) received a badge a few years ago for his work supporting the major refurbishment of the clock and bells at St Martin’s Alfreton. I feel quite reflective and privileged at being recognised in a similar way."

And nominating Cara for a Bishop's Badge Schools Award, her head teacher said: "Cara goes above and beyond to show love and support to her peers; always noticing if someone is struggling or left out and offering friendship; showing what it means to build community by supporting and welcoming everyone. Her unquestioning support for others during tough times, even when she herself has been experiencing difficult situations, is transforming to those who she stands alongside and a model for others to follow."

Those presented with Bishop's Badges on Sunday, 1 October were:

Awards for Missional Innovation

• Helen Hodgson, Belper, St Peter
• Beryl Hill, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Ann Johnson, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Ann Jwala, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Sue McIntyre, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Anne Parkin, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Barbara Walford, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Margaret Bromby, Cotmanhay and Shipley, Christ Church
• Robert Henry Glassey, Elmton with Creswell and Whitwell with Steetley
• June Fawcett, Great Longstone, St Giles
• Su Woollen, Great Longstone, St Giles
• Hilary Maltby, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
• Sue Wells, Old Whittington, St Bartholomew

Awards for Missional Long Service

• Barrie Birkin, Ashford in the Water, Holy Trinity
• David Lee, Ashford in the Water, Holy Trinity
• Kathryn Naylor, Bakewell, All Saints
• Carol Wicksteed, Bakewell, All Saints
• Joy Layton, arlow, St Lawrence
• Alan Milner, Barlow, St Lawrence
• Roger Stubbins, Barlow, St Lawrence
• Geoff Walker, Barlow, St Lawrence
• Keith Wollerton. Belper, St Peter
• Robin Norman, Blackwell, St Werburgh
• Julie Barker, Boulton, St Mary
• Iris Armett, Buxton Team Parish
• Josephine Fry, Buxton Team Parish
• Alan Kirk, Buxton Team Parish
• Eric Thompson, Buxton Team Parish
• Pam Woodroffe, Buxton Team Parish
• Brian Moorhouse, Castleton, St Edmund
• Doris Gould, Chesterfield, Holy Trinity & Christ Church
• John Holmes, Chesterfield, Holy Trinity & Christ Church
• Audrey Musson, Chesterfield, Holy Trinity & Christ Church
• Julie Hart, Cotmanhay and Shipley, Christ Church
• Alwyn Tew, Cromford, St Mary
• Kim Hardy, Derby, St Anne
• Alison Haslam, Derby, St Anne
• Dennis Bull, Derby, St Barnabas
• Dorothy Ann Oliver, Derby, St Barnabas
• Valerie Dykes, Etwall, St Helen
• Jennifer Rowson, Great Longstone, St Giles
• Jennifer Rowson, Great Longstone, St Giles
• Peter Rowson, Great Longstone, St Giles
• Andrea Clarke, Hatton, All Saints Church
• Alison Mottram, Hatton, All Saints Church
• Frances Toye, Hatton, All Saints Church
• Michael Osborne, Holbrook, St Michael
• Susan Crabb, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
• Lindsay Steele, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
• Rachel Coupe, Melbourne,St Michael with St Mary
• Hazel Hole, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
• Margaret James, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
• David Wellens, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
• Pat Hassall, Sawley, All Saints and St Mary
• Anne Ball,Stanley and Stanley Common
• Janet Costall, Stanley and Stanley Common
• Sue Hartley, Sutton on the Hill, St Michael
• Janet Hopper, Swadlincote, Emmanuel
• David Hopper, Swadlincote, Emmanuel
• Maggie Fenby-Taylor, Ticknall, St George
• Jenny Stewart, Ticknall, St George
• Margaret Whyte, Ticknall, St George
• Paul Whitehall, Walbrook Epiphany
• Jean Parsons, West Hallam, St Wilfrid
• Ruth Bennett, Whitfield, St James
• Gillian Booth, Whitfield, St Luke
• Laurie Gill, Whitfield, St Luke
• Janet Magson, Wingerworth, All Saints

Those presented with Bishop's Badges on Sunday, 17 September were:

Awards for Missional Innovation

• John Bird, Littleover, St Peter & Blagreaves
• Jim Davison, West Hallam, St Wilfrid
• Gen Tarr, New Mills, Saint George the Martyr
• Margaret Weightman, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
  
  

Awards for Missional Long Service

• Michèle Aspinall, Allestree, St Edmund
• Kate Bassford, Sawley, All Saints and St Mary
• Janet Bradshaw, Sutton-cum-Duckmanton
• Liz Broomhead, Hartington
• Christine Brown, Blackwell, St Werburgh
• Bryan Clarke, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Margaret Clarke, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Emson Maneya, Cathedral Church of All Saints Derby
• Ann Cooper, Youlgreave
• Averill Crisp, Swadlincote, Emmanuel
• Lynne Dawson, Old Brampton, St Peter & St Paul
• Christopher Dullage, Hartington
• John Entwistle, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
• Jane Entwistle, Matlock Bath, Holy Trinity
• Rob Groome, Risley, All Saints
• Brenda Harrop, Youlgreave
• Hannah Hawkins, Brimington, St Michael and All Angels
• Sylvia Homer, Stanton by Dale, St Michael and All Angels
• Zoe Leleux, Stanton by Dale, St Michael and All Angels
• Sue Marsh, Bakewell, All Saints
• Sally Renshaw, Tibshelf, St John the Baptist
• Patricia Rhodes, Tibshelf, St John the Baptist
• Cyril Roberts, Old Brampton, St Peter & St Paul
• Melanie Rose, Belper, St Peter
• Phil Sparrow, Chesterfield, SS Augustine
• John Sterland, Swanwick, St Andrew and Pentrich, St Matthew
• Mary Thompson, Smalley, St John the Baptist
• Mo Tolson, Risley, All Saints
• Alan Tolson, Risley, All Saints

Recipients and their families take the opportunity for a photographic memento with Bishop Libby

Nicky Fenton has been collated and installed as Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales.

The service was held at Derby Cathedral on Saturday, 30 September, with Bishop Libby and Dean Peter.

Previously, Nicky was the Bishop of Derby’s chaplain, and a Residentiary Canon at Derby Cathedral. Prior to that, she was priest-in-charge of Hazelwood, Holbrook and Milford.

>> See the photos of the Collation and Installation Service

During her first sermon as archdeacon, Nicky spoke about the Archdeaconry of Derbyshire Peak and Dales and the whole diocese working as a team, and how each of us is called by God to use our individual talents to help each other and to further the work of the Church.

The choir of St John’s, Buxton, from the Archdeaconry of Derbyshire Peak and Dales, sang May the Love of Christ Enfold Us, and Derby Cathedral Junior Choir, the cathedral’s pre-chorister choir for children aged five to nine, sang Mother Mary Full of Mercy.

>> Meet Archdeacon Nicky

 The Collation and Installation Service featured music from Derby Cathedral Junior Choir

Predatory Marriage - Daphne Franks

 Joan Blass and Daphne Franks at Joan’s 90^th Birthday Party, April 2014

Please watch the documentary about our story – the third in the series   “Inheritance Wars: Who Gets the Money” – Channel Five, 9pm, October 1, 2023 and on Channel Five catch-up after that

“Your mother and her man friend – did you know they were married?” So, with a phone call from Joan Blass’s doctor, began a horrific series of events which have highlighted the gaps in safeguarding for the elderly and the vulnerable, both at the time of marriage and in the Law.

In March 2016 Joan Blass was almost 92 years old, with severe vascular dementia and terminal cancer. She was unable to make the simplest decision and never knew that she had remarried just five months before her death.

Joan’s daughter Daphne Franks tells the story of a secret marriage, a revoked will, an unmarked grave, grooming, gaslighting, a Private Member’s Bill and a campaign to highlight all the issues. The Franks family hope to fill all the gaps so nothing like this will ever happen to another family in the future – because, as they have learned, it’s currently happening to many of our elderly and vulnerable and their families.

This story is “right up there amongst the most shocking we’ve come across in the ten years that we’ve been making this programme.” - Angela Rippon, Rip-Off Britain, BBC Television.

Daphne Franks, 67, is a teacher who worked at Leeds Medical School for many years, teaching Communication Skills and other non-clinical courses. She is still teaching freelance part-time. Daphne now lives in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, with her husband Stephen, son Oliver, daughter-in-law Alex and adorable granddaughter Linnet, two!

Issues with current safeguards^*:

• • If the victim has set up a power of attorney, the attorney is not notified if the victim marries.
• • Notifications of marriage are displayed on notice boards in register offices and are not easily searchable or listed online.
• • No evidence is kept at the point of marriage – no video or audio recordings – once a marriage certificate is attained the following impact on wills is almost impossible to challenge.
• • Registrars have responsibility for judgment of mental capacity on the day. These persons may not have training on dementia or mental capacity.
• • There is an absence of joined up safeguarding between different relevant organisations and an absence of standardised safeguarding or mental capacity training.

(* Credit: Hourglass March 2022)

www.predatorymarriage.uk

www.justiceforjoan.com

www.facebook.com/predatorymarriage

info@predatorymarriage.uk

This information may be downloaded here

Steve Johnson

Living Generously Adviser

steve.johnson@derby.anglican.org | 01332 278151

Living Generously can present us with a challenge, especially when we feel we have limited resources.

But we are disciples of a generous God, who gives unconditionally and who reassures us that ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35).

Knowing how to give can also be puzzling and sometimes we need someone to walk along with us as we discover how to enable generosity in ourselves, our congregations, and our communities.

As the Living Generously Adviser, I am here to support everyone in exploring generosity, whether priest, parishioner, or PCC.

Beginning a journey of generous discovery requires us to be equipped with all those tools which assist us in unlocking new ways of enabling generosity, or that give us fresh perspectives in nurturing existing areas, allowing generosity to flourish.

A busy world can be distracting, asking more of us than we know how to deal with, and so understanding the needs of our churches and our communities can be perplexing.

Communicating the impact generosity has, both inside and outside of our congregations makes a huge difference in the trust we build up, and the ability to transform lives through giving.

Inspiring generosity beyond our churches, reaching out to disciple others, creating and nurturing a generous culture by embedding that which God provides without condition: generosity with time, attention, wealth, talents, possessions, reputation and comfort.

Putting into action all of those mechanisms which increase the profile of generosity and raise it to be higher on our priorities.

With resources to enable all these things, the Living Generously Adviser will support you in enabling and sustaining a generous culture in your church, whether it be through Generosity Away-Days, running a generosity campaign, advising on giving mechanisms or contactless donation devices, Parish Giving Scheme, legacy giving, or any other aspect of generosity, we’re here to help.

Thank you for all you do for your church.