Frequently, the return of children to school in early September marks a new term for many churches across the city. This is reflected in the wide range of activities and training courses shared by you in this month's enews. 

The Conservative Party return again to the city for their annual conference in early October. There is an open invitation to attend a service at Birmingham City Church on Sunday 2 October at 5.00pm (5.30pm start) to show hospitality to delegates and cabinet members attending the conference. Organised with the Conservative Christian Fellowhips, the theme chosen is: Serving Jesus, Serving the Nation, Serving You. 

Deadline for contributions to the next enews is 10.00am, Monday 17 October. It will include an events listing to the end of November.

The deadline for the next printed edition of BEN is 5.00pm on Tuesday 20 September to fall in line with our new 4 monthly cycle of September, January and May.   

Send contributions for the website, enewsletter and BEN to: enquiries@birminghamchurches.org.uk

With best wishes

Revd Colin Marsh
Ecumenical Development Officer
& Abi Nicholls
Communications and Admin Officer
Birmingham Churches Together

12.39 - 1.15pm Wednesday 14 September

St Thomas Peace Garden, Bath Row, B15 1LZ

For the 6th successive year the Birmingham faith leaders’ group is marking their anniversary with a short service for peace.

For more...

6.00pm - 9.00pm Thursdays beginning 15th September (final session on Thursday 8th December)

An opportunity to get to know people of different faiths and gain an accredited qualification as a Faith Guide.

For more...

7.45am Saturday 17 September

Start at Severn Lock in Worcester at 7.45am, arriving at Birmingham City Centre around 7.30pm

Join us and walk the entire length of the Birmingham Worcester Canal: 50k to celebrate 50 years of Birmingham City Mission..

For more...

10.00am - 7.00pm Saturday 17 September

Bethel Convention Centre, Kelvin Way, B70 7JW

This all day Empowering Women’s event will include various gospel artists, high praises and worship and we will hear from some of the Kingdom’s finest women conference speakers!

For more...

12:30pm Saturday 17 September

Park Lane, London

An important opportunity to show our Government and the world before the Summit on Refugees and Migrants that Britain is ready to welcome more refugees.

For more...

3.30pm Sunday 18th September

Holy Trinity Church, Birchfield

A day of remembrance for enslaved ancestors

For more...

Mondays 19th September, 26th September & 3rd October

Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull

Training sessions on chaplaincy at work

For more...

7.30pm Wednesday 21 September

All Saints Church, Kings Heath, B14 7RA

An ecumenical service to pray for peace.

For more...

12:30 - 1:30pm Wednesdays 21 September, 5 & 19 October & 2 November

The Queen's Foundation

Study sessions on "Healing Agony" by Stephen Cherry (Dean of King's College, Cambridge)

For more...

7.30 - 9.30pm Thursdays 22 & 29 September & 6 October

Carrs Lane Conference Centre, B4 7SX

Training sessions for those interested in refugee issues or befriending.

For more...

Friday 23 & Saturday 24 September

Every year, hundreds of our awesome volunteers take to the streets of Birmingham to raise as much money as they can during the ‘Big Brum Bucket Collection’.

For more...

7.00 - 9.00pm Friday 23 September

YMCA Chris Bryant Centre, Erdington, B23 6DF

A night of Jazz, Blues, Reggae & Gospel with Millicent Stephenson & band.

For more...

9.30am - 4.00pm Saturday 24 September

Zion Christian Centre, Halesowen, B63 3AJ

Connecting, Equipping and Encouraging Christians working in the addiction field across the United Kingdom.

For more...

10:00am - 4.00pm Friday 30 September

MakeLunch training days are designed to give a small team from your church all the information and support needed to open a Lunch Kitchen in their community.

For more...

5.30pm Sunday 2 October

Birmingham City Church, Parade, B1 3QQ

Join Cabinet Members for the annual Conservative Party Conference Church Service with The Conservative Christian Fellowship

For more...

Friday 7 - Sunday 9 October

Lichfield Cathedral

A weekend of talks and events focusing on Palestine/Israel.

For more...

Saturday 8 October

Coton Centre, Tamworth, B79 9AA

Singers, instrumentalists and augience are welcome to this musical-in-a-day event.

For more...

7.00pm Saturday 8 October

Birmingham Town Hall

With speaker Peter Maiden & Birmingham Community Gospel Choir

For more...

5.00 - 7.00pm Mondays beginning 10 October (for 6 weeks)

CIGB, 1 Colmore Row, B3 2BJ

This course is for people who are interested in voluntary workplace chaplaincy in one of the 15 existing workplace chaplaincy teams across Birmingham and Solihull.

For more...

7.00pm Tuesday 11 October

St Martin in the Bull Ring, B5 5BB

Progressive Christianity Network Britain has arranged for Brian McLaren to undertake a national tour in October and one of the venues is in Birmingham.

For more...

Saturday 15 October

We are registered Care for the Family’s Facilitators in the West Midlands and offer ‘Marriage By Design’ – a one day marriage preparation course. This excellent resource gives couples the opportunity to develop skills & address issues which will enhance their relationship and lay the foundations for a fulfilling life together.

For more...

2.00 - 6.00pm, Saturday 15 October

Birmingham ICC

World Prayer Centre will be uniting with Hope, gather, Open Doors, Care for the Family, Redeeming our Communities and the Cinnamon Network as well as prayer organisations and 3000 Christians from across the United Kingdom.

For more...

10.00am - 2.30pm Monday 17 October

St Peter & St Paul's Church, Coleshill, B46 3AD

A preparation day entitled "Am I being unfair to you?"

For more...

10.00am - 4.00pm, Tuesday 18 October

Jericho Foundation, 196-198 Edward Road, B12 9LX

A one day workshop to equip your staff and volunteers with tools, resources, knowledge and confidence to talk to clients/service users about their unemployment and offer help, practical support, signposting advice and encouragement as additional support for your clients.

For more...

8.00 - 9.30am, Wednesday 19 October

Frankie and Benny's Castle Gate Park, Dudley

The breakfast will provide an amazing opportunity for you to find out new ways of reaching your community with the good news of Jesus through the work of Christians Against Poverty (capuk.org), whilst enjoying a Free Full-English breakfast.

For more...

7.00pm Thursday 20 October

Birmingham & Midland Institute, B3 3BS

Closing the gap between legality and morality on international tax.

For more...

10.00am - 4.00pm Saturday 29 October

The Church at Carrs Lane

Bishop Jack Spong will lecture on Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy.

For more...

A reminder: the contents of this enews do not necessarily reflect the considered views of BCT Trustees or all its member churches. Events are shared in good faith on the basis they are open to Christians of all traditions.

The following are listed on the vacancies page of our website.

• Operations Coordinator: Poverty Truth Commission
• Lead Facilitator- Consultancy: Poverty Truth Commission
• Front of House Receptionist: Nishkam Centre
• Community Programme Coordinator: Selly Oak Live at Home Scheme
• Administrator/Team Organiser: Karis Neighbour Scheme
• Family & Children's Minister: Shirley Baptist Church

Reachout Network Ministries: Translators of Eastern European languages are needed, particularly Polish and Romanian.

They Also Served Get involved with a HLF funded project by Churches Together in England that will bring alive the contributions of African and Caribbean servicemen in the First World War.

The Springfield Project: looking for befrienders for their new Neighbour Scheme.

Thrive Together Birmingham offers a range of volunteering opportunities with churches/organisations in Birmingham/Solihull.

TLG: looking for volunteers for their Yardley Wood education centre.