CPAS

We at CPAS are very sad to announce the tragic death of Kathy and Steve Burch, who were struck by a car on Wednesday 28 August 2024 while walking along Beaumaris Pier on the Isle of Anglesey.

Kathy Burch served as PA to the CPAS Patronage Secretary for over 17 years and had just retired at Christmas. During her years at CPAS, Kathy was instrumental to the appointment of hundreds of clergy across 692 CPAS patronage parishes throughout England. She developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of dioceses and parishes, bishops, archdeacons and clergy and took a personal interest in us all. She was not only an accomplished administrator, but she also brought her deeply prayerful and even prophetic faith into her daily work.

Steve served as a vicar in the Diocese of Coventry for over 35 years and was well known to many at CPAS, speaking most recently on the CPAS staff prayer day in 2023.

Kathy and Steve’s untimely deaths have come as a devastating shock to many and our thoughts and prayers are especially with their children David, Jonathan and Sarah, and their families at this time.

We give thanks for the lives of Kathy and Steve Burch who modelled a deeply held Christian faith to us over so many years and we entrust them into the care of their loving heavenly Father.

Photo Credit: Family Facebook post

Are you seeing new faces on a Sunday?

An exciting recent trend shows that churches are seeing more and more people arriving on a Sunday to explore faith.

Join us online on 18 September at 9.30am as Jo McKee explores how churches can grow their welcome to faith-explorers during seasonal events such as Harvest, All Souls and Remembrance.

Book today 👉 https://www.cpas.org.uk/browse-everything/embracing-faith-explorers-our-churches-1-18-september

We’re privileged at CPAS to pray for our patronage churches every day.

Today we lifted up Rev Simon (Hensingham St John the Evangelist with Keekle Mission), Andrew (Houghton St John the Evangelist and Kingmoor), Madi (Ulverston Parish Church) and Shelley (Burslem St Paul).

Want to join us? Download our prayer calendar from our website or use the PrayerMate app 👉 https://www.cpas.org.uk/newsprayers

‘It really was the highlight of my summer.’

That’s officially a wrap on CPAS summer holidays for 2024 🥳 Thank you to every Ventures and Falcons leader who made it possible.

Over too soon? Re-live the memories at our once-in-a-lifetime centenary celebration of CPAS Holidays on 15 November. You don't want to miss this!

👉 www.cpas.org.uk/100years

Today the final CPAS holiday of the summer begins!

We want to say a huge thank you to every leader who makes these holidays so special – we are incredibly thankful for you 🙌

Fancy a team reunion? Celebrate 100 years of CPAS holidays with us on 15 November in Coventry Cathedral 👉 www.cpas.org.uk/100years

We’re passionate about investing in leaders across the Church.

Leading Well, our five-session online course for incumbents, is starting this September. Grow your core leadership skills, explore how to lead a church in mission and find support with fellow leaders.

‘An opportunity not to be missed to explore healthy leadership and positive spiritual self-care with fellow church leaders.’

Book by Friday 6 September 2024 to secure your place. Find out more here 👉 www.cpas.org.uk/leadingwell

‘You forge friendships for life that will never leave you.’
‘Ventures Holidays is like hitting the refresh button on my faith.’
‘I felt like I belonged here and can’t wait for next year!’

Halfway through August and CPAS holidays are in full swing. These life-changing holidays couldn’t happen without your support – thank you for making it all possible!

Join us in praying for the holidays ☀ https://www.cpas.org.uk/newsprayers

We are sad to learn of the passing of the Rt Revd Timothy Dudley-Smith. Bishop Dudley-Smith faithfully served CPAS for 14 years, first as Assistant Secretary (1959 – 1965), and then as General Secretary (1965 – 1973).

His legacy is still felt today. We offer sincere condolences to his family.

During morning prayers, we read his hymn ‘Lord, for the years’. With these beautiful, stirring words, we give thanks for his life and work:

"Lord, for the Years, your love has kept and guided,
Urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
Sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided:
Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today."

It’s been a great planning day for the Comms & Fundraising team!

We've been preparing for some incredible milestones this year, including 100 Years of Ventures & Falcons Holidays.

Come and celebrate with us in Coventry Cathedral this November 👉www.cpas.org.uk/browse-everything/centenary-celebration-cpas-holidays

Did you know the CPAS staff team prays every day at 10.30am for our patronage churches?

Today we prayed for Rev Colin (Mountsorrel Christ Church and St Peter's), Mark (St Thomas' Church), David (St Andrew's, Leyland) and Andy (St John's, Leyland).

Join in and pray with us on our website or download the PrayerMate app 👉 https://www.cpas.org.uk/newsprayers

It’s an exciting day for CPAS! We’re delighted to welcome Beth as our new Communications Officer and Clarissa as she begins in the role of Church Relationship Officer.

We’re thrilled to have you both as part of the team 🎉

Here's to everyone camping at New Wine this weekend. We hope you're enjoying yourselves, fellowship with others and the Lord. Our team are there and loving it. Please do say hi if you see them!

We would like to do a special shout out to all the incredible people who are serving in a church café.

We've spoken to so many churches that are ministering to their communities by providing food, refreshments and loving hospitality, and it comes as no surprise that communities are responding with openness to church and hearing the gospel.

If you are serving at such a place, we bless you, thank you and pray that God continues to work in you, for you and through you. 👏❤️

We would like to give a shout out to our wonderful trustees, who yesterday made the journey (one travelled 160 miles) to spend time with the team and help us discern what God is calling us to in this new season. We are so grateful for you!

It's an exciting day for the team! We're at the shooting some brand new content with the brilliant . Keep an eye on our channels for more - we can't wait to share it with you 🎥

What a week!

Our team have been out across the length and breadth of the country again. From Truro in Cornwall then up to Blackburn and Leeds.

Thanks to everyone who joined us on these days. It was great spending time with you all!

On behalf of the football-loving fans at CPAS, we just want to wish Gareth and our boys the very best tonight! Thanks for all you've done to get us this far! We're right behind you. God bless.

'We bring with us and leave measure of hope with everyone we connect with.'

As Leadership Enablers we get the opportunity to travel across the country delivering training on a wide range of topics affecting churches and parishes. It's not just about delivering the content though. It's about connecting with leaders and instilling with them a greater confidence and hope to continue pursuing their God-given calling and mission.

If this journey inspires why not join us?

https://www.cpas.org.uk/jobs-cpas

It is our pleasure to share with you that His Majesty King Charles III will become the Patron of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, taking over from his mother Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who sadly died in 2022 at the age of 96.

CPAS has benefitted from interest and support from the Royal Household for many decades and we are delighted that the King wishes to continue that relationship.

On behalf of the staff, trustees, clergy, supporters and volunteers who make up the CPAS family, we would like to thank King Charles and express our intent to continue to pray for him and his family as they serve the nation.

Everyone wins when the leader gets better. This past week we have engaged over 150 leaders from across the country through online and in-person training such as the Hereford Leadership course delivered by Jo yesterday!

This is what folks have been saying...

'Thank you!! This has been such a helpful and informative session!'

'Thank you very much for a very helpful and informative meeting.'

'Very energising - thank you!'

'There was excellent material in this. I found it encouraging and uplifting and I am looking forward to being a member of the PCC now!'

For more information about upcoming Leadership events check out

www.cpas.org.uk/events

Nothing like the CPAS Coffee catch up! So great to hear from the team about all that's been happening across the country. To give you a flavour, we've got a School Venture residential happening this weekend; our leadership enablers are up in Hereford delivering training to clergy; and we've launched our Big Give 2024 Campaign!!

Pretty good time to be at CPAS, check out below if you would like to join us 😃
www.cpas.org.uk/jobs-cpas

68% of Churches in the UK have less than five children in them (Youthscape).

It's a sobering statistic. At CPAS, one of our core aspirations is 'Every child the chance to explore Jesus.'

So here are some of the ways we've responded at CPAS to change that.

1) We've offered training and insights to more than 80 churches on how to finance and develop their youth ministries;
'Thank you so much, really helpful'

2) We've offered insights into how to cultivate better relationships with church schools and next week we'll be hosting another webinar on how to ensure every child has a chance to explore Jesus.

check out www.cpas.org.uk/events

3) and of course this summer we will running 69 youth and children's holidays through Ventures and Falcons,

Bookings are still open at www.ventures.org.uk

Never the same day at CPAS! Here is Tim Friend from the volunteer instructors paddle boarding training weekend.

Two days of training so leaders can instruct young people on Ventures this summer.

Fancy being part of the fun, we are looking for a new, enthusiastic, gospel-loving people to join the team.

https://www.cpas.org.uk/jobs-cpas

Great week this week, mainly because we all got to spend so much time with the beloved Graham Archer who sadly will be moving on from CPAS next week! After he led a brilliant prayer day for staff, we took him and the wonderful Di for a lovely dinner to say thanks for 12 years of faithful, wholehearted service to the mission of CPAS. Thank you Graham! You will be greatly missed.

There are 4377 Church of England schools in England. Imagine the possibilities this presents for local churches to connect with their communities. We were honoured to deliver teaching earlier this week at Guildord Clergy Study on how to build great relationships between schools and churches!

What a week! Yesterday, we came to the end of Arrow ALP18 Residential. It's been a intense but fab week. Thanking God for his goodness and faithfulness!

Happy Friday folks! Coffee and cake at the end of another big working week.

The Arrow18 residential is well underway! We love the photos coming through and even the weather looks good. What is Arrow? The Arrow Leadership Programme develops Christian leaders to be led more by Jesus, to lead more like Jesus and lead more to Jesus.

Find out more below.

https://www.cpas.org.uk/browse-everything/arrow-leadership-programme

What a privilege to be part of the Induction service for Rev Henry Kendal last night at St John's, Fareham. These services are always such a highlight for us. Praying for the whole community at St John's, particularly Rev Henry, as together they embark on an exciting new season!