Our Vision

Newsletter of the Bolsover and Staveley Circuit 

December 2001   No 7

Theology through films!!!

Since last month’s article by Mark on the subject, there has been no feedback – surely someone out there has a view, and perhaps a few of you would like to watch a film or two to see the Christian message that exists in some of the most unlikely places!  Please contact Mark if you would like to join in this project.

Barrow Hill

NO NOT DEAD, PERHAPS A LITTLE QUIET!

You might like to know of the things the folk at Barrow Hill will be getting up to before Christmas.
As part of our outreach we shall be joining the local luncheon club on 4 December to share a meal with them and to take the message of Christmas to them through singing carols.  Later in the month we are going back to school – to help and join in their Christmas concert.  This is over two afternoons – after some practice, it’s good to be with the children, and enjoyable too!  On 16 December we shall be holding our candlelit carol service, which Revd Mark Coles will lead.  This has been well attended over the years and we look forward to that again this year. 
The ladies will be holding a “breaking up” Christmas party when all our church members are invited.  Along with carols and entertainment, it will be an opportunity to wish two members a happy 80th Birthday.
Also as part of the outreach we are supporting Unit 10 in Chesterfield – providing non-perishable goods for the homeless.  This is an on-going project, which is very much appreciated. 
As I write, we look forward to welcoming the Staveley Men’s Fellowship Choir to celebrate our own choir anniversary on 25 November at 3.00 pm.
With good wishes for a Happy Christmas and a great New Year – from all at Barrow Hill.                                                                                               Jean Moss

Donkey Derby

A small group from Clowne went to Donkey Derby for the weekend 9-11 November (NO we weren’t in the pub on Whittington Moor!).  This was the title given to this year’s MAYC provincial weekend held in the Nottingham and Derby District.
At first we thought that the organisation had collapsed – not finding out anything of where we were staying or what we would be doing until a week or so before we were due to go – but it turned out to be one of the best weekends we have been on with a mixture of Christian and secular entertainment!  We must thank our hosts at Holbrook Moor for the use of their church floor.
The next opportunity to sleep on the boards will be in July next year when Breakout is in Birmingham.  We can thoroughly recommend it to any 13 – 26 year old, so contact your youth leaders (or me at the circuit office) to get places booked – it would be good to make a circuit trip again.

New Brimington

Mount Tabor has launched an appeal to replace the existing chairs in the church whilst retaining the remaining pews.  These chairs will cost £55 each.  The church has also been made more “wheelchair friendly” by replacing the old door from chapel to the schoolroom by double doors on the level.  Any offers of help with the appeal – see Mr David Slater, Thank You.

Barlborough

On Saturday 8 December at Barlborough Chapel, we shall be officially opening our NEW Disabled facility. It will commence at 12:30 pm with the cutting of a ribbon, followed by a faith lunch and then a film show of the Prince of Egypt.
The project total was £6,000 and involved the moving and upgrading of the central heating boiler, converting the old boiler room and toilet into one large modern toilet (no longer do we have to go outside to go to the toilet). It has been a great team effort by all involved and to mention them all would take too long and they know who they are. We wish to thank all those who contributed in anyway to this project, and acknowledge especially those organisations listed below:

Derbyshire Churches and Chapels Preservation Trust
(Administers the Waste Reclamation Fund)
Bolsover District Council
Manchester Property Committee
Sheffield District
Bolsover and Staveley Circuit

 Once again many thanks, and we hope to see some of you there !!

Revd. Mark Coles

Welcome Lord Jesus

”What a wonderful surprise Lord!”  I flung the door wide open.  “Do come in”, as he walked past the telephone, I remembered my frequent gossipy calls.  The colour in my face rose.  He didn’t say anything but I saw the wounded look in his eye.  “Come into the sitting room”, I said but the TV was on and I didn’t want him to see the movie I had been watching so I added “on second thoughts, come into the kitchen while I make us some coffee.”  He didn’t say anything but I knew he was hurt.  While he sat at the kitchen table I realised how few people I have invited home.  I always meant to ask them over but….  He didn’t say anything and I avoided his eye.  He looked at the car parked outside: “I call it the Lord’s car”, I told him proudly, “It’s only insured for me to drive but if I’ve got time (which isn’t very often) I’ll take anybody anywhere”.  He smiled and I realised just how silly that sounded.  I changed the subject, “While you’re here”, I said, “I’ll take you upstairs”.  I didn’t want him to see my expensive pills, potions and lotions in the bathroom… He didn’t say anything but I closed the door.  We stopped outside my favourite room, the one place where I relax by myself.  As usual, I didn’t invite him in.  He didn’t say anything but I hung my head in shame.  “Everything is so cluttered Lord”, I mumbled, “I’m not ready for you yet.  Can you come back when I’ve tidied up?”  He put his hand gently on my shoulder and smiled.  “Shall we do it together, Child?”

CIRCUIT DIARY

Circuit Meetings and Other Church Events

 December 2001

    3   Circuit Prayer Meeting                     7.30 pm     Hillstown
    7   Network Christmas Market              10.00 am   Victoria Hall
  14   Circuit Prayer Meeting                     7.30 pm     Staveley
  15   Circuit Carol Service                        6.00 pm     Staveley

January 2002

    4   Circuit Prayer Meeting                     7.30 pm     Barrow Hill
  14   Circuit Prayer Meeting                     7.30 pm     Clowne
  25   Circuit Prayer Meeting                     7.30 pm     Bolsover 

February 2002

    3   Circuit Safeguarding Workshop      2.00 pm     Staveley Office
    4   Circuit Prayer Meeting                     7.30 pm     Brimington Common
  15   Circuit Prayer Meeting                     7.30 pm     New Brimington
  25   Circuit Prayer Meeting                     7.30 pm     Brimington

On 16 December:

Brimington at 10.45 Carol Praise led by Mr Darryl Beresford
Barrow Hill at 6.00 Candlelit Carols led by Revd Mark Coles,
Bolsover at 6.00 Carol Service led by Revd Peter Cross,
Clowne at 6.00 Candlelit Carols (Own Arrangement)
Duckmanton at 6.00 Carol Service (Own Arrangement)

On 23 December:

Brimington Common at 10.15 Family Carols led by Lucie and Neil Hutson
Staveley at 10.30 Carol Service (Own Arrangement)
New Brimington at 4.00 Candlelit Carols (Own Arrangement)
Hillstown at 6.00 (Own Arrangement)
Brimington Common at 6.00 Candlelit Carols (Own Arrangement)
Inkersall at 6.00 Carol Service led by the Choir
Barlborough at 6.00 Carol Praise (Own Arrangement)
Brimington at 6.00 Carol Service led by Rev Peter Cross

On 24 December:

Staveley at 11.30 pm  (Own Arrangement)
Clowne at 11.30 pm led by Rev Mark Coles (HC)
Brimington Common at 11.30 pm led by Rev Peter Cross (HC)

And On 25 December:

Duckmanton at 9.15 led by Rev Peter Cross
Inkersall at 10.00 led by Rev Mark Coles
New Brimington at 10.00 (Own Arrangement)
Bolsover at 10.30 led by the Worship Leaders
Brimington at 10.30 led by Rev Peter Cross

Brimington will also be holding a watchnight service at 11.30 pm on 31st December.

There will not be a newsletter over the Christmas and New Year period, so may I take this opportunity of wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a joyful New Year