Our Vision

Aspire… to Inspire…  a Desire… in JESUS!

March 2002                    No 9

Looking Forward – Looking Back !!

As I sit at my computer to write this piece for the Our Vision newsletter, I am Looking Forward and Looking Back !!
You see it’s the 14th of February and I am thinking about a Sunday service, and by the time you read this I will have done it or in fact be doing it. Let me explain, on the 3rd of March I am doing a pulpit exchange with Hazel Grove Methodist Church. The Church I was brought up in, my first love of Methodism. The Church where I came to faith in, and started teaching and then preaching in. It would be easy for me to become slightly dewy eyed and remember the happy times I had there. The huge Sunday school (200+), the large Christian youth club entitled AIM (Advance Into Methodism) which had such a great impact on even me had a waiting list. Then of course I can well remember the Sunday congregation of 300+ etc, etc. Looking back I could go on and on and on and on.
At present, my mum is one of the stewards there, and I know that it is no longer the Church it used to be. No longer is it bulging at the seams with a mixed and varied Church family. I could go their and look back, reminisce about the past, but I won’t, I will not. Instead I want to challenge them to Look Forward, yes look to the past, build on the past, but look forward, realise what New Work, New challenges need to be undertaken. Most of all, have a Vision, of what God wants them to do in the future for His Kingdom.
I wonder, how are we continuing to Look Forward in the life of our Churches in this circuit. We cannot I believe be dewy eyed about the past, we have to recognise the challenge of the present and Get on with it !! We must have a Vision of what we can become, and if that means further changes in circuit structures, staffing, even buildings lets Do It !! Let’s do it now !! Because the opposite of doing it, is doing nothing. That cannot and must not happen. I am of the firm belief, that if we do not take some further tuff decisions, even radical steps in the life of our circuit, we will look back in the future, and wonder at what could have been.
So, how can we as a circuit, as Churches and as individual members, enable the work of God to become more effective in this area. What sacrifices for Christ will we make, as we remember his ultimate sacrifice on the cross, at this season of Easter. What work, what Vision will be fulfilled in our lives, in the life of our Churches and our Circuit, not tomorrow, but Today!!                                                                                                                                  Yours in Christ – Mark Coles

Hope for Romania…
….  Is a local organisation that takes relief aid directly to families in western Romania.  Last year the Harvest Gifts from Clowne were sent by this route for distribution to the needy.
Our contact with this organization was made through the Sheffield Christian Education Council and is Arnold Corley from Norton in Sheffield.  We asked Arnold if he would visit Clowne to tell us more about his trips to Romania and he is coming on Monday 25 March at 6.30pm.  The meeting is open to all, and we hope that we can involve other churches in the circuit (and the other denominations in Clowne) in getting together more aid for his next visit to Romania.  In addition to food, he collects lots of different goods to take with him for distribution to the needy in Romania.  Below is a list of items that he mentioned – you may have some of them tucked away somewhere that you don’t need!!
Basic Foods – (Flour, pasta, Canned Beans or Fish (a luxury to them) but no spicy or flavoured items), toiletries, flannels, towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo etc. 
He is also collecting teen and adult underwear for a programme run by a Romanian contact.  This programme is designed to help people in prison – young street children (usually in prison for begging or petty theft) who do not own one single pair of pants!
Arnold also collects cash donations – to purchase Bibles printed locally in Romania – they cost about £5 each.
It would be a wonderful gesture if we could send him back home from Clowne with a car full of goods ready for his next visit.
Please make the effort and come along to meet Arnold on the 25 March and help us with our collection of goods for him to take to Romania in April.

WORSHIP LEADERS – TRAINING COURSE
Starting on 5 April at 7.30 pm at Brimington Hall Road, a seven week course of training for interested people is being run by Revd David Whitehouse.  This course is intended for stewards and others nominated by the church council to take on the role of worship leader, but it is equally useful for interested volunteers.  They too may then receive church council support for appointment as worship leaders in their local church.
The course ideally needs six participants to run, so if you are interested please contact David, Peter or Mark.

HILLSTOWN
the church at Hillstown is 100 years old this year.  The friends there have arranged a number of events to celebrate – not forgetting the Circuit United service which will be on 17 March at 6.00pm when we welcome “Jack” Bingham back to the circuit. 
The celebrations start at 7.00 pm on Saturday 16 March with a concert by the Mission Choir – no charge but a collection will be taken.
The church will be open on 6th and 7th July for a display of memorabilia.
Any further events will be publicised in later newsletters.

Safeguarding of Children and Young People
AND anyone who works with children in the circuit.  January and February this year has seen two days of informal getting together for some of our church representatives to share experiences of Child Safety issues.  On 16 January, a group of Bolsover members together with other members of the circuit met at Hilltop in order to understand Methodist policies on ‘Safeguarding’ more clearly.  All were involved in some way or other with the care of children and young adults, as well as very small babies who come onto church premises every week in order to take part in worship or other activities.  This was the fifth meeting of this kind, and this year we felt led to share with other members of the circuit.
A specialist in child protection who is also a committed Christian as well as a lay reader in the Anglican Church led the day.  With participation from everyone, many questions were answered on how to cope with the various aspects of child abuse when it is suspected, or when matters of concern were disclosed by either a child or adult; what to do and what not to do, how to handle the situation correctly and how to handle it incorrectly.  No one needed have any fears of what was going to be discussed, neither was anyone expected to join in with the discussion.  In fact there was no need to worry at all!
The day ended all too quickly, and everyone agreed that it had been both informative and worthwhile and recommended that everyone involved with children in whatever capacity, should not miss the opportunity to attend future sessions.
This year, two further dates have been arranged – 2 and 9 November – both on Saturdays.  Unfortunately we are limited to 15 people at each session so you are advised to book as early as possible.  (The venue has yet to be arranged – it will depend on where the participants are from).  Contact Hazel Bullock at Bolsover or Sheila Green at Clowne (tel: 811232) to book your place.
We, as a circuit, are well advanced in the provisions put in place for Safeguarding – but we are not there yet!  Workers need to declare their suitability by signing the Safeguarding Form A; others with access to our premises (key holders) the Form B (a supply of which form is now held in the circuit office).  The third stage in the process is to write job descriptions for all workers with children so that they are aware of the work they are expected to do (and in some cases not do!).  A lot of hard work by Bolsover has been taken on board and a number of church representatives attended a workshop at Staveley to discuss these job descriptions and, thanks to more than a little help from their friends, went away clutching the finished sheets for their own church ready to be taken to the post holders for signing…  We hope that all the churches will catch up before the forthcoming circuit meeting!

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life  
The cross is unquestionably the badge of the Christian Faith.  That, in itself, is remarkable since it was the most cruel form of execution known in an ancient world until it was eventually banned in the 5th century AD.
What society has as it’s symbol a horrifying instrument of torture and death especially when the marks of that society are meant to be love and peace.  Somebody once expressed the curious paradox about the cross in this way:

The cross is a picture of violence, yet the key to peace.
The cross is a picture of suffering, yet a key to healing.
The cross is a picture of death, yet the key to life.
The cross is a picture of weakness, yet the key to power.
The cross is a picture of punishment, yet the key to forgiveness.
The cross is a picture of hatred, yet the key to love.
The cross is a picture of supreme shame, yet the Christian’s supreme boast.

                                                                      Submitted by Jean Moss

A Word to the wise….
Especially to our ladies in the plan.  Some twelve months ago a “gentleman“ living in the Staveley area was pestering a few members with a story of being a Methodist who had hit hard times.  He has got hold of a plan for the Chesterfield circuit and has recently made begging calls to some lady local preachers in Chesterfield and his manner was not pleasant.  We hope that he has stopped this practice, but I know he had one of our plans last year!…….

District Events
We have been notified about two District events in March.  First, as advertised last month, was to be a District Prayer Day on 9 March – Face to Face.  This has been cancelled – due to lack of support. 
Still on as far as we know is the District Day – A Global Perspective on Saturday 23 March at Victoria Hall.  All churches have had information including registration forms for this event – ask your stewards for further information.

Sheffield District Children’s Event
The Rotherham circuit is hosting a fun day for children aged 7-12 and their leaders on Saturday 13 July.  An exciting programme will be put on for the children whilst leaders are able to attend workshops on creative ways of working with children.  The cost will be £2.50 per child – accompanying leaders free!  Every church should have had a poster and reply card but if you haven’t seen it contact Caroline Riley at Victoria Hall (0114 281 2733) to register interest – the deadline is TOMORROW!!

Old Time Musical Hall
Our friends at Barlborough are busy preparing for their Old Time Music Hall presentation.  There will be performances on Friday 22 March, Saturday 23 March, Friday 5 April and Saturday 6 April.  Tickets are available by ringing Audrey on 811654.

Other Events Notified
Sunday 28 April is the date for a service for all the churches in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to celebrate inter-church fellowship and unity.  This has been organised by the Churches Together in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire at Sutton in Ashfield United Reform Church at 6.30 pm.  For more information ring the Counties’ Ecumenical Development Officer - 01629 760857.
Our Anglican friends invite us to “A Party In The Park” (Chatsworth Park that is) on Saturday 22 June to help celebrate the 75th anniversary of the diocese of Derby.  The Archbishop of Canterbury will be preaching at evening worship.  The day is from 11 am until 6 pm and entry is ticket only (should be available from your local Anglican Church) - £4 each.  Further details in the circuit office.

 Circuit Meetings and Other Church Events  

March 2002

   1  Lenten Lunch                                     11.30 am      Staveley
Local Preachers Meeting                  7.30 pm        Duckmanton
   8  Network District Day                          11.00 am      Victoria Hall
   8  Lenten Lunch                                     11.30 am      Staveley
   8  Circuit Prayer Meeting                       7.30 pm        Inkersall
10  Outreach Prayer Meeting                  7.00 pm        Barlborough
13  G P Meeting                                       7.30 pm        Brimington
15  Lenten Lunch                                     11.30 am      Staveley
16  Mission Choir concert                        7.00 pm        Hillstown
17  Men’s Sunday                                    10.30 am      Staveley
18  Circuit Prayer Meeting                       7.30 pm        Barlborough
20  Circuit Meeting                                   7.30 pm        Staveley
22  Lenten Lunch                                     11.30 am      Staveley
23  Tea and Easter music                                             Staveley
24  Outreach Prayer Meeting                  7.00 pm        Barlborough

April 2002

   5  Circuit Prayer Meeting                       7.30 pm        Clowne
15  Sisterhood Rally                                3.00 pm        Clowne
19 Circuit Prayer Meeting                       7.30 pm        Hillstown
22  Sisterhood Rally                                2.45 pm        Barrow Hill
23  Network Quiet Day                             10 am – 4 pm   Bawtry Hall
24  Network Quiet Day                             10 am – 4 pm  Whirlow Grange
28  Easter Offering Service                    3.00 pm        Barrow Hill
29 Circuit Prayer Meeting                       7.30 pm        Staveley