Our Vision
Aspire… to Inspire… a Desire… in JESUS!
April 2002 No 10
I have learned over the years that what seem at first sight to be problems are much less likely to cause you loss of sleep and anxiety if you think of them as opportunities in disguise. I want to use Our Vision this month, therefore to tell you of a disguised opportunity in our circuit.
This opportunity has arisen because we do not have enough Local Preachers to fill all our preaching appointments. Many churches have commented on the large number of own arrangements that we ask you to accept each quarter. We sympathise entirely, and when David makes the plan, he agonises for many hours (quite literally) over how to spread the load across the churches as fairly as possible. The situation has been exacerbated by the recent resignation of a Local Preacher and illness among others which have prevented them being able to accept as many appointments as before. As I write this letter, there could be as many as 40 services on the next plan for which we cannot find a preacher.
There are a number of ways in which we can respond to this situation. We could ask our preachers not to accept appointments outside the circuit and to offer to take more services for us. I am against this because I believe it does not face up to the challenge and merely transfers our difficulty to someone else. Also we rely heavily on help from preachers from other circuits ourselves. It is good for the development and personal growth of a preacher to have as wide an experience of different situations as possible.
We could suggest that Churches join together, as some already have, to cut down the number of services we have to cover. I am all in favour of this on a voluntary basis and would actively encourage churches to consider it, but I do not feel it should be imposed from above at this stage.
So how can we respond to this challenge? What is the opportunity that is being presented to us? Well I believe that YOU might be able to help. Yes, I’m talking to you, the person reading this letter! We are looking for people who feel that at the moment they are not doing enough for God, but at the same time cannot think of anything more that they could do. We are looking for people who would be willing to become Readers.
If you have the ability to read this letter out loud to someone else, then you have got what it takes to be a Reader. A Reader is neither a Local Preacher nor a Worship Leader. There is no studying involved. The time commitment is very small. You do not have to go on courses or start reading theological books. Each quarter Readers will be given a complete service prepared by someone else. This will include all prayers written out in full, all the hymns and a sermon or meditation of some kind. All that we ask of you is that you agree to take that service to a number of Churches in the circuit, enter the pulpit and read it to the congregation. What could be simpler? You do not have to prepare the service, that is done for you, often by well known preachers from the connexion. All the reader has to do is deliver it. Your name would appear on the plan as a Reader and you would simply offer the number of appointments that was convenient to you. I will personally give you every support that I can.
I believe that there are people in the Circuit whom God is calling into this ministry, and I urge you to get in touch with me as soon as possible so that we can talk further about it. Please feel free to contact me for more information without any obligation.
Every Blessing, Peter
Please Note that Peter’s Address until July at the earliest is:
***************************, and his phone number is ****************.
Looking Back !!
In the early 1950’s I was stationed at the Albert Hall in Manchester, the main haIl seated about 2000 people and the regular Sunday Evening congregation was over 1000. Once each month we had a meeting called “Saturday Night at the Albert”. On these occasions the hall was filled to overflowing, many hundreds of people committed their lives to Christ at those meetings and staff and trained councillors would he engaged until quite late. It was very soul searching work but one felt that Jesus was very present and it was a privilege to listen to those whom He had called, and to pray with them surrendering each time oneself again to Christ.
Another meeting we had concerned our local congregation. This meeting was called “Manchester for Christ” All those who were concerned met once a month to discuss the work of God. We talked about the needs that were around about us-—Piccadilly was well known as a pick up place for prostitutes, there were young people in the coffee bars; the pubs were the refuge of many sad and lonely people. Amongst our own congregation there were those who were house bound or sick. We were one of the first calling places for people discharged from prison. As we talked together about all these needs that were around us we shared also any new problems or opportunities that we were aware of.
The meetings were divided into groups and each group volunteered to work on a particular project to which they felt the best suited. One group would visit certain pubs, sit and talk with the men or women there — not to rob the publican of his trade! But simply to let people talk about their hurts and loneliness. I along with some young people went into the coffee bars and got into conversation with young people there. A group of men along with some older women would speak to the women on the streets--a very difficult assignment. Other groups involved themselves in more domestic matters like visiting the housebound, sick or lapsed members.
Once each month we met to report on what we had done and what our experiences had been and to support each other in prayer and fellowship. Many times, tears were shed as we listened to the stories that were told, our own faith was challenged and deepened, sometimes we had really had to wrestle with evil alongside some poor lost and broken soul. Sometimes our people got hurt as when a couple took a homeless man into their home, only to find the next morning that he had robbed them and departed,
They said, “It does not matter---one day he will remember that we told him that ‘Jesus loves him’ and we loved him too.”
The society in which we live is still riddled with all kinds of problems. There are still lonely people in the pubs, still girls--some very young on the streets. There are lonely old people everywhere. There is so much immorality from TV. and Internet, it is like a whirlpool into which people can get sucked and form habits and associations difficult to break. The sale and use of drugs is rife amongst us. We are aware, we do care — but what does God want us to do about it?
Sister Elizabeth Richards
HOPE FOR ROMANIA
As advertised last month, the folk at Clowne had Mr Arnold Corley to speak at an open meeting about his work taking aid to Western Romania. It was good to see gifts and representatives from so many circuit churches and the other denominations in Clowne at the meeting. Arnold has been taking aid across to Romania twice a year for eleven years and we thank everyone who supports him in this valuable work. His next visit will be in April, so the many gifts of food and toiletries etc. which we were able to send away with him will be in use within the next few weeks! The harvest collection at Clowne will again be sent to Romania in October. Thank you once more to all who came along or sent gifts.
NCH Sunday
On Sunday 14 July NCH will be celebrating 133 years of helping the children who need it most. The theme for this year’s NCH Sunday is “Adoption”.
NCH has been finding families for vulnerable children for well over a century and the work still continues, with most of the children helped today being those who have undergone considerable damage to their young lives through abuse, neglect, disability or illness. Of the 55,000 children in care only 4% are adopted each year. NCH expects the cost of adoption services to be around £200,000 this year and is dependant on the support of the church and individuals to continue to operate. Please support the work through regular donations in the NCH boxes and by giving generously on NCH Sunday. The circuit representative for NCH is Graham Newton in Bolsover. He will be able to assist if you need further information on how to help NCH.
SISTERHOOD ANNIVERSARIES
Barrow Hill and Clowne Sisterhoods both hold their anniversary rallies in April. First comes Clowne on the 14th April when the preachers are Mrs Vera Brown (morning) and Mrs Jean Feneley (evening). The Monday rally at 3.00 pm has Rev Nicola Jones (superintendent at Bakewell) as the speaker, followed by tea (please give numbers for tea by 8th April). The following week, 21st April, Barrow Hill’s service at 3.00 pm will be led by Mrs Pauline Cross. The Monday Rally at 2.45 pm has Rev Ayshe Erdal as the speaker and again will be followed by tea (price 75p).
HILLSTOWN
The Circuit United service held on 17 March at Hillstown to celebrate the 100th Anniversary welcomed “Jack” Bingham back to the circuit. The church was full to overflowing – we were queueing to get in at 5.40 pm! – and it was a wonderful time of sharing for all the churches in the circuit. More circuit services are planned –if you haven’t been to one of the united services, come along - they are an excellent time for getting together, for seeing the other churches in our circuit, for meeting preachers we might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet, and for easing the problems of plan making!
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.
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.
Cliff College’s annual Celebration Weekend on 24-26 May will include a special one-off musical event this year. The terrace will be transformed into a Concert arena for the performance by two Christian Bands – “Yfriday” and “One Hundred Hours” (I’ve seen Yfriday at MAYC in the past and they are good!). Tickets are limited so book early (£4 each in advance by telephone – 01246 582321 extension 121, or write to: the event, c/o Paul Critchley, Cliff College, Calver, Hope Valley, Sheffield S32 3XG.)
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
April 2002
5 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Clowne
5 Old Time Music Hall Barlborough
6 Old Time Music Hall Barlborough
15 Sisterhood Rally 3.00 pm Clowne
19 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Hillstown
21 Start of Alpha Course 7.00 pm Barlborough VH
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
May 2002
10 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Barrow Hill
20 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Barlborough
24-26 Celebration Weekend Cliff College
25 The Event – Christian Rock Music 6.30 pm Cliff College
To our Local Preachers: Please note that the next Local Preachers meeting which was arranged for 21 June at Bolsover has had to be rearranged – it will now take place on Friday 28 June (still 7.30 at Bolsover)