Our Vision
Aspire… to Inspire… a Desire… in JESUS!
October 2002 No 16
Autumn Reflections from the manse
October is a month when there are many changes in the air. The days get shorter and colder; the trees change their summer greenery for multi-coloured autumn apparel which all too soon falls to the ground leaving them stark and bare. The squirrels in our garden are busy looking for the last of the berries and nuts to build up their energy for the long sleep ahead of them and everything begins to slow down, nature preparing for its annual rest. We accept all these changes, albeit with a heavy heart because we know that these events are the herald of the dark days of winter.
We accept the changes because we know that the seasons go in a cycle and however many times we’ve lived through these autumn transformations, there has never been a time when they haven’t been reversed the following spring. Some of you will lived through eighty, ninety or even more autumns and winters but I am confident that no one can tell me of a time when come March or April new life has failed to emerge.
God made a promise to Noah:
As long as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night.
He has kept that promise thousands of times since then and people in Biblical times came to see the cycle of the seasons as a powerful pledge of God’s love and faithfulness. Kings came and went, fortunes waxed and waned; days were sometimes happy and sometimes filled with sorrow and sadness. Sometimes the people were free and for some of the time they suffered under foreign rule, but all of the time whatever changes occurred in the field of politics and history in the background was this constant assurance that God was looking after them and would not forget them. And the God who could bring life out of death was in their mind a God for whom nothing was impossible.
As Christians we do not simply rely on the cycle of the seasons to reassure us of God’s love for we can look back on the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and we can certainly be sure that nothing is impossible for our God.
Autumn is a beautiful season, but its beauty is the sign that the death of winter is inevitable. I have bittersweet feelings towards autumn. I know that it means the days are going to get a bit harder, but I also know that when the hardship of winter is over, it is just as inevitable that spring will return and new life will break out stronger and better than before. Whether it be autumn, winter, summer or spring let us put our faith and hope in God and praise him for his goodness and mercy to us all.
Peace and Joy to you all
Peter
OUR VISION—For Children
This is our vision of bringing Jesus to children who don’t come to Sunday Worship.
During the past year, we have held three sessions (for three different age groups) in our local junior school, of an after-school club held at the school.
Numbering between 25 and 30 children to each session, the children have participated in games, craftwork, dramatising bible passages and watching a video cartoon story of bible times.
The club has been led by Alison Beresford with around 10 helpers each week backed by over 30 prayer supports, each praying for one helper and two children. Group leaders have prayed for their seven or eight group members.
We also held our, now, annual holiday club, mornings for one week when we had 29 children on roll, 16 of who came everyday and six missing only one day—and that because of previous holiday bookings!
Daily totals were never less than 22 children.
Hall Road Church
From the Parish Magazine:
The sermon this morning—”Jesus Walks On The Water” and this evening—”Searching For Jesus”
CIRCUIT SERVICE
The circuit service on 20 October at Bolsover is to enable everyone to come along and hear/meet Dr Roger Haining. Roger is a retired dentist from the USA. He last came over to Bolsover in 1976 when Rev Colin Nowell was the minister, and at that time he came to address the Lay Witness movement which started in Bolsover and has since spread all over the country..
From the Parish Magazine:
“Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don’t forget your husbands.”
SAFEGUARDING
As reported last month, there is to be a “training” day (more of a fellowship with information input!) for those who work with young children in our churches on Saturday 2 November. There are still some places, so to reserve your place (or for more information) please contact Hazel Bullock () or Sheila Green () before 26 October. Since last month, we have been notified of changes in the way that we have to seek information about those who come into contact with children—using the CRB in the same way as workers in schools, child minding, old people’s homes etc. After recent events in Soham and the south of England it is becoming more important to be seen to be doing everything necessary to protect our children. Please therefore consider your position in the church… Do you work with, or come into contact with, children? If so this “training” is for you!
WHAT GOES ON…
Thank you to those churches who have replied, what about the rest? I can now give an expanded weekly diary: (In future months I’ll vary the presentation for you).
MONDAY
2.30 pm Staveley Sisterhood, Inkersall Sisterhood
2.45 pm Bolsover Women's Fellowship, Barrow Hill Ladies Meeting
6.00 pm Clowne Sisterhood
7.30 (occasionally) Clowne PTA, Brimington Common (Alternate weeks) Social Hour / Prayer Group, Inkersall Bible Study, Bolsover (occasionally) Worship Preparation Group
TUESDAY
5.30 pm Staveley Brownies
6.00 pm Bolsover Boys Brigade
7.00 pm Staveley Guides
7.30 pm Brimington Common (Alternate weeks) Fellowship Group, Bolsover (occasionally) Worship Preparation Group
WEDNESDAY
10.00 am Staveley (Alternate weeks) Prayer Meeting at Hayfield Close, 2.00 pm Staveley (Alternate weeks) Wesley Guild,
2.30 pm Brimington Common Sisterhood, Inkersall Bible Study
7.30 pm Barlborough Fellowship
THURSDAY
10.00 am Clowne Prayer Fellowship, Bolsover Community Bible Study
7.30 pm Brimington Common (Alternate weeks) Fellowship Group, Bolsover Community Bible Study at Mr & Mrs Newton’s
FRIDAY
10.00 am Staveley Coffee morning, Staveley Intercessions
10.30 am Bolsover Coffee Morning
6.15 Clowne Junior Club
7.30 Brimington Common Youth Café
7.45 pm Clowne Youth Club
SATURDAY
8.30 am Staveley (3rd Sat in month) Men’s Breakfast,
10.00 am Clowne Coffee Morning,
10.30 am Inkersall Coffee Morning
From the Parish Magazine:
For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a crèche downstairs...
MHA News
A reminder of the new building project in Amber Valley (a nursing/ dementia/residential home), and of regional open days (to be held in Leeds (includes the Hathersage home in their area) on 13 November, Scarborough on 20 November and Newcastle on 5 December). A number of staff and supporters of MHA are also taking part in “The Great North Run” - the Newcastle half-marathon on 6 October, and are seeking sponsorship to raise funds for the work of MHA. A sponsor form is available in your church for your help.
A SPIRITUAL DIET
There are so many excellent aids to worship but I felt that I would like to share with you the things and the routine I find helpful.
DAILY: A quick word with God as I get up—Thank you God for awakening me to a new day. Please bless the hours, protect me from all evil, grant me your guidance and give me health and strength for the day’s opportunities and responsibilities.
Daily reading aids: “Word for Today” (UCB), “Every Day With Jesus” (Selwyn Hughes), “No Easy Peace” (the Methodist Prayer Manual) and our own District Prayer Manual. (These latter two are distributed to all churches for use in the pulpit, but you can order your own copies through the circuit office).
A Time of Prayer: Praise God for all His goodness, feel your heart warm as you reflect on His unfailing love to you. Remember how much He was and is prepared to do to win your love…. That is what He wants most … YOUR LOVE.
Intercessory prayer—not just for peoples well being… their spiritual health is even more important. So is YOURS!
Bible Readings: Of your own choice… but do read all the bible, not just the bits you like!
Radio: 10 minutes to 8 (Radio 4) and Daily Service at 9.45 on Radio 4
Weekly—Something Understood (6.00 am—Radio 4), Morning Service (8.15 am—Radio 4), Favourite Hymns—Roger Royle (8.30 pm—Radio 2) Best Tunes—Alan Keith (9.00 pm–Radio 2).
These are just a few of my favourite things that enrich and comfort me.
Sister Elizabeth Richards
CIRCUIT PRAYER LIST
Most of our churches have a prayer list—people known to us who are in need of God’s care and blessing to see them through a time of illness or difficulty. Some of these folk are known throughout the circuit, and it sometimes comes as a surprise to hear of an illness of a member at another church—maybe weeks later. We shall be using this space to ask you to pray for:
Gwen Cushing, Marjory Henry, Jean and Harry Feneley, Mervyn Stubbins
Partners for Pilgrim’s Way
All churches were given a leaflet asking for volunteers to train as partners for the Pilgrims Way initiative. A reminder that the closing date for applications is next Friday—10 October.
GIVING
“What, Giving again?”
I asked in a daze
And must I keep giving
And giving always?
“Oh no,” said the Angel
Whose eyes pierced me through
Just stop when the Saviour
Stops giving to you!
CIRCUIT DIRECTORY—ERRORS
In Part 2—Addresses.
Please note that in telling my computer to delete all the “Chesterfields” in the address list meant that Gerald and Rita Sawyer’s address is wrongly printed—it should be *****************************************.
The postcode for Elsie Allcock at Hillstown should be **********.
Staveley’s guides and brownies contact phone numbers are: Mrs S Blackwell on ****** and Mrs J Holmes on ******.
THE BUZZ — Stories from around the connexion.
From West Bradford, Clitheroe circuit
We had a ‘spare’ vestry in our chapel at West Bradford. The village post office had been run by a couple from their house. When they gave up, it looked as though the office could not continue. No solution was found until the vestry was offered, and a young mum agreed to staff it two mornings a week, starting in a few weeks. We’re more than happy to help out to provide this vital lifeline for the village. Any more spare vestries in country chapels around?
E-mail contact: rev.chris@tesco.net
Phone contact : Janet Callender 01200 426251 (afternoon)
From King’s Cross, West London Mission
We moved Hinde Street to King’s Cross (an achievement!) for Racial Justice Sunday, and held a service in English and Mandarin, with Liz Fekete of the Institute of Race Relations, David Foo the Chinese minister and Sam Walker from Hinde Street, who runs the Brixton Black History Project. They all spoke about the “Them and Us” theme of Racial Justice Sunday. We ended with a Chinese meal. Coincidentally a student who’d been commended to Hinde Street four years ago turned up for the first time: he’s studying Mandarin!
E-mail contact: Geoff.Cornell@wlm.org.uk
Phone contact: Rev. David Foo 020 7833 1432
From Broad Oak, North Dorset circuit
We have a population of about 130 and a tiny wayside chapel. Four years ago it was near to being closed, after a dismal quinquennial inspection. A couple who lived here but worshipped elsewhere felt it could grow again. Volunteer labour put the place straight. A monthly service began, with personal invitations around the village. Coffee mornings raised some money, and a donation allowed the front to be painted. The congregation has grown to 18 – with more at Christmas! The chapel’s open if you’re passing.
E-mail contact: davidsbridge@lineone.net
Phone contact : Terry and Carol Miller 01258 472401
Other Events Notified
Friday 15 November—Sunday 17 November: A Prayer Conference will be held at the Hayes, Swanwick—Everyone is welcome. The cost is £48 per person per night for rooms but daily rates are also available. I have a booking form in the circuit office if anyone is interested.
Circuit Meetings and Other Church Events
October 2002
4 Network District Day 11.00 am Victoria Hall
4 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Inkersall
14 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Brimington Common
16 Circuit Meeting 7.30 pm Bolsover
19 Men's Breakfast Meeting 8.30 am Staveley
20 Circuit Service 10.30 am Bolsover
25 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Barlborough
November 2002
2 Safeguarding Training Day 9.30 am Bolsover
4 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Bolsover
15 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Barrow Hill
15 Prayer Conference Swanwick
25 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Clowne
December 2002
1 Circuit Advent Service 6.00 pm Barrow Hill
14 Circuit Carol Service 6.00 pm Staveley