Our Vision
Aspire… to Inspire… a Desire… in JESUS!
July 2003 No 25
ERRATA
I’ll start this month with a couple of apologies. Last month I wrote that the Network afternoon teas were to be served on the manse lawn. If you go there you will be alone (and Pauline and Peter may not be too keen on you sitting on their new lawn either!) The teas are served in the Sykes Room at the church in Bolsover on Mondays 4, 11 and 18 August. There will be a bring-and-buy stall each week and proceeds will go as usual to Network Funds.
Second, I received the note of the Fellowship meetings for the young and not so young so late that I printed it without reading it—and it may not be clear that these take place in Brimington. Sorry Darryl if some couldn’t join with you in the first few weeks—but now you know where - get in touch!
JOHN WESLEY 300th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS:
IN SHEFFIELD DISTRICT
22 June—27 July: Hexthorpe Methodist Church
Sunday series on “Four Great Methodist Themes” (details 01302 857044)
BRADWELL WELL DRESSING
The annual Well Dressing at Bradwell takes place in the first week of August, and this year one of the wells will depict John Wesley. If you are planning a day out in the Peak, bear this event in mind. (We went last year and thoroughly enjoyed our visit—but you might need a car to see all the wells!. The churches provide refreshments during the week making a welcome break in your ramblings).
LINCOLN CATHEDRAL
As you will all know there was a commemorative service held in Lincoln cathedral on 17 June, and Mabel and Michael Carrington attended. Michael writes… Mum and I felt that we were very privileged to be present at this special occasion! It was a fitting way to celebrate the gift that God bestowed on John Wesley almost 300 years ago. Our feeling during this service was that everything done and said was a reminder of the effect that this gift of God’s Grace had in his lifetime.
It also served as a powerful reminder of what this Grace, given freely if we would only ask!, could bring about in our time also.
We were also surprised, as were most of the congregation to whom we spoke, to receive as a gift to us, a real scallop shell as a reminder of this truly unique event.
TELL OF GOD’S NATURE
We all spend every day watching people disappoint or fail us in some way or another—criminals and enemies (obviously), officials—regularly, doctors, ministers and teachers but also friends and family members. Name anyone and they will surely disappoint you at some time. People have a habit of turning away in a crisis, they lie and cheat and steal—even Christians! We sometimes get so wrapped up in our own little world and it’s goals and problems that we completely ignore others.
God, however, is faithful and loyal. He is always there to help us. He won’t turn away or abandon us, and no-one will ever love us like God loves us—no matter what.
In Psalm 40, David says that he will never stop telling people about God’s faithfulness, loyalty, loving kindness and love. David was deeply in love with God and this love motivated him to tell everyone about God—and to continue telling them for the rest of his life.
Each one of us has had a special person in our life. Someone who makes you want to shout their praises from the rooftops. We tell everyone how wonderful they are, how they always help and be there for us. BUT do we do the same with God? Do we always shout out His praises to the world? Do we tell everyone when He does something for us? In most cases the answer is NO! Why? Is it because we are afraid to show that we belong to God and his church? We don’t want to stand out from the crowd, and let’s face it the crowd nowadays is almost always anti-church if not anti-Christian.
We are not ashamed to sing our wife/husband/friend’s praises so why not shout out God’s praises—maybe then the crowd will be changed and it will not be us that stand out!
Pray that we can have the strength to tell others about God’s nature and His love for each and everyone of us—and to do it with enthusiasm.
BRIMINGTON COMMON CELEBRATION WEEKEND
There is a very special weekend coming up for the folk at Brimington Common as they praise God for his faithfulness in the completion of the renovations at the church.
On Saturday 19 July, the church is Open all day for you to have a look at what has been done and meet old friends as you have Coffee and Cakes (between 10 am and 11.30 am) OR try a light lunch (between 12 noon and 2.30 pm) OR even a cream tea (2.30 until 4.30 pm).
Then on the Sunday (20 July) morning praise will be led by Kevin Laming and at 6.00 pm we hope that the church will be bursting at the seams when the circuit join in a United service of Celebration led by Revd Peter Cross.
“Especially For You”
Has your church gained from the offer of funds from the sale of Sister Elizabeth’s booklet containing a selection of her writings (published in The Peoples Friend) entitled “Words of Comfort and Encouragement—Especially for You!”
The booklets are for sale at £2 and are available to the churches from sister Elizabeth. If you would like to purchase a copy please contact one of your church stewards who will be able to obtain them for you. They will be available nationally through advertising in the People’s Friend later in the year.
BUCKETS AND SPADES AT THE READY
Jay Raizada (Barlborough) is organising a trip out again this year. The suggestion is that the circuit invade Whitby on Saturday 23 August, so bring along all the family and your friends and neighbours. But before this, please contact Jay on Chesterfield 812184 to book your place as soon as possible. The cost will be £9 for adults and £5 for children.
HOW MY MARRIAGE SURVIVED
By Sister Elizabeth Richards
There were three people in my marriage,
Bill, myself and Jesus:
Not just the teachings of Jesus, but the Spirit of Jesus.
It wouldn’t have lasted two years;
If it hadn’t been for the presence of Jesus in our marriage.
Families Matter
Is the title given to this year’s NCH Sunday on 13 July.
NCH Sunday is a special Sunday designated by the Methodist Church to reflect on the work and impact of it’s children’s charity NCH. Families Matter will highlight the work of the family placement projects of the charity - adoption, fostering and family-based shared care. These projects support some of the most vulnerable children in our society by finding adoptive and foster families for children in care and by linking individuals and families to support disabled children and their parents through care in the home, outings or other activities.
There are many thousands of vulnerable and excluded children in the UK who need the support of families.
There is a desperate shortage of people coming forward to adopt and foster children in care or to offer regular support to disabled children and their families. Volunteers are also needed to befriend and support young people in care who have little or no contact with their birth families. Families Matter is a UK-wide NCH initiative to raise awareness about this need for parents, carers and volunteers and to raise money to support and train those who come forward to extend their own family, so that vulnerable children and young people can have the same opportunities as others to reach their potential.
· Give thanks for the family of God, to whom all belong and no-one is excluded.
· Pray for those children and young people whose lives have been scarred by abuse, neglect or violence and who find it hard to trust again.
· Pray for disabled children and the prejudice and exclusion they face in everyday living.
· Give thanks for the work of NCH in bringing a sense of healing and hope for the future to children and families.
Without the ongoing support of many Methodist churches and supporters, the work of NCH could not continue. Thank you for your support and prayers.
METHODIST PRAYER HANDBOOK 2003-4
Cradle of Life is the title of this year’s handbook. Orders are requested for sending in August to be delivered ready for the new connexional year in September. Once again, a circuit order will be placed for a copy in each of our pulpits. If you would like additional copies please let me have your orders at the circuit office by Friday 1 August 2003. The cost for a bulk order will be £1.75 per copy.
AMERICAN YOUTH CHOIR
From 26th July 2003 Bolsover Methodist Church are playing host to the Southside United Methodist Youth Choir from Jacksonville, Florida. 29 young people (aged between 13 and 18) will be staying, with 11 chaperones until 4th August and during their time here they will be running a holiday club for children on four mornings and delighting us to a concert on Saturday, 2nd August. In addition, they will be taking part in services on the morning of the two Sundays they are here. Phew, what energy! Let’s hope that they have enough left for the Barn Dance on the Friday and a few trips out and about during the week.. We hope that many of our friends in the circuit will be able to join with Bolsover in enjoying music and worship brought from ‘across the pond’ by these young people.
ALTON TOWERS
Yes—THE Alton Towers—and visitors to Britain’s most popular theme park will soon be able to queue up for a spiritual experience. Alton Towers have given permission for an overtly Christian ride to be installed, which will combine high-tech media technology with interactive questioning, designed to make people think.
Damien Wharton, of Youth for Christ, who worked with Chapel Ltd on producing the new ride, said: “It’s more an experience than just a ride with serious cutting edge technology being used to create a unique story for every visitor. They are asked five questions at the start of their visit and then their experience will be tailored to the answers they give, passing by video screens and presentations.”
“The Crux” as the ride is called, was born from a group of local churches who used the Alton Towers Chapel for their Jubillee celebrations. And, although the attraction is manned exclusively by YfC youth communicators, it has now been embraced as a part of the whole Alton Towers experience and is included as one of their major attractions. Richard Bromley, a YfC director said: “Alton Towers is an experiential paradise and it makes sense for there to be a spiritual attraction.”
WHY DON’T YOU…
Every time you hear or sing Jesus’ name —– SMILE!
What a difference that would make!
LEARNING and CARING
From Cheltenham
Just 17 churches in England have now received the Eco-Congregation Award – the latest being ours at Bethesda. Younger members have been specially commended for their active campaigning, the purchase of some rainforest, and money-raising for Malawi AIDS orphans. We’ve made Ten Green Commitments, including car-pooling and recycling mobile phones. We also run Traidgreen, which sells Traidcraft products, energy-efficient bulbs – and bird boxes! Rev. Dr. David Pickering, who leads the national initiative, says “I hope many other churches will follow this lead.”
EVANGELISM
From Beckminster, Wolverhampton
We set out to refurbish the premises, but realised we needed to refurbish the life of the church as well. With a note in our magazine and word-of-mouth, we started Take-a-break, an afternoon of art, crafts and (hugely popular) indoor bowls. It’s moving from 2pm to 1pm to help young parents. Most of the 25–30 who attend aren’t Methodists, but 2 have now started worshipping here.
WORSHIP
From Wisbech circuit
We’ve been worship leaders (eldest 90) for a while. We were asked to work together to prepare and lead an act of worship at Synod when the ordinands’ testimonies were heard. In a circuit where congregations are usually small, we were terrified at the thought of 250! One of us wrote a hymn. We did an Iona dialogue, and read the Singapore ordination words. We wrote prayers. Our super said, “It was a shot in the dark that paid off!” Of course!
Circuit DIARY
Meetings and Other Church Events for the forthcoming months
July
5 British Methodist Youth Choir 21st anniversary concert
7.30 pm Endcliffe
6 Sunday Youth Fellowship 7.30 pm Clowne
11 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Barlborough
13 NCH Sunday—Families Matter
14 Sisterhood Rally 2.45 pm Staveley
14 PTA Meeting with Rev Mark Coles 7.15 pm Clowne
17 Strawberry Teas 4.00—6.00 pm Clowne
21 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 8.30 am Staveley
21 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Barrow Hill
21 Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter
August
1 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm New Brimington
3 Sunday Youth Fellowship 7.30 pm Clowne
4 Afternoon Tea Bolsover
11 Afternoon Tea Bolsover
11 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Duckmanton
16 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast AGM 8.30 am Staveley
18 Afternoon Tea Bolsover
22 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Staveley
23 Outing to Whitby
25 Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter
September
1 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Hillstown
3 Circuit Meeting 7.30 pm Bolsover
7 Circuit Service—Reception of Lay Worker
3.00 pm Brimington
7 Sunday Youth Fellowship 7.30 pm Clowne
12 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Inkersall
12 Local Preachers Meeting 7.30 pm Brimington Common
20 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 8.30 am Staveley
22 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Brimington Common
22 Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter
24 Togethercombe Fleamarket 7.30 pm Staveley
27 Celebration Choir 7.00 pm Clowne