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August 2003 No 26
PASTORAL CARE IN THE CIRCUIT
Many of you will know, but there are those who are uncertain what is happening in the circuit in September this year, so to clear up any confusion I will explain what is happening (and why). The circuit is employing a lay worker to assist the ministerial team to carry out pastoral oversight of the churches. This lay worker is Helen Shallow (Nell) who presently lives at Cliff College where her husband is manager of the library. For the time being she will continue to live at Cliff, commuting to an office at Brimington Hall Road where she will be based. Nell will be giving pastoral oversight to the three Brimington churches—which will free up some time for Mark and Peter to give to the other churches in the circuit. Because of their geographical bases Peter and Mark will be redrawing the “sectional” divisions, basically using the M1 as the border. Peter will take over oversight of Barlborough and Clowne along with Bolsover, Hillstown and Duckmanton. Mark will keep Staveley, Inkersall and Barrow Hill and become the minister for the Brimington churches with Nell’s help. Of course, the divisions will be blurred as we have become used to them being over the past couple of years and Peter and Mark will hope to be seen regularly at all eleven churches. Nell too may be involved in some circuit-wide work at times (and as a local preacher she will preach at all the churches over the next year).
Nel Shallow - A Profile
Hi! I'm Helen, more usually shortened to Nel by everyone except the tax man and my husband! As a family we are really looking forward to joining the Circuit in September and I am very much looking forward to serving with you as the Circuit Mission Worker. We are a family of four, myself and my husband Jim, plus our two children Joseph (10) and Jacob (9). Jim manages the bookshop at Cliff College and we live as a part of the College community - an experience which is both a joy and a challenge!
I trained at Cliff College almost twenty years ago and have served within the Methodist Church ever since, as a Local Preacher, a volunteer and a full-time Lay Worker. My first post in 1988 was at the Central Methodist Church in Chesterfield and we lived on Devonshire Street in Brimington so I feel as though I have come full circle! We moved to the Ashfield Circuit in 1990 where I served as the Circuit Lay Worker for five years - both the boys were born at Calow during this time with Jim becoming a 'house-husband' for a while. In 1995 we ventured south to Chippenham where I worked within one large Methodist church, a very fruitful & exciting time when we were blessed to see a number of people coming to faith in Christ. I stayed within the Bristol District and became the District Evangelism Enabler in 1997. In 1999 I took a 'sabbatical' from full-time employment and co-led a trust called 'Handmaidens' (from Acts 2) with a vision to encourage women within the church - we later changed the name to 'People of Promise' because the men wanted some encouragement too!!
In 2001 we came to Derwent Week at Cliff College and Jim received a 'call' to work within the bookshop. We had planned a two week holiday in Derbyshire and within a month found ourselves moving onto campus! Any sudden change in life presents us with the opportunity to say 'what now?' and one of the results of our unexpected move has been a renewed passion within me for the work of the Kingdom and a revival within my own spirit for the pursuit of God's purposes. My response to the 'what now?' question has been to seek candidacy for the Methodist ministry - a very long process!
I have just completed a one year part-time Certificate in Bible, Spirituality & Mission with the Open Learning Centre and have successfully 'endured' the application process for Foundation Training. As a result of this I will be studying towards an MA in Evangelism alongside working within the Circuit.
I am a great believer in life having a healthy balance and rhythm or, in other words, all work and no play makes me very dull! Therefore we make time to play! Our family and friends are very important to us & we often have a housefull of variously aged people! My home is never tidy and my ironing pile is almost always huge! I love to read, especially Jane Austin (Northanger Abbey is my favourite) and really enjoy a good film. I am a devotee of Neighbours and have watched it faithfully since the first episode! I love Art, Ballet, Opera and the Theatre - all of which make me cry!
This is a very brief introduction to myself and our family, of course there is much more to tell and a great deal for us to discover about one another in our coming time together. I am already looking forward to our times of fellowship and discovery. I pray that God will richly bless us as we grow together and in Him.
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.
COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY
An invitation for you to come along and study God’s word. There have been regular bible study meetings in Bolsover for many years, and if you feel that you would like to join in the study, September 11 is a very good date to start…. The group will be starting a new session on that date studying the words of Matthew’s Gospel. For more information please contact Margaret Rowley (tel: 825877) or Peter Soar (824161)
LOCAL PREACHERS MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION
A plea from Denis Kirk for those individuals and churches who have not yet sent their donations or subscriptions to him for this year. Please could you do so as soon as possible, the accounting year end is August 31 (like the churches) and he would like to send off the money “this year”. Thank you to everyone who supports the association from year to year in the work they do for our local preachers– and where would we be without them?
Circuit DIARY
Meetings and Other Church Events for the forthcoming months
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
26 The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning for McMillan Nurses
27 Celebration Choir 7.00 pm Clowne
October
3 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Brimington
5 Sunday Youth Fellowship 7.30 pm Clowne
13 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Clowne
18 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 8.30 am Staveley
20 Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter
24 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Bolsover |