Our Vision

Aspire… to Inspire…  a Desire… in JESUS!

October 2003                    No 28

WE TRAIN THEM WELL!
Noted in the Methodist Recorder a couple of weeks ago was the headline “Parish Church vicar a methodist” another ecumenical first… and who is the subject of the article?  None other but our own Nigel Young – (we always said that he would be at home in an Anglican cathedral!!!)  I can remember Nigel’s first Sunday with us.  He preached at Clowne that morning – what a difference to his predecessors dressed in his “gown” and a self confessed batchelor, not really used to children, he took family service.  By the time he left us to go to Cornwall we had rounded off most of the corners, but it was left to a “Cornish maid” to finish him off, and now he reports that he is a proud step-grandfather.
Nigel is now a circuit minister with an Anglican church added to his pastoral care in Telford, Shropshire.  We wish him well in this new appointment.

BRIMINGTON COMMON...
..schoolroom will become a “Pizza Parlour” on the evening of Friday 31 October (Halloween).  A Pizza meal will be served at 6.00 pm and be followed by a Beetle Drive and loads of fun.  You will note that this event is being organised as an alternative to “trick or treat” so please join us and bring the children.  Phone Glenda Hives (231622) for further details – it will help our catering to know approximate numbers coming.

The menu:                Pizza, jacket potato, beans
        Followed by      Jelly with fruit and ice cream
A donation of £2.50 is suggested for adults to cover the catering costs.                                                                  Thank you.

WHITWELL MALE VOICE CHOIR
A number of members from our circuit sing with this choir who will be performing two concerts in the near future.  On Saturday 1 November at 7.30 pm, the choir join with Creswell Colliery Brass Band in a concert at Creswell Social Centre – tickets will be available later.
Then, on Saturday 8 November the choir will be taking part in Whitwell Methodist Church Men’s Weekend celebrations with a concert after tea.  (Jesse Allisson – 01909 720646 can give you more information). 

And at STAVELEY…
Another concert, this time by the Silverchords, will follow a buffet tea at Staveley on 25 October.  Tea will be at 5.30 pm, and tickets for the event (priced £3) are available.  Barbara Thompson (471227) has more details.  Everyone is welcome to join in this event.

CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Barbara was in college with me – she writes:

I have started a “drop-in” from 2 – 4 pm on Mondays fortnightly.  It is for people who live alone.  There are 10-12 coming to my home for a cup of tea and a biscuit.  No discussions – just friendship.  It has made such a difference to their lives…

  PS   They are just “my neighbours” – Any or no denomination or home – just people who want friendship!

CIRCUIT PRAYER MEETINGS
The circuit prayer meeting can be the power house for every church in this circuit.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every church was represented by at least one person – it would make all the difference!
If you want to put a fire out, you spread the coals apart.  Bring them together and you have a wonderful blaze for the Glory of God.

PREACHERS (AND OTHERS) PLEASE NOTE…
This newspaper clipping is of a letter from a resident of Belfast.  It might cause a few smiles and it reads as follows:

Can’t win

If his sermon is a few minutes longer than usual, he sends us to sleep. if it’s too short he hasn’t bothered. If he raises his voice, he’s shouting. If he speaks normally, you can’t understand a thing. if he’s away, he’s always on holiday. If he’s always around, he never goes away. If he’s out visiting, he’s never at home. If he’s in the house, he never visits his parishioners, if he talks finances, he’s always talking about money. If he organises a bazaar, he wears everybody out. If he doesn’t the parish is dead. If he takes time with people, he goes on and on. if he’s brief, he never listens, if he redecorates the church, he’s wasting money. If he doesn’t he’s letting thing go to ruin. If he’s young he lacks experience, if he’s old, he ought to retire. And if he dies ... well, of course, nobody could ever take his place.

D. Eakin, Belfast

METHODIST HOMES
2003 is Methodist Homes Diamond Jubilee, a very important year for us.  We are determined that something tangible will be accomplished by our Jubilee celebrations.  We want to extend our activity by developing schemes of care for people with dementia in their own homes. We believe that for some, the opportunity of receiving care at home will delay, or even prevent, the need for a move into residential care, with all the upheaval that this can create. By intervening at home, we want to help the individual to stay put, partly by providing direct personal care, and partly by providing respite for the primary carer.  This of course will cost, and all our Jubilee charitable income will be directed towards making this project happen.
Jubilee events include A Charity Ball on 29 November at Pride Park in Derby, a Memory Wall for those we love, Team 43 a group sharing special anniversaries with us this year and our Forget Me Not Club an exceptional group of people supporting our work.  A fundraising pack for your church is also available.
Collection envelopes for this year’s MHA Sunday are being distributed to our churches.  Please ensure that they are used and that we can make a contribution towards the important work of MHA.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
No matter what your line of work these days there are training days when people from different companies get together to be told of the latest methods in their particular occupations.  Voluntary work is no exception, we can all benefit from a day of rubbing shoulders with others who are in the same boat as ourselves.  You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!
The Sheffield District is running many training days/courses for various members of our church families on a number of different topics.  Most of these are free (only your food and transport to pay for!) and are run in different churches throughout the district.  There is a list of courses in the circuit office for anyone who wants further details of who to contact etc., but these are a few of the days which will (I promise!) be of interest to some of you out there.  It is not just a case of being talked at – just as important is sharing with others what we do.  Our ideas may help friends in another circuit.
Worship Leaders:  we have a number of trained worship leaders in the circuit, but could always do with more!  Worship leaders are not local preachers.  If you have a calling to help prepare worship, lead the prayers, read or otherwise assist the preacher with “local knowledge” then these courses are for you….
Church Stewards:  play an important role in preparing our church for worship – liaising with the preachers and making sure everything is ready for worship (including opening the doors!)  If you consider yourself steward material (or if you are a steward already but not sure what is fully expected of you in this job) there are courses where you can meet with others who feel called in the same way.  One of these courses will be held at Staveley on Monday 17 November 7 – 9.30 pm
Treasurers:  can meet to have Schedule B “demystified” – by the district treasurer (Richard Lindsey).  This will be at Whittington Moor on Saturday 18 October 10 am – 1 pm.
Pastoral Carers:  A half day to develop your listening skills and explain the boundaries, confidentiality issues and other support for pastoral carers.
A full programme of training in these and other subjects is planned through to next June.

THINGS THEY ARE A-CHANGING
We are so used to our worship layout and the “sandwich” but elsewhere experiments in worship have been tried.  Here are just a few other churches experiences:

From Thornbury, Bradford

We’ve been holding a monthly Sunday evening session since 1998, experimenting with worship and involving video, graphics, films, ancient Christianity – icons, chants – and modern culture.  We explore what it is to be Christian here and now.  The group creates its own style, which has a strong multi-cultural flavour.  Some of our material has recently been published as a book / CD-Rom by SPCK, called ‘Alternative Worship’.

Email contact : andrew.horton@dla.com
Phone contact : Darren Owens 01274 729500

From Derby Derwent Circuit

We’re a 7-church circuit covering inner-city and suburbs.  We’ve decided to stop using the old committee structures and instead follow the Our Calling pattern, with four resource people – one still required! – supported by ad hoc groups for particular projects.  We’ve only just started to dream how this might work, and we’re hoping to take some initiatives and improve communication.  If any other circuit has tried a similar approach, we’d be glad to hear from you!

Email contact : moira.biggins@fish.co.uk
Phone contact : Beverley Muller 01332 230624

From Southwell, Notts

We know that for many, Sundays have changed: we also know that some want a more open style of learning.  This month we’ve started a new session called ‘The 9.30’ in the church hall.  We begin with 20 minutes of worship, then break into all-age groups for various forms of reflection and activity.  The common purpose is to hear God’s message.  We get back together to share what we’ve done, then have coffee.  The “normal” service still happens later.  The “9.30” this month was attended by 70 people.

Email contact : pamjwebster@btopenworld.com
Phone contact : Colin and Val Beckett 01636 813613

From Cannock Chase, West Midlands

We started TGI Saturday 5 years ago, after our first Disciple course, as an alternative not-on-Sunday worship opportunity.  TGI Saturday has been every 2 months, but from September it will be monthly on the 2nd Saturday.  Attendance has varied, but we’ve built up a large ecumenical mailing list of those interested and supportive.  We’re a large circuit and so have deliberately not kept the venue in one place: this autumn we move to our third ‘home’ at our Chasetown Church.

Email contact :  info@tgis.org.uk  (also website)
Phone contact:  Terry Trigg 01543 302755

METHODIST YOUTH CONFERENCE 2003

Invitation and news update from the Methodist Youth Conference Management Team.
Planning for this year's Youth Conference is well underway. Themed 'Never Forget', our hosts this year are the Bolton and Rochdale district and they will welcome us to the Victoria Hall in Bolton from 14-16 November for a weekend of debate, discussion, worship, fellowship, entertainment, workshops, friendship and fun.
Anyone aged 13-25 and involved in the life of the Methodist Church is
welcome to come to youth conference and have their say. With a voice straight into Methodist conference, this is the opportunity for the young people of the church to have their say. So if you're 13-25 make sure you're there, and if you're not, then encourage the young people from your church or circuit to come.
More information is available on http://www.myc2003.org.uk where you can keep up to date with the latest developments and even submit resolutions online. Booking forms will be available soon, and district reps were elected at September synods. If you've got any questions contact the youth exec at: youth_exec@hotmail.com .
Hope to see you there.
(Report by Helen James - Methodist Youth Executive and Conference Management Team)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – DO YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO?
At synod, it was suggested that we should make known that a telephone helpline exists for victims of domestic violence.  The National Women’s Aid Helpline – 08457 023 468 is there for confidential calls to discuss safety, give advice and options to gain further help.

THANK YOU
Peter and Pauline wish to thank everyone for the cards and good wishes for their recent silver wedding anniversary.

Circuit DIARY

Meetings and Other Church Events for the forthcoming months

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
  31    Pizza Parlour                                 6.00 pm   Brimington Common 

November

    3    Circuit Prayer Meeting                   7.30 pm               Barlborough
    8    Christmas Fair                             10.30 am                     Staveley
  15    Men’s Fellowship Breakfast           8.30 am                     Staveley
  15    Christmas Fayre                            2.00 pm   Brimington Common
  22    Christmas Fayre                          10.00 am                       Clowne
  24      Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter

December

  15      Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter
  17    Harlequins concert                         7.30 pm                     Staveley
  18    Circuit Carol Service                     7.30 pm                       Clowne
  20    Men’s Fellowship Breakfast           8.30 am                     Staveley 

Christmas Services in the circuit:

Christmas Eve
          Revd Peter Cross                        11.30 pm                       Clowne
          Revd Mark Coles                         11.30 pm                     Staveley
Christmas Morning
          Revd Peter Cross                         9.15 am               Duckmanton
          David Wilson                               10.00 am          New Brimington
          Revd Mark Coles                         10.00 am                     Inkersall
          Revd Peter Cross                       10.30 am                    Bolsover
          Nel Shallow                                 10.30 am                  Brimington