Our Vision
Aspire… to Inspire… a Desire… in JESUS!
December 2003 No 30
The circuit leadership team wish everyone a happy, peaceful and blessed Christmas time.
Dear Friends
As you probably know, Revd Mark Coles has been waiting quite some time for an operation to correct a long term problem with his vision. He has now been informed that this operation has been provisionally booked for 11th December 2003 . This means that Mark will be out of action from 11th December until after Christmas at the earliest. Arrangements will be made to cover his Sunday Services but his other duties will have to be covered by the rest of the Circuit Staff.
We need to ensure that Mark gets a complete break and rest during this time so can you please ask people not to contact him from 11th December until further notice. All enquiries or pastoral matters should be directed to Me, Nel, Geoff or David.
Peter Cross
Superintendent Minister
How could God let something like this happen?
Finally, The Truth on American TV! Billy Graham's daughter was being interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (This, by the way, was after another school massacre in the US but could equally be in response to any of the recent terrorist bombings, war, murder or other terrible event over there - or here). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said "I believe that God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman that He is, I believe that He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand that He leave us alone?"
The following e-mail has being doing the rounds for a while now, but it makes you think where are we going... doesn’t it?
Let's see, I think it started when Madeline Murray O'Hare (she was murdered.) complained that she didn't want any prayers in our ( US ) schools, and we said, “OK”.
Then, someone said you better not read the Bible in school... the Bible that says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbour as yourself. And we said, “OK”.
Then, Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide by the way), and we thought that an expert like him should know what he's talking about so we said “OK”.
Then, someone said teachers and principals had better not discipline our children when they misbehave. And the school administrators said no faculty member in this school better touch a student when they misbehave because we don't want any bad publicity, and we surely don't want to be sued (There's a big difference between disciplining and touching, beating, smacking, humiliating, kicking, etc.) And we said, “OK”.
Then someone said, let's let our daughters have abortions if they want, and they won't even have to tell their parents. And we said, “OK”.
Then some school board member said, since boys will be boys and they're going to do it anyway, let's give our sons all the condoms they want, so they can have all the fun they desire, and we won't have to tell their parents they got them at school. And we said, “OK”.
Then some of our top elected officials said it doesn't matter what we do in private as long as we do our jobs. And agreeing with them, we said it doesn't matter to me what anyone, including the President, does in private as long as I have a job and the economy is good. And we said, “OK”.
And then someone said let's print magazines with pictures of nude women and call it wholesome, down-to-earth appreciation for the beauty of the female body. And we said, “OK”.
And then someone else took that appreciation a step further and published pictures of nude children and then stepped further still by making them available on the internet. And we said “OK, they're entitled to their free speech”.
And then the entertainment industry said, let's make TV shows and movies that promote profanity, violence, and illicit sex. And let's record music that encourages rape, drugs, murder, suicide, and satanic themes. And we said “It's just entertainment, it has no adverse effect, and nobody takes it seriously anyway, so go right ahead”.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with
"WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."
"Dear God, Why didn't you save the little girl killed in her classroom?"
Sincerely, Concerned Student...
AND THE REPLY "Dear Concerned Student, I am not allowed in schools". Sincerely, God.
* Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
* Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.
* Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, think, say, or do anything the Bible says.
* Funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan who, by the way, also "believes" in God.
* Funny how we are quick to judge but not to be judged.
* Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.
* Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but the public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
* Funny how some people can be so fired up for worship once a week, but be invisible to their religion the rest of the week.
Are you laughing?
* Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them.
* Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me.
Are you thinking?
Pass this message on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it...no one (but God) will know that you did. But, if you discard this thought process, then don't sit back and complain about what a bad shape the world is in!
CIRCUIT STEWARD PUTS HIS STAMP ON THINGS!!!
So there I was, watching the first half of the Scotland v Australia rugby match on Saturday 8th November........ feeling really pleased with the scoreline ( Scotland were equal with the so called "amazing Aussies"), when the phone rang.
" Roy .....Hedley here, I've just come back from West Bars Post Office....had to collect the correspondence that you sent and pay for the priviledge".
Oh dear!!! in my rush to post the package, I had only used a second class stamp. Worse still, there was another ....... THIRTEEN out there with Postman Pat!!
So, please accept my apologies if you were one of the "unlucky ones" who also had to make that awesome journey in pursuit of your mystery package.
Incidently, Scotland lost 35--16 so I guess that they...like me, MUST TRY HARDER!!................Roy Jennings....with thanks to Hedley + The Thirteen.
CIRCUIT NCH SPONSORED WALK
The sponsored walk raised £608 – thanks to all the walkers and sponsors for this effort to help NCH.
CHRISTMAS 2003
The coming of Christmas marks the end of another year. A time when we stop and reflect on the events and happenings of the past twelve months. We remember the major family event, a birth, a wedding, and a death. It is an emotional time because it is associated with all our loves, joys and hopes. We remember the Christmases past, happy family occasions when love surrounded us. The warmth and sparkle, the delight of children as they opened their gifts.
It is a time when past and present seem to meet. We remember those we have loved and lost. We still miss them even though they died many years ago. The love they gave to us did not die with them. It remains deep in our memory. A strong foundation, even when our own memories begin to fail the influence and experience of their love remains. It shaped our personalities and our characters.
There is something about the spirit of Christmas that nothing is able to dampen. I have gone as a social worker into the poorest homes, into situations of sickness, poverty and strife and found that without material possessions, luxury or even the basic necessities of daily life. Christmas has brought warmth and light, even the hardest hearts have been touched.
The birth at Bethlehem pierced the gloom of human degradation. The event has never lost its power; it has effected more change, inspiration, resolve, commitment and love than all the powers of men and money. In spite of the exploitation of Christmas by the moneymakers, and the ridicule of the sceptics, the spirit of Christmas survives and always will, we need it so much.
There is no other event which gives such hope. We cannot escape it, we may say we shall be glad when it is over, we distort it and abuse it with greed, selfishness and self indulgence but the simplicity of the message.
“Love came down at Christmas”
Will challenge and pursue us, comfort and captivate us. Our expectations of the celebration may be wrong, but the reality of its truth and love will seek to draw from us a response of love.
Elizabeth Richards
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Christmas is the most difficult time of the year for many people. The social services – home helps, car schemes, wardens – are cut to a minimum.
The newly bereaved, the sick, the disabled, those in residential care can be overlooked while we are enjoying the time with our families.
We show our love for Christ by loving others.
News from around the connexion……
LEARNING and CARING
From Wellington , Shropshire
We had a fine old chapel front, but the rest of the building looked like a factory! 2 years ago we decided on a new church, and the local Pentecostal church (ex Prim) offered us a home: they had a fire, and we were able to let them use our premises. Now, finally the builders are in and we'll be worshipping in their church for a while. They've changed their service time, and also let us put a temporary building on their tennis court to keep our BB and other activities going. We feel it's a fine example of Christian caring.
SERVICE
From Chapel Street , Penzance (- and elsewhere. Ed.)
'Light up the Night' started 2 years ago on October 31st. It's a Christian party alternative to the darker side of Hallowe'en. For a small fee (£1) we invite all ages to come to our Centenary Hall for bungy-jumping donuts, nodding apples, balloon stomp, munchies and, this year, a graffiti wall. We play a variety of Christian music throughout. We get publicity from local media, and the opportunity to talk about why we're doing it. An idea for next year?
EVANGELISM
From Laleham, Staines and Southwick, Brighton
On the 'Royal' estate at Laleham we're preparing to celebrate Christmas with an open-air nativity play, involving CofE sound, Methodist lighting, and a donkey called Emma. The script comes from Julian Albrow, who's been using the idea for 4 years in Brighton . He says 'Last year we had 500 people there, including some who I know wouldn't come into the church. The cast includes sheep and chickens, around a large stable .' Audience interaction is positively encouraged.
HELP PLEASE
Sheffield Victoria Hall operates a clothing store for vulnerable people who gravitate to the big city lights – then find they have little or no support. The clothing store is kept going by the support of churches and individuals, throughout the district, and that help is much appreciated by the ‘staff’ at Victoria Hall. The store has recently been redeveloped and a shortage of men’s shoes has been identified. These – or any other items – delivered to Victoria Hall will be greatly appreciated. Contact Revd Noel G Irwin (0114 272 1749) for further details on how YOU can help.
Circuit DIARY
Meetings and Other Church Events for the forthcoming months
To have your meeting/event included in this listing – Please contact the circuit office – 01246 470859. (I would rather hear the same message many times than miss it because everyone leaves it to someone else! - David)
December
3 Christmas Coffee Morning 10.00 am Hillstown
4 Baptism Preparation Meeting 7.30 pm Staveley
5 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Barrow Hill
15 Sisterhood Carols 2.00 pm Staveley
15 Local Preachers Meeting 7.30 pm Barrow Hill
15 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Staveley
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 David Whitehouse 11.30 pm Staveley
Christmas Morning
Revd Peter Cross 9.15 am Duckmanton
David Wilson 10.00 am New Brimington
Revd Raymond Goadby 10.00 am Inkersall
Revd Peter Cross 10.30 am Bolsover
Nel Shallow 10.30 am Brimington
January 2004
5 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Duckmanton
16 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm New Brimington
17 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 8.30 am Staveley
19 Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter
26 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Bolsover |