Our Vision
Is to Aspire … to Inspire… a Desire… in JESUS!
January 2004 No 31
Dear Friends,
Another year has drawn to a close, where does the time go?
2003 has been a special year for Pauline and me as we celebrated our Silver Wedding. We celebrated in style having saved up and looked forward to it for many years. This year we also packed off our youngest son David to college in Newcastle, to say we miss him is a bit of an understatement. It was also our last full year in Bolsover as we prepare to move next September to our next appointment and you prepare to welcome Revd Gillian Robertson as you new superintendent. I am naturally excited about moving and the prospect of a new challenge, but I am absolutely dreading leaving all my friends behind, and I won't tell you how the thought of packing all my belongings into cardboard boxes, shoving them on the back of a van and then having to unpack them and fit them into the new house at the other end thrills me to the very core of my being (I am sure you can pick up the heavy sarcasm in that statement). I don't think I can remember another year when I have experienced such a range of emotions from happiness and joy to sadness, and from excitement and anticipation to fear and dread.
The thing about years is that when an old one finishes a new one always begins. Life never stands still. To be alive is to be constantly facing up to change and though that sometimes unsettles and upsets us, we have to accept it or we will we miss the joy of new challenges and the excitement of new experiences. Sometimes change is unwelcome but necessary. I didn't enjoy saying goodbye to my son when he left home but the tears I shed, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I did, were not only tears of sadness at the end of the family routine I had got used to. In my sadness I felt immensely proud as I watched the strong independent young man that he has become go out to take his place in the world. Life is a journey, following Jesus as he leads us from death to life, from slavery to freedom, from despair to hope. So many Christians seem to live as if Jesus said "Follow Me" and then promptly stood still. It takes a lot of strength and courage to follow Jesus, especially when the time comes to leave behind situations of safety, happiness or security. I believe 2004 will be a year for us all to show that kind of courage.
What will happen to us in the New Year? What surprises or shocks lie lurking round dark corners? I don't know. This much I do know, that as we travel on the journey of faith, whatever that journey may entail, there are certain truths which make it worth our while to take the risk. First we are strengthened on our journey by the presence of God. Secondly we do not travel alone, there are fellow travellers to reassure us, to lift us up when we are down and perhaps even carry us when we are tired, that is what fellowship means. Thirdly, though we don't know what lies ahead in the short term, in the long term we know what our final destination is. Like Jesus we are "going to the Father" (John 14:6) and Jesus is more than just our guide there, he is the way itself.
A happy New Year to you All
Peace and Joy
Peter
Another year, a new look to the newsletter, and we look forward to the changes which we know are ahead of us this year. Many of the church stewards met our new superintendant when she made a whistlestop visit to the circuit in November. Peter has been with us for the last eight years and has overseen many changes (mostly for the better!) but the circuit does not stand still, and Gillian will no doubt oversee further changes in her time with us. We have received the following from the connexion as a discussion ocument to answer the question which affect all of us….
Where Are We Heading?
In the New Year we will get together to formulate a reply from our circuit, in the mean time please read and reflect upon what follows.
PRIORITIES FOR THE METHODIST CHURCH
Methodists are being invited to share in a consultation about the church, what it is and where it is heading.
Some time ago a report entitled “Our Calling” was produced which recognised four reasons for the existence of the Church:
1. To increase our awareness of God’s presence and to celebrate God’s Love
2. To help people grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care
3. To be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice
4. To make more followers of Jesus Christ.
In each local church we are expected to consider these themes every year and see how our mission and worship help us move towards them.
In the early months of 2004 we are being asked to take a step back and take stock of the Methodist Church as a whole. A bit like the government embarking on a time of listening to the people, the leaders of the Church are asking for the opinions of the people in the pews.
These are the questions we have to think about:
1. How can we best use connexional resources to help the whole Church to fulfil Our Calling?
2. What mission imperatives should be connexionally supported because we believe that to be true to God’s call to us today, somewhere, somehow the Methodist Church in Britain must be doing this sort of thing in the name of us all and at our common expense?
The Methodist Council has already spent some answering these questions and they ask us to reflect and give our opinions on what they have come up with.
Thoughts of the Methodist Council:
The heart of the challenge we face
We need to recapture a conviction of God's Love for us and for all the world, and re-build confidence in God
We therefore need to work creatively to
· Bring the Bible alive to ourselves and to our contemporary world.
· Provide safe and loving places in which to share honestly the deepest concerns and questions in our lives, to become vulnerable to one another, supportive of one another and challenging of one another.
· Develop renewed confidence in connecting faith with work and everyday life.
Flowing from the heart of the challenge,
We need urgently to do 3 things:
1. Support a wide range of mission activities*, but highlight the following and allocate significant resources to them:
· Develop confidence in evangelism and in the capacity to speak of God and faith in ways that make sense to all involved
· Encourage new ways of being church
· Support community development and social action, especially among the most deprived and poor - in Britain and world-wide.
*These will include such things as working with children and young people; sparking a link with people in their 20s and 30s; inter-faith dialogue and relationship building; making our voice heard in public life and influencing more effectively the decision-makers in politics and business; developing ever closer relations with our World Church partners and communicating better about their experience; investing in contemporary media opportunities to present the Christian message; racial justice work and anti-racism training; working with older people; appointing chaplains to many groups and institutions to create a Christian witness and presence in every sector of society; developing large-scale multi-media, residential celebration events, for all ages.
2. Re-build confidence in worship and prayer:
Varied styles of worship, sensitively introduced;
Quality of worship (whatever the style) Above all, worship should centre on God, engage with God, keep people close to God - and this should affect everything we do as Church.
3. Nurture a new culture in the Church - to become the sort of community where:
· we concentrate on people and relationships and value everyone
· we strive to release the gifts and talents of individuals and encourage their use we help one another to deepen commitment,
· expect lives to be transformed and empower faith sharing (including, however, the expression of doubts)
· we are tolerant of different views within the Christian family
· we cope with change confidently and support people who take risks for the sake of the Church's mission.
Two general considerations to note:
1. Working ecumenically and in partnership with others is crucial to our way forward as a Church, in all that we do.
2. As we become more clear about our connexional priorities, we shall be able more confidently to consider what support structures will encourage and sustain our priorities and shall be able to address the obstacles which divert our energy or block movement. One issue frequently mentioned in this regard is 'buildings'. Do we have too many? Are they in the right place? Are they appropriate to contemporary needs? Do they act as a resource for mission or are they a drain on resources?
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.
A Happy New...Life?
1. Find out what is GOD'S PLAN and PURPOSE for Your LIFE…. He does have one.
2. Consider.... What are your gifts and abilities... you have some!
3. Discuss all this with a Christian friend.
4. Having discovered what GOD wants you to be and to do align yourself with His plan.
5. Ask God to open the way.... His Way.... For you, He will.
6. Once you are in step with GOD who loves you. Everything else will fall into place
A Very Happy New Year.... or A Happy New Life.
Elizabeth Richards
A New Year resolution
I ask not to fly from the world but to be involved with the world. I am in the world but also in the presence of Jesus. I listen to His word to a broken world. He sees my brokenness and the brokenness of the world around me. I stand in God's presence, looking at Him, listening to Him, bringing to Him the things of the world that have filled my vision. I listen for His Word---Be Thou my vision, O Lord.
From Celtic Night Prayers.
Friends AT Hillstown…
... would like to thank members and friends of other churches in the circuit who came to their Christmas Coffee Morning. It was lovely to see so many of you and we appreciate your interest and support.
Thank You.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE CONNEXION
From Matlock, Derbyshire
We picked up the idea of holding an Alternative Christmas Market. We began in May, contacting various charities. They sent posters, leaflets etc, and indicated the cost of particular 'presents' - so much for a cow, some chickens, a fruit tree or a pair of sandals. Those who 'purchased' the presents could take away cards explaining to their relative or friend the present they had given from the Market. On this first occasion nearly £1500 was given: we'll do it again next year - with Gift Aid as well!
WORSHIP
From Blyth, Northumberland
We (at Central) have had specially-written Christmas pageants for the past two years. They combine comedy with a serious message, and they're performed during worship. This year's was called 'Follow the Star': the cast included Adam and Eve (parents of the wise men), and the innkeeper's wife was played by an 80-year-old. The 'star' was female, and there were multiple angels and shepherds from the Junior Church. The pageants were written by a local preacher, though, he says, "They ad-libbed as much as they learnt!"
LEARNING and CARING (1)
From Holsworthy, Devon
We're piloting a scheme to answer the needs of a rural area for simple 'befriending'. It came partly out of the Foot and Mouth experience, but we know that not only farmers but elderly and housebound people can feel very isolated. So with help from the District Advance Fund and training from Acorn Trust we're creating a small team with listening skills. The Rural Issues group is ecumenical, and the local project will be too. Two other villages are involved - Halwill and Bridestowe.
LEARNING and CARING (2)
From Skipton, Yorkshire
A year ago, a lively correspondence in the local paper raised questions about empty churches. We (the local Churches Together) decided to follow this up with a look at contemporary society. In November we ran a series of talks by Canon Martyn Percy of Lincoln Theological Institute, tackling youth culture (called 'Mind the Gap'), the role of the local church, and a radical look at being Christians today. More than 60 attended - and paid £2! - each week. We plan to follow up the ideas in the spring.
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)
January 2004
5 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Duckmanton
11 Christingle Service 3.00 pm Staveley
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
February
6 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Brimington
16 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Clowne
21 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 8.30 am Staveley
23 Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter
27 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Inkersall
March
8 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Barlborough
19 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm New Brimington
20 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 8.30 am Staveley
22 Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter
29 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7.30 pm Duckmanton |