Our Vision

Is to Aspire … to Inspire… a Desire… in JESUS!

The Newsletter of the Bolsover and Staveley Circuit

October 2005 No 50

Visit BY THE chair of district
On Sunday 18th September we welcomed the District Chair, Vernon Marsh, to our Circuit. He preached at Bolsover in the morning, followed with a united Circuit Service at Brimington Hall Road in the afternoon. We were led by the Hall Road Band joined by Gillian on the flute and also by a United Choir from various Churches across the Circuit, accompanied by Jeff Thompson on the organ.

Vernon used a reading from Mark, the Disciples Argue About Who Would Be the Greatest. He went onto share with us some thoughts on how we, as the Church, for all sorts of reasons are so often huddling together looking inwards, but that maybe we should be focusing far more outwards on those missing from our huddles.

He left us with three things to think about,

Firstly we need to make it easier for people to access the life of the church. Maybe we could have alternative times, use different venues and other styles of worship. He gave us some examples of Church in a café, Alpha in a room at a pub or perhaps teatime services for families with food. It is not just expecting people to come to us but to actually meet them, for us to come out of our huddles and go to them.

Secondly we need to engage with those most in need within our community. That as a Church we need to be involved in economic regeneration and to work with and alongside other partners.

Thirdly we need to speak and share our faith. As Christians we need to build up our confidence and if we are not sure how to do this, learn by using the resources that we have around.

We were blessed by Vernon’s visit and as he settles into his ministry as District Chair, we as members of this Circuit and part of the Sheffield District, need to remember him along with the District Team within our prayers.

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND
Meanwhile over the same weekend Inkersall held their Fiftieth Anniversary. The Church was packed on Saturday evening for a concert by instrumentalist John Barker. Sunday morning’s service was led by Mark swelled with members from Staveley with John and Ann Evil renewing their wedding vows after forty years of marriage. Alan conducted the evening service with the choir sharing a couple of items. Afterwards fellowship was shared over a cup of tea with the anniversary cake being cut by two original founding members Caroline Griffiths and Arthur Hill.

We thank God for this milestone and pray for Inkersall’s ongoing witness within their community.

ON OUR BEHALF
One of the Circuit Resident Poets, George Reed, has written in thanks to David On Our Behalf.

I would like to give heartfelt thanks to David Green
For preparing, editing and writing our circuit magazine,
Forty nine not out, not a bad score
You’ll enjoy the decorating jobs I’m sure.

Your time in the job I’m sure has been fulfilling
I and everyone else are please that you were willing,
To work with us and for us for a while
Doing the job with joy and a smile.

May God strengthen you for the work ahead
And I pray that you don’t get anything you dread,
You have done your best on our behalf I have to say
To enjoy your free time, you done us proud in every way.

MRS JEAN CUSHING
We are asked to remember in our prayers the family and friends of Mrs Jean Cushing who has died in hospital in Plymouth after a short illness. If you are old enough, you may remember her as Sister Jean Giles, who was the first deaconess in our Circuit from 1952 to 1954, having pastoral care of Staveley Zion Church amongst others.

She subsequently married the widowed Revd G I J Cushing, father of Gwen and Geoff.

PRAYER CONFERENCE
‘HTB’ Conference – Dynamic Prayer in the Local Church at St. John’s Church, Worksop. For more details or to book please contact

St John’s Church office : 01909 472595 or you can email them at stjohnschurch@officewksp.fsnet.co.uk

OUR VISION
In our Sunday evening fellowship we are studying the Acts of the Apostles starting with a study of people of vision. The study sums up by saying that vision is found in God, that vision feeds on flexibility, it flourishes under godly people and that it follows through into action. The actual putting together of this newsletter, Our Vision, is probably the item that I have least been looking forward to doing in my new position of Circuit Administrator. As I go around this Circuit I hear of many bright and new things that God is doing within our Churches, but we all need to know of them and to be encouraged. Please let me have items or else I will be knocking.

Nick

CIRCUIT OFFICE NEW OPENING TIMES

Monday 9:30 – 1:15, Tuesday 9:30 – 11:15 and Friday 9:30 – 11:15.

I will be around at other times but the above are definite. I will be on holiday and therefore unavailable from 26th October to 30th October.

Circuit DIARY

Meetings and Other Church Events for the forthcoming months.

October 2005

    7    Circuit Prayer Meeting                   7.30 pm               Barlborough
15    Men’s Fellowship Breakfast           8.30 am                     Staveley
25      Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter
28    “44” and Ascent                     from 6.00 pm                  Brimington

November 2005

    4    Circuit Prayer Meeting                   7:30 pm                 Barrow Hill
19    Men’s Fellowship Breakfast           8.30 am                     Staveley
22    Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter