Our Vision

Good news was promised in the November’s issue about children’s work that members of our Churches had been involved in during the last few weeks. There may be more that you are not telling me about! I will find out on the grapevine and we will all celebrate the successes that Jesus is bringing about within our Circuit.

BRIMINGTON COMMON’S – HOLIDAY CLUB
The children’s Holiday Club ran during October half-term for children aged 5-7 years from the local school. With Nel at the helm and six volunteers (on rota) we met Monday to Friday 10:00 to 12:00pm.

So all prepared day one dawned, the heavens opened and the downpour began. Our hearts sank-what mum would bring her children out in this?....We gathered together in prayer then as we felt more confident, the door opened and the children started to arrive-and what a start! Raincoats, hats, brollies, wellies to contend with but we were soon up and away enjoying ourselves.

Each day Nel sat in the special story corner-all cosy and warm with Christmas lights. A different story each time but always one with a moral. Activities were based on the daily story and ranged from making monsters and vehicles from junk, icing cakes, planting bulbs, hiding a fox in a sock and creating a very popular swamp from lots of squidgy jelly. The video was good too-just a few minutes each day as the children got to know the Veggy characters and by Friday they could sing the catchy song.

The week cumulated on the Sunday with a special “Storytellers Celebration” in the hall. Mums and dads were invited to come with their children-the week’s work being on display. Very informally parents, children and our normal morning congregation sat around tables enjoying coffee and doughnuts-and with everyone relaxed Nel told the final story with all the adults joining in the activity (making butterflies) followed by All Things Bright and Beautiful. Finally certificates for attendance were presented to the children.

So What Next? The children now come with their mums after school on Mondays 3:00 to 3:45pm. Mums have tea and chat – children have a story, an activity and snack. We pray that we will be able to keep the momentum going-new people coming into the church is something to CELEBRATE!!!

We thank God for the boldness that Brimington Common have taken and pray that their energy will not be diminished as they continue to move forward with this.

You maybe thinking what fantastic news, why can’t it happen elsewhere, but it did during the same week. Graham Buckley writes of the:

FUN DAY AT CARR VALE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
Reverend Lionel Anderson (the Interim Moderator of the Rose Hill, Calow and Carr Vale group of URC Churches – What a Title!!!!) needed help and support to run a proposed One Day Fun Day for the Children of Carr Vale aged between 5 and 11 during the Autumn Half Term, on Wednesday 26th October.

At 10 o’clock in the morning it began, seven of us from Hill Top, Bolsover piled in and had a great time. Reverend Anderson led a series of furious games, which delighted the children, and when he needed a respite Dave Wilson took over. There were many activities including painting modelling and Mask Making. Face Painting continued throughout the whole day (it had to, it took that long for Diana Buckley to complete the task, all the children wanted to have it done.). There were some great faces around, tigers, clowns, Spiderman, and not forgetting a certain lady Methodist Superintendent Minister who displayed a colourful Masquerade painted on her beaming features.

Thirty four children turned up altogether, had loads of fun and were collected by their grateful parents at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, leaving the team suitable exhausted. We were all thankful that there were no accidents or tears during the day just a stream of young smiling faces as they went home telling their parents all about it.

We got a message that they loved it so much they are looking forward to the next one (!!!) with great excitement, and we thought is was a one-off. Oh well!

FREE FACE PAINTING!
Bolsover has a face painter complete with kit available to provide free face painting for children at all your Church/Community events.

With Christmas approaching there are many events that are taking place within the Circuit. Here are some events to wet your appetite.

DUCKMANTON’S CHRISTMAS BUFFET
Duckmanton are holding their Christmas Buffet Tea on December 10th at 5:30pm. After tea, there will be a small brass band playing a selection of carols. Entrance is free but an offering will be taken for Church funds.

For catering purposes we will need to know numbers. Free tickets are available from either Church Members or by phoning June and Derek on 01246 472553.

CLOWNE’S SISTERHOOD’S ‘PARTY’
Monday 12th December sees Cresswell Colliery Brass Band leading a Carol Concert. Everyone is welcome to share with the Sisterhood ladies in singing carols and listening to the band as they celebrate with their “party” and final meeting of the year.

CIRCUIT CAROL SERVICE – INVITATION TO ALL
This is to be held at Staveley on Thursday 22nd December at 7:30pm. Each Church within the Circuit has been asked to bring an item with many Churches having now responded. This is your Carol Service where we will gather together as the larger family to be with and to encourage one another. This is probably the final Carol Service that you will attend. What better way than with those of like mind and within our Circuit family to set the final scene and bring calmness after the business of preparation to celebrate the birth of our Lord. There will be opportunity of fellowship with refreshments after.

It is in print that Wesleyan Methodists were worshipping in cottages in Staveley in 1806, which means that in 2006 there will have been Methodists in Staveley for 200 years. Therefore, when we at Staveley, celebrate our Church Anniversary on the weekend of 25th & 26th February, 2006, we will be celebrating 30 years of this present (5th.) Church building, and 200 years of Methodism in Staveley. To this end it is proposed to include a small exhibition giving some details of the past 4 Wesleyan Churches, Staveley Zion, Primitive Methodist Church and Lowgates Free Methodist Church. I have a reasonable amount of information about the Wesleyans, having been brought up in Trinity Methodist Church, and Lowgates produced booklets every 25 years which record some historical information and some of their activities, but Zion is a mystery. I have heard that shortly after opening in 1873, there was a fire which involved some re-building, but I have no further dates or information on when the additional buildings were added other than its closure in 1969.

Any information or photographs (returnable) would be greatly appreciated.

Geoff. Thompson 01246-471227 or e-mail: geoff@geoffthompsonforce9.co.uk

The Circuit Office will be closed on Monday 12th December and will close on Tuesday 20th December reopening on Tuesday 3rd January.

Circuit DIARY

Meetings and Other Church Events for the forthcoming months.

December 2005

12      Local Preachers’ Meeting                 7.30 pm                      Staveley
17     Men’s Fellowship Breakfast              8.30 am                      Staveley
22      Circuit Carol Service                        7.30 pm                      Staveley

January 2006

3      Deadline for material for next Vision
18      Teaching on Spirituality                     7.30 pm                     Bolsover
21            Men’s Fellowship Breakfast        8.30 am    Staveley

Our Vision

The Newsletter of the Bolsover and Staveley Circuit

December 2005 No 52

Circuit DIARY

Meetings and Other Church Events for the forthcoming months.

December 2005

January 2006