Our Vision

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The Newsletter of the Bolsover and Staveley Circuit

February 2006 No 54

This month we start our journey at Clowne, with David Green writing on the work that the church is particularly doing within their youth club on a Friday evening. In a previous issue we heard from Nel Shallow of Hall Road starting a journey together as they explored the Healing Ministry of the church, this month Mark Coles continues writing on a new chapter, the commissioning of their Prayer and Ministry Team.

YOUNG PEOPLE AT CLOWNE
It is that time of the year when once again the young people at Clowne are thinking ahead to Breakout in Blackpool. They have gone to a MAYC event almost every year now since we stopped travelling as a circuit back in the days when Alan Morton was a minister here. The faithful few enjoy going along to join with the masses in Blackpool (or wherever) for a weekend of fun and not a little fellowship with other Methodist youngsters. Once again we invite other youth members in the circuit to join with us – but please don’t leave it too long to book your place (ring Sheila or David on 811232) because we must hire the bus and fix our sleeping arrangements in the next couple of weeks.

In general, young people form a vital part of the life of the church in Clowne. We have thriving youth clubs for the under 11’s and 11 plus age groups on a Friday evening – but try to get them along on Sunday? Then we see the difference – the Junior Church Sunday Club and MAYC Youth fellowship meetings are “less popular”. The MAYC group is confined to a small faithful group of about six members only, but they and the rest are exposed to “church” in the clubs and from small beginnings who knows where God will lead them in the future. This thought is what makes it worthwhile being there week in and week out running the clubs, and in the case of the older ones being deafened by loud music and thrashed at pool time after time. The confines of the room and number of leaders mean that we have to restrict entry to the senior club (we have even had to start turning some away on a Friday evening) but those who come do bring their friends to visit and enjoy our facilities – games (pool, darts, table-tennis and video games on PS2s), music and occasional discos and a “quiet area” to chat and think. The younger group also play games and do craft work before ending with a time together for silly games or stories. The older ones too sometimes play silly games – but don’t tell their friends outside!

The church is a safe haven for the youth of the village on a Friday evening.

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS!
On the morning service of the 15th of January at Hall Road Methodist Church, yet another new chapter began within the life of our church, (although to be truthful something similar did happen a number of years ago). What am I going on about you may ask, well it was the commissioning of our Prayer and Ministry Team. Here is part of the liturgy that we used that morning:

It is a fundamental part the Christian faith, that our God, is a God of healing and wholeness, and that He equips his people for works of grace.

Matthew Chapter 10 Verse 1 says

[1] He (Jesus) called his disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

1 Corinthians Chapter 12 Verses 27 to 28 says

[27] Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. [28] And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

Those to be commissioned believe they are called by God for such works of healing and wholeness, and today, we are to commission them for this task.

So within our act of worship, amidst prayerful thought and concern, our team was commissioned, with Nel Shallow preaching (very well I may add) on the theme of the Priesthood of All Believers. For that is what we believe as Methodists, for all of us are called by God, to works of service, and those that day are no different from you or I, but believe that they are called by God to this ministry. Their role will be, both within worship and fellowship, to pray for healing and wholeness, for those who ask them to. For as Christians we believe that God answers prayer, powerfully, wonderfully, by His will and Grace.

My hope is that the team, with the support of the Church family at Hall Road, will do great work for God, as prayerfully and faithfully they offer themselves for this ministry amongst us.

May God bless each of us, as we offer our lives in service to Him and Him alone!!

STAVELEY’S 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
On the weekend of Saturday, 25th., & Sunday, 26th., February ’06, we at Staveley will be celebrating 30 years in our present building. At the same time, it is 200 years since it was recorded that Wesleyan Methodists were meeting in cottages in 1806, therefore we have a double celebration. On Saturday we commence with Tea at 5.30pm, followed by a Gift Service at 6.30pm., and to round the evening off, Chesterfield Operatic Society will give a concert commencing at 7.30pm. Admission to Tea & Concert is £4.00, and must be booked in advance for catering purposes. Then on Sunday, we have the pleasure of welcoming Rev. Baroness Kathleen Richardson to lead our worship, with our small choir participating.

We offer a warm invitation to help us in our celebrations.

NEW BRIMINGTON’S NOTICE BOARD
Congratulations to New Brimington on a stunning new church notice board! It virtually leapt out at me as I was driving past the other week, you could not miss it!

TEACHING ON WORSHIP
If you didn’t attend the Teaching on Spirituality evening in January, you missed an extremely useful evening. So you do not feel left out when everyone else is talking about it, may I encourage you to attend the Teaching on Worship at Staveley on Friday 17th February starting at 7:30pm.

BRUISED KNEES A PROBLEM
Brimington have a full length rose red surplus to requirements. If any church is interested please contact Elizabeth Barkley on 274056.

Circuit DIARY

Meetings and Other Church Events for the forthcoming months.

February 2006

17      Teaching on Worship                    7.30 pm                          Staveley
18      Men’s Fellowship Breakfast          8.30 am                          Staveley
24      Deadline for material to be included in next newsletter

March 2006

          Circuit Prayer Meeting                 7.30 pm
8        Local Preachers’ Meeting             7.30 pm                         Bolsover
15      General Purposes Committee       7.30 pm                         Bolsover
17      Teaching on Evangelism               7.30 pm         Brimington Common
18      Men’s Fellowship Breakfast          8.30 am                          Staveley
22      Circuit Meeting                            7.30 pm                          Staveley