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The Newsletter of the Bolsover and Staveley Circuit

September 2006 No 61

NEW APPOINTMENT
By the time you read this many people will have met and welcomed Dave Presson our new Community Layworker.

As you are aware it was agreed more than a year ago that we needed a layworker in the Staveley/Inkersall section working alongside the minister in the same way that Nel Shallow did in the Brimington section.

The circuit stewards set about preparing the papers to apply for funds from the District to help us pay for this and thanks to their hard work particularly the persistence of Graham Cutts, the district have come up with nearly half the funding for us. (Never say they don’t help us!)

The number of people coming to Staveley in particular asking for baptisms and weddings and, of course, funerals is considerable and without some extra resources it is not possible to follow these up and minister to them on an on-going basis.

The Layworker role has been defined as being one which aims to forge links between the church and the non-church communities, and therefore this ‘rites of passage’ work will be an important part of Dave’s role.

I’m sure everyone will want to wish Dave and his wife Trisia our good wishes as they join the Staveley church and support Dave physically in anything that he initiates, (under God and Rev Gordon and myself), and uphold them in your prayers too.

So let me allow David to speak for himself:-

“Let me introduce myself – I’m David Presson, husband to Tricia, father to Lisa and Michael, grandfather to Luke.

Staveley is definitely well known to me, as over the last four years, I’ve delivered to most of the houses there in my capacity as postman!

I was part of the team that pioneered Staveley Community Church and some of you may remember me from when I worshipped at Brimington Common, and for the years that I served in the circuit as a Local Preacher. More recently, I have worked with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) in England and various parts of Africa and an now looking forward to serving as Community Lay Worker in the area.”

May God bless you David. I look forward to working with you and Gordon in this new venture, Rev Gillian Robertson.

A FRIEND REMEMBERED
Earlier in the summer we said farewell to our longest serving Local Preacher, Ron Gee. Ron was a quiet man, but no one who spoke to him could ever doubt his love for his Lord. He worshipped at Doe Lea, Glapwell and finally Hillstown. His biblical knowledge was phenomenal, often having quoted and recited the passage before he had found it in his Bible. An extremely faithful and dedicated man, we thank God for Ron’s life and allowing us as a Circuit to share in it.

NCH NEEDS YOUR HELP
Have you got what it takes to be NCH’s representative and fundraiser in chief to the Circuit for the past ten years this most important role has been admirably undertaken by the husband and wife partnership – Graham and Anne Newton, with help from equally committed members of the Bolsover and Staveley Support Group. But even the tireless Graham and Anne deserve a rest and they are looking for that dedicated person/people who will take over the mantle.

The Newtons and Support Group members have been responsible for raising an enormous amount of money to help NCH, through their memorable ‘Christmas in July’ dinners, sponsored swims, Step Out for Children, the latest of which is on September 16th , store collections, NCH Sunday and Christmas services and many other events, not to mention the huge number of League of Light boxes Anne empties each year. All this means that YOU in this circuit are a very generous and supportive group of Methodists who have contributed greatly to the work of NCH over the years and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your help, encouragement and generosity.

You might wonder why it is all needed. NCH is now the largest children’s charity in the UK, working with some 160,000 children, young people and their families across the UK. While much of our basic work in projects is funded by statutory funds there is always a need for extra income to go that further mile, or to make sure that there is enough for those unexpected emergencies when urgent intervention is needed. And there is still an enormous amount of innovative and extraordinary work that is unique to NCH, which is funded by our voluntary income. This is work such as campaigning and developing preventative services, protecting children using the internet, anti- bullying workshops, recruiting and training volunteer independent visitors, helping children through the trauma of family breakup and much more, all aimed at keeping the child at the centre of all we do.

NCH has a variety of projects in N E Derbyshire, from Leaving Care, to Respite Care, work with children who are themselves carers, and separating families. Thank you to Graham and Anne and your helpers for keeping these children in your hearts – I hope that someone in your circuit will feel able to take up the challenge to continue this excellent support.

For more information on NCH, and the role of the circuit coordinator, and of course to join the Step out for Children walk please contact Graham Newton on 01246 822597, or NCH Regional Fundraiser Mary Shearn on 0114 2304989.

SMILES
When Mandy Close and I had been discussing going to Romania and this was not the first time, I had said that maybe I should send money as I had done previously. With not being very mobile and being on crutches it did not seem possible for me to go. Mandy was having none of that and refused to take any money telling me, that I could cuddle a baby if I was sitting down couldn’t I? I stated lots of problems which could arise and one by one Mandy, offered a solution or dismissed them.

This is the only advise and information Mandy gave to me before the trip. The only problem I would have to worry about was her snoring, as we were sharing a room, (she was not kidding but more about that another time!) The information was, that they had lovely fresh bread and I would love it. Both pieces of information proved to be very accurate.

From that meeting followed a huge amount of prayer and with the support from Hall Road, and the generous donations from the members I was able to go and have the experience of a life time. I thank everyone who helped me and prayed for this mission. If it is God’s will for me to go again then I shall and I have no doubt that the funds needed will be proposed trip in 2007. Please will you pray for this next mission and let us see where God leads us. Thank you. Maureen Gartland.

THANK YOU
"I would like to thank everyone in the Circuit for their very kind and generous gift presented to me at the special farewell service in July. Also I would like to thank you all for your prayers, support, and good wishes.

Of course although for me it was a farewell upon my retirement, it wasn't really farewell! I am enjoying my retirement now (August) but I look forward to working with you in the Circuit from September." Geoff Fisher

COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY
A reminder that CBS starts at Bolsover on Thursday September 7th with evening groups are being held at Scarcliffe and Calow.

To find out more about the classes please contact:-

Eileen Coupe on 823956, Ann Dawes on 238331 or Pat Sanders on 827244

NETWORK
Dates for your diaries! The Network Committee Meeting will be held at Staveley on Friday 8th September at 2:15pm.

On Thursday 21st September the Network Come Together will commence at 7:00pm through to 9:00pm again at Staveley. The speaker will be Mrs J Munt. All ladies will be very welcome.

TREASURE HUNT
On Saturday 9th September starting at Bolsover there will be a car rally/treasure hunt. For more information please contact Brenda Ward on 822430.

PRAISE AND HEALING SERVICES AT HALL ROAD
You are welcome to join Brimington on Sunday 17th September and Sunday 19th November for our next celebrations, beginning as near to 7.30pm as possible!

Circuit DIARY

Meetings and Other Church Events for the forthcoming months.

September 2006

6        Local Preachers Meeting               7:30pm                       Brimington
8        Network Committee Meeting         2:15pm                          Staveley
16      Men’s Fellowship Breakfast           8:30am                          Staveley
17      Praise and Healing Service            7:30pm                       Brimington
20      Circuit Meeting                             7:30pm                       Brimington
21      Network Come Together               7:00pm                          Staveley

October 2006

6 Circuit Prayer Meeting 7:30pm Hillstown
21 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 8:30am Staveley