Ashbourne Methodist Church Magazine
July - August 2005
From the Manse
Dear Friends,
Last Saturday three of us went to Nuthall for the District launch of the year
of prayer. This is the call by the Methodist Conference for the Methodist
Church to spend a year in 24/7 prayer. The initiative came from the Youth
Conference and has been inspired by the 24/7 movement and the book "Red
Moon Rising".
The Methodist Church has endorsed this initiative and from September 2005
each District has been allocated a fortnight for them to keep the prayer flame
burning. Our Nottingham & Derby District will be praying from 14th - 28th
April next year. That seems a long way off and there will be more on that
nearer the time.
Our day at Nuthall was excellent. I was particularly excited by "The
Boiler Room". This was a small room set aside for prayer. You took off
your shoes on entry. This was Holy ground. Inside every wall was covered with
things to stimulate you to pray. There was a section focussing on local issues
with a map and newspapers and headlines and scissors and words to cut out
and stick on the appropriate area, "Drugs", "Violence",
"Vandalism", "Teenage Mums".
There was a washing line for hanging up Thanksgiving prayers; A graffiti wall
for splashing on ideas for praise and encouragement; A wailing wall with bricks
for you to write in prayers for your family and to spend time praying for
those already written there.
There was a tent for you to enter and to sit and spend time listening to God;
Paper and envelopes for you to write God-given thoughts to yourself or others;
A rugged cross of suffering to sit under and light an incense stick as you
pray for the suffering of the world.
There was a world map and tea candles and the book "Operation World"
to enable you to pray for individual countries.
Jesus said to his disciples "Could you not spend one hour watching with
me in prayer?". I have never found it so easy to spend an hour in prayer
as I did in that room. There was so much to do, so much to pray for, so much
to put you in the right frame of mind for praying.
We will set up a "Boiler Room" for our fortnight of prayer. Meanwhile
perhaps we can find a corner in the Cornerstone to serve as a focus for prayer.
Somewhere where people can pop in, say a prayer and leave a prayer request.
One of the outcomes of the Annual Church Meeting was the realisation we need
to develop the prayer life of our church. How do we get more people to be
involved in prayer?
One idea is to get together in prayer-triplets. Such a group is small enough
for each one to feel comfortable and to pray openly without the embarrassment
people sometimes feel in a larger group. Jesus tells us "Where 2 or 3
gather in my name, I am there in the midst. And where two agree upon anything
in my name, it shall be done for them". Matthew 18v19-20.
Praying in twos and threes is effective.
Jesus always spent time in prayer before embarking on new initiatives. Prayer
is the way to learning what God wants us to do. Prayer opens doors for him
to work.
God Bless,
Chris
Trampolinathon!
What would you do for charity? Sponsored fast... sponsored silence... 24 hour
trampoline??? Yes, as crazy as it may seem, the Essence crew are trampolining
from 6pm on Friday 15th July until 6pm on Saturday 16th. All money raised
from sponsors will be going to the Oasis Trust, a charity set up in 1985 by
Steve Chalke to help homeless young people in disadvantaged communities. Visit
their website at www.oasistrust.org
So, if you want a good time and great entertainment, then come and watch Essence's
24 hour trampoline! We will be serving drinks and cakes from 2pm to 6pm on
Saturday 16th - so please stop by at the Bales' house, Clifton Croft, Clifton.
Also, watch out for members of Essence looking for sponsors. Please be generous.
For more information please see Stuart or Catherine Green (or any Essence
member).
Ezra Morris
Essence Thanks Wall
At a recent Essence meeting, we gave thanks to God by writing things we were
thankful for on "bricks" and building up a wall of thanks. It was
quite impactful to go into the room at the beginning of the evening and see
just a couple of bricks and to see this build up to a full wall.
This is what we gave thanks for…
Thank you for my family, For life, Friends, Our food and drink, Charity workers,
Helping me make decisions, For people getting to know God and are coming to
faith, Thanks for my home, Good health, Giving us life, Support of others,
Those who help us see God, Jesus, The fact that you love us more than anyone
else can, For love and happiness, For being alive in the Spirit, Enthusiasm
for God's work, Beautiful plants and creatures, Freedom, The Church family,
For being me, Friends, For helping me in exams, Sun!, Learning about God,
Thanks for my friends, Hope, GOD, Freedom to be ourselves, The beautiful world
you have created, For Christianity and people who are Christians and knowing
God, All those involved in Make Poverty History, Essence, Happiness, for Happiness,
Love, CHRIST, Having fun, Shelter!, Family!
Life Journey
On Saturday 2nd July, please come along to the tent on the grass opposite
the Empire Club in Ashbourne for a unique event. This event, as a part of
Ashbourne Arts, will allow you to spend time reflecting on your life journey
with the aid of a range of different stimuli. The tent will be open from 10am
to 4pm for you to spend as much time as you would like.
At 7.30pm there will be a service, suitable both for Christians and for non-Christians
who may have been moved by the exhibition. Please come along to this service
and show your support for this involvement in our local community.
Catherine Green & Tracy Dawson
Operation Christmas Child
SAFARI/PROGRESSIVE MEAL - 1ST OCTOBER 20005
I hope you read, and can remember (!) the article in the June magazine advertising
the Safari Meal on 1st October in aid of Operation Christmas Child. Briefly,
we are looking for at least 12 couples (married, or two single friends) who
will provide and host one course of a 3-course meal for themselves and two
other couples. Hosts/hostesses are reimbursed according to whichever course
they are asked to provide. You are asked to indicate your interest by completing
a very simple form, giving information which needs to be passed on to those
providing meals and for those taking part, for example any dietary needs,
and also addresses. Full information will be given, and in the meantime if
you wish to know more about it please ring me to ask. It is great fun, and
provides an opportunity to meet several people you may not have previously
met. You should meet the other people only once, except for the coffee and
cheese ending to the evening, when (if all has gone according to plan) we
all meet up together to share the experience of the evening. The cost is £10
per person.
We will be operating the shoe box project again this year, and our "knitters
and sewers" have already been very busy. We have a good quantity of hand-made
goods to go into the boxes. The final Sunday will again be sometime towards
the end of November. In the meantime, if you are clearing out cupboards or
toy boxes and come across items suitable for putting into the boxes Betty
or Marianne will be pleased to store it until we check the boxes before sending
them to the despatch centre. We are always in great need of what are called
"filler items" which can fill gaps we find in some of the boxes.
Leaflets will be available from Marianne or Betty shortly.
Betty Hadley.
Thanks to Jacinth
The Circuit would like to pass their thanks and appreciation to Jacinth Land,
who has been the Circuit Meeting's representative at District Synod for many
years. Her attendance at them and her reporting back to the Circuit (such
as in the article she prepared for last month's magazine) have been very much
appreciated.
NCH The Children's Charity
Mid-July will be a busy time for our support group and we are hoping that
you, our friends, will be able to help us again. Our charity supports over
500 projects helping children and young people who are in desperate need and
have no-one else to turn to. Apart from the hostels for homeless and children
with special needs, there are many projects for parents and carers: single
parents who lack the skills and confidence for parenting, and carers, often
children themselves, who need a centre to help them with day-to-day problems
and somewhere to talk about their difficulties with others in the same position.
NCH has come a long way from just catering for orphans in 19th century institutions.
Today they still look after those without families but also cater to the whole
spectrum of child, teenage and family problems.
We will be having our usual charity stall outside Ashbourne Town Hall on Thursday
14th July from 9.30am to 12 noon. We find that home-made cakes, both large
and small, plus biscuits and preserves sell best and are therefore asking
you for donations of these. We can put goods in our freezers if you can make
something in advance. Please let any of the support group know.
Then, on Saturday of the same week (16th July) we have been allocated our
Ashbourne street collection. Marianne is putting together a rota and once
again we desperately need help to cover the five stations per hour. If anyone
can give an hour of their time on that day, please let Marianne know.
NCH The Children's Charity is very careful with any money raised, making sure
that over 90% of it goes to the young people. Money is not wasted on too much
administration or advertising. We hope that you can help us to help over 100,000
children and young people. Thank you.
Support Group: Betty and Mike Hadley, Doris Harrison, Val Howse, Marianne
and Eric Matthews, Sandra and Cliff Lewer, Betty Little, Judith Starkie.
Church Anniversary BBQ
On Church Anniversary Sunday, 17th July, please join us after the morning
service for socialising over a barbecue.
Garden Party
The Alzheimer's Society invites you to a Garden Party to be held on Saturday
9th July from 2pm to 6pm at Shaw Lodge, 30 Derby Road, Ashbourne. Among other
things, there will be homemade teas, stalls and a bygones quiz. On the day,
Notty Hornblower will present "A History of Fashion" Show. Proceeds
to the South Derbyshire & Dales Branch of the Alzheimer's Society.
Mission Matters
JMA (Junior Mission for All)
It is good this year to have welcomed new members. Some have been part of
JMA for all of 2005 and others have joined in June. We welcome Martha, Jonathan
and David Denny plus Eleanor, Oscar and Max Wainwright and Demi Buxton and
more recently Sarah Evans, Matthew Allen, Zoë Allen and Joy Mallard.
Please continue to support and encourage all the children and young people
in JMA.
IMPORTANT: Please could all JMA members ensure that their boxes have been
emptied by their collectors before the school summer holidays.
Ruth Mallard
A prayer from the Methodist Prayer Handbook
God of all, when I think I have all the answers, remind me of the questions
I have overlooked; when I can't find any answers, help me to know that the
journeying is as important as the journey's end; and when I want to remain
comfortable in my ignorance, challenge my complacency with the mystery of
your love for this complex world; in the name of him who died on the cross
and changed the world. Amen.
By Graham Carter.
Mission Education - Unity in Mission
"God's presence and action in the world and in the church is something
that most of us take for granted every day of our lives. We are aware of God's
presence in creation, in other people and we see many people working for the
good of others. But do we make the connection with God's mission and the call
on our lives?
We all have a part to play in the bigger picture as we reflect on the world,
and particularly in this year as we focus on poverty and the G8 meeting in
Edinburgh.
It seems that the gospel and money cannot be separated. The poor in the developing
world live in the joy of their faith yet need help to break out of their chains
of debt. And we have so many material possessions yet sometimes seem to lack
confidence in God and faith.
Your giving to the Methodist Church Fund and the Funds for World and Home
Mission and Property helps provide new mission opportunities for individuals
and communities to live in the fullness of life promised by Jesus Christ.
The national Funds for World and Home Mission have been slowly decreasing
over the years but the work continues."
Please be encouraged to pray and support.
Words from Susan Johnson at Methodist Church House.
Mission Focus - FEBV
THE FELLOWSHIP FOR EVANGELISING BRITAIN'S VILLAGES.
The purpose of this long established Christian mission is to evangelise the
many neglected villages and to establish in them groups of living witnesses
for Jesus Christ. The strategy is to assist and encourage village churches
in their outreach and to engage in effective evangelism. The vision is to
see our land covered with workers each being responsible for village evangelism
within a ten-mile radius.
Associate membership: If you belong to a village church or chapel and are
concerned about the people of the village and the area around and you want
people to be saved. You may be a leader or "ordinary" church member
involved in some way. You may live in a town or city but are involved in reaching
people in a local village. If this is true for you please think about becoming
an Associate Member of FEBV. You would be able to send prayer requests for
inclusion in the prayer diary. The Pastoral Director is available as a "pastor"
to all members. There is no age limit!
For more information or to receive the encouraging Village News magazine or
prayer tape contact: FEBV, PO Box 271, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1YY. Tel/Fax:
01823 321016. Website: www.febv.org.uk Email: hq@febv.org.uk
Or talk to Ruth Mallard
Sierra Leone Evening
On Saturday 9th July 7.30pm in the Waterside I will be showing slides and
telling the story of Sierra Leone.
For the last two years we have been supporting the rebuilding of manses in
Sierra Leone following ten years of civil war. The war ended in 2001 and the
country is now completely peaceful.
One of my Sierra Leonean minister colleagues has asked if I can help him rebuild
one of the tiny village churches called Mosamba. They have used mud blocks
to build the walls and need help to buy the corrugated iron sheeting for the
roof and cement to plaster the walls. They need about £450.
Do come along on 9th July and hear the story. It is a story of remarkable
faith and will make your own problems fade into insignificance. As they say
in Sierra Leone "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good."
Chris Eddy
A POEM FROM A PLACE OF SOLACE
(While preparing supper)
For supper I prepare the carrots and rice
And I thought that the prospect looked very nice
To be loved, corrected and taught how to care
For friends and neighbours in attitude of prayer
As I chopped the beans and I buttered the bread
I pondered upon all the things that you said
So neither to judge nor to criticize them
Accept, as you'd like t'be accepted again
While washing the dishes and adding soap suds
Again I reflected while peeling the spuds
'God's home', a haven of presence and healing
Reshaping and making like Jesus, appealing
Then laying the table and checking the meat
I considered the Lord and His words to repeat
So with songs in the kitchen, I defroze the peas
A hippy retraining, waits, adores, on her knees
Dinner is finished, Jason says, "Where's ice cream?"
We talk about listening and here ends the theme!
Soon Howard is coming to paint stairs and halls
But I meditate how to build "church" without walls
By Mrs Chris Morris
Church Family Weekend
After the success of last year's Church Family Weekend, which people really
enjoyed, we decided that it would be good to hold another one in the autumn
of 2006 (yes, autumn next year!). However, to get somewhere booked that has
all the facilities we need to start planning soon! If you would like to be
involved in a small group to research possible venues and begin planning the
weekend, please speak with one of the Stewards or phone David Bale.
Chairman of District
Please note that as from June 1st 2005 the Chairman of the District will change
all his contact details.
Ashbourne Churches Together Outreach Stall
ACT has agreed to a proposal to operate an Outreach stall once or twice a
month using the free stall outside the Town Hall. The idea is to have available
free material provided by ACT giving an overview of the churches and ACT's
activities, more detailed material about the activities of individual churches
(provided by the churches) and other Christian material from commercial sources.
Christian books, tapes and CDs could also be available for sale. We would
run the stall on one Thursday and one Saturday each month. There will be a
meeting for anyone interested in helping in any way at 7.30 pm on Wednesday
13th July at 81 Derby Rd. If you are interested but not able to come please
contact John Hurfurt.
John Hurfurt
Prayers
We continue to ask for you to especially remember the following
things in your prayers this month:
26th June Our friends at other Ashbourne churches
27th June All those involved in Ashbourne Festival
28th June Those who prepare the Church lunch and those who share in it
29th June The Church of North India
30th June Groups staying in The Gateway Centre
1st July Network
2nd July Those who may feel they spirit moved by Life Journey
3rd July Powersource members
4th July Local farmers
5th July The Youth Club
6th July The leaders of the G8 as they gather in Edinburgh
7th July The people of Mooiplaas, South Africa
8th July Those who help with Basement
9th July Those who work in Cornerstone
10th July NCH
11th July Churches in the tribal areas around Barharwa, North India
12th July The work of Methodist Homes
13th July Brownies & Guides
14th July The work of Oxfam
15th July Choir, organists and musicians practising for Sunday
16th July Members of Essence
17th July Local Preachers
18th July Home mission
19th July The next Alpha course
20th July Pupils and staff at St Thomas's School in North India
21st July Walkers visiting Milldale chapel
22nd July Those involved in preparing for summer fellowships
23rd July Holidaymakers visiting Ashbourne
Calling all Bikers/Hikers
On Saturday 10th September the Derbyshire Churches and Chapels Preservation
Trust will be holding a sponsored bike ride and hike. Would you like to take
part in this event?
If you take part and receive sponsorship, half of the money will go to the
trust, and the other half to Ashbourne Methodist Church. There are many Churches
open throughout Derbyshire for the event, and you can visit as many, and as
far apart as you can manage!
To take part, or for more information, please contact me.
Catherine Green
Ashbourne Family News
We have received the following message from Sue and Dave Coackley
"We want to pass on our thanks to the Church family for your support
during the past two months. The prayers, phone calls, flowers, visits and
practical help have been wonderful and so much appreciated. Thank-you everyone.
Sue has had her 2 operations and is recovering well, - thankfully the tumour
was benign and it is unlikely that further treatment will be needed."
We continue to pray for Sue and Dave along with all those who are recovering
from illness. We pray for Gerald Grindey, recovering from a heart bypass operation,
and for Ruth Perkins who is also on the mend.
We continue to pray for Pearl and Bill Steeples and ask God's gentle touch
on them.
Social Get-Togethers
One of the priorities we discussed at the recent Annual Church Meeting was
getting to know each other better. We said that (apart from Church Weekends!)
social events are really good ways of meeting people from the church. We think
it would be good if a couple of people could think about what sort of events
could happen (one event every three months would be great) and could enlist
helpers to make them happen. If you would like to contribute, please talk
to one of the Stewards or phone David Bale.
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Church Council
Youth Camps
If you (or someone you know!) is aged 13-25, you might like to consider one
of the many youth camps that will be happening this summer. For example, a
couple of our young people will be going to one of the Lee Abbey Youth Camps
for 13-18s in North Devon this year. Their camp involves meeting new friends,
a wide range of activities but also space to meet with God, worship and deepen
faith. All this while camping (tents and showers provided!) on a 280-acre
estate on the coast. For more information on Lee Abbey Youth Camps, see www.leeabbey.org.uk
Meanwhile, Mark Lewis will be leading a Scripture Union camp (as he has done
for several years) for 8 to 11 year olds. Again, there's time to get to know
God better as well as plenty of other stuff like crafts and games (including
using the on-site swimming pool!). Mark's camp doesn't involve tents - so
for those who like their indoor comforts, it's ideal! For more information,
have a word with Mark.
Make Poverty History
Several of us will be going to Edinburgh on the eve of the G8 summit (6th
July). We are asked to take photographs of people who support the call to
Make Poverty History to attach to railings along Princess Street in the city.
If you would like to show your support, please give us a photo as soon as
possible.
David Walwyn, Danny Ffoulkes, Mark Lewis, Stuart and Catherine Green
Church Council
On 24th April the Annual Church Meeting was held. The following were elected
as church stewards for the year beginning 1st September 2005: Gwenda Alcock,
David Bale, Roger Davies, Catherine Green, Judith Hall, Paul Haslam, Ian Marsh
and Gareth Rutledge. The following were elected to serve as representatives
on the Church Council from 1st September 2005: Tracy Dawson, Tim Dutton, Jeff
Ffoulkes, Helen Flinn, Stuart Green, Elizabeth Hurfurt, John Hurfurt, Dreda
Kitchen, Cliff Lewer, Jacqui Marsh, Eric Matthews, Clare Sales and David Walwyn.
There was an opportunity to ask questions on the reports from each of the
church groups, which had already been made available. If you have not had
a copy of these reports or a copy of the minutes, please speak to me.
At the recent Church Council meeting, thanks were given to John Hurfurt for
his long service as our church treasurer. The Church Council approved Ann
Parkinson as our new treasurer which she commences on 1st September 2005.
Two new pastoral visitors were also appointed: Heather Garbutt and Jan Elliott.
Carole Thorpe
Dates for your Diary
JUNE
Tue 28th 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Century Hall
JULY
Sat 2nd 8.00am Network Prayer Walk and Breakfast Tissington
Sat 2nd 10am- 4pm Life Journey - Ashbourne Arts Festival opp. Empire Club
Sat 2nd 7.30pm Life Journey Service opp. Empire Club
Sun 3rd 10.30am Powersource Service Ashbourne
Sat 9th 7.30pm Sierra Leone Evening Waterside
Sun 10th NCH Sunday
Mon 11th 7.30pm Network AGM - with talk by Sandra Lewer Century Hall
Wed 13th 7.30pm ACT Outreach Stall Meeting 81 Derby Rd
Thu 14th 9.30am NCH Stall at Ashbourne Town Hall Ashbourne
Fri 15th 6pm -Sat 16th 6pm Essence Trampolinathon Clifton Croft,
Sat 16th 2- 6pm Drinks & Cakes being served Clifton
Sat 16th NCH Street Collection Ashbourne
Sat 16th 7.00pm Praise Century Hall
Sun 17th 10.30am Ashbourne Church Anniversary + BBQ Ashbourne
Wed 20th 7.00pm Milldale Service Milldale
Tue 26th 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Century Hall
Thu 28th 7.30pm Ashbourne Joint House Groups Ashbourne
AUGUST
Wed 17th 7.00pm Milldale Service Milldale
Sat 20th 7.00pm Praise Century Hall
Fri - Mon 26th - 29th Greenbelt Festival Cheltenham
Tue 30th 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Century Hall
If you would like to contribute an article for the magazine, I will be happy
to publish it.
Items for the September Ashbourne Circuit magazine to me by 9pm on Wednesday
17th August
Home Services
Church Groups Methodism
Message Churches
Together Ashbourne
Circuit News