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Ashbourne Methodist Church Magazine



July - August 2003

From the Manse

Dear friends,

It’s hot! I am dressed in my shorts, having just been barbecued on the patio at Ashbourne. Summer has arrived.

The summer season has brought the village festivals. I have enjoyed being involved in Blessing the wells in Tissington and in Kniveton. In both places it was good to see the wells taking biblical themes. This is a real witness to the thousands of people who come to see them. I also got my picture in the paper, alongside the Town well at Tissington depicting John Wesley declaring "The World is my Parish". Thanks to Ros and her team for creating that design. Again it was a good witness.

I have been heartened to find the well blessings linked in with church services and festivals. This is a true thanksgiving to God for his provision, for the precious gift of water, life giving water.

In Kirk Ireton I unwittingly joined in the carnival procession. I was hauled aboard the church float depicting 1,350 years of Celtic Christianity. This was when Celtic monks first brought the gospel to Wirksworth. Again it was a good witness even though it did not win a prize.

In all of these celebrations I have seen village life at its best. The whole village working together in preparation. The whole village having fun together. In Kniveton the innovative idea of a scarecrow competition meant that everyone could have a go at producing something for all to see.

And it has been good to get our church life visible, out in the open with the circuit service at Brailsford and the barbecue in Ashbourne. Visitors asked "do you often do this?" and "Does the café use the patio….?"

Ashbourne in particular, regularly has visitors in morning worship. It is good for them to see a lively, happy, church family, worshipping and having fun together.

"Having fun together". What a far cry from the caricature of church life as a row of solemn faces eager to get home after the service without talking to each other. Thank God for a fun loving church family.

Thank God for Jesus who joined in the celebrations in his village. He attended the wedding feast, and added to the festivities by turning the water into wine. Outsiders called him a glutton and a drunkard for his party going lifestyle. But we know his party going was with a purpose. To get alongside people and so be able to point them in the direction of our Saviour God. To seek and to save the lost.

July brings us to the holiday season. I will be going to join in my family party on the island of Sark. My two brothers have been going there every year for 40 odd years. They always gather a large entourage of family and friends. The Methodists on the island look forward to the Eddy invasion. We provide a choir (or two) so they usually plan their "harvest of the sea" service while we are there. For me Sark is totally relaxing. That does not mean inactive. Cycling, cliff climbing, beach non-stop cricket, deep water swimming, and hyper-active young children prevent that. But life is lived at the pace of the bicycle and the horse. No cars and no traffic jams.

I hope you all have a good holiday time. And return refreshed and renewed.

God Bless

Chris

Outing to the Old Rectory, Epworth

Women’s Network are organising an outing to the birthplace of John Wesley,The Old Rectory, Epworth, on Wednesday 6 August. It is hoped to leave Ashbourne at around 9.30am. We plan to look around St Andrew’s Parish Church (where Rev Samuel Wesley was Rector) and the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church after we arrive at Epworth. We will then have a picnic lunch (please bring this with you) and visit the Old Rectory at 2pm. The cost will be £11 for Adults, £10.50 for Over-60s and £9 for Children This includes bus fare, entrance to the Old Rectory and donations to the Churches. The variation in costs reflects the charges to the Old Rectory. If you would like to go, please book your seat now! Please give your name (and your money!) to Betty or Alma

All Welcome!

The Gateway Centre

Below are the names of all of the groups staying in the Gateway Centre during July and August. If you are able to help with any of the changeovers, please let me know.

July

- 8 Sahgaman Dance Group

9 - 11 Kirkby Woodhouse Primary School

14 - 18 Eburne, Coventry

18 - 20 Interactiv, Hucknall

24 - 27 1st Alvaston Brownies

28 - 1 Aug 16th Liverpool Girls Brigade

August

1 - 3 6th Derby Brownies

9 - 16 1st Wokingham Girls Brigade

23 - 25 Salvation Army

Thankyou

Rachel Walker

Derbyshire Dales Careline needs helpers

"Derbyshire Dales Careline is now in its sixth year, working alongside other services to help elderly, isolated and frail members of our community to remain in their own homes as long as possible. Careline gives a daily telephone call to make sure that all is well, have a friendly chat, to give information and to flag up illnesses or anxieties.
We have a group of enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers but, as calls are made every day of the year, we need to add to our number to maintain the reliability of the service and variety of callers.
The calls are made from St. Oswald’s Hospital, Ashbourne during the morning, lunchtime or afternoon. The calls take 1½ – 2hours and volunteers call every week or every 2 weeks or every month, whichever is suitable. Full training is given and expenses paid.
This is a very rewarding form of volunteering as many of our elderly service-users have a wealth of memories to share and handy tips to impart.
If you would like to volunteer for Careline please ring the manager, Pat Hall on ( 07970 679190 for more information"

Pat Hall

Women’s Network

AGM & Baked Potato Supper

We are holding our AGM on Monday 7 July in the Century Hall at 7.30pm. The business will be kept to a minimum with written reports. It will then be followed by a baked potato supper and a speaker, who will be Sarah Olof. Sarah will be telling us about her charity trek in the Andes. Tickets for the supper, price £3.50, are now available from Gwenda, Alma, Betty, Liz, Jackie and Sandra. Why not come along for an interesting evening and good fellowship? Gentlemen welcome too.
Dates for your diaries
We hope you will be able to come to the following events

Thursday 4 September Meeting at Hulland at 2.15pm

Saturday 6 September Prayer Walk & Breakfast at Tissington (this is an 8am start, but well worth it)

Wednesday 8 October District Day at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. We hope lots will want to go and meet up with Harry and Lyn – we will endeavour to find transport for all who would like to go.

 Please put these dates in your diary now!
Alma Swan

Cornerstone for Young People.

From Saturday 19 July, Cornerstone will open every Saturday evening, initially from 7pm until 10pm for young people (School years 7 –11) to meet their friends, chat, eat & drink.
It is also hoped that some Christian non-directional counselling service will also be provided for the young people who may need help and advice on all sorts of issues facing them.
We are looking for people willing to help in this pilot outreach project by means of serving, washing up and generally being there. Contact Roger Mallard
Roger Mallard

Mow Cop

As part of the John Wesley Tercentenary celebrations, an open air service was to be held at Mow Cop on 8 June. Peter and I decided to go, drawn by the historical associations with Hugh Bourne and the Ranters, and also by the thought of hearty Methodist singing ringing out from this high spot! We set off in sunshine, aiming to picnic and have a short walk before the service at 2.30pm. By the time we arrived, visibility was almost nil and the rain was coming down in sheets. We sat in the steamy car, eating our sandwiches and then singing, until at 2 o'clock it was decided that the service would be in the Primitive Methodist Church in the village. Many people arrived from the Potteries and local areas of Cheshire until the church was full, with some standing, about 170 of us in all.

The service began with the reading of an exhortation of John Wesley's about the way in which hymns should, and should not, be sung, and accordingly we sang unaccompanied and at a spanking pace. A most wonderful sound! The hymns were:- The God of Abraham praise; Lo, He comes with clouds descending; O, what shall I do my Saviour to praise; O for a thousand tongues to sing; And can it be that I should gain; O Thou who camest from above. The reading was the parable of the Prodigal Son, and two local ministers and a lay preacher briefly gave their thoughts on the story; they also read short extracts from Wesley's Journal about visits to the Potteries when he preached by moonlight and with an icy wind blowing, and wondered if the early Methodists would have been driven indoors by the weather as we had!

We came out exhilarated, moved, and very glad that we had shared in this special occasion. We were just disappointed that this demonstration of our joy and love of the Lord had not been broadcast from the hill top!

Pat Fielding

Trumpet Pipe for the Organ

When, just prior to Project 2000, the organ was, by way of a large donation to the Church, completely refurbished and made electro-mechanical with a separate consol, the money available did not allow a trumpet pipe to be purchased or installed.

The consol and the wiring connecting to the organ have all been prepared and hence it is the pipe and its installation that are now required to complete what is a splendid piece of equipment and one of the finest organs of its type.

Cost is a problem as an estimate has been received of £6,500, and the property committee felt that we should appeal to the organ and music lovers amongst the community of the Church to see if one or more people would feel moved to make a donation towards the cost. (Gift Aid would assist)

Don Cox will be more than willing to explain further any technical aspects of this addition to the organ. Please let me or the treasurer know if this is something you could help with.

Cliff Lewer

We need a new treasurer (or treasurers?)

I have been the Church treasurer for seven years now and I feel it is time to give up. We therefore need a replacement, or the job could be possibly split into two. Here are brief outlines of the two potential parts of the job, please talk to me if you would be interested / prepared to do either of them.

a) Treasurer /book-keeper

To keep the church accounts month by month and prepare the end of year accounts and reports on an accruals basis.

To write and post cheques as needed

To bank money as required

To prepare reports for the quarterly Church council meetings, to attend and advise these meetings

To report to and attend Finance committee meetings, two per year,

To attend the half yearly circuit meetings on behalf of Ashbourne Church

To organise and supervise the rota of weekly collection counters

To liaise with the bank on church matters

 b) Assistant treasurer

To liaise with Gas, Electricity and Water companies and refuse collection, checking their bills.

To pay local bills and keep in touch with our local suppliers (News Telegraph, Community Transport, Town & Country)

To liaise with Fire Extinquisher Company and arrange annual inspection

To liaise with Photo copy machine suppliers, order toner and arrange service visits.

John Hurfurt

Holiday Clubs in Ashbourne

Ashbourne Churches Together is running a series of one-day holiday clubs throughout the summer holidays and there will be two holiday clubs at each of the following churches Elim, Methodist & St Oswald’s.

The idea is that we all help each other and reduce the burden on each individual Church.

There are lists at the rear of the Church and in Century Hall on the notice boards and we would be grateful if you would sign up for one or more of these clubs. The dates they run are as follows: 21 & 29 July, 4 , 12 , 18 & 26 August. We then conclude the holiday clubs with a large celebration service on Sunday 31 August in the afternoon. Contact Roger Mallard

Roger Mallard

Holiday Clubs in Brailsford

This is not so much a request for help but for prayer for the activities that will take place throughout the summer holidays. Pray that the clubs will be well attended by children and that contacts and relationships can be made with the children and parents. Contact Roger Mallard

Roger Mallard

Treasurer’s Report

Your offerings for January and February 2003 are gratefully acknowledged.

March

Envelopes & Bank

Cash

Total

2

£527.50

£161.62

£689.12

9

£455.20

£143.16

£598.36

16

£446.00

£100.67

£546.67

23

£380.70

£190.75

£571.45

30

£405.00

£180.60

£585.60

Direct to Bank

£1,032.50

 

£1,032.50

Totals

£3,246.90

£776.80

£4,023.70

April

Envelopes & Bank

Cash

Total

6

£283.70

£119.98

£403.68

13

£263.00

£142.45

£405.45

20

£384.00

£249.57

£633.57

27

£362.90

£125.30

£488.20

Direct to Bank

£1,322.50

 

£1,322.50

Totals

£2,616.10

£637.30

£3,253.40

May

Envelopes & Bank

Cash

Total

4

£536.50

£149.60

£686.10

11

£428.00

£165.70

£593.70

18

£288.00

£158.81

£446.81

25

£458.00

£169.65

£627.65

Direct to Bank

£997.50

 

£997.50

Totals

£2,708.00

£643.76

£3,351.76

We have also collected the following:
£387.13 for Network Easter Offering
£261.55 for Epworth Appeal

John Hurfurt, Treasurer

Our Visit to Romania

Many of you will remember Veronica who stayed with us from October to January. We recently visited Romania and stayed for part of the time with her family in Brasov. Veronica left Romania for the United States in early June. She sends her greetings and wishes to say how much she enjoyed her stay in the Ashbourne area and what fond memories she has of her time here.

The tone of our visit was set as soon as we arrived at our first destination, Oradea. We had arranged to meet our host, Neli, outside McDonalds. As we approached we were offered a leaflet by a young lady. It turned out to be an invitation to the Easter Sunday morning service at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Oradea. Two other young people offered us leaflets before we arrived in front of McDonalds where we found a choir of about 30 young people singing hymns and songs. We recognised at least one of the tunes from Songs of Fellowship (In Romania the Baptist and Pentecostal Churches have chosen to celebrate Easter at the same time as the Orthodox Church)

Along with Veronica and one of her friends we attended the Orthodox Easter Service, starting at midnight on Saturday night, in a monastery in the hills near Brasov. We have never been in such a long queue of traffic trying to get to church. There must have been over 2,000 people in the monastery courtyard for the service. There were so many that we could only take part in the first bit of the service in the courtyard, we could not get into the church for the rest.

We also visited the Biro family. Some of you will remember their daughter, Anna, who stayed with us four years ago. That is always a wonderful experience as God is so much an everyday part of their life. With them we went to the Hungarian Reformed Church, quite a different experience.

Later on our visit we were walking along a street in Cluj when a car stopped and the driver spoke to us in English. He and his wife are from near Wrexham and are part of Operation Christmas Child (where our shoeboxes go) and they were on a fact-finding and encouragement visit. On our return journey in Germany we met a group of English cyclists on the "Genesis Cycling Marathon" a sponsored ride from England to Romania to raise funds for a street children project in Brasov. They were very surprised to find an English couple on their way home from Brasov.

Conditions in Romania are improving in some ways, there are better roads and more goods in the shops but inflation is high (over 50% per year) and wages are hardly increasing at all so all our friends are considerably worse off than when we were last there. As an example we stayed for a few nights in the guest room at a home run by the Catholic Church. The couple who were booking the room for us rang in some concern, the price of the room plus breakfast was £5 per night each, wasn't that rather expensive? With salaries of around £60 per month for them it was outrageously expensive.

Elizabeth and John Hurfurt

Weigh in for trade justice

Thank you to everyone who "Weighed in for Trade Justice" outside the Co-op supermarket yesterday. We haven’t had the chance to add up how many tonnes of people put their weight behind the campaign – but it’ll definitely make an impact when it lands on a governmental desk!

If you didn’t get the chance to take part yesterday, you’re probably wondering what I’m talking about! So here’s a short guide to the Trade Justice Campaign (adapted from www.tjm.org.uk/scaleup) and what we’re doing to help change international trade…
  1. What’s wrong with trade?
    2. Trade has the potential to lift millions of people out of poverty. But poor countries are getting a raw deal under the current global trading system. They are being bullied and squeezed out of international markets, and even their own local markets.

    The poorest countries’ share of world trade is now just 0.4% and has dropped by almost half since 1981.

  2. Does Trade Justice aim to create free trade?
    3. Rich countries claim that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is helping the world by encouraging it to move towards a system of ‘free trade’. In this free trade system, countries are restricted from subsidising their producers and cannot protect them from international competition.

    Rich countries claim that if all countries play by
    the same rules, this would be fairer for all.

    In such an unequal world, this kind of trade would be far from fair. It would be like a football match between Manchester United and the local pub side – there might be a level playing field, but Manchester United would still win every time.

  3. In what ways do rich countries have an advantage?
    4. Rich countries, particularly the US, EU, Japan and Canada have well-funded teams of specialist negotiators at the World Trade Organisation HQ, while half of the poorest countries in the WTO can’t afford even one.

    The world’s largest multinational companies also mount expensive lobbying operations to further their business interests.

    Rich countries affect international trade through their own trade policies, and also by influencing the policies of poor countries through trade rules and conditions attached to aid and loans.

    Rich countries use subsidies to support their own large companies and traders, and also subsidise the export of food - ‘dumping’ it on poor countries’ markets and destroying the livelihoods of small farmers. For example, current trade rules mean that Mexican farmers who live on a dollar a day compete with American farmers who receive subsidies of more than US$20,000 a year.

  4. What about British farmers, who are having a very tough time too?
    5. Farmers the world over are suffering the effects of unfair trade rules – and British farmers are no exception. What our farmers and farmers in developing countries have in common is that they are at the end of a supply chain in which they have little bargaining power and which favours the biggest, most powerful players.

    However, no-one would deny that third world farmers are doing even worse than their UK counterparts. In countries such as Zambia and Ghana, where 70% of people depend of farming for their living, millions of farming families don’t have electricity, piped water, adequate housing, or money for shoes or medicines. Poor farmers simply can’t compete equally with agri-businesses in rich countries.

  5. Who’s involved in the Trade Justice Movement?
    6. The Trade Justice Movement is a group of organisations campaigning for fundamental change to the unjust rules and institutions governing world trade, so that trade is made to work for all.

    Members include Christian Aid, Traidcraft, The Methodist Relief & Development Fund and Oxfam. Ashbourne Methodist Church decided to fully support the Trade Justice Campaign in 2002 and is campaigning along with the rest of the coalition.

  6. What can I do to help?
As a part of the national weekend of lobbying on Trade Justice, we have asked people to do two things.

 Postcards and weight-cards will be available at Church for the next couple of Sundays – so please fill them in and let’s help the world’s poorest countries.

Stuart Green

Tissington Well Dressings

We have just had our Well Dressings in Tissington with marvellous weather and thousands of visitors. We hope that everyone who came left with a good impression of the Wells and the village.

The advantages of living at Well Cottage are that we get a prime view of one of the lovely designs to enjoy all week and meet all the people – and their dogs! At times, the path up to our garden resembled an entry at Crufts!

This year, Well Dressing had special meaning for Methodists, with the 300 Anniversary of the birth of our founder John Wesley being commemorated on one of the wells. Roslyn Baguley, designer of the Town Well, depicted him on his horse riding away from our chapel, reading the Bible as he went. Rev Chris Eddy blessed the well at the Ascension Day service before telling us about the life of John Wesley.

Another lady who attends our chapel designed the Coffin Well for the second year running. Dorothy Whitmore chose "The Miraculous Draught of Fishes" as her theme, with shoals of fish in a huge wave almost knocking over a small fishing boat.

For a number of years now, the chapel has been used by the Open Air Mission to show slides (now a video) of the Well Dressings with a Christian Message. These people have become our friends and it is nice to welcome them back again. From the comments in the visitors’ book, this is always popular.

Although we had hot and dry weather, a few umbrellas appeared on Monday and Tuesday when dark clouds gathered, so another Well Dressing tradition was upheld!

Sandra Alcock

Holiday Club in Kirk Ireton & Parwich

There is planned a one day holiday club on 21 August in Kirk Ireton. This will be in cooperation with the Anglican Church there. A couple of helpers would be appreciated. If you can help please let me know.

There are 4 mornings (09.30 – 12.30) of children’s activities planned in Parwich and the Anglican Church is the lead organisation. They take place on 31 July, 7 , 14 & 21 August. We may need (we are not sure yet) a couple more helpers, so if you can help, let me know and I will let you know if you are needed at a later date.

Contact Roger Mallard

Roger Mallard

Saturday Night Live!

This is a lively time of praise & worship with multi media. It starts at 8pm in Waterside once a month. Future dates: 26 July, 30 August, 27 September, 25 October, 29 November, 13 December.

Contact Roger

Roger Mallard

Ashbourne Women’s Fellowship

Our regular meetings continue each fortnight on Tuesdays at 2.15pm in Cornerstone:

1 July Fun and Games afternoon at Ashbourne Bowls Club

 If you would like transport, please ring Carole Thorpe no later than the Sunday evening before the meeting. Please be assured of a very warm welcome – if you’d like more information, please contact me.

Margaret Bacon

Ashbourne Methodist Youth Club.

The youth club starts from a young age. The age range is from 7 up to 14. We are short of help and as from September we would value additional help. This does not have to be an every week commitment but for the work to continue it does require extra help. It’s important work and will help ensure that there is a Methodist church of tomorrow in Ashbourne with young people in it. Contact Roger Mallard

Roger Mallard

Brailsford_Alive@9

This is a 9am morning service (lasting approximately 45 minutes) on the 2nd & 4th Sundays of each month. It is lively praise & worship and various musicians playing guitar, keyboard, keyboard organ, flute, percussion etc lead music. Refreshments follow it. Contact Roger Mallard.

Roger Mallard

Methodist Church Fund for World Mission

I have been "looking after" the home collecting boxes for the World Mission Fund since February this year. Many of you may well remember it by its previous name as Overseas Missions.

Since February I have banked over £150 from the boxes and other monies handed to me. This is a very welcome addition to the fund.

Can I please ask you all to think about having a home collection box? If anyone would like to have one for use at home, or would like to discuss the scheme I will be very pleased to speak to them either at Church on Sundays or if preferred at home.

Can I please let box holders know that the ‘year end’ is in August, and I would like to have all boxes in by mid-July. I can then count and bank the monies in each box. This will mean that the cash will go towards our Church total giving to World Mission in this current church year and will be transferred to Methodist HQ for immediate use.

Hedley Alcock

Book Review

Among the excellent newly produced books for sale in the Cornerstone Coffee Shop is a new edition of one which has stood the test of time. Since its first appearance in 1927, "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers has been reprinted many times. My own copy of 1963 is the 21 reprint!

"My Utmost for His Highest" is a book of daily readings for a whole year. The readings were gathered from the author’s Devotional Hour talks given at the Clapham Bible Training College, and later, as Chaplain to the Forces in Egypt in the First World War, and where he died an untimely death in 1917.

What are the readings like? Here is a snippet chosen at random, it is from the reading for 20 May, under Luke 21 v9 .

"In your patience you shall win your lives" (or "…your souls")

There are certain things we must not pray about – moods, for instance. Moods never go by praying, moods go by kicking. A mood nearly always has its seat in the physical condition, not in the moral. It is a continual effort not to listen to the moods which arise from a physical condition; never submit to them for a second. We have to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and shake ourselves, and we will find that we can do what we said we could not. The curse with most of us is that we won’t. The Christian life is one of incarnate spiritual pluck."

As you may gather, it is not a typical book of devotional ‘bites’. It is spiritual and realistic. It is often mind-stretching, challenging and stimulating. It is never less than interesting.

In the foreword to my copy, there is a quotation from the renowned nineteenth-century Scottish preacher, Robert Murray McCheyne, "Men return again and again to the few who have mastered the spiritual secret, whose life is hid with Christ in God. These are of the old-time religion, hung to the nails of the Cross". Oswald Chambers was undoubtedly among that few.

It is £4.99 and a bargain at the price. If that copy has gone, Helen will get you one.

Trevor Staniforth

Christian Aid Week

I am pleased to pass on the great news that in Ashbourne this year we raised £2685.79 for Christian Aid by our door-to-door collections. This is an increase of almost £800 on last year’s total – so great news for Christian Aid’s work around the world. Thanks again to everyone who helped towards this, either by giving time or money or prayers.

Catherine Green

Mission Matters JMA Party

At noon on 18 May, 12 JMA members enjoyed a party with an Indian flavour. We did some puzzles, heard Indian music and played games. We watched a video about children’s lives in India and saw JMA posters on an Indian theme. We had lunch – a little spicy and plenty of English party fayre. A story, more games (including the Bombay mix challenge!) and Indian music concluded our fun time together. Thank you to all who supported this event.

Signs of hope and courage in South Africa

Circuit Mission Evening

Rev’d Dr. Martine Stemerick, an American minister serving in Derbyshire, shared a musical mission evening with us in May. She is an authority on songs from around the world and a photographer. She shared with us about South Africa – a country of deep contrasts with opulent sunny waterfronts for tourists to enjoy in Capetown and the poverty and casual violence of the townships, in contrast. She gave us a photo journey and musical pilgrimage of the townships of the Eastern Cape (with opportunity for us to learn and sing!). We heard how churches are fighting the scourge of AIDS and about the structural causes of the disease, deeply rooted in poverty, war and the ongoing economic oppression. Thank you to all who attended and for the gifts. £160 has been sent to the Sakheka Support Group in Gugulethu. (A letter from this group in South Africa is on our mission board).

Mission dates for your diary

Everyone is most welcome at all of our events, please let me know if you’d like more information.

Ruth Mallard

Methodist Prayer Handbook 2003-04

Would anyone wishing to receive the Methodist Prayer Handbook for 2003-04, who didn’t receive one last year, please contact me as soon as possible so I can place our order. Please telephone in the evening and ask for me, thanks.

June Shaw

Christians in the Holy Land

Prospects for Peace

On Wednesday 16 July at 7.45pm in Waterside Nichola Jones will be sharing from her experiences. Nichola is a minister in the Peak Circuit and regularly visits Palestine/Israel, leading pilgrimages and seeing hospitals, schools and local projects.

Find out what happens in the struggle for peace and justice when daily survival is the hardest task. With lack of freedom, movement, education and access to health care how is it possible to have hope of reconciliation between Jew and Arab, Palestinian, Christian and Muslim? Which groups are working together for peace and why is the international community so silent?

Conflict and the struggle for reconciliation

This conference 30 May – 1 June was organised by Methodists for World Mission, Christian Aid, The Methodist Church, and several other organisations. It was a time of learning, sharing, fellowship and challenge with people from many parts of the world. The conference offered much information from experts on the Middle East conflict and other areas, good news about reconciliation, worship, time for reflection, ideas, displays and resource and workshops looking at world conflict situations, drama, peace banners and relationships.

Speakers and visitors from around the world included an Israeli human rights worker and Palestinian doctor working together to provide much needed care for Palestinians in the West Bank. A leader of the National Christian Council for Sri Lanka sharing about conflict and reconciliation projects in the Sri Lankan situation. The Director of the Israel Information Centre in Birmingham, an Orthodox Jew. Worship was led by members from the Corrymeela Community of N. Ireland who provide a place of closeness to God where people can overcome their differences through peace.

The speakers and worship leaders are deeply involved in bringing understanding, help and reconciliation to areas of conflict. They shared their stories with us. In addition to the worship, workshops, the setting and our conversations helped our understanding and enabled us to reflect on the present international situation and our own encounters.

We were able to participate in the following workshops – "Some challenges from the World Summit on Sustainable Development" led by Rachel Stephens, "Work for reconciliation and justice around the world" led by Barbara Butler of Christians Aware and "Working for peace through justice in Palestine/Israel" led by representatives of Friends of Sabeel, an ecumenical liberation theology movement among Palestinian Christians.

Thank you to the Circuit for supporting our attendance at this event. We can highly recommend it if you are interested another year.

Ruth & Roger Mallard.

An Affirmation of Diversity

(from our Sunday worship at the conference)

Reader 1 God believes in diversity.

All God looked at everything that had been made, and God was very pleased!

Reader 2 God the Son called as disciples fishermen, tax collectors and public extremists.

All And he continues to call people of all backgrounds to be his followers.

Reader 1 Jesus’ cross united Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free.

All And God’s community continues to include people of different nationalities, political outlooks and religious traditions.

Reader 2 God the Spirit gave a variety of gifts so that some people could teach, others heal or preach, or help or organise.

All Today different gifts lead to different ways of serving, but it is the same God who is served.

Reader 1 The Spirit works through different people in different ways

All And God’s purpose is achieved through them all.

Ruth Mallard

Family News

We welcome to the Church family through Baptism Sophie Zoë McDermaid, daughter of Linda and Michael.

We rejoice at the Ordination at this year’s Methodist Conference of Tim Perkins, youngest son of Ruth and John. We wish him well in his Ministry

We remember the family of Mrs. Annie Weston who died recently.

In our prayers we commend Graham and Angela Smith (Angela is undergoing treatment following major surgery), Joe and Enid Stubbs and others of our Church family who are finding life difficult at the present time.

Prayers

We continue to ask for you to especially remember the following
things in your prayers this month:

29th June

Those who are unwell and can’t be at Church today

30th June

MPs responding to the Trade Justice campaign

1st July

Women’s Fellowship members

2nd July

The work of Derbyshire Dales Careline

3rd July

Visitors from the United Christian Institute in India

4th July

The work of NCH

5th July

Staff working at Cornerstone Coffee Shop

6th July

The young people of our church

7th July

Women’s Network

8th July

Youth Club members and helpers

9th July

People visiting Milldale Chapel

10th July

The work of Christian Aid

11th July

Christians in South Africa

12th July

Those preparing to lead sessions for young people tomorrow

13th July

Those preaching today

14th July

The work of Methodist Homes

15th July

Residents of Ashbourne

16th July

The Middle East

17th July

Helpers at Cornerstone Coffee Shop

18th July

The Church of North India

19th July

Young people visiting the Cornerstone

20th July

Our friends at other Ashbourne churches

21st July

Children & helpers at the Ashbourne holiday club

22nd July

The Trade Justice Campaign

23rd July

People visiting Ashbourne on holiday

24th July

The work of Oxfam

25th July

Choir members practicing for Sunday

26th July

Young people attending Saturday Night Live

Your Circuit Needs You!

The Circuit urgently needs a Secretary to the Circuit Meeting which normally meets twice a year. Jane Baker has filled the position for a number of years but is retiring from the post with effect from August 31st next. The work includes the preparation of Agendas, recording and dealing with minutes of the two meetings and occasional correspondence. The use of a computer and e-mail facilities is desirable but not essential.

Do you feel called to this post? If so please contact Chris, our Minister as soon as possible. We are grateful to Jane for all she has done in the past. She will be happy to give you more details if there is a doubt in your mind Your Circuit really does need YOU.

Ann Parkinson & Eric Matthews, Circuit Stewards

Dates for your Diary

July

Fri 4 7pm NCH Party The Elms, Snelston

Sun 6 10.30am Ashbourne Explorers Service Ashbourne

Mon 7 7.30pm Womens Network AGM & Supper Century Hall

Wed 9 7pm Service with John Lowe Milldale Chapel

Sun 13 9am Brailsford_Alive@9 Brailsford

Sun 13 10.30am Service led by Rev Welile Segabi Ashbourne

Mon 14 7.30pm Talk by Rev Welile Segabi Ashbourne

Wed 16 7.45pm Talk on Peace in the Holy Land Waterside

Thu 17 NCH Cake Stall Town Hall

Sun 20 Ecumenical Picnic in the park Ashbourne

Sat 26 8pm Saturday Night Live! Waterside

Sun 27 9am Brailsford_Alive@9 Brailsford

Tue 29 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Ashbourne

August

Wed 6 Visit to Epworth

Sun 10 9am Brailsford_Alive@9 Brailsford

Wed 13 7pm Service Milldale Chapel

Sun 24 9am Brailsford_Alive@9 Brailsford

Tue 26 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Ashbourne

Sat 30 8pm Saturday Night Live! Waterside

If you would like to contribute an article for the magazine, I will be happy to publish it. We also welcome contributions that may provoke debate or discussion. However, this does mean that the views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of Ashbourne Methodist Circuit or any of its Churches.

Items for the September Ashbourne Circuit magazine to me by 9pm on Wednesday 20 August