Ashbourne Methodist Church Magazine
October 2005
Dear Friends,
We are now in Methodism's year of prayer. The Methodist Prayer Handbook for
2005-6 is entitled "Pray without ceasing". Here is the opening call
to prayer from that handbook -
Pray without ceasing.
Rejoice in the presence of God.
Draw on God's strength;
God's gracious love in Christ,
enfolding peace,
forgiveness for our sins.Pray without ceasing.
Bring our hopes and dreams,
joy and laughter,
sorrows and tears,
regrets;
a kaleidoscope of words,
ever changing - reshaping
and reflecting our needs,
Lay them before
an unchanging God.Pray without ceasing
to God who is more willing
to listen
than we are to pray.
Come in awe and wonder,
in deep humility,
with reverence,
No words can capture
the mystery and majesty
of God who created us.
In stillness and silence, pray;
for silence too is prayer.
The District have asked each circuit to organise a "prayer event"
leading up to the District's own allocation for 24/7 prayer 14th-28th April
next year.
The Ashbourne circuit has been allocated the week Friday 21st - Thursday 27th
October. We will be organising a prayer rota to try and achieve 24/7 prayer,
every hour covered, right through the week. We plan to open the Ashbourne
church 8am - 8pm each day for prayer with helps to guide your praying inside.
The hours 8pm - 8am we hope can be covered by pray-ers at home.
And what are we praying for?
Pray that God will shape the Methodist church into a church able to communicate
the love of God to all ages and all people in our 21st century community.
God Bless,
Chris
Women's Network
There are two District events in October.
DISTRICT DAY MONDAY 3RD OCTOBER
District Day will be held at Radcliffe-on-Trent when the speaker in the afternoon
will be Mrs Irene Sayer, a past Connexional President. The day will begin
with coffee from 10am.
DISTRICT QUIET DAY SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER
This will be held at Winshill Methodist Church from 10am - 3pm. It will be
led by Rev Julie Coates on the theme "Be Still and Know that I am God".
For both events, a packed lunch will be required and there will be a registration
fee of £1 which will include all drinks. If you are interested in either
or both of these events, please contact Alma.
The next Circuit event will be on Monday 21st November. There will be a supper
and the speaker will be Mrs Ruth Beresford on "A Ghanaian Experience".
Please put the date in your diary and watch out for further details.
Alma Swan
Operation Christmas Child
A reminder that the leaflets for this year's Christmas shoe box project are
on the table in the vestibule. Please help yourself. The service to dedicate
these will be at the end of November. Look out for the date in next month's
magazine. In the meantime, if you need more information please ask Betty (Hadley)
or Marianne (Matthews). Marianne also has a large quantity of scarves, hats
and gloves which are available free of charge to put in the boxes. Happy packing!
Betty Hadley
One World Group Events
ONE WORLD WEEK 2005
23RD -30TH OCTOBER: PROMISES,PROMISES!
One World Week is an annual opportunity to join a worldwide movement of people
taking action for justice locally and globally.
This will be the twenty first time that Ashbourne has celebrated the Week,
originally arranged by the "Third World Group" as we were then called.
We have usually concentrated on joining together in the community to learn
about the diversity of our world, its peoples, resources and cultures and
this year is no exception. We are planning a One World Week Dinner with the
focus on Papua New Guinea to which all are invited.
A ONE WORLD WEEK DINNER
(THE PROMISE OF A WONDERFUL EVENING)
A three course meal with a flavour of the South West Pacific
After Dinner Speakers - Liz and Ken Pye
"WORK WITH VSO IN THE LAND OF THE UNEXPECTED"
Tickets £5 (children under 16 - £3)
THURSDAY OCTOBER 27th - 7-30pm
ST. OSWALDS CHURCH HALL
If you wish to have a glass of wine please bring your own bottle
NCH The Children's Charity
On Saturday morning 15th October Ashbourne Town Hall is the venue for Cards
For Good Causes. We shall be selling NCH Christmas cards, along with many
other locally supported charities. This is the perfect time to buy your cards
and Fairtrade refreshments are provided for you to chat with friends.
We are very pleased to announce that our annual coffee morning will be held
once again at Hurtswood, courtesy of the new owners. This will be on November
5th from 10am-12noon and whilst we will not be selling fireworks, there will
be a selection of Christmas gifts, cakes and preserves, books and bring and
buy. As always there will be delicious mince pies and cakes with coffee and
tea to give you time to enjoy each other's company in a convivial atmosphere.
We hope that all of our friends will help us reach a good target for the young
people who rely on our fundraising.
We will of course be thrilled if anyone can help with items to sell, particularly
small or large cakes and preserves. Please contact me or Marianne if you can.
Val Howse
Ashbourne Family News
We have received the following message from Pearl Steeples:
"Pearl Steeples wishes to thank all members for their support given in
many ways, enquiries and cards, visits and for so many for being at Bill's
funeral service helping with the singing, and the feeling I had of being supported
by you all. You helped make a lovely service to be remembered. Bill would
have been so proud £604 was raised for the charities."
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs Sheila Allen and all the family following
the sudden death of Ken.
We also pray for Sue and Jeff Ffoulkes and Mary and Danny following the death
of Sue's father. We ask for God's peace to be with the whole family.
We pray for Mary Hatch and Dougie Hulme who are both I hospital at the moment.
We ask for God's caring hand upon them.
Congratulations to Jessica and Geoffrey Thompson on their 50th wedding anniversary.
We send our congratulations to all those young people who have received exam
results recently: Kerry Hall, Andrew McKinlay, Ian Thorpe, Callum McKinlay
and Chris Webb. We also pray for those who are starting at university - Chris
Webb, Callum McKinlay, John Mawdsley and Lorna Bale.
Greenbelt
This year was the first time I went to Greenbelt and I thought it was awesome
Stuart and Catherine told me about it, so I asked around the other kids and
they said it was good so I decided to go along. We all travelled in different
leaders cars after packing them all till they were crammed full. It seemed
to take ages to get to Cheltenham racecourse we were all excited when we finally
arrived and joined the queue to enter the campsites.
We finally got to where our campsite was and pitched our tents and all the
kitchen tents and the marquee where we had all our meals. As soon as we had
done all that I grabbed Alex and we went to explore! It was huge we pondered
where all the main stages were. The whole place was buzzing with noise everywhere
you looked there were people there our eyes hadn't seen anything like it before.
We went to one of the stages and listened to a band called 'Steve' they were
really good everyone there were jumping about and dancing. We made friends
with everyone! After we got a hold of what we should do we went round all
the stages dancing and in the evenings we went to parties and nightclubs that
were sweet! After we had crammed all that into our day and night we wandered
back to our tent bout 1am in the morning and slept.
We did the same thing everyday; I went to one of the talks, which was quite
good and interesting. I only went to one talk but everything else I did was
messing around doing what teenage boys do best…'Having fun!' We joined
in anything and everything we possibly could but there was still more we could
have done. We did everything from talks to Morris dancing!
I spoke to David about God and he's changed my view, and my beliefs with God
are stronger. David was a good laugh at Greenbelt and a really nice guy!
We came back at about 5:00 each day because it was feeding time at the Ashbourne
Methodist Church Camp! We all had to do our fair share of washing up and cooking
we all got allocated a day of which we would work.
The only problem with Greenbelt is that it's not long enough! And the portable
toilets stink after about the second day!
Many thanks to Stuart and Catherine, Mark, Ian, David and everyone I missed
out but thanks for making it such a good time and for putting up with us all!
Sean James
Magazine: Would you like to help?
Catherine and I took over "editorship" of the magazine in 2001,
just a few months after we first moved to Ashbourne. Since then we have enjoyed
contributing to the church's fellowship by producing the magazine, which is
an important part of our sharing together. However, as the years have passed
at Ashbourne we've become more involved in other things - especially the church's
youth work - and we feel that the time is right for us to focus on other areas.
If you might be interested in taking on the job of producing the magazine,
then please have a chat with us.
Stuart Green
Mission Matters
Bible Sunday
Bible Sunday is on 23rd October 2005 and it offers churches an opportunity
to focus and celebrate the value of the Bible to daily life and worship. In
the West we can so easily take the Bible for granted. Even forgetting there
were those who gave their lives to bring it to us. Meanwhile in the developing
world - fast growing churches are desperate for Bibles but often too poor
to own them. Over 2,000 languages and dialects still wait for a book of the
Bible. Communities ravaged by HIV/Aids long for the comfort that the Bible
can bring.
Free resources are available from the Bible Society: www.biblesociety.org.uk/biblesunday
or Tel: 01793 418100.
JMA Sunday and Family Mission Service
Steve Pearce will be our guest on Sunday 16th October at 10.30 am.
JMA (Junior Mission for All)
Thank you to all members and contributors. In the last year £840.56
was collected, before Gift Aid. (The previous year's figure was £664.09).
Well done! Nationally £620,000 has been raised which is very good news.
Prayer
The following are taken from the new Methodist Prayer Handbook (Items on Day
4 praying with Christians in West Africa and the UK):
Grant to me, O Lord, a gentle spirit open to you; a generous mind open to
all others and a loving heart worthy of your dwelling place; through Christ
our Lord. Amen. John of Kronstadt, 1829-1908.
We thank God for peaceful elections in Ghana in December 04 and for small
groups praying as they queued to vote. We pray for President John Kufor, that
a corrupt-free and just society may emerge; for children for whom there are
no school places or money to pay the fees; for the sick who suffer at home
while hospitals have empty beds; for rain so that the 2004 water shortages
will not be repeated; for peace in Francophone countries on our borders.
Akwaaba! Welcome! - is heard everywhere in Ghana. Here people matter most
and always have time to share. Lord, may we be as welcoming in Britain. Forgive
us when we exclude people and may those of us who are busy set aside time
for others. Diana Bosman, Mission Partner, Ghana.
Loving God, in our commitment to building communities of justice and peace,
help us to remember the hospitality of your grace. In our discerning of your
will for us, help us to discover your presence in unexpected places. In our
daily duty and discipleship, help us to be joyful. In all things, may we reflect
in some small way the glory of your presence and purpose. Keith Davies, Manchester
& Stockport District.
Ruth Mallard
Prayers
We continue to ask for you to especially remember the following
things in your prayers this month:
25th Sept The farmers in the local area
26th Sept The children who go to Children's Church
27th Sept The fellowship found at the Church Lunch
28th Sept The housegroups meeting this week
29th Sept The Cornerstone volunteers
30th Sept The young people who attend Basement
1st Oct The Operation Christmas Child Team in Ashbourne
2nd Oct The team who operate the sound and visuals for our services
3rd Oct Those who give their time and skills to help to run the Church
4th Oct The ladies of the Women's Fellowship
5th Oct The groups meeting on our premises
6th Oct People from other Churches in Ashbourne
7th Oct The choir who give their time and enthusiasm to praise God in song!
8th Oct The volunteers on the outreach stall
9th Oct The welcome stewards
10th Oct The parents who bring their children to Children's church
11th Oct The leaders of Ashbourne Youth Club
12th Oct Those attending the Alpha course this year
13th Oct Those who give their time to charity
14th Oct The workers at Basement
15th Oct The work of NCH The Children's Charity
16th Oct The JMA collectors in Ashbourne
17th Oct The housegroups meeting this week
18th Oct People from other circuit churches in Ashbourne
19th Oct The walk and talk group
20th Oct The Stewards
21st Oct Those who clear-up after Basement
22nd Oct People out in Ashbourne tonight
23rd Oct Those who work in the crèche and Powersource on Sunday mornings
24th Oct All those who work to promote awareness of world development issues
25th Oct The housebound of the Church and town
26th Oct The leaders of the Alpha course
27th Oct The people of Papua New Guinea
28th Oct Those who set-up for Basement
29th Oct The work of Network in our area
Youth & Community Worker
TUESDAY NIGHT YOUTH CLUB
Tuesday Night Youth club is for children aged between 7 & 11 and we encourage
you to let people know about the youth club and to encourage them to come
along. There is a wide range of activities of games and crafts, competitions,
well stocked tuck shop and much more. We always ensure a Christian message
given each week. Subs are just 30p.
SUMMER HOLIDAY CLUBS
There were four one day holiday clubs at Ashbourne and they were well received
by parents and children alike. It was very hard work finding helpers and I
am very grateful to those who came forward and helped and made it possible.
As a result of their help, 55 different children heard the Good News of Jesus
Christ in the most overt way ever when compared to previous holiday clubs.
THE WORK
Building relationships with our young people is a long term process and some
of the work started is long term work that will bear fruit if we are faithful
and stick to it. In church language, we are sowing seeds. Underpinning the
work needs to be constant prayer for the work and those involved in the work
as well as a willingness to embrace change and new ideas especially where
they do have an impact on the way we currently do things. In terms of supporting,
being involved and accepting change especially when that change impacts on
us and how we do things, we have to remember that we do it not for what we
can get out of it but for those who do not know Jesus.
The villages in our circuit are in need of our support, not financial but
of our time. Whilst small may often be beautiful, it is clear that numbers
do play a great part in the 'dynamics' of worship. The smaller the congregation
the less anonymous one can be and for some people, especially new people and
young people, being anonymous to a point is important and can make the difference
in coming along again, or not. There are other aspects of worship that can
be difficult in very small groups like singing. The Christian presence in
the villages is often small and often very elderly and whilst turning things
around in the villages is not impossible (almost but not quite), your support
at worship events such as Parwich Praise and Alive@9 will make all the difference
in creating the right conditions for worship to flourish. You will be 'missionaries'
in your own circuit. The other thing to mention is that it won't be forever
because the whole objective is to build things up to a point that they are
self sustaining and at that point we move on, support them in prayer, but
the job for us is done. We can make a huge difference to the Christian presence
in the villages and I am asking you to make our circuit your 'mission' ground
- we really do need you.
Roger Mallard
Patna Partnership Child Sponsor Scheme
The Ashbourne Churches Together - Patna Partnership is launching a Child Sponsorship
scheme. St John's school Taljhari in the Patna Diocese educates children at
primary, middle and high school level. However it is a very rural area and
many of the children need to live in the school hostel during term time. Those
from the numerous very poor families in the area cannot afford this and currently
the school has only 100 of the 300 places in its hostel for girls occupied.
The cost of the board and lodging is only £5.00 per month.
Can you therefore sponsor a girl at St John's ?
The cost to us is very little but your support could make a tremoundous difference
to these children from some of the poorest families in the world. Leaflets
giving more details together with sponsorship forms will be available later
in October from John or Elizabeth Hurfurt.
John and Elizabeth Hurfurt
Walk and Talk
The Walk and Talk group continue to meet regularly for fellowship while walking
in the surrounding countryside. We walk on the first and third Wednesdays
of every month, unless of course the weather is particularly inclement! If
you are interested in joining us on any occasion, please contact Chris or
John Dakin.
Gateway Centre Bookings
The following groups will be staying in the Gateway Centre during October…
3rd - 7th Kirkby Woodhouse School
7th - 9th Bromborough Youth Group
14th - 16th Chester Methodist Circuit Youth
21st - 23rd Grangewood Brownies, Nottingham
28th - 30th 1st Rocester Brownies
Dates for your Diary
SEPTEMBER
Tue 27th 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Century Hall
OCTOBER
Sat 1st Operation Christmas Child Safari Meal Ashbourne
Mon 3rd 10.30am Women's Network District Day Radcliffe
Wed 5th 10am Alzheimer's Café Cornerstone
Sat 15th 10am -1pm Cards for Good Causes Town Hall
Sun 16th 10.30am Ashbourne JMA Service Ashbourne
Thu 27th 7.30pm One World Week: Meal & Speaker St Oswald's Hall
Sat 29th 10am Women's Network District Quiet Day Winshill
Sun 30th 6.30pm Recognition Service of Roger Mallard Ashbourne
If you would like to contribute an article for the magazine, I will be happy
to publish it.
Items for the November Ashbourne Church magazine to me by 9pm on Wednesday
19th October