NewsSept2005

I return refreshed and blessed, ready for the new year.

The Local Preachers Meeting has asked me to write about Worship Leaders.
Many churches across Methodism are now appointing Worship Leaders to lead worship but not to preach. They often lead the part of the service where children are present, utilising the local church's resources for drama and music and prayer.
They can lead types of alternative worship such as Taize or Praise Worship. They can lead worship using multimedia such as we have at Brailsford Alive@9.
If you feel you would like to be involved in leading worship and would like to know more, then do let me know.
God Bless,
Chris

Milldale

This little chapel perched on the hillside in this small hamlet tucked in the beautiful Dove Dale has again enjoyed thousands of visitors over the summer period, many of whom drop a few coins in the wall box, the contents of which allow the chapel to be maintained.
Open 365 days a year for anyone to drop in and thank the Lord for the surrounding beauty it also has services on Holy Saturday, mid week in June July and August plus the next scheduled service which will be at 4pm on Christmas Eve.
Traditionally held in candlelight - there is no electricity at the Milldale Chapel - the atmosphere is very special. Please put this date in your diary and join the squash as local people, holiday people and people from the Circuit come together to prepare for the glories of Christmas Day.
Cliff Lewer

From Brailsford Chapel

Holiday club at Brailsford started on 3rd August with 16 children coming along. On 10th August numbers rose to 27 and we are continuing with holiday club each Wednesday during August. The theme this summer is Landlubbers ("Pirates going Straight") and is based on Phillippians. The room being decorated with palm trees etc and even a parrot. The children are enjoying painting, crafts, singing etc and we are having a Holiday Club service on Sunday 4th September at 10.45am. We thank you for your prayers before, during and after holiday club. Praise the Lord.
John & Chris' son Alec married to Dayna on Friday 19th August and we wish them happy marriage and all God's blessings.
Chris Stubbs

Harvest Collection

Ashbourne Churches Together One World Group is again holding a Harvest collection of dried foodstuffs for Eastern Europe and our church will be supporting this for our Harvest on 25th September. As last year our goods will be taken to Belarus probably by Mrs Ann Rimmer of Cubley in October. The foodstuffs we are collecting are Plain Flour; Rice; Pasta; Pulses; Sugar; Salt; Tea; Dried fruit in packets (not tins or jars please because of the weight).
Because of Belarussian import restrictions may we ask that all foods have a "best before date" of not less than six months from the date of Ann's arrival in Belarus so 1st May 2006 or later if possible. Also no milk or meat products may be taken in at present.
As usual it costs money to transport the goods to Belarus and so monetary donations would be very acceptable.
John Hurfurt

North Korea

At a recent meeting of our Prayer and Worship Group in Hulland Ward, we listened to two ladies speaking about their visit to North Korea. The conditions they found in that country were horrifying.
North Korea is a communist state. Tourists are welcomed but they are under supervision at all times. There is no freedom of travel, only to specified places. Electricity is for guests in hotels only. Even there, the rooms are bugged. There is virtually no traffic because of the lack of fuel. Also there is very little food for the local inhabitants, due to sanctions and poor harvests. Shops are few as there is nothing to sell. Christianity is banned in North Korea. Any Korean Christians found are sent to prison camps. If they attempt to flee to neighbouring China, they face discovery by the secret police or the Chinese authorities and are sent back to North Korea and almost certain death.
All Koreans must revere their "Liberator" Kim Il Sung as God and, following his death, his son Kim Jong Il.
Please pray for the government of North Korea and for reconciliation between North and South Korea. Also for those who make silent prayer trips to the country, that they may have their prayers answered and be protected from detection.
If you would like more information and prayer points for North Korea, please contact me.
Dorothy Prior

Gateway Centre Bookings

The following groups will be staying in the Gateway Centre during September…
16th - 18th 1st Alvaston Brownies
23rd - 25th 4th Mickleover Brownies
30th - 2nd Oct Dunston Methodist Rave Club

Some news from Parwich

We are looking forward to more joint services with our friends at St Peters church in the coming months. On 2nd October we will be celebrating our harvest festival service at the chapel when our preacher will be Jim Titterton. Jim and his family have long connections with the chapel as his late father, Percy, frequently walked across the fields from Tissington to Parwich to lead worship, and his late uncle Rev Billy was another regular visitor to our pulpit.
On October 16th St Peters Church will celebrate their harvest festival when we from the chapel will join with them. It was decided to hold two separate services to maximise support for the Ashbourne Churches Together Appeal. We will all meet in St Peters on Remembrance Sunday for a united service led by the Rev Christopher Harrison.
Jan Smith

One World Group Events

CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES
This year's Card for Good Causes will be held in the Town Hall on Saturday 15th October from 10am-1pm. Please come along to buy your Christmas cards and to support the charities that will be there.
ONE WORLD WEEK
As a part of One World Week, please join us for a 3-course meal with after-dinner speaker Liz Pye who was a VSO volunteer in Papua New Guinea. The meal will be held in St Oswald's Church Hall, starting at 7.30pm on Thursday 27th October. Tickets will be available nearer to the event at a cost of £5 (£3 for under 16s).
REBUILDING RWANDA
Advance Notice of a talk by Ben Humphries, entitled "Rebuilding Rwanda" which will take place on Tuesday 15th November in St Oswald's Church Hall. Light refreshments will be served.
Stuart Green

Women's Network President 2006/07

INDUCTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN'S NETWORK OF THE METHODIST CHURCH - 2006/7
Sandra Lewer will be inducted as President on Saturday 16th September 2006 in the auditorium of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School here in Ashbourne.
Invitations will be issued in due course, the hall seats 450 and it is hoped that we can fill it.
This year's President is due to be inducted on 17th September in Salisbury and following the format of that day further details of the 2006 event will be made available.

Mission Matters

Racial Justice Sunday
Racial Justice Sunday is on 11th September 2005 and is an opportunity for all Christians in Britain and Ireland to join together in:
o Reflecting on the importance of racial justice.
o Thanksgiving for human diversity.
o Prayer for an end to misunderstanding, racism and injustice.
o Action that truly makes a difference.
o Fundraising for national and local racial justice initiatives.
Let us aim to:
o Deepen our understanding of being "one in Christ".
o Raise awareness of each other's cultures and experiences.
o Understand ourselves in relation to our roots and identity.
o Understand the feelings of people who suffer racism and discrimination.
o Become more inclusive and outward-looking.
o Become more welcoming.
o Encourage all members to contribute to the building of cohesive communities.
o Remember that whatever our skin colour, ethnicity or culture we are all children of God.
o Face up to the challenge of living this out in practice.
o Challenge injustice rather than ignore it.
Taken from the Churches' Commission for Racial Justice - Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

News from Vanessa Cook
Vanessa is our Powersource Mission Link person and she is a Methodist Mission Partner working in the Dresden area of Germany. Many of us met her when she visited Ashbourne in May this year. We have a recent update letter from her if anyone would like a copy please contact Ruth Mallard (Tel: 348342 or email: ruth@mallards.me.uk She gives praise for the meetings she was able to have during her furlough (home leave), for mutual encouragement and for time to stop to rediscover a strong sense of calling and for good health. She asks for prayer for the settling in period back in Dresden where temperatures are very high and August has been full with Holiday Club work and for her future plans.
Ruth Mallard

Forthcoming Dates
BIBLE SUNDAY
Bible Sunday is 23rd October 2005 and it offers churches an opportunity to focus and celebrate the value of the Bible to daily life and worship. To be inspired by the way the Bible is bringing hope, strength and comfort in some of the world's most challenging situations and to open our eyes to the continuing need for Bibles worldwide. Free resources are available from the Bible Society: www.biblesociety.org.uk/biblesunday.
JMA SUNDAY AND FAMILY MISSION SERVICE AT ASHBOURNE
Steve Pearce will be our guest on Sunday 16th October.
Ruth Mallard

Why not come along to PRAISE ?

It is an opportunity to meet informally for a time of contemporary worship every third Saturday evening in the month.
Age and experience are no barrier - we have teenagers and people who are retired, new and mature Christians, we aspire to include everyone.
There is time to sing modern songs and new arrangements of old hymns and songs, led by the worship band.
There is time to pray and reflect upon God's word.
There is time to share testimony, prophecy and words of encouragement with each other.
There is time for individuals to receive prayers for healing and wholeness during a period of ministry.
PRAISE is an alternative to Sunday services of worship, with more opportunities for spontaneity and freedom in the Spirit.
Some comments from our regular attenders to encourage you to join us……...
" A haven of prayer and lively praise "
" A time to wait upon God "
" The worship moves smoothly and naturally through the sensitive use of music, readings and prayers "
" I feel free to worship God genuinely in Spirit and in truth "
" I have appreciated the sense of celebration and the opportunity for open prayer. I have found the fellowship very helpful. I have felt that the service has been very much spirit led, and has therefore helped me to remember the importance of the presence of the spirit in my Christian journey "
" God really speaks to me through the songs and verses of scripture "
" The worship is led in a way which allows me to focus clearly on God and to hear what he has in store for me "
You are welcome to join us at the next PRAISE which will be on Saturday 17th September in the Century Hall, starting at 7.00 pm. Future dates are 15th October, 19th November and 17th December. Why not book these dates in your diary and come and give it a try - you might enjoy it !
Tim Dutton

Home Insurance

Methodist Insurance launched a new scheme last year whereby when a member of a Methodist congregation switches their home Insurance to Methodist Insurance we will donate 20% of the first year's premium to the church or charity of their choice. For more details, please contact Methodist Insurance on (08457 697531.

Women's Network Events

MEETING AT HULLAND
We shall be joining the ladies of Hulland on Thursday 8th September for a meeting at 2.15pm. The speakers will be Christine and Ted Ager who will tell us about their recent visit to India. There will be a Bring and Buy stall and refreshments will be served at the close. Why not join us - all welcome! If you would like to go and require transport, please contact Alma.
DISTRICT DAY
The next District Day will be on Monday 3rd October at Radcliffe-on-Trent. The speaker in the afternoon will be Irene Sayer, the immediate past Connexional President of Network. For further details, please contact Alma.
DISTRICT QUIET DAY
A Quiet Day has been arranged and will be held at Winshill Methodist Church on 29th October from 10am - 3pm. The theme will be 'Be Still and Know that I am God.' The day will be led by Rev Julie Coates. Again, if you're interested, please contact Alma.
Alma Swan
Book Review: Steps along Hope Street
Written by the Rt Rev D Sheppard, giving an account of his life in cricket and ministry - mainly the latter, from his ordination as Deacon, Curate and Bishop of Woolwich and his involvement with the Mayflower Centre for young people in the poorest part of London.
Most of the book concerns his ministry as Bishop of Liverpool. Although it deals with a lot of diocesan administration, it shows what was achieved through his very close friendship with Derek Worlock, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool. There is a large Irish-Catholic population in Liverpool and there could have been a situation of conflict as in Northern Ireland. However, the very-public friendship between the two Bishops and their willingness to share services in their respective Cathedrals defused any tension there might have been.
The two Bishops and the Methodist Superintendent were to be seen marching along "Hope Street" demonstrating their solidarity concerning local government problems, the docks and teenage problems.
Altogether, this is a book showing hope for the future of Christianity. Both Bishops have now departed this life, but we pray that the Ecumenism they started will be continued by their successors.
Dorothy Prior

Ashbourne Church Council Meeting

At the Ashbourne Church Council meeting on 16th June 2005, appointments were made for the year starting 1st September 2005 - Treasurer: Ann Parkinson, Church Council Secretary: Carole Thorpe, Pastoral Secretary: Judith Bale, Representatives to Circuit Meeting: Don Cox, Tracy Dawson, Cliff Lewer, Elizabeth Hurfurt, Ian Marsh and Carole Thorpe, Ashbourne Churches Together: Elizabeth Hurfurt and Catherine Green, Ashbourne Partnership: Ian Marsh. Pastoral Visitors, Finance Committee and Property Committee members were also appointed.
The next Annual Church Meeting to be a Monday evening, 24th April 2006.
It was agreed to have another Church Weekend Away in Autumn 2006.
A Holiday Club will be running through the summer. Church Council agreed it would underwrite any loss (up to £100).
A small management group has been set up for The Basement. Church Council agreed that their initial funding of the project (£5,000) did not need to be repaid and that the project should continue.
The Fair Trade group will be organising our Harvest Festival services.
A Christmas Fair will be held in The Century Hall during the late night shopping evening (now called "Family Fun and Charity Night" on Friday 9th December).
The next Church Council Meeting will be on Monday 3rd October 2005 at 7:30 pm in the Century Hall. (Reports to be produced for Wednesday 14th September please)

Ashbourne Family News

We send our congratulations to the Glossop family, Rachel and Nigel, on the safe arrival of their son Isaac, brother for Sam.
We also send congratulations to Mark and Teresa Dyster on their recent wedding and we ask God's blessing on their marriage.
We ask for God to bless Gemma and Lee George's marriage, and pray that they may soon feel settled in their new home in Catterick. We have received the following message from Gareth & Val Rutledge…
"We would like to say a big thank you to everybody who helped make Gemma and Lee's wedding day such a big success. We would also like to thank the church fellowship who have shown Gemma such Christian love and friendship over the past year. Gemma and Lee have now moved to their new home in Catterick, and we pray that God will continue to bless them.
Thanks and love to you all,
Gareth and Val Rutledge."
We pray for all those who are ill or in hospital and for those who are recovering from illness. We especially think of Monica Whitton, Mary Hatch, Olive Harrsion and Phil Hall.
We have received this message from the Hall family…
"With loving thanks to everyone for your concern, prayers, cards, flowers, meals and gifts through the sudden loss of Phil's Dad and also during Phil's stay in hospital.
Phil is still in hospital but we believe he has turned the right corner and has been transferred from intensive care at Kingsway to the psychiatric wards at Derby City Hospital. We have felt God's love surrounding us through the support of our Church family.
Thank you again, Judith, Phil, Teresa and Kerry Hall"
We pray for all those who mourn the loss of a loved one. We think of the Hall family following the death of Phil's Dad. We also pray for Pearl Steeples as she mourns the loss of Bill. May all who mourn be comforted by your love, Lord.

Prayers

We continue to ask for you to especially remember the following
things in your prayers this month:
4th Sept The work of NCH
5th Sept The people of Mooiplaas, South Africa
6th Sept Local Preachers
7th Sept Venues for hosting the Alpha course
8th Sept The Alpha Course
9th Sept Workers in Cornerstone
10th Sept The work of Christian Aid
11th Sept JMA collectors and givers
12th Sept The Church of North India
13th Sept Circuit Staff and Stewards
14th Sept Housegroups
15th Sept Preachers preparing for services
16th Sept Choir, organists and musicians practising for Sunday
17th Sept Those at the praise service
18th Sept Young people preparing to go to university
19th Sept Our friends around the circuit
20th Sept Members of the youth club
21st Sept Our local MP, Patrick McLoughlin
22nd Sept The Alpha Supper
23rd Sept Those involved in youth work
24th Sept Those visiting Cornerstone

Ethical Issues at the end of Life

A day to explore these issues is being held on at the Church on Oakwood, Bishop's Drive, Oakwood, Derby, from 10.30am to 3.30pm on 24th September.
Speakers will address such topics as our theology of death, the physical, mental and spiritual process of dying, issues in caring for people in frailty and confusion, palliative care including considering actions which results in the hastening of the end of life. Cost: £5.00 payable on the day, but please book your place with Revd. Michael Webster. Bring your own lunch - drinks will be provided. Travel directions available.

Operation Christmas Child

SAFARI MEAL - SATURDAY 1ST OCTOBER
The final date for booking your place on the Safari Meal in aid of OCC is 9th September. Details were given in the June and July magazines, and are also available on the vestibule table at Ashbourne. The Safari Meal will take place on Saturday 1st October. You can also ask Betty (Hadley) or Marianne (Matthews) what it is all about. We are looking for at least 12 couples or pairs, each of whom will provide just one of the courses for 6 or 7 people, including yourselves. If you are a 'single' you can be easily included without feeling that you need to provide for one of the courses.
Briefly, those taking part will join with 4 or 5 other people at a different venue for each course of a 3 course meal, all joining together at the end for coffee, cheese and biscuits. You should meet a different group of people at each venue, but you won't know who until you get there. The cost is £10 a head, but hostesses are reimbursed according to which course they provide. You will need to meet first of all at Cornerstone to be given the address of your first venue. Subsequent venues will be notified at the end of each course. Please remember that we need to have your names by 9th September in order to organise the evening, and you will also need to complete a short form in order that some details can be given to hosts.
? New leaflets for this year's shoe box project are on the vestibule table, or are available from Marianne or Betty. You can ask us for hats, scarves and gloves to put in your boxes (no charge), as friends have been busy knitting over the past year. More information next month about the final date for completing the boxes, and the blessing service, which will be towards the end of November.
Phone Marianne or Betty

Challenge Walk or Run

There will be a Challenge Walk or Run in aid of Chernobyl Children in the Hills & Dales & Peaks of Derbyshire & Staffordshire on Saturday 10th September. An ideal event to promote team spirit and to see the beauty of the area. It is a circular route taking in Earl Sterndale, Flagg, Darley Farm, Hartington, Reapsmoor, High Ash Starting and finishing at High Ash Field Study Centre (GR 048653) 14 and 22 Miles walk/run in 10 hours maximum. Visit http://www.andycrafts.co.uk/Walk.html for full details including entry form and rules.

Are you getting Old?

Occasionally we get e-mails sent around the factory and this came to our office recently. After a few comment's I have made about our thoughts on 'The Good Old Days' I thought this particularly apt.
Tom Parkinson
According to today's regulators and bureaucrats those of us who were kid's in the 50's 60's 70's and early 80's probably shouldn't have survived because…
Out cots were covered in brightly coloured lead based paint, which was promptly chewed or licked. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, or latches on doors or cabinets and it was fine to play with pans. When we rode our bikes we had no helmets, just flip-flops and fluorescent "clackers" on our wheels.
As children we would ride in cars with no seat belts or airbags, riding in the passenger seat was a treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle, and it tasted the same. We ate dripping sandwiches, bread and butter pudding and fizzy drink pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were outside, playing. We shared one drink with four friends from one bottle or can, and no-one actually died from this.
We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then went top speed down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into stinging nettles a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We would leave home in the morning to play all day, as long as we got back before it got dark.
No-one was able to reach us all day, and no-one minded. We did not have Playstations or X-Boxes, no video games at all. No ninety-nine channels on the TV, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no mobile phone, no personal computers and no internet chat rooms. We had friends; we went outside and found them.
We played elastics and street rounders, and sometimes that ball really hurt. We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth,and there were no lawsuits. They were accidents. We learnt not to do the same thing again. We had fights, punched each other hard and got black and blue. We got over it.
We walked to friends' homes, we also, believe it or not, walked to school; we didn't rely on Mummy or Daddy to drive us to school just because it was round a corner.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate live stuff, and, although we were told it would happen, we did not have many eyes out, neither did the live stuff live in us for ever.
We rode bikes in packs of seven, and wore our coats only by the hood. Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. The idea of our parents baling us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law, imagine that!
This generation has produced some of the best risk takers and problem solvers and inventors ever. The past fifty years has been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and learned how to deal with it all.
And you are one of them, congratulations.

Church in a Spiritual Age

In the autumn of this year, the tour entitled 'Equipping Your Church in a Spiritual Age' will visit West Bridgford Methodist Church on Monday 10th October between 10am and 3:30pm - cost £20. This seminar brings together much of the latest thinking in terms of the spirituality of people today. Steve Hollinghurst (latterly chaplain at Nottingham Trent University) and Yvonne Richmond who have been at the forefront of research and practice in this field will be speaking at the event and will introduce some highly provocative and yet vitally important issues which the Church needs to address. Details on www.district-evangelism.org.uk or from Roger Johnson.

Ashbourne Property Matters

BARBECUE
We now have a new Bar B Q owned by the Church and available, it has to be stored off the premises due to the Insurance restrictions on Gas Bottles - it is at The Elms and can be collected by contacting Andrew or Cliff Lewer.
STORAGE
Valiant efforts have been made by a large number of people to ensure that all the equipment used by the various activity groups is carefully stored away to ensure open access for other users of our premises.
The Architects have drafted an idea for building onto the rear of Waterside to provide additional storage especially for large items and this is currently being discussed with the Listed Building planners.
Please keep up the good work and ensure the reputation of the Church is maintained as a well kept and multi use facility.
TABLES
Additional large Go Pak tables have been purchased to enable easy handling and movement where necessary between halls. On no account must these tables be borrowed without notifying Enid Stubbs.
The heavy wooden tables have been retained but are in the rear store room for emergencies only.
BOOK CASE AND NOTICE BOARD
A new book case is under construction for the vestibule in order to remove the book cases from Church and to allow easier access for browsing/lending, a notice board will be incorporated.
Following this installation a cabinet is to be made for the AV system and to assist the user friendliness and security of these items.
Cliff Lewer

Dates for your Diary

SEPTEMBER
Sun 3rd Synod at Alfreton (Watchorn) Alfreton
Wed 7th 10am Alzheimer's Café Cornerstone
Thu 8th 2.15pm Network Meeting with Rev Ted Ager Hulland
Sun 11th 6.30pm Hulland Harvest Festival
Sun 11th 6.30pm Healing and Wholeness Service Ashbourne
Thu 22nd Alpha Supper Ashbourne
Fri 23rd 7.30pm Stanton Harvest Festival Stanton
Sun 25th 2.30pm Stanton Harvest Festival Stanton
Sun 25th 6.30pm Kirk Ireton Harvest Festival Kirk Ireton
Sun 25th Ashbourne Harvest Festival Ashbourne
Tue 27th 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Century Hall
OCTOBER
Sat 1st Operation Christmas Child Safari Meal Ashbourne
Sun 2nd 2.30pm Parwich Harvest Festival Parwich
Sun 2nd 6.30pm Brailsford Harvest Festival Brailsford
Mon 3rd 10.30am Women's Network District Day Radcliffe
Wed 5th 10am Alzheimer's Café Cornerstone
Sun 9th 2.30pm Kniveton Harvest Festival Kniveton
Sun 9th 2.30pm Tissington Harvest Festival Tissington
Sun 9th 6.30pm Kniveton Harvest Festival Kniveton
Tue 11th 7.30pm Hulland Church Council Hulland
Sat 15th 10am -1pm Cards for Good Causes Town Hall
Sun 16th 10am Parwich United Service St Peter's
Sun 16th 10.30am Ashbourne JMA Service Ashbourne
Tue 18th 7.30pm Kirk Ireton Church Council Kirk Ireton
Tue 25th 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Century Hall
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
NOVEMBER
Wed 2nd 10am Alzheimer's Café Cornerstone
Sun 6th MHA Sunday
Sat 12th Ashbourne Churches Together Quiet Day
Sun 13th 10.15am Parwich United Service St Peter's
Tue 15th 7.30pm Rebuilding Rwanda St Oswald's Hall
Sun 20th 6.30pm Ashbourne Taize Service Ashbourne
Mon 21st 7.30pm Network Evening Ashbourne
Tue 22nd ACT Advent Service Ashbourne
Tue 29th 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 October Ashbourne Church magazine to me by 9pm on Wednesday 14th September
Items for the December Ashbourne Circuit magazine to me by 9pm on Wednesday 16th November

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