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Magazine April 2007
From The Manse
Dear Friends,
We are approaching Easter when we will tell again the story of Jesus, rejected,
suffering and dying on the cross, and on the third day rising from the tomb,
alive for evermore. The cross and the resurrection are at the centre of our
faith. Without these two events there would be no Christian faith, no
salvation for sin, no hope of glory.
When my family lived in Otley, West Yorkshire, we used to join a big team of Christians from the town to raise the cross on the Chevin - the large hill ridge overlooking the town. The cross was 25 feet tall, made of solid oak timbers and required some 30 men hauling on ropes with a further 10 as the anchor to raise it. Once it was in place it was visible from every corner of the town declaring the importance of this festival. Everyone could see it. But did everyone know its message "Christ died for you"?
The message "Christ died for our sins" is a hard one to sell. Only rarely in my ministry have I seen people weeping over their sins coming to the realisation that Christ died for them. But it is a message regularly received in our prisons. Prison Chaplains report many coming to faith, finding the message of Christ on the cross dying for their sins and offering forgiveness, offering a new life is exactly what they need.
Outside of prison people are much more open to the question of suffering.
The problem of suffering is one that crops up in many peoples' lives. And
it raises the question "Why did God allow this"? "Why has this
happened to me"? We can point to Jesus enduring the scourging, abandoned
by his friends, dying in the agony of crucifixion. Isaiah 53v3 puts it like
this in that memorable phrase "A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief"
For us it is the God-man Jesus. This is God showing that he shares in our
suffering, and he takes it on himself. Philip Yancey's little book "When
life hurts" is one that you can give to friends you know who are asking
questions about suffering. Point them to the cross. Let them see there the
God who identifies with us in our suffering, who suffered there for us.
From the cross we move to the tomb. The body laid in the tomb, the stone rolled
across the entrance. The place of dereliction, where all is lost. The women
watching and weeping. What desolation. What despair.
And then we turn the page and find… the tomb is empty, the body gone. The sun is rising and in the grey dawn of morning a new message "He is risen, He is alive". Death could not hold its prey. Death is defeated. Jesus is alive for evermore.
When I was training for the ministry we took a team on mission to Tunstall.
Stoke. The preacher for Easter Sunday was Gordon, an ex. Solicitor. He brought
his legal mind to the evidence for the resurrection, examining the different
witnesses, the different accounts of what took place. And he
concluded there was no doubt this event actually happened. The variations
in the testimony are exactly what happens when real witnesses are produced.
That was for me the moment when the truth of the resurrection hit home and completed my acceptance of Jesus as Lord of my life.
What about you? This Easter share with somebody what Jesus dying on the cross means to you. And tell someone when you first realised Jesus is alive.
May the Joy of Easter fill your soul,
God Bless, Chris
MISSION MATTERS
New Methodist Mission Partner link
The Hill family, Methodist Mission Partners in Zimbabwe will be visiting our
Circuit on Sunday 24th June. We hope that as many people as possible will
be able to meet them during and after the Ashbourne morning anniversary service.
More information is available about our new partners at:
http://hillfamilychristmas2006.blogspot.com
JMA
JMA member's lunch event on Sunday 29th April 12-2pm in The Cornerstone. Arnie
Kells will be coming along to tell us about the Phakamisa project in South
Africa. Bring & share lunch.
Here is some news about support work JMA is involved with in India:
Children in a poor part of Delhi are really keen to go to school and pass
some exams so that they have a chance of getting a job. At Deenbandha ("friend
of the poor") school eight boys who used to sleep on the streets now
live in a house that is part of the school. One of the boys, Sonu, is on his
own because when he was 8 and on a train journey with his family, he lost
his parents. When the train got to Delhi he was all alone and had to sleep
out on the street. He never found his family but 5 years later he is happy
living at the school and getting an education.
Another project in Mumbai is The Church's Pavement Children Project, which
was started for children who live in huts built against the wall at the edge
of the pavement. They can't go to school in the mornings because their parents
are at work and they have to look after the younger children. The
project gives them somewhere to play and learn.
World Mission Conference
"The Earth is the Lord's so what are we doing about it?
Swanick, Fri June 1st - Sunday June 3rd.
For further information and booking form contact: Meg Bailey 0161 432 3854
or Email: meg@baileymm.fsnet.co.uk or see www.mwm.org.uk
Let's Celebrate
In Bratislava, Slovak Republic (50 km from Vienna). If you would like to join
in this European Methodist Festival between 1st-5th August 2007 please contact
the Europe Desk at the World Church Office. Tel: 0207 467 5164 or email: wco.Europe@methodistchurch.org.uk
Website: www.methodist.eu
Prayers - "Set all Free"
God we ask you to strengthen us during this year of remembrance, as we think
about the millions of enslaved African people subjugated for economic gain.
In your wisdom all us to hear their stories and afford them the dignity denied
them in this life.
Everlasting God, help us to make the past a stepping stone for the future;
expel our collective amnesia about slavery so that we can embrace our history.
God we ask you to transform our lives so that we can love on another as you
have loved us. God we implore you to renew us in your spirit so that we may
seek to learn the lessons of the past that they may inform our decisions for
tomorrow. Amen.
Source: Anti-slavery International
Gracious and liberating God, lift us beyond the burdens of pain and guilt.
Build our memories into life-giving resolutions. Give us the vision of a new
creation. Strengthen us to act for justice and human dignity. And set all
free. Amen.
Source: Magnet magazine/ Churches Together in England.
"Ethnicity, Cohesion & the Church"
Following on from last month's article on this subject here are some interesting
thoughts shared by the Methodist President, Graham Carter, after he had attended
this weekend.
" On the whole Methodist churches are quite good at welcoming people.
But is that welcome really anything more than a veneer of pleasantries as
we meet new people? Making people welcome is the essential beginning of the
Gospel and a genuine welcome to others always challenges us to change, often
in radical ways.
How can we be truly welcoming to the people of other cultures who now live
here and seek to belong here? We too often have been driven by the desire,
conscious or unconscious, for everyone to become like us and not realised
how excluding that is. It is only when we allow people to be themselves in
our midst and are willing to change ourselves to enable this, that integration
of the right kind can develop.
"Britishness" is a developing culture. You only have to look at
the regional variations in this country and the differences in culture between
generations to realise how varied we are already. Over the centuries in Britain
we have developed as a wonderful amalgam of cultures. Our language is indebted
to Latin, our most popular dish is curry and almost every restaurant offers
an international menu of some kind. Multi-culturalism enriches us all.
Understanding the Gospel - Jesus welcomed people as they were, not
demanding that they become something different first, any change was as a
consequence of the open welcome. We have insisted that children and young
people should be quiet in worship, when their culture is something different.
We expected strangers to know when to stand and when to sit. We were
suspicious of the enthusiasm of faith which people from other countries show
in their life and worship and expected them to adopt the more solemn British
approach. We also demand standards of what people wear or don't wear.
I reckon there are many today who will be welcome in the kingdom of God,
but who are still not welcomed into the Church."
Phakamisa
News from Glenda Howieson about the Phakamisa project is available on the
mission notice board. If any one would like a copy please let me know. This
can be a paper copy or an email.
Ruth Mallard
PARWICH - Come on and Celebrate!
Sunday 13th May is the date of our Chapel Anniversary and it is also my 60th
birthday. I am delighted that Harry Jones has agreed to come and preach for
us on that occasion and as it is a double celebration we are holding a birthday
tea in the village hall after the service. I feel very blessed that over the
years I have made so many friends in the circuit and I want to spend my special
day with the special people who are my friends and family, in the chapel that
is so dear to me. Please come along and help us celebrate.
As this newsletter is published I shall be 10,000 miles away in Australia
visiting friends in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney,well as my godson and his
familyin Perth. I am very grateful to Mike Hadley and Pearl Steeples for stepping
into the breach and playing the organ at Parwich while I am away in the sunshine.
Jan Smith
MILLDALE - Walk and Worship! Holy Saturday - April 7th 2007
For very many years a group often varying in number and walking ability have met at 11 a.m. at the public car park in Milldale and have taken a walk of about 2 ½ hrs plus a half hour for a packed lunch thereby arriving at our delightful little chapel for a service on Holy Saturday at 2.00pm.
The format will be repeated again this year and I should be delighted to see as many as possible relax in the beautiful surroundings of Milldale and join the fellowship of this event.
Evening services at 7 p.m. are being planned for mid month during June, July
and August, again these are a delight to be a part of and full details will
be in future newsletters and on the plan.
Cliff Lewer
Dates for your Diary
Tues 3rd April 7.30pm ACT Holy Week Service Ashbourne M.C.
Wed 4th April 9.30am Walk and Talk Group
" " " 10.0am Alzeimer's Café The Cornerstone
" " " 10.00am Holiday Club Brailsford
Thurs 5th April 7.30pm Maunday Thursday Serv Ashbourne
Fri 6th April 10.30am Good Friday Service Ashbourne
" " " 12.15am WALK OF WITNESS Ashbourne
" " " 3.00pm Film; THE MIRACLE MAN Brailsford
Sat 7th April 2.00pm Service Milldale
Sun 8th April 8.00am Traditional Easter H.C. Ashbourne
For other Easter Services see Circuit Plan
Tues 17th April 7.30pm Ecum. Accomp Prog St Oswald's Ch Hall
Wed 18th April 9.30am Walk and Talk Group
Sat 21st April 7.00pm PRAISE! Century Hall
Sun 22nd April 1.30pm Ashbourne Annual Ch Meeting Century Hall Sun 29th April
6.30pm Circuit Network Easter Offering Ashbourne
Mon 30th April 7.30pm Ashbourne CT AGM The Cornerstone
-------------------------------
GATEWAY BOOKINGS - April
5th - 9th Family Group
9th - 13thFamily Group
13th - 15thth Derby Guides
20th - 22ndrd Coventry Scout Leaders
25th - 27thSerlby Park School, Doncaster
SMILE LINES
TOP 10 THINGS OVERHEARD ON THE ARK
10. "Did anyone think about bringing a couple of umbrellas?"
9. "Hey, there are more than two flies in here!"
8. "Wasn't someone supposed to put two shovels on board?"
7. "Okay, who's the wise-guy who brought the mosquitoes on board?!"
6. "Help! I need some stomach medicine for the elephants, QUICK!"
5. "Don't make me pull this ark over and come back there!"
4. "No Ham, you cannot eat the pig!"
3. "And whatever you do, DO NOT pull this plug out."
2. "Nice doggie..."
1. "Are we there yet?"
Don't break'em
There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her
brother in another part of the country. "Is there anything breakable
in here?" asked the postal clerk. "Only the Ten Commandments,"
answered the lady politely.
Higher power
A Sunday school teacher said to her children, " We have been learning
how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a higher
power. Can anybody tell me what it is?" One child blurted out, "Aces!"
Misc.
The reason lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place is that the same
place isn't there the second time.
The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates
how difficult it was.
Family News
I would like to thank everyone for the support, prayer, flowers and cards
after the recent loss of my brother Jim. I thank you for your prayers throughout
his illness. I believe a deep spiritual healing and acceptance took place
as he came to terms with his ill health. With loving thanks, Judith Hall and
family.
-------------------------
Thank you so much for the prayers, flowers and cards sent to me over the last
few weeks. I have been very conscious of the love and support of so many,
it has been a great encouragement to me. Also, thank you for your kind expressions
of sympathy received after the death of my father. These have been much appreciated.
Ruth Lowe
------------------------------------------------
RUTH PERKINS - John keeps us informed of Ruth's progress which
although slow is steady with the occasional blip. They both appreciate our
prayers and concern. John was grateful for the good wishes for his 70th birthday
recently.
JOE HERBERT - Is now back at home following his successful operation.
Please continue to pray for him and the rest of the family during this time
of recuperation.
ELIZABETH SPENCER- Pray for healing and strength after 18yrs with M.E. She is positive about the future. Expresses her thanks for your prayers and flowers as a church family. Says," watch this space!"
Charles Wesley - Orpheus to the Christian Church
A tercentenary look at the hymns of Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley's hymn for Easter: "Christ the Lord is risen today!"
In this series last month we looked at Charles Wesley's great hymn, 'And can
it be?' At its heart is the doctrine of Christ's atoning death at Calvary,
so this time we're looking at the next great event in Christ's life, his resurrection.
In the New Testament these two events do not simply follow one another in
logical succession; rather Paul links them indissolubly in the redemption
story. 'He was delivered for our offences [the Cross] and raised again [the
Resurrection] for our justification' (Romans 4:25). Charles Wesley does likewise
in his glorious Easter anthem;-
Christ the Lord is risen today!
Sons of men and angels say.
Raise your songs and triumph high
Sing, ye heavens, thou earth reply.
Charles wrote the hymn in 1739, a year after his Pentecost Sunday evangelical
conversion, and the year in which he began his open-air preaching. Like all
his hymns that followed in the next four decades, this hymn is full of New
Testament references and allusions. A great stone was rolled into the opening
of the grave where Jesus was laid, and as Matthew records, the Jewish authorities
'made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting a guard' (27:66). But
all to no purpose! Christ, the Lord of Life, could not be imprisoned by death!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal
Christ hath burst the gates of hell.
Death in vain forbids Him rise
Christ hath opened Paradise!
The NT teaches that Christ's resurrection was the Father's seal of approval
on his obedient life and atoning death. His resurrection was the proof that
he was indeed Jesus Christ the Lord, as Paul argues in Romans 1:4. 'Declared
to be the Son of God …by the resurrection from the dead.' Charles Wesley
works these great salvation truths into his verses. 'Love's redeeming work
is done.' 'Once He died our souls to save.' 'Lives again our glorious King.'
'Where, O death, is now thy sting?' 'Second life we all receive.' In our Heavenly
Adam live.' As our Lord promised his disciples long ago - and still promises
us; 'Because I live, you will also live' (John 14:19).
The Resurrection of Christ, viewed as a historical fact, is only part of the
NT teaching. His conquest of death he now shares with all his people. Christians
are the people of the Resurrection! We are now 'made alive with Christ;' 'raised
up with him,' and already seated 'in heavenly places' (Ephesians 1:4-6). And
Charles Wesley takes up this great theme of how believers share in their Lord's
resurrection power.
Risen with him we upward move
Still we seek the things above …
....................Soar we now where Christ hath led
....................Following our exalted Head.
....................Made like him, like him we rise
....................Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.
Christ has conquered hell! Death has lost its sting! The grave is spoiled!
What a Saviour! What a gospel! What a glorious hope!
Dr H B McGonigle is Senior Lecturer in Historical Theology, Church History
and Wesley Studies in Nazarene Theological College, Manchester, England.
Christian Aid Week: 13-19 May 07
Christian Aid Week is a time when Churches of all denominations throughout the country and in Ashbourne come together for the poorest people in the world. In Ashbourne we will be doing a door-to-door envelope collection, as we have in previous years. Very few people find this an 'easy' thing to do, but we are often called to step outside what we find comfortable in the service of God. It is all worthwhile though, with £1638 collected by our Church alone last year! In the hands of Christian Aid, this makes a huge difference to the lives of many people.
Our Church has over 1200 houses to cover, so the more people who can get involved the better. Last year, 28 people helped, on average collecting enough money for Christian Aid to plant 87 mango sapling in northern Senegal (£58.50). Every envelope is valuable, and even if you only have time to do a small street the money you collect will be put to good use. If you've not been involved before, I'd be happy to let you know more about it. If you are under 16, you can help by delivering envelopes and those over 16 can also collect them.
When you receive your envelope at home this year, remember to Gift Aid your
donation if you are a UK taxpayer. This means that Christian Aid get nearly
30% more money added to your gift. If you live outside Ashbourne and don't
get an envelope delivered, there will be spare envelopes available in Church.
Catherine Green
Ashbourne Churches Ecumenical (ACE) Youth Worker Project
We are pleased to report the funding for this project is now in place. We are now advertising the post (below). Please pass this advert to anyone you know who may be interested in applying.
The Anglican and Methodist churches of Ashbourne, Derbyshire and the surrounding villages, in partnership with Scripture Union, wish to appoint a youth work co-ordinator who will:
· co-ordinate and resource youth work in the churches and chapels
of Ashbourne and the villages;
· develop new and creative ways of taking the message of Jesus Christ
to young people;
· carry out youth work in schools, and co-ordinate schools' youth work
done by others; and
· identify, recruit and support the training of volunteer youth leaders.
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000 depending on experience
Further information and application forms from the Chairman of the Trustees,
Revd. Christopher Harrison, The Vicarage, Parwich, Ashbourne, DE6 1QD
christopher.d.harrison@btinternet.com
Closing date for applications: 1st May
See the link on the index page of this website or visit www.ashbournechurches.org/youthworker.htm
WOMEN'S NETWORK
Easter Offerings
On Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, envelopes for Easter Offerings will be placed
in the pews. All proceeds go to the Fund for World Missions. This enables,
among other things, the following to be funded:
Grants for Partner Churches overseas
Training, placement and support of Mission Partners overseas
Nationals in Mission Appointments
World Church in Britain Programme
Special Project grants to Partner Churches overseas
Scholarship & Leadership Training (SALT) Programme
Experience Exchange programme (run jointly with USPG)
The envelopes are provided for your offering - please give generously to provide
the necessary resources so that God's love may be shared in practical
ways throughout the world.
Dedication of Easter Offerings
The offerings will be dedicated at a Circuit Service to be held at Ashbourne
on Sunday 29 April at 6.30 pm. The Service, entitled' Crossing Divides' will
be led by the ladies of Kniveton Chapel and the Speaker will be the Rev Mark
Broadhurst. All welcome please come along!
Willersley Evening Meal
The Willersley Evening Meal will be held this year on Thursday 17 May. The
speaker will be Miss Margaret Todd who will give a light hearted talk entitled
'And so to Bed' The cost of the evening is £11.00. If you would like
to go, please let me know by 6 May (343751)
Lunch and Meeting at Brailsford
We shall be joining with the Ladies of Brailsford for Lunch and a Meeting
on Wednesday 9 May. The lunch will commence at 12.30 pm (Tickets £4.00)
and the meeting at 2 pm. The speaker at the meeting will be Deacon Ann Howard
from Burton-on-Trent. All welcome! Do come and join us for this enjoyable
occasion and share fellowship with others from the Circuit. Look out for the
posters and ticket sellers - coming soon!
Alma Swan
Diary of the Connexional President of Women's Network in the Methodist
Church
When I last wrote for Connections I was nicely into my year as President, attending various meeting on communications, 20th birthday celebrations, conference planning for 2007 and 2008 until on the 19th January the Joint Secretaries Group (JSG) published in the Methodist Recorder and onto the Methodist Web site its submission to the Methodist Council for cutting the costs of the Connexional team by 30%.
Paper 8 of this huge document suggested that Women's Network was a mature organisation and could become a charity and operate alone. Reorganisation and change had been the subject of working parties within the Connexional team for many months and the morale of the staff of Methodist Church House has been and is low, however such a statement came as somewhat of a shock and has occupied me considerably since.
The Connexional Committee of 29th January was consumed by the subject and we held a special Connexional Committee on 21st February in Birmingham to draft a response to the JSG who wanted reaction by 28th February.
The bottom line is that Women's Network will become independent/autonomous but remain a part of the Methodist Church from September 2008 - just how that is going to operate physically is the subject of much discussion.
Meanwhile Women's Network across the nation continues to do its work, to promote fellowship, to promote awareness of social issues and to be a major fundraiser for the Fund for World Mission and other projects.
On February 4th I enjoyed the tail end of the World Church forum on which
Ruth Mallard has reported in last month's magazine. The 14th was the
Committee for inter faith relations held at Methodist Church House and this
was followed by a meeting with Jonathan Kerry the Coordinating Secretary responsible
for Women's Network. 24th was a day with Manchester and Stockport District
when the subject was the highly topical one of Slavery in this modern age
- currently Women's Network's social action project, being in central Manchester
made the topic very pertinent.
March is the manic month for Women's Network presidents when many events and District days are held. Women's World Day of Prayer on 2nd was a well attended event in two local venues and was followed the day after by a superb day in Nottingham at the District Gathering when the President and Vice President of Conference were visitors to our District.
March 5th was Daffodil Day Service in Methodist Central Hall with the renowned Rev Canon Roger Royal with whom I shared the platform, plus choir singers etc, the huge hall was full with some representatives from the Nottingham and Derby District attending.
Planning for the future of Magnet both its editorial content and now with the Paper 8 proposals the future management and financing of the magazine was the subject of a residential meeting in Birmingham 8/9th March followed immediately by a rapid transfer along the M1/A1 to Minsteracres Monastery near Corbridge in Tynedale where I led the weekend retreat of the Newcastle District of Women's Network. This is a splendid venue set on a hill and approached by the most magnificent avenue of Canadian Redwoods.
World Federation of Methodist and United Church Women held their regular half yearly meeting in Stoke on Trent on the 15th and as I write this I have just returned from Tonbridge in Kent where the South East District day was held on Saturday when again slavery was the lead topic.
Allestree and Newmount in Derby are occupying me this week with talks and then on Thursday I lead the Northampton District Day in Corby.
Please pray for the Women's Network of the Methodist Church as it grapples
with the determination of its future under the new proposals. In its new independent
guise, the objective is to become stronger, fight for social awareness of
today's difficult subjects and continue to make the voice of Women heard both
within and outside of the Church.
My April Diary
10th Grantham Network
16 to22nd Holiday Madeira?
28th N and D Synod
28th Caribbean evening Oxford and L
Sandra Lewer
BRAILSFORD - Easter Events
WEDNESDAY 4th April - HOLIDAY CLUB - 10.00am - 2.30pm
Ages 5 - 11yrs Bookings Phone Jane 346814
FRIDAY 6th April - 3.00pm Film "THE MIRACLE MAN"
Admission £1 including refreshments.
EASTER DAY - From 9.30am - Breakfast
10.30am MORNING WORSHIP
KNIVETON
The congregation are delighted to receive Mrs Betty Hadley into
membership. Betty has already recruited new volunteers to the Childrens' Christmas
Box cause, shares in the tasks involved in worship and makes a valuable contribution
to the fellowship.
Preparations are in hand for the yearly visit of children from Belarus. Twelve
are expected, the children are from a rural area, and will not have had the
opportunity to learn much of the English language.
We have shared in the delight of the village at the outstanding report received
after the "OFSTED" inspection of the school.
Sister Merle.
KIRK IRETON
Roy Coles was instrumental to so much of the community life of Kirk Ireton
- The Wakes, the Friendship Group, the social life of the village, he would
be there to lend encourage and his great sense of humour to the occasion.
He and Irene worshipped at the Church and the Chapel.
It was Roy who said to me "Don't let the Chapel close, some of us are
going to come to the services, it must not close". From that time a new
life and hope came to us, and Roy found something for himself, something of
Christ.
We can scarcely believe that God has called him home. We thank God that his
pain is in the past and he is safely home.
Thanks to the hard work of David and Mary Dorman, Royce Hodkinson and Ian
Ford, all the work on the Chapel is completed. This is a wonderful achievement
and we are more than grateful to them.
Sister Merle.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Shoe Boxes
A number of people have expressed a wish for the craft mornings to continue.
We have one more planned for the last Wednesday in April at 10 am, venue to
be agreed. We will report in the May magazine what the feeling is for continued
meetings, deciding on dates and venue, etc. Come and share ideas for making
and filling the boxes, etc. Looking to the future, we are hoping to fix the
blessing service for the third Sunday in November (18th), with a further service
on the fourth Sunday at Kniveton. Checking the boxes will take place directly
after these services. If you have items such as buttons, press studs, buckles,
ribbons and trimmings , etc. please let Margaret Heaton have these for us
to use, and of course we continue to collect wool for making scarves, hats
and mitts.
Betty Hadley
Topical Preaching - Issues facing Christians today
After Easter at Ashbourne we are doing a series of services looking at issues
facing Christians today. The plan of preachers with topics is given below.
House groups may wish to use these topics for discussion in the weeks
following the services.
April 22 10.30 Eddy Peacemaking
April 29 10.30 Mustow Marriage & Divorce
May 6 10.30 Dutton Nurture of Children
6.30 Dawson Attitude to Old Age
May 13 10.30 Staniforth Authority of the Bible
May 20 10.30 Eddy Suffering
6.30 Whitmill Debt/Use of Money
Chris Eddy
ASHBOURNE ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING - Sunday 22 April
This is an open meeting for all the people of our church when we elect Church
Stewards and representatives to the Church Council for the year beginning
1 September 2007. Nominations for Church Council members may be made on the
poster on the vestibule notice board - these should be made by 16 April. An
invitation letter, agenda and information on voting was included in the notice-sheets
during March with some spare ones on the vestibule table. If you cannot find
one, please ask Carole Thorpe.
There is also an opportunity to raise questions from the reports of the various
activities of our church. There will be a presentation on the Ashbourne -
Patna Partnership (our link with the Church of North India). Your views are
both important and welcome. Please do come and share in this important meeting.
1.00pm SUNDAY 22 April in The Century Hall Carole Thorpe (Church Council Secretary).
The Cornerstone Coffee Shop
Are you sitting enjoying a hot cup of tea or coffee and a little something to nibble? Then read on as this might be of special interest to you.
The future of the Cornerstone has been discussed by the church stewards and
a proposal was brought to the Church Council at the beginning of March. In
the absence of finding a suitable volunteer to take over the reins from Helen
Flinn, it was suggested that the position of a co-ordinator for the catering
aspect of The Cornerstone Coffee Shop should be a paid position. Details of
hours and costs were not discussed but the principle was unanimously agreed.
Would you - or anyone you know - be interested in this role? If so, please
speak to me or any of the stewards at Ashbourne, to discuss this further.
Joy Watts (342542)
Tissington Well Dressings
The One World Group and the Traidcraft group will be running their usual
stall at the Well Dressings from Thursday 17 - Sunday 20 May. Please note
these dates. We shall be appealing for cakes later and rotas for staffing
the stall will be in churches after Easter. The preacher at the Thursday service
will be the Revd. Dr Enos Das Pradhan, the General Secretary of the Church
of North India. We heard him speak on our recent visit and he is an
excellent speaker.
John and Elizabeth Hurfurt
Visit to Patna Diocese - Church of North India
In case you haven't read it the report published in the Ashbourne News Telegraph
is reprinted below. The visit was a great success and in addition to the time
spent in the Patna Diocese we also visited Eva Lyngwa in Shillong. Eva was
one of the Messengers of Peace group that visited us a couple of years ago.
We also went to the Diocese of Eastern Himalaya at the invitation of Bishop
Naresh Ambala who was in Ashbourne last year.
These two visits gave us an opportunity to see other parts of India and also
how the Church of North India operated in different areas. The work of the
Board of Social Responsibility in Eastern Himalaya was particularly impressive.
They encouraged co-operative projects and we were able to visit a tea garden
where most of the villagers had contributed their land to the project. Also
we heard about the work of self-help groups, mainly women's groups, who had
small savings schemes from which members could borrow and keep themselves
out of the hands of the moneylenders. They also tackled problems of alcoholism
and family abuse as a group rather than leaving it to the individual wife
on her own. We also visited one village church that had 1000 members. Food
for thought for the next circuit meeting!!
We met with the Derbyshire group led by Christopher Harrison in Eastern Himalaya
and visited Darjeeling where we saw sunrise over Kanchenjunga. Very impressive!!
We shall be talking about the Patna Partnership at the Annual Church Meeting but this will not be a detailed report on this visit. We hope to give a presentation with the other members of the group at a separate occasion.
John & Elizabeth Hurfurt & Ian Thorpe.
Reprint of "Ashbourne News and Telegraph " article 21/03/07
"Eight members of Ashbourne Churches Together are just back from a 5-week
visit to the Diocese of Patna in the Church of North India. The party spent
a large part of its time in one of the schools in Bhagalpur that teaches in
English. They were able to help with English conversation both with the
pupils and with the teachers and they also taught a variety of English, Maths
and Science lessons. Elizabeth and John Hurfurt said it was a very worthwhile
experience for all concerned. The school gets few visitors and the
pupils and staff all appreciated the visit. As well as familiarizing them
with current British English the visit helped to raise the profile of the
school in the local community. Although church run, about 95% of the school's
pupils are Hindus. John and Elizabeth said, " We were amazed at the size
of the classes. We knew from our previous visit that classes were often 40
or 50 strong but this year we found many with 80 or 90 pupils and one with
120. Facilities and equipment were very limited so we were impressed with
the quality of the teaching that was achieved in those circumstances."
The party also visited St. John's School in Taljhari where the Ashbourne
- Patna Partnership sponsors the board and lodging for 100 girls. This was
an exciting visit for Martyn Davis who was one of the original party of five
that visited Patna in 2000. Then they had very little time in Taljhari.
Martyn, along with others who had visited Taljhari last year, were struck
by the improvements. The buildings had been painted and the grounds tidied
up.
The girl's hostel in particular was much brighter. More help is still needed
though. It goes dark in that part of India about 6.00pm and the local electricity
supply is very unreliable. Most evenings the children are struggling to study
by oil lamps. They desperately need a generator to provide their own electricity.
Anna and Sam Davis, together with Ian Thorpe, were visiting India for the
first time. They commented on the warmth of the welcomes they received and
the generous hospitality shown and said "At most places we were met by
a group singing and dancing a welcome. We were given garlands of flowers and
often had our feet washed. The enthusiasm of the children was tremendous."
Martyn, Sam and Ian played football with the boys after school finished and
were surprised at the level of fitness of the Indian boys. Bihar is one of
the poorest states in India with an average annual income of about £120
so cars are rare. People walk considerable distances and carry large loads
as a matter of course. Many of the jobs which we have electrical or mechanical
aids for are still done by hand. Walking through the city of Bhagalpur is
quite an
experience. There are no pavements and so you share the road with cycles,
motorbikes, auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws, goats, cows, pigs, dogs and the
occasional car or truck. You have to behave as though you are part of the
traffic, even going round a roundabout as you would in a car back home.
Sheena Bryden was unfortunate enough to break her wrist in a fall but she was very impressed with the treatment she received. "It will not stop me from returning to India" said Sheena. Like Sheena, Janet Hall was impressed by the care and consideration shown by all the people we met. "Nothing was too much trouble for them" said Janet.
The visit has served to strengthen the link between the Ashbourne Churches
and the Diocese of Patna in the Church of North India. The CNI is a United
Church, having been formed by the coming together of six different denominations
including Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian."
______________
Patna Prayer Cycle April 2007
Pray for Bishop Philip Marandih and all the Pastors and Catechists within
the Diocese as they celebrate Easter with their congregations.
THE SLAVE TRADE
March 25th, 2007 commemorated two hundred years since the Act that marked
the beginning of the end of the Transatlantic Slave trade.
Across the world, events from civic and Christian backgrounds are to be held
under the logo "SET ALL FREE, ACT TO END SLAVERY"; ABOLITION OF
THE SLAVE TRADE ACT BICENTENARY 2007.
By the end of the 18th century the slave trade had become the bedrock of the
world economy. But the trade was brutal and inhuman, and as the abolition
campaign developed, the public became more widely informed of its terrors.
1787 was the year that 12 Christians formed a committee for the Abolition
of the Slave trade, including Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharp. The Prime
Minister of the day, William Pitt, suggests that William Wilberforce champion
a movement against the slave trade in Parliament.
1791 Wilberforce's first Bill to abolish the slave trade is defeated by 163
votes to 88. The bill is defeated a further 10 times.
1807 The Abolition Bill, marking the end of the slave trade is finally passed
in Parliament.
1833. Slavery is outlawed throughout the British Empire, three days before
Wilberforce dies.
MODERN SLAVERY
We tend to think of slavery as part of our history rather than our present.
The reality is that slavery continues to-day. Millions of men, women and children
are forced to lead lives as slaves. The exploitation is often not called slavery,
but the conditions are the same.
Women from Eastern Europe are bonded into prostitution, children are trafficked
between West African countries and men are forced to work as slaves on Brazilian
estates.
CHILD LABOUR
Child labour is a big issue for developing countries. Growing businesses are
forced to manufacture products for export at the cheap prices demanded by
people living in the rest of the world, leading to factories employing children
at very low wages.
8.4 million children are in slavery, trafficking, debt bondage and other forms
of forced labour. The International Labour organisation estimates that there
are 246 million working children aged between 5 and 17. Slavery is in our
back yard. Criminal gangs operate Global networks, including the UK.
Ashbourne Church Council
A copy of the Reports and Minutes of the March Church Council are to be found
on the Notice Board in the Church vestibule.
Carole Thorpe
Wanted! Social Responsibility Person
The Circuit needs someone with an interest in public issues like domestic
abuse, human trafficking, political extremism, drug addiction and much, much
more. The role involves raising awareness about current issues, reporting
to the Circuit Meeting, liaising with the District Links Group (2 meetings
a year). If interested please speak to Chris Eddy (342408).
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
The dying of the Lord Jesus rescues us from eternal death, whilst the doing
of the Lord Jesus obtains for us eternal life. J M Killen
After Service Tea and Coffee
We can now offer a choice of either a Mug or cup and saucer for after service
beverages! Please state your preference when you approach the server. Also
please note that in order to ease the queue, tea will always be served from
the end of the table nearest the entrance and coffee from the stage end of
the hall. More helpers would be welcome to help the serving of refreshments
- about three times a year. Please speak to Betty Douce if you think you could
help.
Dear Friends
Hope you find something of interest in this Easter Circuit edition. Thanks
to all our contributors. Please let me know what you like and what you don't!
New ideas welcome! This is about the max size we can handle easily.
I hope to publish the May edition on May 6th. The deadline for contributions
is 9.00pm Wednesday 25th April. These should be sent via E-mail to
ashbournemethodistmagazine@supanet.com by post to 2 Hambleton Close Ashbourne
DE6 1NG or left in the Newsletter pigeon hole at AMC.
Have a joyous Easter! Arthur Watts
Arthur Watts
CIRCUIT CHURCH SERVICES
Sunday Ashboume 10.30am with young people's groups. - Becky Dutton (343494)
6.30pm
Brailsford 10.30am on 2nd, 3rd, 4th Sunday
10.45am United service with Anglicans monthly on 1st Sunday
Hulland 2.30pm
Kirk Ireton 6.30pm monthly on 4th Sunday
Kniveton 2.30pm Family service 11am monthly on last Sunday
Milldale Special services - see Dates for Your Diary
Parwich 2.30pm fortnightly
Stanton 2.30pm
Tissington 2.30pm monthly on 3rd Sunday
ASHBOURNE CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Monday
2pm Children's Church: weekly during term-time, Church Leader- Rachel Glossop
(330679)
7.30pm Housegroup: weekly Leader - Gareth Rutledge (344948)
Tuesday
10.00am Housegroup: weekly Leaders - John & Elizabeth Hurfurt (342859)
12.30pm Luncheon Club - Last Tuesday in month, Century Hall Contact - John
& Elizabeth Hurfurt (342859)
2.l5pm Womens' Fellowship - fortnightly, Cornerstone
7.00pm Youth Club - weekly, Lower Hall Leader - Di Lambert (344503)
7.30pm Housegroup: fortnightly Leaders - Diana Whitmill (01889 590509) Trevor
Staniforth (347319)
Wednesday
9.30am Walk and Talk Group - 1st & 3rd Wednesday Contacts - Chris and
John Dakin(345280)
7.30pm Housegroup: fortnightly Leader - Stuart Mustow (343924)
Thursday
7.30pm Housegroup - weekly Leader David Higham (350151)
Friday
7.30pm - 9.30pm The Basement (Drop in for young people in school years 7+)
Contact - Stuart Green (300338)
7.30pm Choir Practice - weekly, Church Leader - Tim Dutton (343494)
Saturday 7.00pm Praise: 3rd Saturday in Month, Century Hall Contact - Tim
Dutton (343494)
Circuit Staff
Rev Chris Eddy ; 33 The Green Road ; Ashbourne DE6 1ED ; Tel 01335 342408
Sister Merle Wilde ;124 The Green Road ;Ashboume DE6 1EE ; Tel 01335 343793