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Ashbourne Methodist Circuit Magazine

March 2006

From The Manse

Dear Friends,

This summer I will be on Sabbatical from 8th May to 15th August. Why a Sabbatical? The Methodist Church realised that too many ministers were under continual pressure and many were experiencing breakdowns as a result. To make sure that all ministers get a proper break from this pressure, compulsory sabbaticals were introduced, one every seven years.

During my sabbatical I am expected to undertake some 'project' as well as enjoying periods of retreat and refreshment and family time. Many have asked "How do I plan to spend my sabbatical"?

I will be taking the general theme 'Peacemaking, Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation'. You will probably already be aware from my sermons that Peacemaking is a subject close to my heart. And I believe it is something in which we Christians have a special role to play. "Blessed are the Peacemakers, they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5v9.

I will start my sabbatical with a spell at Corrymeela, the centre for reconciliation on the Antrim coast in Northern Ireland. The community at Corrymeela works for reconciliation by bringing groups together from both sides of the sectarian divide, working with both children's groups and adults. The aim is to break down the barriers of misunderstanding and mistrust. Vital work in that troubled province. Then I will take the opportunity while I am in Northern Ireland to spend some time with my nephew's family who live in Belfast.

My next destination will be Taize, to experience their worship and see first hand how that place brings together young people (and others) from all over Europe (and beyond).

Back to London, I will be doing a course "Skills training for mediation in the church". This is run by "Bridge Builders" a Mennonite group. Hopefully I would then be able to offer this skill to the church to help in conflict resolution.
After all that I will need a break! So during July I plan to spend time with family and also to use the library at Woodbrooke College in Birmingham. Woodbrooke College is the Quaker college that has a long tradition of working for Peace.

I will conclude my sabbatical by joining my two brothers and their growing families for a holiday on the island of Sark.

Make me a channel of your Peace,
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love,
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord,
And where there's doubt true faith in you. (HP776).
God Bless, Chris

With grateful thanks…..

I was admitted to the Northern General Hospital at Sheffield on 19 December 2005 and had my triple heart by-pass surgery the following day. They don't like to leave you lying in your hospital bed very long these days and the day after my operation I was up and about, I even managed to shower and shave myself. After two days they had me walking upstairs to ensure that I would be able to cope on my return home. Remarkably, I was
released from hospital on Christmas Day and able to go home in time to have Christmas lunch and open Christmas gifts. Being back home with the family was probably the best Christmas gift of all.
I have continued to recover at home with exercises and walking. I am now doing 1- 2 miles per day and was formally discharged from the Northern General on Thursday, 9 February 2006.

The National Health Service suffers some terrible criticism from the media these days but I have to say that throughout my dealings with the hospital I was treated with the utmost care and attention by every member of staff with whom I came into contact.
I thank God for his wonderful healing power. I know that throughout this time I have been the subject of your thoughts and prayers and I would like to offer my grateful thanks to everyone. Happily I am now well on the way to full recovery and it is so good to be back in worship with you. Thank you again and I pray God's richest blessings upon you all.
Sid Harbey

'SPRING TIME' MUSIC CONCERT
Friday 12th and Saturday 13th May 2006 at 7.30 pm

We are planning to hold a spring music concert at Ashbourne Methodist Church. This will be an evening of music, presented by the choir, some soloists and a number of instrumentalists. The music will be
interspersed with readings and poems. It will be an entertaining
evening, with something for everybody, including those who do not normally attend church. The concert will be repeated on Friday and Saturday evenings, starting at 7.30 pm. The format will be two halves
separated by an interval with refreshments. Please book the date/s in your diaries and support the music life of our church. If you are interested in singing or playing a solo/duet, please let me know before the end of March.
Tim Dutton (343494)

Women's World Day of Prayer
Friday 3rd March

The Order of Service this year has been prepared by Christian women of South Africa and is entitled "Signs of the Times". Our services will be held as follows:-
2.00pm St Peter's Church Snelston

7.30pm Ashbourne Methodist Church

The Speaker at both services will be Rev Albert Harbey, retired Methodist Minister. If anyone requires transport to either service, (or both!), please
contact Carole Thorpe (Tel 346535) ALL are WELCOME

Betty Douce

FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT: 6th - 19th March
MAKE A FAIRTRADE FRIEND
This year, Ashbourne Fairtrade Town Initiative would like your help in spreading the word of Fairtrade. Many of you drink Fairtrade tea or coffee, but we know that there are still some people out there who haven't tried Fairtrade. So, here's a challenge to you all:
To introduce one of your friends, colleagues or neighbours to Fairtrade.
So what do you need to do?
Sometime during Fairtrade Fortnight, make a cuppa for someone who's never tried Fairtrade, tell them about why it's so great and tell them where they can buy it.
So why is Fairtrade so great?
The main reason is because it guarantees a fair price for the growers. But don't forget that Fairtrade also encourages better working conditions, provides a premium for community investment and helps to protect the environment. And, of course, it's great quality - but that's why we want you to make a drink for one of your friends.
What about more information?
Included in this Magazine is a leaflet giving more details of Fairtrade, which you can give to your new Fairtrade friend, and if you'd like a sample sachet of coffee or tea we'll be giving these out after church on 5th and 12th March - in time for the Fortnight. It would probably be best if you give your friend a cup of whatever you normally drink - because then you can tell them where they can buy it.

FAIRTRADE PRODUCE UPDATE
There are new Fairtrade products hitting the shelves in Ashbourne all the time, so here are details of the latest items:
Fairtrade Orange Juice - available from the Co-op. This great-tasting
orange juice is available from the chiller cabinet, near to the cheese and milk.
The good news is that it doesn't need to be kept in the fridge when you get it home. So you can buy in bulk if you want! You may think that your average orange juice comes from growers who get a fair price, but many of the oranges in juices come from the Carribbean and lots of the growers work in bad conditions and are paid a pittance. So buying Fairtrade orange juice is one way of helping.

Fairtrade Roses - available from Sainsburys. New at Sainsbury's are Fairtrade Roses, brought direct from Africa each day. Although many flowers come from Holland and the Channel Islands, there are lots now flown in from Africa. Buying Fairtrade roses means you know that the workers are getting a fair price for their labour.
Fairtrade Organic Bananas - available from Somerfield. Fairtrade bananas are already available from Co-op and Sainsbury's, but Somerfield's Fairtrade bananas are also Organic.
Fairtrade Wines - available from the Co-op. Co-op are updating their range of wines, and new ones are arriving at the moment. If you're interested in trying some of these wines, you might like to come along to our guided tasting of Fairtrade Wine and British Cheese on Monday 13th March at The Dining Room. If you'd like to come along, please contact me on 01335 300338

Stuart Green Ashbourne Fairtrade Initiative

Fairtrade Fortnight (6th-19th March)

crafts - food - teas - coffees - jewellery - gifts
will be on sale from Traidcraft's Spring 2006 range of fairly traded goods
at
The Cornerstone
on
Thursday 9th March
Friday 10th March
Saturday 11th March
from
10am to 3pm

Ashbourne Churches Together - Diary Dates

Lent Lunches
The Lent Lunches will take place in the Century Hall at the Methodist Church at 12.30 p.m. on each Wednesday in Lent. 8, 15, 22, 29 March and 5 April.
There will be a Holy Week service on Tuesday, 11 April in All Saints' Church.

Walk of Witness
This will take place as usual on Good Friday starting at 12.15 pm in the Market Place. More details in the April magazine.

Tissington Well Dressings
Advance notice that the One World Group will be holding its usual Cake Stall along with the Traidcraft group selling Traidcraft products at the Well Dressings from Thursday May 25 to Monday May 29. We shall be asking later for people to bake cakes and help staff the stall.

Patna
The group visiting Patna will be giving a public presentation about the visit on Saturday evening 1 April in the Methodist Church. There will be Indian food provided in the Century Hall. More information later.

ASHBOURNE ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING
Monday 24 April 2006 7.30pm

Please try to come to this meeting which is an opportunity to review the whole life of the Church and to discuss important issues. Each church group leader will be asked to prepare a report which it is hoped will be printed and available before the meeting.

We will be electing Church Stewards and Church Council Representatives for the year beginning 1 September 2006. Nominations for Church Council members may be made on the poster on the vestibule notice board (should appear mid March) - these should be made by 17 April.

Carole Thorpe (Church Council Secretary)

All God's Work

There's a lot of catching up to do,
The ground is bleak and bare.
The fences are all gaps and gates,
And need so much repair.
The stock could use a change of space,
From being in just four walls.
Lots of murmurs of complaint,
And tired of these cow stalls.
The grass is slow to make a move,
The birds are slow to sing,
There's not a farmer in the land,
That doesn't long for spring.
We err our grievance all so much,
But God is full of care.
Why do we fret about these things?
They always will be there Wilf Ward, Stanton.

AN EXPERIMENT IN PRAYER

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37.7)

Silence, stillness, solitude, simplicity: how do you react to these words?
For some people they conjure up images of ancient convents and monasteries and long hours spent in contemplative prayer, an impossible ideal far
removed from the reality and rush of our action packed lives.
Perhaps we long for a taste of this other reality ---- a reality characterised more by being than doing ---- but we don't quite know how to start.
Here's an idea, using a verse from Psalm 46. 'Be still and know that I am God'. Try repeating the word's slowly, gently, quietly with your heart as well as your mind. Then drop the last word, 'Be still and know that I am'.
Take time to know God's presence in the present moment, then drop another word, 'Be still and know'. Let the word lead you deeply into God's peace. Then reduce them to 'Be still' Notice how it feels to be 'STILL' inside ---- Finally, just use the one word "BE" ----.

Thanks to Rev. Sally Dakin in the Oxford Diocese
Sister Merle

Tissington Report

The early days of December proved a very sad time for the friends at Tissington Chapel, as we have seen the deaths of two people who both faithfully served the chapel as stewards, and who were laid to rest in Tissington churchyard in the same week.

Ros Baguley, who had lived with her parents Mary and Harold in Tissington for 40 years, tragically took her own life after a period of severe depression. Her usually sunny and generous personality will be much missed by all who knew her, as will her service in the chapel, her work as manager and designer of the Town Well at Well Dressings, and by her colleagues at Yeoman's in Ashbourne, where she was very highly regarded. Most of all, she will be mourned by her partner of 15 years, Des Humphreys. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and Ros's family and friends at this time. Ros's troubles are now over, and she can find peace in the presence of her loving and merciful Lord.

My mother, Mrs Dorothy Titterton, had lived with her husband Percy and family, farming in Tissington for over 20 years. After the death of Percy, she worked as cook at the College in Matlock, and then, very happily as cook housekeeper at Okeover Hall. In retirement she lived happily in Ashbourne and was a loyal member of the Womens' Fellowship there, and she also
resumed her connections with Tissington chapel. She moved to Matlock a few years ago to be near her family, but during the last three years, due to ill health caused by a series of mini strokes, she went to live at the Brooklands Christian Residential Home at Bakewell. She did, however, manage to enjoy regular outings to the Tissington chapel services, her last visit being the
Harvest Festival last year. She died of another stroke at Bolsover Hospital, in the town where she was born. My mother's life was one of service to her Lord and to her family - she brought up eight children, and had numerous grand-children, and great- grand children. In retirement, she spent many hours making soft toys and baking to raise funds for the Salvation Army, in whose principles her mother and father had raised their family.
Our family are most grateful for all the support and prayers we have received on my mother's death from the friends at Darley Hillside, Tissington, Ashboume, and Parwich Methodist chapels, We celebrate her life, and give thanks that she is now at peace with her Lord.

God's work continues as ever, at Tissington, and we welcome people to our regular services on the third Sunday of the month at 2.30p.m.
Dorothy Robinson

MISSION MATTERS

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Reflection
"We always thank God for you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ".1 Thess. 1:2-3

Paul's delight in the Christians of Thessalonica is obvious. Like all missionaries, he is affected and changed by the work he does. It is a mistake to think that missionary work is one way. Missionaries receive as much as they give. The same is true of churches with a heart for mission. Two hundred years ago, when there was a great spurt in overseas mission activity, churches at home grew. They grew because they were no longer self-centred, but open to the call of Jesus to go to the ends of the earth. They were hearing stories of how Jesus was transforming lives and, if it could happen in Africa and Asia, it could happen at home, too. And it did.
We give you thanks, Lord, for the Church worldwide, for our brothers and sisters who, by faith and prompted by love, are achieving great things for You. By what we see and hear, transform our lives and our churches.

Standing alongside excluded asylum seekers and refugees

Fish and chips, the Mini, Haagen Daas ice-cream and Marks and Spencer's were all the creation of refugees.
The BMA records that there are over 1,000 trained doctors among asylum seekers.
There are between 1,000 and 2,000 destitute asylum seekers in Birmingham.
"Failed" asylum seekers are offered short-term emergency accommodation but only if they agree to pay for their own deportation.
All support is withdrawn from "failed" asylum seekers with children.
Britain is a signatory to the 1951 U.N. Refugee convention, which guarantees the right of people to apply for asylum … there is no such thing as a "bogus" asylum seeker.
90% of asylum claims are initially refused and just 20% of appeals are successful.
Africa and Asia host over 60% of the world's refugees.
Britain hosts 2% of the world's refugees and 21 other countries host higher numbers.
Asylum seekers are not allowed to work and financial support is 30% lower than income support.
Asylum seekers do not "jump the queue" for council housing. Accommodation is allocated to them - usually hard to let - and is withdrawn if the claim is turned down.

The Gospel to end gun deaths in Brazil - By the Revd Tom Quenet
Each year in Brazil firearms kill more people than are killed in road accidents. One person every 15 minutes and 67% of all men killed between the ages of 15 & 34 years of age are killed by firearms - statistics that have led to a national programme of disarmament supported by the Methodist Church.

In May 2005, as part of a national evangelism campaign many churches opened their doors to be centres where firearms could be handed in. Throughout the country, churches and other organisations working to the goal of
establishing peace and security for all have to date received 300,000 guns. In July, in vacation Bible schools, children were taught how the kingdom of God is built, not with weapons but with peace, justice and love.

In 2005, through the Fund for World Mission, the Methodist Church in Britain supported the Methodist Church in Brazil with a special grant of £5000 towards the total cost of £25,000 of the Evangelism Campaign.

Good news - From the JMA Rainbow magazine:
"Have you noticed how much good news there is? It may not be on the front of the newspapers or the first thing on the TV news, but if you look and listen you will notice it. There was plenty of bad news last year. JMA helped our partners recover from the tsunami in South Asia, the earthquake in Pakistan and hurricanes in Central America. We need to see good things, and when we see bad things we need to feel we can do something to help, however small it is. We can always learn, pray or serve and each one of those things helps a little. The current Rainbow magazine has good news this time: From China where the Church is growing so fast they need lots of new ministers, from Bangladesh where we have a new mission partner family and from Russia where a new church has opened."

Calls you one and calls you all ….From the Methodist Prayer Handbook, written by John A Bell, Vice President of the Methodist Conference

"Creator God, you have called us do your will in the world, in the name of Jesus.
You have called us to be shop assistants and social workers, truckers and teachers, carpenters and chemists, engineers and evangelists, labourers and lawyers and much else besides.
We pray with all people in their daily life and work:
Enjoying fulfilment in a purposeful job or challenging vocation, staring at uncertainty of redundancy or dismissal, holding immense responsibility and facing testing decisions, feeling exploited by injustice in trade, caring for others, unpaid and unsung.
And we pray with people for whom time passes slowly: seeking employment, frustrated by repeated refusals, unable to work through illness and incapacity, retired, now wondering where they are still wanted, finding their work a drudge, dreading each new day, still listening for God's call.
Enabling God, we commit the insight of our minds, the labour of our hands and the love of our hearts, as we share in daily community life and shape the future of your created world. Amen."

Ruth Mallard

"Making Poverty History" - Just a Thought
(Margaret Heaton shares some thoughts from a Mission Partner friend of hers, Diana Bosman).
We know you know of the "Make Poverty History" campaign but I was interested in a comment made to some Mission Partner friends in Nairobi when asked about the white wrist band being worn. He said what was needed was, "Make Greed History". This set me thinking.
Making Poverty History can sound such a huge task so Yes we can write letters, send postcards, be in Edinburgh and generally pressurise the G8 but it can seem quite remote to our everyday lives.
Will this really make a difference and how quickly? Believe me I am not against any of this as I was in Birmingham, London but sadly not in Edinburgh as that coincided with our busiest 5 days of giving talks and presentations and leading worship during furlough but what about trying to Make Greed History. This is really personal and could affect each of us. Living here in Ghana, we rapidly became aware of how little we really need and then the small things which are luxuries. I appreciate that once we are back in the UK we shall probably very quickly start saying "We need" when what we mean is "We want". I do not think God wishes us not to enjoy the bountiful gifts with which He has surrounded us but a little less greed means more opportunity to be generous with what we have.
Three examples of recent generosity to us here. When we had visitors the Bishop and his wife sent us round a big box of vegetables and fruits to help feed our guests. We have so much more money than them but they were so generous.
After Bible Study one Tuesday Gladys gave me two enormous yams to help with my visitors. I said, "Do you have these to spare?", and she looked amazed at my question and I felt humbled by her reply, "I should not give what I have to spare but because I have". How this made me think. Do I give what I have to spare or do I give just because I have. A humbling thought.
Today as we stopped by the side of the road to picnic, inside the car, we were aware that a group of about ten very poorly dressed children were coming towards us. We had the car windows down and were eating. As they came closer they formed a group obviously discussing something to do with us. They approached. Were they going to ask for money? As they came nearer they showed us they had some yellow berries, about the size of a cherry, in their hands and they were eating. They approached the car to offer one to each of us. We accepted and realised we had half a container of "Pringles", a luxury our son Michael had bought for us the day before, so I shared these among them. They were delighted and went off to share them among themselves having never tasted anything like this. They returned and we gave them the empty container, an empty cheese box and a small empty tin which pleased them greatly and I was given another berry. They had nothing but their generosity. I thought of the boy with his five loaves and two fishes as they like him had little but generously gave what they had. The berries tasted delicious too.
Let us learn from those materially poorer than ourselves. Let us try to Make Greed History.

WOMEN'S NETWORK
Circuit Workshops and Worship - Tuesday 21 March - Ashbourne Methodist Church Applications forms for this day are now available (from Alma -343751). Why not come along, maybe learn something new and enjoy fellowship at the same time. There is the opportunity of participating in three of six workshops - cardmaking, flowers, gift boxes, music, prayer walk (inside the Church premises), and sugarcraft. We start with tea and toast, a drink and food after each workshop (packed lunch required) and round off the day by bringing all we have done to God in worship in the Church (again followed by tea and biscuits!!). The cost of the day is £7.50. The last day for return of applications is Sunday 12 March. Please come along and join us!
Willersley Week - 3-7 April Fancy a nice day out in lovely surroundings, enjoying fellowship with ladies from all around the District, sessions led by an inspirational leader? This all adds up to a day at Willersley during the District's Willersley Week! Why not come along? The Leader of the Week is Deacon Myrtle Poxon, ex Vice-President of the Methodist Conference and a former Connexional President of Network. We have booked places for Monday 3 April (but if another day during the week would suit you better, this can be arranged) and if you would like to go, please contact Alma (343751). The cost of the day is £11 which includes coffee, lunch and conference expenses.
District Day - Tuesday 7 March Elaine Turner, last year's Connexional President and Margaret Sawyer, Connexional Secretary, are coming to lead discussions at the District Day at St Andrew's Church, Langley Mill. The topic is 'Where are we going with Network?' If you are interested in going, again contact Alma (343751).

THE BASEMENT
The Basement continues to go very well, with around 40 young people dropping in every week. We have always had a tuck shop selling drinks and snacks, but we'd like to offer some warm options - things like toast, jacket potatoes and toasted sandwiches. Many of the young people who come do not get "three square meals" a day, so we feel it is important to offer items which are wholesome and more nutritious than crisps or chocolate.

Could you help us by preparing food? We'd like to serve food from 7.30pm to 9pm each Friday, so we need a few people who can share the duties - maybe working once every two or three weeks? This would mean very little contact with the young people, so would be suitable for those of you who do not feel able to help with youth work.

Or could you help us by serving young people? This would mean selling drinks and snacks from 7pm - 10pm, including taking orders for the hot food items.
Obviously, you would come into contact with the young people - but you would not be required to be a "youth worker". Again, one or two helpers would be very much appreciated.

not get "three square meals" a day, so we feel it is important to offer items which are wholesome and more nutritious than crisps or chocolate.

Or could you help us by serving young people? This would mean selling drinks and snacks from 7pm - 10pm, including taking orders for the hot food items.
Obviously, you would come into contact with the young people - but you would not be required to be a "youth worker". Again, one or two helpers would be very much appreciated. Please contact me if you can help, Tel 300338
Stuart Green

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

27 Feb Those who help prepare for services at church
28 Feb People with mental health problems
1 Mar People with Alzheimers and their carers
2 Mar The Church of North India - especially Patna Diocese
3 Mar Young people and helpers at The Basement
4 Mar Preachers preparing to lead services tomorrow
6 Mar For Fairtrade Fortnight which starts today
7 Mar For those involved in the Prayer Triplets
8 Mar For those working to eradicate world poverty
9 Mar Friends at Brailsford
10 Mar The leaders of this country and the world
11 Mar Those who serve on committees for the Church and Circuit
12 Mar Those known to us who are unwell
13 Mar Those attending Powersource groups
14 Mar Friends at Parwich
15 Mar Those who feel unloved
16 Mar Walk and Talk group
17 Mar Members of the Ashbourne choir practicing for Sunday
18 Mar Friends at Tissington
19 Mar Those serving at Cornerstone
20 Mar Friends at Kirk Ireton
21 Mar Farmers who are not paid a fair price for their produce
22 Mar Friends at Stanton
23 Mar All those involved in Youth Work in the Circuit
24 Mar The work of Methodist Homes
25 Mar Friends at Hulland
26 Mar Local Farmers

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

MARCH
Fri 3rd Women's World Day of Prayer- See detailed notice
Tues 6th District Network Day Langley Milll Sat 11th ACT Quiet Day Mappleton
Wed 15th 12.30pm Lent Lunch Century Hall
Sat 18th 7.00pm PRAISE Century Hall
Tues 21st Network Workshops and Worship Ashbourne Church
Wed 22nd 12.30pm Lent Lunch Century Hall
Tues 28th 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Century Hall
Wed 29th 12.30pm Lent Lunch Century Hall

APRIL
Sat 1st Presentation on Patna Visit Ashbourne Church
Mon 3rd Network Willersley Week Willersley Castle
Mon 3rd 7.30pm Methodist Homes- Speaker Ashbourne
Wed 5th 12.30pm Lent Lunch Century Hall
Thurs 13th 7.30pm Maundy Thursday Service Ashbourne
Fri 14th 10.30am GOOD FRIDAY Service Ashbourne
Fri 14th 12.15pm WALK OF WITNESS Ashbourne
Sat 15th 11.00am Milldale Walk
Sat 15th 2.30pm Milldale Service Milldale
Sun 16th EASTER DAY

Dear Friends
This is the first Circuit Edition of the Magazine this year and I hope you like it and find it useful. I'm very much finding my way in the role as Editor so do please give me feedback both positive and negative. This is your publication and for it to work I need your contributions. I hope to publish the next Ashbourne Church edition on March 26th, so copy deadline is 9.00pm Wednesday March 15th. Please place items in the 'Newsletter' pigeon-hole at Ashbourne or best of all E-mail me at;- ashbournemethodistmagazine@supanet.comArthur Watts

SMILE LINES

Peace
After a very long and boring sermon the congregation filed out of the church saying nothing to the preacher. Towards the end of the line was a thoughtful person who always commented on the sermons. "Pastor, today your sermon reminded me of the peace and love of God."
The pastor was thrilled. "Nobody has ever said anything like that about my preaching before. Tell me why."
"Because it endured forever."

Knock - knock
A conscientious minister decided to get acquainted with a new family in his congregation and visited them one Spring evening. After his knock on the door, a lilting voice from within called out, "Is that you, Angel?"
"No," replied the minister. "But I'm from the same department."

Dressed up
An evangelical vicar was asked to celebrate Holy Communion for his Anglo-Catholic neighbour who was sick. Unfamiliar with some of the vestments, he did the best he could. Breakfasting at the vicarage afterwards he said to the vicar's wife that he hoped he had got all the vestments on properly. "Oh yes, you were quite all right - except that my husband does not usually wear the book-markers!"

Switched on
A housewife was helping her aged mother get up the stairs on the new
electric stair lift when the minister telephoned her. He was horrified to hear her say: "I'm so sorry, but I'll have to ring you back. I can't talk right now because I've got Mother in the electric chair and she's just waiting for me to press the switch!"

From a parish newsletter:
'Children are normally collected during the Offertory Hymn'

CIRCUIT CHURCH SERVICES
Sunday Ashbourne
10.30am with young people's groups. Contact Becky Dutton ((343494)
6.30pm
Brailsford 9.00am Alive@9 on 2nd and 4th Sunday
6.30pm, United service 10.45am 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 10.00am Parwich Praise, monthly on 1st Sunday 2.30pm fortnightly
Stanton 2.30pm
Tissington 2.30pm monthly on 2nd Sunday

ASHBOURNE CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Sunday 6.30pm Essence (for young people in school years 8+): weekly
Leaders - Stuart & Catherine Green ((300338)

Monday 2pm Children's Church: weekly during term-time, Church Leader - Tracy Dawson (( 344263)
7.30pm Housegroup: monthly Contact - Peter Dawson (( 344263)
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)
2.15pm Womens' Fellowship - fortnightly, Cornerstone
7.00pm Youth Club - weekly, Lower Hall Leader - Roger Mallard (( 346107)
7.30pm Housegroup: fortnightly Leaders - Diana Whitmill ((01889 590509) Trevor Staniforth (( 347319)

Wednesday Walk and Talk Group - 1st & 3rd Wednesday Contacts - Chris and John Dakin (?(345280)
7.30pm Housegroup: fortnightly Leader - Stuart Mustow ((343924)

Thursday 7.15pm Housegroup - weekly Leaders - David Higham ((350151)

Friday 9.30am Housegroup: weekly during term-time Contact - Tracy Dawson (?( 344263)
7pm-10pm The Basement (chill-out for young people in school years 8+) Contact - Roger Mallard (( 346107)
7.30pm Choir Practice - weekly, Church Leader - Tim Dutton (( 343494)

Saturday 7pm Praise: 3rd Saturday in Month, Century Hall Leader - Tim Dutton (( 343494)

Circuit Staff
Rev Chris Eddy
33 The Green Road
Ashboume

Sister Merle Wilde
124 The Green Road
Ashboume