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From the Manse
Dear Friends,
Britain has changed! We now live in a multi-cultural multi-faith country.
We may not see much evidence of this here in Ashbourne, but as soon as we
enter any of our major cities we immediately become aware of the great variety
of ethnic backgrounds of the people walking on our streets. The question for
us as Christians is how do we relate to people of other faiths? There are
two main schools of thought. One group says we should be in dialogue, encourage
friendship, learn from each other. Some members of this group would say “all
religions are equal”. The second group comes from the starting point that
Christianity is unique and that we must evangelise. For this group the purpose
of coming alongside people of other religions is to tell the Good News of
our Saviour Jesus. To resolve these differing approaches the Methodist Church
has just produced an excellent little booklet called “May I call you friend?”
subtitled “Sharing our faith with people of other faiths”. This booklet has
been produced by two groups working together “The Methodist Inter Faith Relations
Group” and “The Methodist Evangelism Strategy Group”. The result is a jewel
of a book giving great encouragement for us to get alongside people of other
faiths, make friends with them and learn how to share our faith with them.
The booklet is set out in study sessions each with a set of challenging discussion
questions. This makes it an ideal resource to use in a housegroup. The first
session tells the story of a new congregation forming a Farsi (Iranian) speaking
church in Yorkshire. All coming from a Muslim background this newly emerged
congregation are seeing God work wonders among them and are consequently having
a galvanising effect on the local Methodist congregation. It is a heart-warming
story. Later in the booklet we come across the story of another Christian
who is a convert from a Muslim background. She gave up her family and her
culture in order to become a Christian, a costly conversion. She says what
she has been offered in return is “two services on a Sunday and a mid-week
prayer meeting”. This quote deeply challenged me. How do we communicate that
to be a Christian affects the whole of our life? The Muslims have this – faith
is lifestyle- approach built in. Do we Christians just keep our Christianity
for an hour on a Sunday? The booklet also shares stories about relating to
Sikhs and Hindus and Theravada Buddhists. Each brings its own challenge. But
the repeated message of the book is that we do not have to hide our Christianity
when we encounter people of other faiths. Rather we have something very important
to share. This booklet gives the reflection and impetus needed to do just
that. It is an encouragement to be stronger in our Christian faith. “May I
call you friend?” is available from Methodist Publishing House price £3.50.
I will put a copy in our church Library. If you would like me to get you a
copy let me know.
God Bless,
Chris
MISSION MATTERS
New Methodist Mission Partner link
Our Circuit is now linked to the Hill family, Methodist Mission Partners in
Zimbabwe. Here is some news about Jonathan and his work: He works at Thekwane
mainly teaching Maths & Statistics to the upper age range. Zimbabwe has exams
known as O levels and A Levels based on the old British system. Not everybody
can cope with the standards but there are no other options. Thekwane is run
on a shoestring with basic facilities. Most money raised from school fees
goes on food, as it is a boarding school. Jonathan also organises a mini feeding
scheme at Thekwane Primary School. Some individuals from Britain provide money
for this. Jonathan says it is not always easy to find basic foodstuffs and
the inflation costs are very high. At weekends he returns to Bulawayo to be
with his family and he teaches 10-12 year olds at Junior Church at Hillside
Methodist Church. We hope that the Hill family will come to Ashbourne early
in the summer for a day when they are on furlough More information is available
at: http://hillfamilychristmas2006.blogspot.com
JMA
An advance date: JMA members 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.
Prison Fellowship Nepal (PFN)
Nepal is a country of rushing rivers and snow-capped mountains but many of
its people are poor. PFN has an exciting project in a town called Pokhara.
Sometimes when a family is poor, and a parent is sent to prison, there may
be no one to look after the children. They might have to live in the prison
too. So PFN are building a home for 25 girls. Here they will have a comfortable
home, a chance to go to school and a loving house-parent to look after them.
JMA are helping to fund the project. At the moment there are 9 children living
in a house nearby but there is not enough room. They cannot wait to move into
their new home. Please pray for Bishal (10), Renu (11), Jabita (9), Shusmita
(5), Sony (6), Rita (13), Shusma (15), Pramila (16) and Shanti (14) and Pabritra,
a house-parent.
World Mission Conference “The Earth is the Lord’s so what are we doing
about it?
Swanick, Fri June 1st – Sunday June 3rd. Conference partners – Methodists
for World Mission, The Methodist Church, USPG, Christians Aware and Christian
Aid. 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 Join an international group of people. Suitable
for families, teenagers, young people, children and adults of all ages.
Give Thanks
Recent giving to World Mission across the UK has enabled some of the projects,
which were suspended due to lack of funds, to be taken off “hold”. In a time
of great change, cut backs and an uncertain future the World Church office
express their thanks.
“Ethnicity, Cohesion & the Church”
It may not be a snappy title but the event with this label, which drew together
the rainbow people of British Methodism, was a lively and informative forum.
The event in February held at Swanick enabled us to experience some of the
diversity and growth of Methodism in Britain. It was enlightening and challenging.
The nationalities, resident in the UK, represented a real mix of Methodists.
This is something we do not always appreciate in many areas including our
Ashbourne Circuit. For example; there are strong groups of Ghanaians worshipping
in our District and work with asylum seekers and refugees in Derby. We were
able to learn together and look at our Methodist future and how we might support
and encourage each other and reach out as Christians to our communities. The
sharing from many vibrant groups in British Methodist churches included those
from Ghana, China, Iran, Zimbabwe, Tonga, Malaysia to a name a few. We can
learn a lot by considering our welcome of people “outside our experience”
that may be strong Methodists or seekers and how we welcome and integrate
with those of different cultures and languages. The purpose of this weekend
forum was to get more information, realise some of the implications of diverse
church situations and see how we can learn and go forward as we share our
faith and church life. This may not be our Circuit’s reality at the moment
but we can consider our role now and in the future in supporting and being
part of an ethnically diverse Methodist church in Britain. There is a lot
more information to share on another occasion, if there is interest.
A portion of a Tongan Methodist Hymn for us to share:
“ Let all the islands, rise and sing
And to our God their praises bring
On strings and drums His might proclaim
To shout the glory of His Name.
Chorus – Pasifica (Pasifica) Pasifica (Pasifica)
With throbbing reefs and coral shores
For fish and shells and mighty whales
For all His gifts our thanks we pour.
And when we see the stars at night
The many worlds which cross the sky
Sun and moon which give us light
We lift our hearts to God on high.
Ruth Mallard
ASHBOURNE MEN’S FORUM
Over 50 men from Ashbourne and surrounding village Churches and their friends
enjoyed a thoroughly good evening at the Ashbourne Golf Club on Monday 29th
January. A meal was followed by a talk given by Paul Pritchard, Head of Learning
and Development at JCB. Paul talked about his work life and faith and how
the two dovetailed together. There was then a general discussion to conclude
the evening. This group is open to all men and gives them the opportunity
to share faith, family and work issues in a friendly and informal atmosphere.
Our aim is to invite Christian speakers from various walks of life to come
and share with us. All men are warmly invited to the next meal on Monday 19th
March,at Ashbourne Golf Club, when our guest speaker will be Oliver Nyumbu,
Chief Executive of leadership consultancy, Caret. There will be a charge of
£11, payable on the night. Please book your place with any of the following:
Jonathan Webb, Ian Marsh, Tim Dutton, Robert Sales, Chris Morris or Stuart
Mustow.
Mr. Chris Morris
Ashbourne Churches Together Lent Lunches 2007
Theme - “The Suffering Servant”
These will all be held on Wednesdays, 12.30pm at Ashbourne Methodist Church
- Century Hall. A Soup and Roll and Cheese & Biscuits with tea or coffee will
cost £1.50 and served by each church in turn. ALL are Welcome please join
us
Wed 28th Feb - Elim Pentecostal Church - Rev Alec Prail
Wed 7th March - Ashbourne Methodist Church - Rev Chris Eddy
Wed March 14th - All Saints Catholic Church - Father John Guest
Wed March 21st - Holy Trinity Church Clifton - Rev Harold Dobbin
Wed March 28th - St John’s Church/URC - Rev Mair Bradley
TUESDAY 3rd APRIL HOLY WEEK SERVICE 7.30pm ASHBOURNE METHODIST CHURCH
Celebrate
Fairtrade Fortnight (26th February -11th March) With Traidcraft
crafts – food – teas – coffees – jewellery – gifts
will be on sale from Traidcraft’s “new look” Spring 2007 range of fairly traded
goods at The Cornerstone on
Thursday 1st March
Friday 2nd March
Saturday 3rd March from 10am to 3pm
WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
Friday, 2nd March This year our Order of Service has been prepared by the
Christian Women of Paraguay and they have taken as their theme “United Under
God’s Tent”.
Services will be held at 2.00 p.m. Holy Trinity (CE) Church, Clifton
7.30 p.m. All Saints (RC) Church, Ashbourne
EVERYONE IS WELCOME and if anyone requires transport to either service (or
both!) please contact Carole Thorpe (tel. 3466535)
Betty Douce
Amazing Grace - the life of William Wilberforce
A major new Hollywood film, Amazing Grace, is released on March 23 - based
on the life of anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce.
Amazing Grace is the story of Wilberforce's faith in God and passion for justice
that drove him to awaken the conscience of a nation and end the dehumanising
slave trade in the British Empire. The release coincides with the 200th anniversary
of the abolition of the slave trade in the UK.
Inspired by the film, The Amazing Change is a global campaign to mobilise
a new generation of abolitionists committed to freeing children, women and
men in slavery today. For more information, visit www.amazinggracemovie.com
and also www.theamazingchange.com
* Churches across the UK will sing the hymn on Amazing Grace Sunday, 25th
March 2007.
* Royal Mail issues First Class William Wilberforce stamp, 22nd March 2007.
Royal Mint will issue Bicentenary commemorative coin.
* Wilberforce was elected to the House of Commons when only 21 and dedicated
his life to the Reformation of Manners in order to build a just and fair society.
He advocated prison reform, better hospital care, improving conditions of
the poor and other areas of social reform but his passion was to abolish slavery
in all its forms. In 1807 the Commons voted to abolish the slave trade throughout
the British Empire, but it took until 1833 for total abolition to be achieved.
Three days after this latter event, in July 1833, Wilberforce died.
* The hymn "Amazing Grace" from which the movie derives its title, stands
as the personal testimony of John Newton, a former slave trader who had a
dramatic conversion to Christianity. Wilberforce and Newton met on several
occasions and Wilberforce used the words of Newton's hymn to prick the conscience
of influential members of the Commons and the Lords to support the Anti-Slavery
Bill. John Newton died the same year as the bill passed into law - 1807.
LISTENING TO GOD
Last month I went to a "Listening To God" day run by Christian Prayer Ministries.
Some references were made to the book "Listening to God" by Joyce Huggett.
Examples were shared of how people 'hear' God: e g. a scripture jumps out
of the page; a strong feeling to do something; through nature; through a vision
or a dream and other ways. In atalk and group discussion we shared how we
listen to God and listen to each other:When we really listen in the 'everyday'
situations of life; it helps us to identify needs; ask the right questions;
develop deeper relationships; choose the right words; hear the feelings behind
the words. The day ended with reference to Brother Lawrence's Book "Practicing
the Presence of God" as a whole life practice as followers of Jesus. Christian
Prayer Ministries Ministry Courses are held all over the country in Churches
and retreat centres for all denominations. They are for any Christians who:
· desire to become more mature in their faith, · want to have a deeper relationship
with God, · wouldto be more effective in their Christian life and ministry,
· would like to be more aware of the insights of prayer ministry. I have booked
aon the next course in Stafford on Wed, Thurs & Sat 2nd, 3rd, & 5th May.The
Regional Course is designed to provide teaching and personal prayer ministry
times.The course requires two evenings and a full Saturday.Introductory Days
are also availablea 'taste and see' day. areas are covered:Listening to Jesus,Meeting
with Jesus,Living with Jesus. details may be obtained from: www.christian-prayer-ministries.org.uk
have spare booking forms if anyone would like to come with me.
Mrs Chris Morris
Dates for your Diary
Mon 26th Feb START OF FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT
Tues 27th Feb 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Century Hall
Wed 28th Feb 12.30pm ACT Lent Lunch Century Hall
Thurs 1st March 7.30pm Ashbourne Church Council Century Hall
Fri 2nd March Women’s World Day of Prayer
Sat 3rd March 10.00am District Gathering Grangewood M. C
Mon 5th March 7.30pm “Live at the Gallery” St John St Gallery
Wed 7th March 9.30am Walk and Talk Group
Wed 7th March 10.00am Alzheimer’s Café The Cornerstone
Wed 7th March 12.30pm ACT Lent Lunch Century Hall
Mon 12th March 10 30am Network Dist. Day Long Eaton M.C.
Wed 14th March 12.30pm ACT Lent Lunch Century Hall
Thurs 15th March 7.30pm Circuit Meeting Century Hall
Sat 17th March 7.00pm PRAISE Century Hall
Mon 19th March 7.30pm Ashbourne Men’s Forum Ashbourne Golf Cl
Wed 21st March 9.30am Walk and Talk Group
Wed 21st March 12.30pm ACT Lent Lunch Century Hall
Mon 26th March 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Century Hall
SMILE LINES
· A little boy, playing on the beach with his father, found a dead seagull
on the sand. "Daddy, what happened to him?" he asked. His father replied:
"He died and went to heaven." The boy thought for a moment and then observed:
"He can't have been very good - God's thrown him out again."
· A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan, in which a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. She described the situation in vivid detail so her students would catch the drama. Then, she asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."
· The minister was worrying about how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. So he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was ill and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. "Here's a copy of the service," the minister said impatiently. "But, you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances." Finally the moment came, and the minister announced solemnly: "Brothers and sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected and we need £10,000 more. Any of you who can pledge £100 or more, please stand up." At that moment, the substitute organist played 'God Save the Queen'. And that is how the substitute became the regular organist.
· God made man before woman so as to give him time to think of an answer for her first question.
“I’m a consumer - get me out of here!”
46 days without shopping for anything but essentials
The average UK household spends £443 a week, with £58 on recreation & culture
and £62 a week on transport. But what if we didn't? What if we said ‘no’ to
all this spending and settled on just buying what we need? Michaela Youngson
and Anna Drew from Methodist Church House will be doing just that for Lent
this year, and are inviting people of all backgrounds to join them - a project
they are calling no new shoes. Michaela, Methodist Secretary for Pastoral
Care and Spirituality, said: “It’s about becoming more aware of how our needs
and desires affect the world around us. Prawns caught in Scotland get flown
to Thailand, shelled by hand and then sent back to the UK for sale. Clothes
are made in sweatshops, food is processed beyond all recognition and our insatiable
appetite for more is fuelling climate change. Is any of this really necessary?”
“I love to shop til’ I drop and there’s a great sense of satisfaction in taking
part in the most popular hobby in the UK today - but just what are we buying
into? I think a lot of our shopping habits say something about how we try
to feed spiritual hunger. We fill our lives with material goods, without really
thinking about where any of it comes from or the effect it may have on the
environment or our fellow human beings.” Lent is traditionally a time when
Christians fast or give certain things up in order to refocus on God and spend
time in prayer and contemplation, following the example of Jesus who spent
40 days in the wilderness to prepare for his ministry. Anna said: “no new
shoes is a Lent experiment - we want to find out whether it changes the way
we think about ourselves and our world if for 46 days we only purchase essential
items. The hardest part is deciding what really counts as ‘essential’!”. Michaela
and Anna will be charting their progress on a blog with regular updates.
THE BUZZ
- News from around the Connextion
WORSHIP – gone MAD
From Salisbury
We’ve held a MAD Saturday morning of café-style music, art and drama. Our
theme was 'The Phantom of the Opera'.There was mask decorating, singing, lantern
making, ornate ball ornament making, a children's colouring table and toy
corner.We had costume demonstrations and the Phantom film (sound turned down)
played on the AV system during the morning. Our MAD morning brought together
young and old, churchgoers and non-churchgoers, men, women and children, for
fun and friendship. We’ll do it again. Phone contact: Rev. Malcolm Hickox
01722 320858 E mail contact: Linda.Hayman@salisbury.nhs.uk
SERVICE – 76 Trombones?
From Bideford Circuit, Devon
We realised that a number of people in the circuit had once exercised their
musical gifts by playing various brass-band instruments – but had given up!
Our minister wondered if we could get together to play for worship occasionally.
We raised some money with coffee mornings and bought second-hand instruments
for those who no longer had them, invited people still in bands to join, and
now we practice and play regularly. We’ve given our gifts back to God, and
feel blessed in doing so. It’s also brought some people into church who wouldn’t
otherwise be there. Phone contact: Rev. Jane Ashplant 01237 472689 Email contact:
sheilababb@hotmail.com
Charles Wesley – Orpheus to the Christian Church
A tercentenary look at the hymns of Charles Wesley Charles Wesley - which
of his hymns is your favourite? Which of Charles Wesley's hymns is your personal
favourite? If a number of Christians, all of whom regularly sing traditional
hymns in their churches, were asked this question, there would be a wide variety
of answers. Last month this series looked at Charles' 'O for a thousand tongues,'
and that hymn would undoubtedly come high in any list of favourites. So would
'Jesus, Lover of my soul,' 'Love divine, all loves excelling,' 'Christ the
Lord is risen today,' 'Rejoice, the Lord is King,' - all Charles Wesley hymns.
One of his hymns, however, has established itself as a very firm favourite
since it was first published in 1739. It's the hymn beginning:
And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Saviour's blood?
Charles entitled it 'Free Grace' and it represented both the New Testament
teaching on the sacrificial death of Christ and Charles' own personal pilgrimage.
On the morning of his conversion day, Pentecost Sunday, 1738, he had read
Martin Luther's commentary on Galatians 2. When he came to v. 20 he was particularly
struck with the words, 'the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.'
In his commentary Luther advised, 'Reader, put your name there'. So Charles
did, and read, 'He loved me -Charles Wesley - and gave himself for me -Charles
Wesley.' In that moment the Spirit illuminated the great scripture doctrine
of Christ's atoning death, and in that moment Charles, in his own words, found
himself 'at peace with God.' Charles' Moravian friends had counselled him
that true saving faith is not just a general belief in Christ, rather it is
faith in his death and resurrection. This Pauline theology, especially as
found in the letter to the Galatians, comes out in this hymn. In the months
following his conversion, Charles had witnessed the crowds that flocked to
hear his brother John and himself preaching Christ crucified. Charles captures
Paul's amazement in the words, 'He loved me and gave himself for me.'
Died He for me who caused His pain
For me who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Charles then follows with some wonderful descriptions of Christ's Incarnation and Atonement. 'He left his Father's throne above.' 'Emptied himself of all but love.' 'Tis mystery all, the Immortal dies.' '[He] bled for Adam's helpless race.' 'Tis mercy all, immense and free.' Free grace indeed! - as Charles entitled the hymn. And it is personal, 'For, O my God, it found out me'!! Then follows the marvellous account of his own hour of spiritual birth - in words that multitudes of Christians can identify with. Using the account of Peter's imprisonment recorded in Acts 4, Charles describes the sinner as 'bound in sin and nature's night.' But Christ comes by His Spirit and the miracle happens!
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off, my heart was free
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Free grace indeed! For the whole world! For every sinner! For you! For me!
For all who believe in Christ!
Dr H B McGonigle is Senior Lecturer in Historical Theology, Church History
and Wesley Studies in Nazarene Theological College, Manchester.
Dear Friends,
Another edition I hope you will enjoy. Thanks to all contributors. Feedback
welcome. The next edition will be a Circuit one and I hope to publish it on
April 1st deadline for contributions 9.00pm March 21st. Please note change
of dates. These should be sent via E-mail to ashbournemethodistmagazine@supanet.com
by post to 2 Hambleton Close Ashbourne DE6 1NG or placed in the Newsletter
pigeon hole at AMC. Arthur Watts Arthur Watts
ONE WORLD GROUP
In spite of it being the worst weather of the winter the Mozambican Evening
on 8th February was well attended and about 40 people sat down to a buffet
supper of African dishes followed by an informative talk given by Revd. Ben
Humphries. Thank you to all who turned out in the freezing snow to make our
event a success.
The next event in our programme will be:- TUESDAY APRIL 17TH. - 7-30pm. -
in ST. OSWALD'S CHURCH HALL
THE ECUMENICAL ACCOMPANIMENT PROGRAMME IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL
This programme is known about by very few people and we are very fortunate that Ms. Judith Green has agreed to come and talk to us about her experiences. We do not wish to anticipate the content of her talk but a little background information will be helpful. The EAPPI is managed in Britain and Ireland by Quaker Peace and Social Witness and internationally by the World Council of Churches. It was set up in 2002 as a response to pleas from the churches in Jerusalem who wanted people to come and share in the lives of local people and to bear witness to what they learned. It has a growing number of partners in the UK which include most of the main denominations and main-stream Christian charities. Volunteers work together in small teams of 3 or 4 and undertake such tasks as attending court with Palestinians on trial, working in refugee camps, visiting local families, escorting children to school and many other challenging activities. This gives you a flavour of their experiences - we will now leave it to Judith to tell you more! So please come along to welcome her and to listen to her account of the work undertaken by these very brave and committed Christians. Admission is free - refreshments will be served and everyone is welcome.
WATER FOR LIFE
The One World Group has always supported water projects in the developing countries. Worldwide over 1.1 billion people still lack access to safe water. Their daily activities are dominated by the collection of water. Women do not have time to work and children are too busy collecting water to attend school. Around 90% of incidences of water-related diseases are due to unsafe water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
WORLD WATER DAY - 22nd. MARCH
A CHALLENGE WATER FOR A DAY TO GIVE WATER FOR LIFE
The One World Group are joining with various organisations in supporting WATER
AID by challenging YOU to drink only water on World Water Day, March 22nd.
and to give the cost of the "cuppa", coffee, juice or other drink which you
would have had to WATER AID!
If you would like to take up this challenge the suggested "tariff" is :- tea
- 10p coffee 15p fruit juice 20p milk drink 20p fizzy drink 40p other, such
as drinks out in cafes etc. at your discretion.
Collect your money throughout the day - perhaps you should collect it in a
cup! - and pass it on to any member of the One World Group in your church,
such as Stuart & Catherine Green, Jacinth Land or John & Elizabeth Hurfurt.
We will then send all the contributions together to Water Aid. If you prefer
to send your money direct to Water Aid you can find the address on www. wateraid.org
Stuart and Catherine Green on behalf of ACT One World Group
Youth Read - Book Reviews
The Gospel According to Harry Potter by Connie Neal
This book is well written and clearly expresses Christ’s word in a very different
literary context. Instead of looking at the obvious magic concept as encouragement
towards witchcraft, this book look at the parallels with the Lord’s word.
It goes through extracts of the first four Harry Potter novels and compares
them, favourably, with extracts from the Bible. It essentially tells us that
people will always see what they want to see if they look hard enough. This
book is a fantastic way for the younger generation to learn the gospel. I
thoroughly enjoyed it.
Mary Ffoulkes
The Cross and the Switch Blade by David Wilkerson
This book is very good. I like it because it sounds very tense and will interest
me a great deal. Although I have not finished reading it yet I would recommend
it to my friends. Tom Allen I liked this book. It was a very good read and
it meant a lot to me personally. I would certainly recommend it to my friends.
Emily Marsh
In My Father’s House and Tramp for the Lord by Corrie ten Boom
These books are very good. I like them because Corrie ten Boom shares her
memories about her life, her friends and family before war broke out. She
sometimes jumps 50 years or so, but the memories are still connected. In Tramp
for the Lord she relates what happened on her travels to daily life and sin.
The time and place jumps about a bit. I would recommend them to my friends.
Rachel Sales
Tales from Noah’s Ark by ?
I thought this book was brilliant! I particularly liked the woodpecker chapter.
I thought it was funny and realistic. All of the chapters were good. Noah
was a nice friendly man.
Jo Herbert
When Life Hurts By Philip Yancey
I thought this book was very good. I liked the honest way the author deals
with very difficult questions of pain/suffering. I would recommend it to friends.
June Shaw.
LOCAL PREACHERS STUDY DAY.
It is with regret that we have had to cancel our Study Day set for Saturday
31st March. Professor Barrie Wetherill will be undergoing a heart operation
shortly. He has said he would like to do the study once back to full health
and fitness. So, for now we have cancelled the day and hope to re schedule
it at some future date. In the meantime please pray for Barrie and his wife
at this time of concern for them both.
Tom Parkinson, Local Preachers Secretary.
Church Weekend Away - 2008
Yes - it's not a mistake - we're starting to think about the next Church Weekend
Away in 2008! A questionnaire has been issued to those who came on the Windmill
Farm weekend in 2006, but I'm also keen to get thoughts of those who didn't
manage to come. If you didn't come and would like to go in the future - are
there any things we need to consider? For example - Was it the wrong time
of year? The wrong location? Or too expensive? Please do share your views
by jotting them down and passing them onto me. Paul Haslam
Many Thanks Paul Haslam
From Rev John Perkins
The Freeman Hospital – NE7 7DN Tuesday, 13th February It’s six Tuesdays today
since Ruth had her lung transplant and she is still on Ward 26, the ICU of
the Cardiothoracic Centre of The Freeman Hospital. What a roller-coaster of
a journey this has been. What is it that has sustained Ruth, me and the family?
A strong, confident and living faith in our Almighty God; the knowledge of
the peace, presence and power of our living Lord Jesus and the overwhelming
assurance of the love, prayers and support of many good folk, not only in
Ashbourne but all around the world. All of the Perkins family find this a
very humbling experience and we just want to say thank you so much. Ruth’s
path to recovery is going to be very slow, much longer than was first envisaged,
but it is happening. Today is not such a good day but we know these days will
inevitably come along. Over the years (43 now since we first went into Circuit
Ministry) I have often used two particular passages of Scripture to help bring
hope, peace, comfort and encouragement to people in difficult and needy situations
– Psalm 121 and verses from 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Today these verses, together
with the many prayers, letters and cards (now approaching 200!) and phone
calls assure us of our God’s sustaining and everlasting love. Our prayer for
all of you and ourselves is that we may continue to have that assurance.
John
WOMEN’S NETWORK District Day — Monday 12 March
Why not give a District Day a whirl? I am sure you would enjoy it! As well
as the fellowship of ladies from around the District, interesting information
is obtained on various things happening in the area and in the Connexion.
This one will be held at Trinity Methodist Church, Long Eaton. We register
on arrival (£2.00) and coffee is from 10.30 am. The meeting commences at 11
am with a lunch break at approximately 12.30 pm. The Service will commence
at 2 pm when the speaker will be the Rev Bill Murphy on The Karibuni Trust.
This Trust is the project of the District President, and aims to raise awareness
and money to support projects caring for children in Kenya who live on the
streets, in the slums and in rural areas of extreme poverty.
Willerstey-Week- 26-30 March
Places have been booked for a Day of Fellowship at Willersley on Monday 26
March. The leader will be Mrs Irene Sayer, a former Connexional President.
Her theme will be ‘The Big Five’. The cost for the day is £11.00 which includes
coffee, lunch and conference expenses. This is usually an enjoyable and thought
provoking day in lovely surroundings. If you would like to go to either of
these, please have a word with Alma (343751).
Monday March 5th, 7.30pm, St John Street Gallery Café
Come and enjoy an evening of live music, delicious food and help celebrate
the 2nd anniversary of Ashbourne becoming a Fairtrade Town with a glass of
Fairtrade orange juice, wine or beer. Tickets £7 (inc. first drink and delicious
canapes) available from : Gallery Café - St.John Street, Natural Choice -
St.John Street, Oxfam - Dig Street, Cornerstone Coffee Shop - Church Street.
Children’s Church - Leaders Helpers Required
Do you have some spare time on a Monday afternoon from 2.00 - 3.30pm? Children’s
Church needs leaders/helpers so that we can continue fellowship with the children
and their carers who are part of our Group. Our usual activities include stories,
songs, rhymes, music, art and craft etc but any new ideas would be welcome.
If you can offer any help please speak to me on 01335 330679.
Thank you. Rachel Glossop
Fund for World Mission giving rises
Giving to the Methodist Church Fund for World Mission grew by nearly £700,000
in the last Connexional Year, reaching £5.7 million. The increase followed
a call for more giving to the fund made by Revd Stephen Poxon, Secretary of
the Methodist Missionary Society, at the 2005 Methodist Conference. For the
year to August 31, the Fund had total income of £5.7 million, up from £5.1
million the year before. At the 2005 Conference Stephen Poxon challenged Methodists
to increase their giving to the Fund by £1 million, and although this target
has not yet been met, he says he is delighted by the response. “In 2005 I
asked for a big increase,” Stephen says, “and that is clearly what we got.
This money will go to a wide variety of programmes around the world, aiding
people in need and allowing us to support our partner churches in their work.”
Michael King, World Church Team Leader, thanked the many different groups
who contribute to the Fund. “All parts of the Church,” he says, “including
JMA and Women’s Network, have worked hard to achieve this wonderful result.
The increase in giving demonstrates the confidence of Methodist church members
in Britain and Ireland in the mission programmes jointly agreed with partner
churches.” The Methodist Church News Release 15/02/2007 “All parts of the
Church,” he says, “including JMA and Women’s Network, have worked hard to
achieve this wonderful result. The increase in giving demonstrates the confidence
of Methodist church members in Britain and Ireland in the mission programmes
jointly agreed with partner churches.” within the Connexion, across Britain
and around the world.”
Prayer before work
My God, you are always close to me. In obedience to you, I must now apply
myself to outward things. Yet, as I do so, I pray that you will give me the
grace of your presence. And to this end I ask that you will assist my work,
receive its fruits as an offering to you, and all the while direct all my
affections to you. ---------------Brother Lawrence, Carmelite monastery 1611
- 1691
QUOTE
One of the reasons people find it hard to be obedient to the commands of Christ
is that they are uncomfortable taking orders from a stranger. - Gary Gulbranson
Some definitions from modern life: Impatience: waiting in a hurry Immigration:
the sincerest form of flattery Imagination: what makes some politicians think
they are statesmen Intuition: what enables a woman to contradict her husband
before he says anything Inflation: being broke with money in your pocket
CIRCUIT CHURCH SERVICES
Sunday
Ashboume 10.30am with young people’s groups. - Becky Dutton (343494) 6.30pm
Brailsford 10.30am 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 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 Ashboume DE6 1EE ;Tel
01335 342408 Tel 01335 343793
Sister Merle Wilde; 124 The Green Road; DE6 1EE; Tel 01335 343793