The Magazine of Ashbourne Methodist Circuit

October 2007

Letter from the Minister
16 Booth Drive Ashbourne Derbyshire DE6 1SZ
Tel: 01335 342408 email: revtimmorris@aol.com

Dear Friends,

Belonging

I am delighted that as I start my ministry here in the Ashbourne Methodist Circuit the "Connections" magazine is becoming a regular Circuit-wide publication. Many thanks to those who edit, print, collate, staple and distribute it. I hope it will foster a greater sense of Circuit unity and identity, building on all the good work that has gone on in the past. Please make sure that you send in articles, details of events, etc. to Arthur Watts, so that it truly reflects the work of our Circuit.

We are settling down very well in the new Manse. Thank you again to the Circuit for the warmth of the welcome at the beginning of September and all those who made the Circuit welcome service such a happy occasion. Thank you to each Church as well, for as I have gone around the Circuit for the first time to each Church, I have been warmly received and made to feel at home. All our Churches have challenges and opportunities before them and I look forward to being a part of the process in finding God's will for us for the future.

As a group of individual churches in the Methodist tradition, we have a connectedness to the other churches in the Circuit. The boundaries of the Circuit may be historic and man made, but it is there for a reason. One of the purposes of the Circuit is to work together to lend support, care and prayer so that no one church has to work in isolation when help is needed. It is also there so that no one Church becomes a law unto itself! We are part of the Methodist "Connexion", and I have been sent here by the Methodist Conference to remind us of our connectedness to each other.

Part of my job as the Superintendent is to help the Circuit work as a unit - sharing one another's joys and bearing one another's burdens. I will do that to the best of my ability and by the grace of God. I invite you to join me in the journey we are making as churches together, and as we share with Christians from other traditions. Celebrating our oneness in Christ instead of "banging our own drum", is a far better witness to a divided and broken world. Through our belonging together we may be in a far better position to be a truer reflection of what God's love is about and in so doing to more ably offer the love of God to those who feel they don't belong.

"Give me your hand my friend, one Church one Lord!"

Your minister and friend,
Tim

A YEAR IN ASHBOURNE - 2008 CALENDAR

Ashbourne Fairtrade Town Initiative have produced a calendar featuring local Ashbourne events. The calendar includes stunning pictures of events such as Ashbourne's Royal Shrovetide Football, Ashbourne Half Marathon and Dovedale Fete. Featured on the front cover, and reflecting Ashbourne's pride in its rural heritage, is Brailsford Ploughing Match. The calendar would make a great gift for friends and relatives, especially those now living away from Ashbourne (it will fit in an A4 envelope for posting as a large letter)

The calendar is priced £5 and is available from The Cornerstone Coffee Shop and many other shops in town, as well as direct from members of the group. If you're planning to buy calendars, we would encourage you to buy them sooner rather than later, as we only have 500 currently and need to gauge whether to order some more. For more details, please speak to any member of the group.
Stuart & Catherine Green (300338), John & Liz Hurfurt (342859), Pat Fielding (345695)

PRAYER DIARY

The Prayer Diary listing each person associated with Ashbourne Methodist Church will be re-issued in October. This will enable each person to be prayed for at least once a month. Is your entry in the current edition correct? Would you like your name, address and telephone number added to the new edition. Your address or telephone number does not have to appear. If you would prefer me to omit either of these details, please let me know. Contact Carole Thorpe, cthorpe@tinyonline.co.uk 12 Cavendish Drive, or (346535)

MISSION MATTERS

Methodist Mission Partners - The Hill family in Zimbabwe

Here is news from Jonathan's September message to us:
"As usual, on our return to Zimbabwe, we hit the ground running. There's no time to sit and relax and contemplate the changed circumstances. There's plenty of work to be done. Firstly, there are some big challenges ahead for us in obtaining food supplies. Bread is very difficult to find even for those who are happy to queue. I normally need 30 standard loaves each day for the children at Thekwane Primary, but that seems impossible now. There is a hope that we will be able to get a supply of flour for the High School, from which we could make bread for the Primary school as well as the boarders at the High school, but I don't know how realistic that is. None of the supermarkets or local bakeries has any bread except occasionally some rolls, for which you must be in the right place at the right time to get your half dozen. We are still managing to get some fresh milk from a small-scale farmer who is a friend of one of our church members here. That's something to be glad of because there is no fresh milk in the shops at all, just a little sterilised. There are no dilutable drinks in the shops at all, so that is now out of the question. The one commodity which is in good supply is fresh vegetables. Oranges are also fairly widely available. I think we will have to be imaginative in what we try to get for the children. I am thinking of buying some sacks of oranges at the market on Tuesday. It's better than nothing.

There might be a possibility of obtaining maize meal to make porridge. We have some peanut butter left over from last term, but no bread to put it on. (Peanut butter is also no longer in the shops.) I hope we will be able to come up with some kind of a plan when I sit down with the Bursar of the High school this coming week (he was off sick last week)."

If you would like to contact our mission partners as a sign of friendship and encouragement here are their contact details: Mr. and Mrs. J. Hill and family, P.O. Box 41, Plumtree, Zimbabwe (allow up to 6 weeks for post) email: hillfamily@comone.co.zw. Hill family news and pictures of the family can be found on the Ashbourne mission notice board.

If you have ideas for support or fundraising that we can provide in our Circuit please speak to Ruth Mallard Tel: 01335 348342. Email: ruth@mallards.me.uk

Prayer
From the Methodist Prayer Handbook Day 7.
We pray for the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, that it may be a Church that stands for life, peace, truth and justice; for an end to the political and economic difficulties which are having a severe knock-on effect on the Church; for the printing and bookbinding business being run from the Connexional office to raise funds for the work of educating student ministers; for the Matthew Rusike Children's Home, as more housing units are built and plans to open sister homes in both Bulawayo and Gweru.
We give thanks for Jonathan Hill who has been teaching at Thekwane High School for 21 years; for his wife Isabel, who is in charge of food distribution at the Hillside Methodist Church weekly feeding scheme; and for donors in the UK who fund most of the scheme. Amen.

Phakamisa news

Please see the latest news about the Phakamisa project in Pinetown, South Africa on the Ashbourne Mission notice board. If you would like to receive Phakamisa newsletters please speak to Ruth Mallard or email Glenda Howieson (glendah@phakamisa.org). Here is a tribute to Grace Ndlovu, one of the women who was involved with the project:

Grace was Thobani's (age 3) surrogate Mum. At 18 months old he weighed 4kgs (10lbs). He was too weak to sit and had not met any of his childhood development milestones. His mother had died and Thobani was orphaned, homeless and desperately ill. Without hesitation, Grace agreed to foster him and make him part of her family. Her steadfast faith in the graciousness and love of God overflowed into everything she did. She and her husband had 8 children of their own and fostered 4 orphaned children. They lived in a tiny 4-roomed house. Grace was also a founder member of one of Phakamisa's HIV AIDS support groups.
Grace died on 30th August. Praise God for her life and pray for others in similar situations that are living out their faith supporting others in all the ways they can.
Ruth Mallard

District Events:

Charles Wesley 1707
Tony Jasper & Jasperian Theatre Company present this production on Sat. 27th Oct at 7.30pm at Chilwell Road Methodist Church, Beeston. Tickets - £6/£5 for adults and £2 for students/children. The music of C. Wesley and its influence have an important part in the play. Proceeds for Inham Nook Methodist Church. Tel: 0115 9431164 for information and advance tickets.

South Normanton Circuit Concert
This fundraising concert featuring Nottingham Male Voice Choir and Newton Primary School Choir is at South Normanton Bethel Church on Sat. Oct. 20th at 7.30pm. Tickets £5. For more information contact: 01773 833627.

Visit to the District of Ms Ruby Beech, Vice-President of Conference
Sat Oct 24th. An afternoon visit to the Holocaust Centre, Laxton.
Sun Oct 25th. Morning - Clipstone Methodist Church, Mansfield. Evening - Aspley Methodist Church, Nottingham North.

An Evening with Simeon Wood Thursday 15th November
The Winding Wheel (Ballroom), Chesterfield is hosting this entertaining
evening with a unique mix of music and humour. Admission is £6.50. Tickets available from the Box Office at the Winding Wheel (01246 345334). Profits will be donated to NCH.

ONE WORLD GROUP

CELEBRATING ONE WORLD WEEK 2007

WHAT IS ONE WORLD WEEK?
Established in 1978is a development educational charity and an agency of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland supported and sponsored by major Christian charities and churches.
OWW has been inspiring individuals and local groups for decades to come together to learn about global justice, to spread that learning into the wider community and to use it to challenge inequality, discrimination and degradation.

ASHBOURNE ONEGROUP is using 2007 to learn about the effect of global warming on some of the poorest people in the world and INVITES YOU TO JOIN THEM AT THEIR EVENTS.

IF YOU CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND OUR WORLD,
YOU JUST HAVE TO BE PART OFWORLD WEEK!

Thursday October 11th. - St. Oswald's Church Hall - 7- 0pm.
QUIZ NIGHT with PLOUGHMAN'S SUPPER
*food fellowship and fun*
tickets £4-00
fromChoice, 24 St. Johns Streetmembers of the One World Group
------------------------------------------
Thursday October 25th. - All Saints Church Meeting Room - 7-30pm.
PAUL SCOLA, "CAFOD" Justice and Peace Representative
"HOW GLOBAL WARMING IS AFFECTING THE PEOPLE OF KENYA"
admission free - coffee and biscuits - all welcome

*plus*
Saturday October 20th. - Ashbourne Town Centre

*****SPECIAL SURPRISE*****

Ashbourne Circuit Local Preachers

INVITE YOU TO A STUDY DAY

A & W
(A Study into some aspects of the Book of Revelation)

LED BY

Professor G. Barrie Wetherill

IN THE CENTURY HALL

AT

ASHBOURNE METHODIST CHURCH

SATURDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2007

10.00 am to 3.30 pm.

WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF ALL ATTENDING WOULD BRING A PACKED LUNCH.

Although set up as part of the C.L.P.D (Continuing Local Preachers Development), training course we would like to invite all who like a good bible study to come along.

It will start on the day from about 9.30am with people arriving and then at 10.00am, there will be a short time of devotions, then the study will commence. With breaks for refreshments, and lunch, during the day, tea, coffee, etc will be provided. We plan to finish with a time of reflection at about 3.30pm.
If you would like some handbills or require further information please contact Tom Parkinson, Circuit Local Preachers Secretary - Tel 343353

WOMEN'S NETWORK

District Day - Wednesday 10 October
Our next District Day will be held at Dale Road Methodist Church, Darley Dale. The day begins with registration (£2.00) and coffee from 10.30 am. A business meeting commences at 11.00 am when (usually!) interesting information is exchanged. There is a break for lunch (packed lunch required) at 12.30 approx. The afternoon begins at 2.00 pm when the speaker will be Mrs Barbara Brown, former District President, who will tell us about her experiences leading a Conference in Poland. I am sure it will be a lively and interesting talk. If you are interested in going, please contact Alma (343751).

'Let's Celebrate' - Monday 15 October
Our next Circuit event will be a Supper in the Century Hall at 7.30 pm followed by an illustrated talk by Cliff and Sandra Lewer on their attendance at the World Methodist Gathering in Bratislava in August. Tickets for the
Supper (£4.00) are now available from your local Network representative or from me, (343751). Why not come along and enjoy food, fellowship and fun with others from around the Circuit?

A date for your 2008 Diary!
As soon as you get your new 2008 Diary or Calendar, please make a note of Wednesday 8 October 2008. This will be a District Day at Ashbourne when Gwenda (Alcock) will be commissioned as District President of Network. We hope that as many people as possible will come and support her that day.
Alma Swan

Ashbourne - Patna Partnership

Please pray for St. Luke's Hospital, Haranpur as they face serious difficulties. Pray that these may be resolved so that the people of the area can once again be served by a good hospital.

Ashbourne Patna Partnership AGM
This will be held on Wednesday, 31 October at 7.30 p.m. in The Cornerstone.

ASHBOURNE CHURCH FAMILY NEWS

WELCOME to our Church Family, Ann Wills and Marjorie Stevenson.
We pray they will soon feel at home in the church fellowship.

WE REMEMBER the family of May Purdy who has passed away. She was a faithful member of our church.

WE PRAY for healing for Tracy Dawson recovering from a severely dislocated ankle.

The Basement
I would like to bring to your attention the matters arising from our management group meeting regarding The Basement now reopened after the summer break. We find that we need more helpers to keep this worthwhile project going. We have a variety of opportunities!

1. People to either get out the equipment or put it away This would involve working with other members for approx.30m. and I understand that there is now no heavy lifting of items and access has been made much easier than before.
2. People who feel that they can offer some simple form of cooking for these youngsters for 1.1/2 hours. This is in the form of toasted cheese, or hot dogs, cheese sandwich etc.
3. We always require people to help with leadership for these young people in the many activities we now have available for them. This can be very rewarding and satisfying.

All these tasks require a small amount of your time and would be based on a one week per month rota.
Please contact either myself, John Latham (01335 361315) or Stuart Green on 300338.

REACHING OUT

There is to be a day seminar at Brailsford Methodist Church between 10am & 3.30pm on November 3rd suitable for anyone who is involved in preaching or individuals wondering how to connect with those who do not go to church or for the chapels as they seek to explore new ways of reaching the un-churched. It will be an interactive day, a fun day and will help give us renewed confidence in reaching out as we begin to understand the issues surrounding us in today's society.

Some area's to be covered include

·State of the Church Today
·Faith After Christianity
·Unchanging Message in a Changing World (Postmodernity)
·Creating Worship for the Not Yet Christian
·Exploring a biblical basis
·Beginners guide to Postmodernity
Topics will be covered using film clips, 'brainstorming' (shower thoughts) & group work

The day will be led by Brian Rice who is a worship leader and musician. The event is hosted by Derbyshire Village Mission.
More details will be in the next magazine.
Roger Mallard

Family History Group

This new group met for the first time in September.There was an agreement to meet again and we have booked The Cornerstone for 10 Oct at 7.30 pm.All levelss of skill from just beginning onwards are welcome, but if yiou are a beginner or just at the stage of thinking about it, it might be helpful to talk to someone in the group with more experiencefirst to get you going. Phone John Pwerkins (300908) or Betty Hadley (300699) for more information / advice.

European Methodist Festival - Let's Celebrate - Bratislava 1st to 5th August 2007

This is the second festival the previous one being in 2004 in Potsdam, Germany, and at the invitation of the small community of Methodist Churches and missions in the Slovak Republic we were to meet in Bratislava based on the University situated in Horsky Park, a leafy suburb above this surprisingly hilly city.

Accommodation was either in the dormitories, local or city hotels or in our case caravan/tent park in the ground.

All the proceedings were in three languages - Slovak, German and English with translation in to 17 other languages, this is a fascinating exercise with people all around in the 1000 seater marquee with headphones yet we were all worshiping or celebrating together.

Each day began with liturgical worship on the front lawn at 7.30 a.m. led by our own Rev Keith Albans, then wake up and praise in the large marquee. Bible studies - any one of 6 available, study, interactive, German or English which led onto 11 a.m. Wesley Groups. These were informal discussions of 15/20 people drawn from throughout the attendees sharing their experiences and learning of other Methodists in distant parts of Europe.

Lunch at 12 could take a long time as 1000 people to be served canteen style was a slow process but the fellowship of the queues was something very special

Workshops at 3 p.m and 4.30 p.m. at the main University campus and at a nearby campus known as Suzi (don't ask what this actually stands for in Slovak!) 33 different workshops were available but language restricted some attendances, however the range of subjects was huge from 'express yourself by painting' to Bibliodrama to climate change to HIV/Aids etc.
Supper followed at 6 p.m again a queue and a chat then evening celebration at 8 p.m. when we continued the daily theme
1. Let's celebrate being loved
2. Let's celebrate being young
3. Let's celebrate being foreign
4. Let's celebrate being different
5. Let's celebrate being travellers.

With representatives of 53 nations joining together this was a unique
experience of love, fellowship and worship plus learning more of our Lord and seeing just what God means to Methodists in different parts of Europe, each area with its history both recent or distant and the influence of other churches.

Colin Ride of the World Church Office of the British Methodist Church was one of the organisers and any Methodist living in Europe could attend.

Watch out for No 3 in 2010 and experience something completely different in celebrating Methodism and the Lord.

Sandra and Cliff Lewer.

CIRCUIT NEWS

Brailsford
The summer has been busy and active with 'Wastewatchers' Holiday Club happening on 4 Wednesdays during August. 39 children attended one or more of the sessions and had a great time singing, playing team games, watching a DVD, making things and learning about how God transforms us.
The themes were:
From nothing to something
From water to wine
From darkness to light
From death to life and sadness to joy

Our United morning worship on 2 September was led by Rev Trevor Staniforth and followed on from the holiday club. We were pleased to be able to welcome some children and parents from the club.

We have recently held fundraising meetings and have events planned well into 2008! Please look out for posters and further information in future magazines.
The main event we are currently planning is a Christmas Celebration from 8 - 10 December. This will include an exhibition of Nativity Scenes. Brailsford School and other children's groups have been invited to make/paint/draw scenes to be displayed. We would be grateful to anyone from around the circuit who is able to lend a nativity scene for the weekend, (they will be taken good care of). It would be interesting to have scenes from other countries as well as the UK. Further information from Jane on 346814 or djblandscaping@btopenworld.com
David and Jane Baker

Milldale
Our tiny chapel has again seen a huge number of visitors over the summer period and for the first time in living memory we have had a little damage in that a window was broken.
Ivy has been climbing rampantly up the back gable of the chapel and this has now been removed and new windows and frames are due to be fitted in early October via the kind assistance of the Circuit Funds who have given a grant and a loan. Christmas will again see a Holy Day Service at 4 p.m.on Dec 24th by candle light and as is traditional we anticipate a number of villagers and visitors to the area to be amongst the congregation - as usual come early for a seat.
Cliff Lewer

Parwich
We are again joining with Ashbourne Churches Together for our Harvest Festival. We will be sending dried foods to Honduras in the New Year. We hope that our friends at St Peters will again join with us for this service which will be led by our minister, Tim.

On Saturday evening we are sharing in singing Songs of Praise in the chapel followed by refreshments in the Village Hall organised by Val and Alison. The service will be led by Andrew Robinson who is one of the Lay Readers at St Peters. This is the first of what we hope will be a number of fund raising events which will also bring people together from the village and the circuit.
Jan Smith

Tissington
Our recent Flower Festival was a resounding success. Fine weather over the August Bank Holiday ensured lots of visitors and the refreshments we laid on proved very popular, with queues forming. The displays were simply beautiful, with tubs of sunflowers by the porch and a flower filled wheelbarrow as the centrepiece for the theme "What was Paradise but a Garden?" The sum of £847 was raised which will go towards a new roof and an extension to make a proper kitchen with water laid on. This was our first attempt at such an event and it is hoped it will become a regular feature. Thanks to all those who made it happen and to those who came to support it. It was as the poster said, 'the joy of flowers in a simple country church'. The chapel looked and smelled wonderful and the comments in the Visitors Book said it all. Well Done
.As a further fundraiser, I have just been informed by my father that we are to hold a Country music evening in Tissington Village Hall on Saturday November10th - Mr Don Keyworth and his band "Top Country Sound" are performing free of charge as their contribution. Further details will be available later.
It was nice to welcome our new Minister Tim Morris at our monthly service for September. We all enjoyed tea and biscuits and a chat with him afterwards and were glad of his fine singing voice since his opening hymn was one we were unfamiliar with!
S.E.Alcock

A President's Diary

My whirlwind year in office is now rapidly coming to a close with the commissioning of my successor planned for 15th September in Leeds, my duties will continue as the Immediate Past President with the necessary work to formulate the systems and basis on which Women's Network will become independent of the
Connexional Team of the Methodist Church by this time next year.

When I last reported I had been in the Chester and Stoke District and this was followed in early June with a trip to East Anglia to the Culford School for a wonderful day of celebration for the 20th Birthday of Women's Network, birthday cake, banners, memories and worship all set in the Great Hall of this Methodist boarding school set by the river near Bury St Edmonds.Leeds District followed with a celebration in Castleford and the Forward Together day in Cleethorpes, a seaside resort never visited before and consisting of all the usual seaside attractions plus caravans.

The welcome was terrific although the location restricted the numbers. Sheffield District was the next visit for their District Day this time in Worksop at a wonderfully rebuilt Church now incorporating a town centre café and social centre in cooperation with a number of agencies.

On 16th June Women's World Day of Prayer held its Northern area 75th Anniversary service in Leeds, a well constructed afternoon service of real celebration in a packed city centre Church.

We then celebrated 20th Years here in Ashbourne when Lyn Jones led our morning service and the day after Nottingham and Derby held its District Day in Nottingham.

July brought more formal events with SACRE meeting followed by the District Policy Committee quickly followed by the Methodist Conference in Blackpool where I was honoured to represent Women's Network as their representative. Blackpool as reported elsewhere was intensive but Women's Network gained the commitment of the conference that we will remain within the Methodist Church when independent.

The highlight for Women's Network was the National Celebration of the 20th Birthday held in Cleveleys on the 9th July when all of the past Presidents bar 2 (one deceased and one ill) and Connexional secretaries attended worship preceded by tea and concluding with a cup of tea. A wonderful day of memories, old friends, new friends and confidence for the future.

On return from Blackpool, Nottingham and Derby had its picnic in the park preceded by lunch of the past presidents of the past 20years, Woollaton Park with its Blue Balloons was an interlude of sunshine in the summer of ours.

As I write this I am at Guide camp in Lancashire having just returned from a trip in the East of Europe that included a 5 day stay at the University in |Bratislava the capital of the Slovak Republic where 1000 European Methodist celebrated together - 53 Nations, 20 languages, good study and good worship.
I shall be in Weston Super Mare on 2nd September for the Bristol District celebrations before the commissioning mentioned above.

Post-Script

I am very grateful for all the prayers that have been offered to assist me in the role as President of Women's Network in the Methodist Church over the past year. I handed over the chain of office on Saturday 15th September to Mrs Pam Turner of Leeds.

The year as I have tried to portray through the pages of this magazine, has at times been hectic but always a joy, and the travels around the UK and into Europe have brought me into contact with thousands of Women who love the Lord and via fellowship and events support the Fund for International Relations (new title for the Fund for World Mission) and many other charities.

My task now as Immediate Past President is to work with colleagues to establish Women's Network as an independent entity whilst remaining within the Methodist Church and also to continue my travels to lead residential weekends and attend various services and events around the Connexion.

Thank you again for your support and I shall continue to report on my involvement as the next year progresses.

Sandra Lewer

"John Newton - from disgrace to amazing grace" - by Jonathan Aitken

Ask anyone about John Newton and some will say - slave trading! or Amazing Grace! - but be ignorant of the wider details of his life. For others the name has simply never registered and they have no idea of the significance of his life and times.
Born in 1724 into a secure Christian home he made the least of his education and was sent to sea in his early teens, where his behaviour grew worse. Introduced to the slave trade he sank to the depths but a storm, which nearly took his life changed the direction of his life. He taught himself Latin and Greek, started to read the Bible and other books and tried to live a holy life.

He sought out Christians who could help him and knew John Wesley and George Whitfield and after persistent effort he became Curate of Olney and later Vicar of St Mary Woolnorth in the City of London, where he remained until his death in 1807.

While at Olney Newton befriended William Cowper, an outstanding poet and together they produced Olney Hymns, one of which was "Amazing Grace" by Newton himself. It has become one of the most sung hymns in the world.
In London he became a close friend of William Wilberforce and it was Newton's mentoring and encouragement that lead to the formers work for abolition of the slave trade. Newton is a living example of what God can do to change a man.

This is an excellent book, written by a person whose own life could be summed up as "from grace to amazing grace". You can get it in hardback and no doubt it will eventually appear in soft covers.
Stuart Mustow

 

INVITATION- Sat 17 Nov

You are invited to an open day with Christian Prayer Ministries on Sat 17 Nov 9.45 - 4.30 held at the Risingbrook Methodist Church in Stafford.

A speaker will be leading the training day on,
Bereavement,Burnoutand Mid Life Crisis.

There are short talks and sharing in small groups.This is open to anyone you feel would be interested.

Perhaps House groups' and Prayer triplets' leaders might pray about a small group going from Ashbourne Methodist (and other churches of A.C.T.) so we may learn together.

Contact Mrs Chris Morris or C P M Secretary, Mrs Jane Cotton Tel: 01543 372316or e.mail@blueyonder.co.uk

Children's Church -

We welcome Lynda Herbert as the new co-ordinator of Children's Church. Please offer her your support and remember her and the Children's Church in your prayers. We thank existing and new helpers too for enabling Children's Church to continue.

In an article in a Methodist publication, "Supporting Children's Work: Children's Ministry" we are reminded of the gifts children bring to the church:
· A special spontaneity within congregational life that keeps us smiling,
demands flexibility, and adds spice to our life together.
· The ability to see things as they really are.
· All senses worship of God.
· Freshness in hymn singing, in celebrating God's love.
· New understanding of the world as seen through their eyes.
· A reminder of our own vows as we witness their baptism.
· Their own confusion, isolation, discouragement, fears, loneliness, and
pain.
· Filling a void for people who are childless, whose children are grown, or
whose grandchildren live far away.
· The ability to make us shed tears because of their vulnerability.
· An unhesitating faith and absolute acceptance of God's love.
· Questions that we forgot to ask or are afraid to ask, that push us to think
about our own theology, and that press us to articulate our beliefs in new
ways. (Children keep us honest).
· An openness to God.
· The ability to unlock love with a simple look.
· A way to connect us to today's real world.
· A challenge to an "old" way, consideration of a "new" way.
Pure unadulterated Joy!

Children are God's unique gift to us. Do we have the awareness to accept and embrace the gift?

(Children's Church meets at 2.0pm Mondays during term - time)

Ruth Mallard

Operation Christmas Child

This year's campaign is picking up in earnest now that we are just one month away from the national operating dates - 4th - 20th November. The blessing service at Ashbourne will be on 18th November, with another following on 25th at Kniveton. Checking the boxes will be done, as usual, during the weeks following these dates. If you would like to be part of the team doing this contact me, Betty Hadley, for more information. At this stage we have no information about the destination of our boxes. I anticipate being able to tell you this in the next magazine. We have had four coffee mornings/afternoons this summer and autumn which will help with transport costs and extra supplies for the boxes. As usual, we have a large collection of hand-made items which will be available from the middle of October after the morning services at Ashbourne. These are also available, of course, to those in the chapels who are filling boxes - phone me to ask.
TOYS. There is a possible problem with second-hand toys. I stress again that these MUST be in very good condition as some countries are refusing to take second-hand goods. Barbie dolls are also, at this stage, in doubt. I hope to know more by next month. In the meantime, join us in the craft group on the second Wednesday in the month in the Cornerstone from 10 am to 11.30 am to make and share gifts for the boxes. Gifts of wool, particularly double knitting, buttons, trims, ribbon, etc. will be welcomed. Leaflets are now available on the vestibule table or direct from me. Here's to a bumper 'harvest' of shoeboxes!
Betty Hadley, 01335 300699.

Circuit Meeting report.

The Circuit Meeting took place on 19th September at Kirk Ireton. Reports from Circuit committees have been circulated to each member of the meeting, which includes representatives from each chapel. These are available for general use. If you wish to read them in full ask your representatives. We are still looking for a Social Responsibility Secretary. Is this something you could undertake? Phone me, Betty Hadley, if you are interested.
Property Report. It was reported that various works have been carried out at a number of the chapels, with more in the pipeline.
Ecumenical Links. New Youth Worker. Linda Rose, the new ACE youth worker, was welcomed to the meeting and outlined her excitement at being able to work in the Ashbourne area with the young people. Rev Mair Bradley spoke of her commitment to continuing the link between the Methodist Church and the URC church in the Circuit and gave us a history of how this link came into being.
Synod. Ruth Mallard, together with Tom Parkinson, Mike Hadley and Tim Morris, had attended Synod in Beeston and gave a brief report of what went on. A transcript of this report will be circulated with the Minutes of the meeting - ask your representative if you wish to see a copy. The date for the autumn Synod next year is the 6th September and may take place in Ashbourne. Further information on this will be given after the next Circuit Meeting in February next year.
Circuit Plan. Rev. Tim asked the meeting to consider making the plan fit the Methodist year, i.e. with the first quarter beginning with September instead of October. This was agreed by the meeting and will be monitored for the first year.
Vulnerable Adults Policy. There is now a requirement for each Circuit to have a policy which safeguards the needs of vulnerable adults, and a sample document had been distributed. It was agreed that we accept this District policy rather than taking the time to prepare our own. Each church and chapel in the Circuit will be sent a copy. All members need to be aware of the contents.
Circuit Away Day. The idea of such a day in November at Cliff College had been mooted, but for various reasons, especially the cost, it was suggested that we now look at a date in the Spring with a different venue.
Rural Post Offices. Could your chapel be used as a village Post Office? Rev. Tim has a paper outlining what is required - contact him if you are interested.
Don't forget - ask your chapel representatives if you wish to learn more about the meeting. Look out for more information regarding dates in the Circuit Magazine.

Betty Hadley. Circuit Meeting Secretary.

Kniveton News

After a summer period when we met each week we are now back to one service in the afternoon (2nd Sunday), with a family service each 4th Sunday at 11 am. Please think about coming to join us occasionally - we love to see visitors. Lester (Lowe) visited Belarus in August, with another visit planned for the first two weeks in October. He will be visiting children who have been over to England on previous visits. We have given him some things to take with him for the children - hats, scarves, gloves and puppets, the kind of thing we put into the Christmas boxes. He told us of the outstanding generosity and hospitality of his hosts, who, in spite of having very little food themselves, gave all they had into entertaining him when he visited their homes.
Our harvest festival services take place on 14th October at 2.30 pm and 6.30 pm. The younger children from the village school will take part in the evening service. Harvest goods will be auctioned on Monday evening at 7.30 pm. Do join us if you are able - you will be warmly welcomed.

World Scout Jamboree

Nearly 12 months ago, I was selected to represent Girlguiding Midlands at the 21st World Scout Jamboree 2007. My task was to raise £1000 to fund my own attendance and the attendance of Scouts from the developing world who could not afford to come. During my fundraising, many members of the congregation generously supported me and so did the church a whole. I would like to thank everyone for their generosity and encouragement.

I had the most fantastic time at the Jamboree. Every day was jammed full of learning, activities and fun. From when I got up between 5 and 6 in the morning and when I went to bed at midnight, I never stopped making new friends and trying new things. I could fill this whole magazine with my experiences but instead I will place a copy of my report in the church vestibule. I am also more than happy to talk to anyone who would like to know more about the unique Centenary Event.

Gift Aid and giving

Weekly or monthly giving can be via standing order, gift envelopes or just cash on to the plate. The first two options allow giving to be gift aided and the chapel recover 25p in the pound from the government for free - yes the Government gives us back our tax paid if we can certify that the gift has gone to charity.
If you do not use envelopes or pay a standing order and do pay tax on income or savings then please talk to your chapel treasurer or to Cliff Lewer (324404) and we can make arrangements with you, all in total confidence.
Inflation affect everyone, we see all sorts of things costing more, petrol, milk, council tax etc. It is the same for the church, we incur these costs also and additional income is required to ensure we keep the finances fluid and have enough o not only maintain the ministry and buildings but to finance mission. Please examine your personal giving and compare when it was last adjusted upwards and if you are able please make that upward adjustment now.

Cliff Lewer.
Circuit Treasurer.

Smile Lines

Sorry
Our minister, an avid golfer, was once taking part in a local tournament. As he was preparing to tee off, the organizer of the tournament approached him and pointed to the dark, threatening storm clouds which were gathering. "Sir," the organizer said, "I trust you'll see to it that the weather won't turn bad on us."

Our pastor shook his head. "Sorry," he replied. "I'm sales, not management!

The language of church-going

AMEN: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows.
BULLETIN: Your receipt for attending the service.
CHOIR: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the congregation to lip-sync.
HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY.
HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation's range.
RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at a service - often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left.
INCENSE: Holy Smoke!
JONAH: The original 'Jaws' story.
JUSTICE: When kids have kids of their own.
KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most Catholics and Anglicans can recognize besides gyros and baklava. (it means Lord have mercy)
PEW: A medieval torture device still found in many Anglican and Catholic churches.
PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of the service, consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats.
RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of the service - led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the car park.
RELICS: People who have been going to church for so long that they actually know when to sit, kneel, and stand.
TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important - and oldest - Top Ten list.
USHERS: The only people in the church who don't know the seating capacity of a pew

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Dates for your Diary

OCTOBER
Wed 3rd 9.30am Walk and Talk
10.0am Alzheimer's Café The Cornerstone
Sun 7th 10.30am Ashbourne JMA Service
10.45am Brailsford Harvest Festival Service
Wed 10th 11.00am District Network Day Darley Dale
Thurs 11th 7.00pm Quiz Night & Ploughman's St Oswald's Hall
Fri 12th) NCH Collection Sainsbury's
Sat 13th)
Sat 20th OWW - Mystery Event Town Centre
7.00pm PRAISE! Century Hall
Sun 21st 2.30pm Tissington Harvest Festival Tissington Chapel
Thurs 25th 7.30pm GLOBAL WARMING Kenya All Saints Hall
Tues 30th 12.30pm Ashbourne Church Lunch Century Hall

NOVEMBER
Sat 3rd 10.00am NCH Coffee Morning St Oswald's Hall
Wed 7th 9.30am Walk and Talk Group
10.00am Alzheimer's Café The Cornerstone
Sat 17th 7.00pm PRAISE! Century Hall