June 14 - Ashbourne Methodist Church

The Magazine of Ashbourne Methodist Circuit
http://www.ashbournemethodist.org.uk
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Letter from the Minister
The Manse 16 Booth Drive Ashbourne Derbyshire DE6 1SZ
Tel: 01335 342408 email: [email protected]
June 2014
Dear Friends,
“I want to tell you a story…”
As I write this, we have just enjoyed some wonderfully sunny weather
after a week, or so of rain. Isn’t it amazing how a bit of sun brings
people out to play, to relax and to share together!
We begin June by sharing in the well dressings at Tissington, and then
at Mayfield, where we shall give thanks for the gift of water and
celebrate the skill and artistry of many able people, through their
dressing of the wells. Over the years, the pictures on the wells have
told the Gospel story, even those of a non Biblical theme, which
remind us of the goodness of God. People are then encouraged to
think about what the story means for them.
We all have our own story to tell. They are individually shot through
with joy and sorrow, times of endurance, victory, struggle and survival.
Early Methodists were encouraged to tell their story, often at a “love
feast” where bread, or cake and a drink were shared, during which
stories were shared. The ‘class meeting’, or what we now call
housegroups, or homegroups, was used as a place for people to feel
secure and “at home” in sharing their story, receiving encouragement
and strength through prayer to carry on.
We have lost much of that in church, and in our wider society today,
with our very individualistic ways of living and relating to people. But
we thank God for those people who listen to our story, understand
something of who we are, do not judge us for who that is and enable
us to blossom into the person God is moulding and making us.
I hope that in the approaching summer days you will find the time and
space to share your story with those who will understand you.
Encouraged by their prayers and love, may you grow in faith, hope
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and love. And may your community be a place where all are loved and
welcomed, listened to and heard.
Your minister and friend,
Tim
______________________________
Methodist Women in Britain
AGM and Supper - Monday 30 June
We shall be holding our AGM in the Century Hall on Monday 30 June at 7
pm. This will be followed by a Supper of Ham Salad and new potatoes
followed by profiteroles. Our after-dinner speakers will be Joyce and
Richard Odell on Nepal. We hope you will come along and enjoy an
evening of good food and fellowship. Tickets for the supper (priced
£5.00) will be available shortly from the usual sellers.
All welcome!
District Day - Monday 7 July
Our next District Day will be held at Stapleford Methodist Church on
Monday 7 July. In the afternoon, Mrs Monica Sanders will be
commissioned as our District President. The day commences with
coffee from 10.30 am (registration £2.00 which goes to MWMF and
MWiB) followed by a business meeting at 11 am. We break for lunch
at approximately 12.30 pm (packed lunch required) and the afternoon
service will commence at 2.00 pm. Why not give it a whirl and meet
with others from the District?
Strawberry Soiree - Saturday 19 July
Please make a note of this in your diary and come along to the
Reading Room at Snelston for this event.
Alma Swan
REMEMBER - GOD is the one who KNOWS you the best– and LOVES
you the MOST– no matter what.
Contributed by Elizabeth Spencer
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Ashbourne Circuit Church Services
Sunday June 8th
Ashbourne 10:30am
6:30pm
Brailsford 10:30am
Hulland
6:30pm
Kniveton
2:30pm
Parwich
2:30pm
Mr Stuart Mustow
/Rev Tim Morris
Miss Diana Whitmill
Fiona Green
Rev Mark Broadhurst
Rev Mair Bradley
Sister Merle Wilde
Sunday June 15th
Ashbourne 10:30am
6:30pm
Brailsford 10:30am
Rev Mark Broadhurst
Praise!
Rev Tim Morris
Hulland
6:30pm
Parwich
10:00am
Tissington 10:30am
Rev Tim Morris
Pentecost Sunday
Theme Preach 3
Communion
Theme Preach 3
Chapel Anniversary
Communion
Chapel Anniversary
Theme Preach 4
in Century Hall
All Age, 9:15am Breakfast
Theme Preach 4
Communion
All Age at Parish
Mrs Ann Parkinson
Sunday June 22nd
Ashbourne 10:30am
6:30pm
Brailsford 10:30am
Hulland
6:30pm
Kirk Ireton 6:30pm
Kniveton 11:00am
Parwich
2:30pm
Mr Tim Dutton
Sister Merle Wilde
Mr Stuart Mustow
Miss Diana Whitmill
Mr Tom Parkinson
Rev Tim Morris
Rev Tim Morris
Theme Preach 5
Communion
Theme Preach 5
Sunday June 29th
Ashbourne 10:30am
6:30pm
Brailsford 10:30am
Hulland
6:30pm
Mr Lew Greaves
Rev Tim Morris
Miss Diana Whitmill
Fiona Green
Church Anniversary
Church Anniversary
Wednesday July 2nd
Milldale
7:00pm
Fiona Green
All Age
Communion
Summer Service
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Sunday July 6th
Ashbourne 9:15am
10:30am
6:30pm
Brailsford 10:45am
Mr Robert Sales
Mr Robert Sales
Mr Tom Parkinson
Rev Tim Morris
Hulland
6:30pm
Mr Tim Dutton
Sunday July 13th
Ashbourne 10:30am
Rev Tim Morris
3:00pm
6:30pm
Brailsford 10:30am
Hulland
3:00pm
Kniveton
3:00pm
Parwich
3:00pm
All Age, Café Style
All Age, Café Style
United Service at Methodist
Communion, All Age,
Powersource service
Churches Together Songs of Praise at Carsington
No Service
Miss Diana Whitmill
at Carsington
at Carsington
at Carsington
News from Tissington
Some weeks ago we received a letter from the Titterton family asking
us to commemorate their father in the chapel this coming Well
Dressing, it being the 50th anniversary of his death. They asked
that flowers be put in the chapel, alongside a card which reads;
“In Loving Memory of Percy Titterton of Green Farm Tissington who
collapsed and died 50 years ago on May 24th (Whit Sunday). He was
a faithful member of this chapel, during the rebuilding of which
services were held at Green Farm. He was a third generation local
preacher, succeeded by his son James. The Coffin Well was dressed
on his premises and bluebells were collected to feature prominently in
the designs.
Flowers given on behalf of his surviving children; Catherine, Dorothy,
James, Jean, Stephen, Patricia and Diane.”
The flowers and card will be placed in the chapel on the 24th May and
stay over the Well Dressings. Thank you to the Titterton family.
The chapel will be open to visitors during Well Dressings 29th May 4th June
Les and Sandra Alcock
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Please Hear What I'm Not Saying
Don't be fooled by me.
Don't be fooled by the face I wear
for I wear a mask, a thousand masks,
masks that I'm afraid to take off,
and none of them is me.
Pretending is an art that's second nature with me,
but don't be fooled,
for God's sake don't be fooled.
I give you the impression that I'm secure,
that all is sunny and unruffled with me, within as well
as without,
that confidence is my name and coolness my game,
that the water's calm and I'm in command
and that I need no one,
but don't believe me.
My surface may seem smooth but my surface is my mask,
ever-varying and ever-concealing.
Beneath lies no complacence.
Beneath lies confusion, and fear, and aloneness.
But I hide this. I don't want anybody to know it.
I panic at the thought of my weakness exposed.
That's why I frantically create a mask to hide behind,
a nonchalant sophisticated facade,
to help me pretend,
to shield me from the glance that knows.
I'm afraid you'll think less of me,
that you'll laugh, and your laugh would kill me.
I'm afraid that deep-down I'm nothing
and that you will see this and reject me.
So I play my game, my desperate pretending game,
with a facade of assurance without
and a trembling child within.
So begins the glittering but empty parade of masks,
and my life becomes a front.
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I tell you everything that's really nothing,
and nothing of what's everything,
of what's crying within me.
So when I'm going through my routine
do not be fooled by what I'm saying.
Please listen carefully and try to hear what I'm not saying,
what I'd like to be able to say,
what for survival I need to say,
but what I can't say.
Do not pass me by.
It will not be easy for you.
A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls.
The nearer you approach to me
the blinder I may strike back.
It's irrational, but despite what the books say about man
often I am irrational.
I fight against the very thing I cry out for.
But I am told that love is stronger than strong walls
and in this lies my hope.
Please try to beat down those walls
with firm hands but with gentle hands
for a child is very sensitive.
Who am I, you may wonder?
I am someone you know very well.
For I am every man you meet
and I am every woman you meet.
Charles C. Finn (Used with permission).
Editor—This poem, written in 1966 , has touched many people’s lives
and speaks with great compassion and insight into the human
condition. It has been sent in by Paul Wiggins who attends Brailsford
Methodist Church and who has made a video of it for Derbyshire NHS
Mental Health Trust. It’s a reminder to us all particularly those who
have a role in listening to others including pastoral visitors.
For more see - www.poetrybycharlescfinn.com
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REMINISCENCES, REFLECTIONS, REMEMBRANCES!
An odd title I know, but I honestly did not know what else to call it. I
have spent a number of times thinking of things while traversing the
farm on a daily check of our animals, now that they are out of the
sheds and in the fields. It’s to ensure that they are all together and
that no one has found a hole in the fence that although we cannot
see, a cow has an uncanny knack of finding one that you missed! I
also have to check that anyone on a ramble has not left a gate
unbolted; this is usually a vital job after a weekend.
We do not mind folk roaming the land, enjoying the beauty of what we
appreciate and thank God for every day, but we would hope visitors
follow the country code, keep their animals on a lead, ensuring all
gates are shut, better still, follow the designated path.
However I digress, during these walks I have time to ponder and in
relation to time, sometimes wonder where it has gone. At the time of
writing it is May, the swallows are getting their nests ready, although
one pair might have a job as a wren has taken up squatters rights in
one of their nests in the eaves of the house.
This wren amuses us as it rests, before attempting to get to its nest,
on a wire at the back of the farm. With a beak full of nesting material
it bounces on the wire as only a wren can, as if to use the wire as a
catapult to help it make it up to the nest.
Time does seem to go quickly and its always a shock to me if I am
watching a quiz, if a date comes up it is very hard to guess how long
ago the event was, unless there was evidence that can jog the
memory, for example was there an Olympic Games that year, or a
World Cup. Usually if there is no hint in the clue I always fail to guess
the correct date.
Recently some memory came up that had me looking on the internet
for when it actually was.
I was in London, meeting a friend and we spent the day, going to the
RAF Museum at Hendon, to the Tower of London to see the Crown
Jewels and seeing some other sights of the capital. I could not
remember the date, but knew it was the day Sunderland beat Leeds
United in the F.A. Cup Final. (Me, today a rugby fan too, I cannot
believe that I would remember a date by a football match, but I did not
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but I did not know much about Rugby Union in those days!) Turned out
it was 5th May 1973. I did not know the final was on until I got into
London, and never would have gone if I had known, but I think it was
the only one free Saturday I had at the time.
To show you how long ago it was, from Stockport, the 7.00am train
arriving in London at about 9.30 cost £5 for the day return fare, and
you could get a good breakfast on the train for £1.50! (I believe it’s
around £200 now and you have to pick a certain time to go!)
I was reminded of other memories at the recent Circuit Meeting when
Jane Baker mentioned the Ashbourne Show as it was on that date
that I first came to Harlow Farm in 1975. In those days Geoffrey and
Jessica never missed it and were at the show when I arrived.
Later I met other people, family and friends, Granny Cundy, (Jessica’s
mother) and Aunt Ann, (Jessica’s sister) and her sons, the Durose
family, Howard Harris, Gilbert Prince and a lady called Dolly, who lived
on the edge of Stanton, who often came to the farm.
A few years later Dolly passed away, and I with some relatives were
asked to lower the coffin into the ground at Stanton Parish Church,
which we did. As we were all milling around meeting people in the
church yard, being quite serious as you are at funerals looking at the
grave, thinking about Dolly, Jessica piped up “Well, she’s got a lovely
view!”
Those that know Stanton Parish Church know the view can extend for
miles. You can see the Long Mynd and Clee Hill over in Shropshire and
on this day you could see them both, but Jessica’s comment about
Dolly had us all chuckling! Jessica, of course was mortified, when she
realised what she had said!
This time of remembrance was triggered also by the recent loss of my
good friend and fellow preacher Joe Stubbs. He was a good man and
a very good preacher. He and Enid became very good friends of ours
and were very good in welcoming me into the Ashbourne Family when
I married Ann.
When I heard the sad news of Joe’s passing I was filled with memories
of him, one of which I shared later with Enid, and the last Circuit
Meeting.
At another funeral, of one of my predecessors as Local Preachers
Secretary, George Wilcox. Joe and I and a couple of other preachers
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were asked to carry the coffin into Mayfield Chapel and back to the
hearse after the service, which we did. For some reason when we had
finished a prayer I noticed Joe’s shoes, the first thing that came to
mind was the old monologue of Stanley Holloway, which began,
“Brown Boots, at a funeral, I ask you, brown boots!” (From Stanley
Holloways cockney lips it sounded like “brean boots”!)
I had been listening to it on the radio the previous Saturday in the
morning “Children’s Favourites” I shared the joke with Joe after the
service and we both had a good laugh about it and it was often
mentioned at subsequent funerals if he wore those boots. It was a
source of laughter between us which I will now not be able to share.
I know many unfortunately will have not heard him preach. They did
miss a preacher who preached from his heart and for his Lord. Many
will only know him in those pain filled years and many missed the gift
he had for preaching. When later he came to a service that I was
leading I did ask him to share a prayer, if he could manage it, for
example, for the offertory. Many times he did, and that too was done
knowing he was giving the Lord his best.
When later visiting him at home he was upset that he could not
preach, so I asked him to do a vital job for me and for his fellow
preachers, to pray for those who still went out to the chapels he knew
so well. I am sure he did and many of us were carried on prayers that
Joe said for us. I will miss him, I know he will be remembered by that
huge family he has, but I assure you, while I live he will not be
forgotten as Joe Stubbs is another name I add to the list that my heart
and mind cherishes as a friend.
Reminiscences, reflections, remembrances! I told you it was an odd
title, and I have to admit my mind has bounced around a lot of odd
things recently as various events has triggered reminiscences,
reflections and remembrance of things past and things present. (I
apologise for the bad grammar, I usually get Ann to edit things if I
want them really correct, but these notes come from my heart).
For what I am trying to say is while we have good people around whom
we love and care for and they love and care for us, please note it,
please remember it, please say “Thank you for all that you have done
for me”, please say “God Bless you”, please let them know they are
valued, say it now while you have chance, for tomorrow might be just
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too late!
I say this with feeling for there is one close to my heart who I have
known literally for all my life, every time I leave her after my monthly
visit I do wonder if it’s the last time I will see her for she is getting frail.
So my last words are on a visit or on the phone, “Do take care Mum,
and I do love you”.
Time is precious, it does fly, so use it fruitfully while you have it as the
scriptures say, Well, read Philippians Ch. 4 v. 4 to 9 and you’ll get the
idea.
Tom Parkinson.
_____________________________
Tuesday Fellowship
As reported last month we only have 4 meetings left before the
summer break. 3rd June, we will have a speaker from Voluntary and
Community Services, Peaks and Dales. 17th June is the AGM, and we
have promised a short business section, followed by entertainment
and food (?), which makes it sound a more like a party rather than a
general meeting! The session on 1 July, ‘Writing the Psalms’ with
Rev Carollyn MacDonald, sounds very interesting. Carollyn tells me
that this is a team exercise run rather on the lines of the game of
Consequences, a game often played at gatherings in the past, but
with a rather more serious slant. We won’t be asked to be individually
creative, but I am sure that between us we will come up with
something exciting. Maybe we will produce a psalm of our own which
we can publish in Connections.
We don’t have a venue yet for the outing, which is on 15th July, but if
you would like to join us you will be very welcome. Have a word with
one of the team. We don’t go very far, but we always include lunch.
The programme for next year will be ready for distribution by 15th July.
Betty Hadley. Margaret Heaton. Brenda Micklethwaite.
The next issue of “CONNECTIONS” will be
published on July 6th and will be a combined July
and August edition. Copy to me by June 25th please.
Arthur Watts
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We extend sympathy and love and prayers to those who have recently
been bereaved, especially Enid Stubbs and family and June Shaw and
family and those who continue to mourn loved ones.
Our best wishes to Teresa Hall, daughter of Judith and Phil, and Jonathan Buckley, who married at our church on 10 May.
We send our love and congratulations to Rev Harry Jones and Lyn who
celebrate their Golden Wedding on June 20; also to Ivor and Elsie
Redfern on their recent Diamond wedding Anniversary.
At the church annual meeting on 19 May we were pleased to welcome
Becky Dutton to the Leadership Team with special responsibility for
Outreach from September. Jacqui Marsh had completed eight years
as a steward and will now be Powersource coordinator. David Barrie,
Margaret Hasler and Ken McKeown are standing down as worship
stewards from September this year. We are grateful for all the work
done by these people over the years. Liz Mawdsley and Gwenda
Alcock will join the worship steward team from September. We still
need one more worship steward and a church council secretary from
September. We pray for Becky, Jacqui, Liz and Gwenda in their new
roles.
We pray for those who remain unwell and those who care for them,
Margaret and Don Cox, and Ena and Trevor Staniforth. Jonathan
Baker has recently had surgery on his foot. We think of him, David,
Jane and Sophie. Others are undergoing treatment which is very
unpleasant. Others are undergoing tests, or waiting for tests, or
waiting for appointments with consultants. This can be a very worrying
and difficult time.
We pray too for others who are in a period of great difficulty for
whatever reason, who prefer not to be named, including those with
concerns over health issues, concerns for members of their family,
those unhappy in their work or looking for work and those with mental
health difficulties. Some have a great deal of pain in their lives, often
unseen by others. Some find their difficulties cause their faith to be
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severely tested. We pray that we may see these difficulties and help
them deal with them.
Rev Tim’s father remains very unwell and Tim is still frequently visiting
his parents in Chandlers Ford. This is a long journey for him. He
continues to have many demands on his time and he needs our love
and support at this difficult time. If there is any way in which you can
help, and maybe reduce his burdens, please let him know. Please
support and pray for Alison too, and Samuel and Jacob.
Onesmus (Mwabonje), the Kenyan friend of Arthur and Joy, would
value your prayers for himself as his current employment is uncertain;
for his parents (his father being a retired Methodist Minister) as their
home has recently twice been burgled taking essential household
items such as mattresses and cooking pots and for the future stability
of Kenya itself.
We continue to pray for Stephen, son of Jonathan and Isabel Hill, our
mission partners in Zimbabwe, who is studying at Derby. Some of our
young people are undertaking important exams this month, the results
of which will affect their future.
If anyone would like prayer, there are people who pray regularly,
normally on a Thursday at 1pm in the Vestry. Anyone is welcome to
attend. Please contact Margaret Sharples (310072) or Liz Mawdsley
(344420) to know more. After worship on a Sunday, there are people
available to pray with you or for you, at the back of the church. Look
for someone with a yellow badge or ask a steward.
Elizabeth Spencer is part of the Chaplaincy Team at the Royal Derby
Hospital as a Chaplaincy Visitor. She is also a Hospital Visitor at St
Oswald’s Hospital in Ashbourne. Could anyone who knows of people
who are in hospital, or due to be, please let her know, if you would like
prayers or for her to visit (348482).
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures for ever.”
Psalm 118 v.1 (NIV)
Daphne Dyster - Pastoral Secretary
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Joe Stubbs: a life of faith, hope and love
When the news came through on Easter morning that Joe, our dear
friend in Christ, had died, we all felt that pang of sadness and sorrow.
But mixed with it was that sense of release for him - that in letting him
go, we let him go to the God who loved him, the God who will renew
and restore him.
There were probably moments that morning when we felt like the
women who went to the tomb on Easter Day – bewildered, stunned,
sorrowful and downcast, yet we also had moments when we felt as
they did when they had left the empty tomb - still bewildered and
afraid, yet filled with hope, thankfulness and excitement and, yes,
even joy. For what a day to die – on Easter Day! Yet what a day to die
– on Easter morning, as the day began, when the Church of Christ
across this land and around the world was celebrating the central
truth of our faith - that nothing in all creation can separate us for the
love of God which is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord; that God loved the
world so much that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him
may not die, but have eternal life. That’s the faith Joe had, that’s the
message he shared, that’s the life he lived.
His service to Christ in the life of the church began when he became
Mayfield’s Church Council Secretary at the age of 18, the youngest in
the District. Although he couldn’t vote at meetings at the time until he
was 21, he enjoyed being part of the discussions. Later, as a Circuit
Steward, he enjoyed going around the Circuit. However, as very few
churches had bank accounts, money paid to the Circuit was all given
in cash, which had then to be banked. One chapel handed their
assessment to Joe in an empty sugar bag!
His work with young people was his calling. The youth club on a Friday
night attracted over 90 young people. Table tennis, darts and football
tournaments were held around the village youth clubs. The first money
raised for the Gateway Centre was raised by the Youth Club. This was
in the form of a sponsored walk on a cold February morning. The not
so able made it to Tissington, but Nigel, Chris Hill and Joe went all the
way to Hartington - and back! A 24 hour sponsored table tennis match
raised a further £200 for the funds.
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But there were practical jobs to be done as well – like climbing on to
the church roof to clean out the gullies – a regular spring job with Don.
Joe had a lovely voice and sang in the choir – he sang in church,
Circuit and District events. Joe also attended housegroup and ran the
youth fellowship. Then there was his preaching. Preaching gave Joe a
deeper sense of his calling. He loved reading and walking, when time
allowed. He loved late Night Shopping, and a New Year’s Eve meal
with the Watch Night service was a family occasion.
Working long hours meant that the seven day family holiday was a real
joy. For Joe, family was so important. He missed so much of their early
years, but he and Enid had good times as Becky and Adam grew up
and had families of their own.
It was very hard for Joe when his stroke took his singing voice, speech
and mobility, but until the last year he still enjoyed getting out and
about. Joe never said “why me?”, but did what he could when he
could, and when he couldn’t he and Enid would quietly reflect on all
that life had given them and gave thanks to God for His faithfulness to
them in supplying all their needs.
Life isn’t determined in the length of years, but in the depth and
quality of living. Joe filled his living with a deep faith, an active and
sound mind and a love for life. Sometimes a life can preach Good
News, even when not preaching from a pulpit. Joe’s life was like that a life of faith, hope and love.
As we celebrate and give thanks for the life and ministry of Joe, his
legacy lives on, his life of faith still shines out, his life of hope still
inspires us and his life of love still embraces us. For we see it in our
lives when we do things, say things, sing things that remind us of Joe
and his faith. His qualities and goodness live on when we find
ourselves doing things that we saw him doing.
I’m sure Joe’s hope and prayer was that if anything in his life reflected
the love and goodness of God that would inspire others to find that
faith for themselves, then he would feel he had done Christ’s will. A
faithful servant of the servant King, who has now found rest and
peace with God.
Tim Morris
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Why Pentecost makes
Christ accessible
“Suddenly a sound like the
blowing of a violent wind came
from heaven and filled the whole
house.” (Acts 2:2)
Christianity is more than a fading
memory scrapbook. The day of
Pentecost came, to make our Lord accessible, even to the newest
follower!
Imagine the late Nelson Mandela arriving at Heathrow Airport. On
stepping onto the tarmac a group of admirers and friends wave to him
excitedly from the airport roof. But instead of lingering with them, he
only waves briefly, and is immediately whisked away. Yet any
disappointment among his friends is tempered later, when they see
Mandela in a major TV programme addressing himself not only to
them but to an entire nation. His removal from them had been
essential if he was to have been made available to many millions
more.
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, no more than a limited number of
people could be near enough to hear him, let alone speak to him or
touch him. His Ascension – followed by Pentecost - was to change
everything to a global dimension. Earlier he had reassured his
disciples, “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you….It is for
your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will
not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you….(John 14:18; 16:7).
To have the Holy Spirit is to have the very presence of Jesus in your
life.
The mystery of Pentecost. The coming of Christ’s Spirit –
‘the Counsellor’ - reminded people of a wind (unseen, yet powerful in
its effects) - and of prophecies such as Ezekiel 37:9. Christians have
always loved these vivid descriptions of the Holy Spirit - wind, fire, oil,
water, a dove.
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The sovereignty of Pentecost. ‘The wind blows where it wills’ said
Jesus to Nicodemus (John 3:8). So was the Spirit’s working in Acts 2 suddenly there were new believers swept into the Church of Jesus
Christ - from lands all around the Mediterranean basin. Don’t say the
Gospel can’t work in certain places and people. It has! It does.
The energy of Pentecost. At the start of Acts 2, there were about 120
believers in the church. By the end of the day they had ballooned by
over 2,000 percent. And today? Why, to take the statistics of Africa
alone, for every little African baby being born today, there will be two
Africans becoming followers of Jesus. Pentecost is a phenomenon
worldwide.
Rev Richard Bewes
______________________
Prayer at Pentecost
Dear Heavenly Father, We all come from different places, a bit like
that crowd on the first day of Pentecost. We are from different
backgrounds, with different experiences that form us. I can’t be just
like somebody else and no one else can be just like me. Thank you for
the gift of your Holy Spirit to speak and reveal your will to us in a way
that is personal and unique. Help us to be open to receive him every
day. Please go on filling us with your Spirit Lord, that we might be
effective witnesses to Jesus our Lord and Saviour.
In his name,
Amen.
A prayer by Daphne Kitching
__________________________
Quotes With Pentecost in mind
The Holy Spirit … writes his own gospel and he writes it in the hearts of
the faithful. Jean-Pierre de Caussade SJ
My heart I give you, Lord, eagerly and entirely. John Calvin
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Connecting the Connexion
‘Significant steps’ needed to progress Anglican-Methodist Covenant
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, together with the President
and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, have issued a joint
statement to their Churches.(22nd May).
The Most Revd Justin Welby, the Most Revd John Sentamu, the Revd
Ruth Gee and Dr Daleep Mukarji have issued the statement in
response to a report that will be debated by the Methodist Conference
and General Synod this year.
The report, entitled The Challenge of the Covenant, recommends that
both Churches take action to enhance unity between them, with the
work being fully embedded in Church structures. The report also
encourages the Church of England to address the question of
Interchangeability of ordained ministries between the two Churches,
and the Methodist Church to consider the possibility of a form of
episcopal ministry (such as a ‘president bishop’).
The statement from the Archbishops and Methodist Presidency
welcomes the report, stating that:
“The time has now come for our churches to take further, significant
steps to achieve that level of reconciliation between us and
partnership in the gospel that will enhance our mission together in
local communities and our shared witness to the whole of society.”
To read the Report go to http://www.anglican-methodist.org.uk
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Growing concern over hunger in the UK - Christian
unease is growing over the issue of hunger in the
UK. Now the Evangelical Alliance, which represents
two million Christians across 79 denominations, has
called on senior politicians to put the issue of hunger
in the UK firmly on the political agenda.
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In addition the Methodist Church, the Baptist Union, the United
Reformed Church and Church Action on Poverty have published a
three-part resource for churches about the growing food poverty crisis.
Faith in Foodbanks? recognises the ministry of many churches helping
people who cannot afford to eat, looks at why there has been such a
growth in foodbanks, and suggests ways churches can take action to
tackle the underlying causes.
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Take a spin on the Wheel of Generosity
People are being encouraged to ‘spin’ an online Wheel of Generosity
and commit to small acts of kindness as part of a new campaign from
the Methodist Church.
‘A Generous Life’ is designed to help Christians rethink together what
it means to be generous in their local contexts. “Every act of
generosity, however small, bears witness to our generous and loving
God,” said the Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the
Methodist Church.
“Generosity can be expressed in many ways, whether through
financial giving, dedicating your time to help someone else, or sharing
freely your skills and creativity. A Generous Life is a great opportunity
to rethink what it might mean for each of us to act generously as
disciples of Jesus in our everyday lives.”
Visit www.methodist.org.uk/mission/a-generous-life? for more info.
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‘Legal milestone’ praised by President of the Methodist Conference - Leaders
of the Methodist Church in Britain have welcomed the UK
Government's recent ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty. The
President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd Ruth Gee, said it had
come about because “across the world, people have made their
voices heard. They have spoken against the obscenity of the sale of
arms to governments or groups who abuse rights and kill civilians. The
ratification of the treaty by the UK and other governments today is a
legal milestone that should help to protect those who are abused and
oppressed. “
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Ashbourne Churches Together with
Churches Together in Wirksworth
present
“SONGS OF PRAISE”
3.00 pm Sunday 13 July 2014
at Carsington Water
(If wet at St Mary’s
Church Wirksworth)
Come along and join us for good music
and song.
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Trinity Sunday – celebrating our God who is Three
Persons
Understandably, in the month of June this year, Christians focus on
Pentecost but we also celebrate the Trinity, on the 15th this year.
Trying to explain the doctrine of the Trinity has kept many a theologian
busy down the centuries. One helpful picture is to imagine the sun
shining in the sky. The sun itself – way out there in space –
unapproachable in its fiery majesty – is the Father. The light that
flows from it, and which illuminates all our lives, is the Son. The heat
that flows from it, and which gives us all the energy to move and grow,
is the Holy Spirit. You cannot have the sun without its light and its
heat. The light and the heat are from the sun, are of the sun, and yet
are also distinct in themselves, with their own roles to play.
The Bible makes clear that God is One God, who is disclosed in three
persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. For example:
Deuteronomy 6:4 ‘Hear O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is one..’
Isaiah 45:22 ‘Turn to me and be saved… for I am God, and there is
no other’
Genesis 1:1-2 ‘In the beginning God created…. And the Spirit of God
was hovering…’
Judges 14:6 etc ‘The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power…’
John 1:1-3 ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that
has been made.’
Luke 24:49 actually manages to squeeze the whole Trinity into one
sentence. Jesus tells his disciples: ‘I am going to send you what my
Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed
with power (the Holy Spirit) from on high.’
In other words, the sun eternally gives off light and heat, and
whenever we stand in its brilliant light, we find that the warmth soon
follows.
Source - Parish Pump
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Editor: The Rev Dr Gary Bowness continues his tongue-in-cheek
letters from ‘Uncle Eustace
On the impossibility of keeping silence in church
The Rectory
St. James the Least
My dear Nephew Darren
Your remark that you rather liked the silence we keep before starting
Services gave me pause for thought. I suppose all things are relative. I
know that the noise your congregation makes before worship
resembles a packed stand on the football terraces any Saturday
afternoon, but the days seem long-gone when I could expect our
congregation to sit in real silence for ten minutes.
There’s the sound of the treasurer counting the previous day’s jumble
sale takings, of the ladies at the back asking each other when the fish
van will next come round, and of Major Hastings’s deafening whisper
as he comments upon some women’s choice of hats. Add to this the
weekly competition between the organist and the bell ringers to see
who can make the most noise, the roar from the choir vestry as they
all complain they don’t like my choice of hymns and the sound of
books, umbrellas and collection money being dropped. I sometimes
suspect that an informal rota is arranged whereby people volunteer to
drop heavy objects in rotation, thus maintaining a constant clatter, for
which no single person can be held responsible.
There is also the weekly ritual when the verger – always waiting until
the church is full – goes round each microphone, giving them a bash
and bellowing “Testing, testing” and relishing the echo as it bounces
off the walls.
The only time the noise level drops significantly is if the congregation
see Miss Simpson sidle up to me to have one of her confidential little
chats about someone in the village. Everyone knows that her
information will provide more than enough to keep gossip flourishing
for the following week.
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Equally, periods of silence during Services are rarely welcomed; some
find them threatening, but the majority simply assume it means I have
lost my place. I gave up after one occasion when, on announcing we
would say the Lord’s Prayer and then leaving a time of silence for
reflection, a choirman leaned over to me and whispered helpfully: “It
begins ‘Our Father’ ….”
Your loving uncle,
Eustace
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SMILE LINES
Plant
During our Minister’s very lengthy sermon, a large plant suddenly fell
over right behind the pulpit, crashing to the floor. He smiled
sheepishly and said, "Well, that’s the first time I actually put a plant to
sleep."
Man and wife
With Bible in hand, I read to my high school religion class, “‘For this
cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife.’
Okay," I said, "from this Scripture, what do we learn is important in
marriage?"
A voice at the back blurted: "Cleavage!"
Grandmothers
Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just a
mother. The next you are not just all-wise, but also prehistoric.
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Sun
Mon
6:30pm
10:00am
7:30pm
Tues
10:00am
12:30pm
2:15pm
Wed
9:30am
7:30pm
Thurs
7:30pm
Fri
7:00pm 9:00pm
Thurs,
Fri, Sat
10:00am
Sun
Tues
Wed
9:15am
9:30am
12:30pm
ASHBOURNE CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Mustard (Youth Fellowship)
Homegroup: weekly
Contact - David Heaton (343418)
Homegroup: weekly
Contact - Helen Walker (343910)
Homegroup: weekly
Contact - John & Elizabeth Hurfurt (342859)
Luncheon Club: last Tuesday in month, Century Hall
Contact - John & Elizabeth Hurfurt (342859)
Tuesday Fellowship - Century Hall
Contact - Betty Hadley (300699)
Walk and Talk Group: 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesday
Amble & Ramble (easier walking): 2nd & 4th Weds
Contacts - Chris and John Dakin (345280)
Homegroup: fortnightly
Contact - Ken and Margaret Sharples (310072)
Homegroup: fortnightly - 1st and 3rd Thursdays
Contact - Jeff Ffoulkes (300443)
Basement (Drop in for young people in school years 7+)
Contact - Wendy Haslam(345560) or Nigel Glossop(330679)
The Cornerstone Coffee Shop
Contact - Pat Fielding (345695)
BRAILSFORD CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Breakfast: monthly, 3rd Sunday
Coffee Shop: weekly
Luncheon Club: monthly, 2nd Wednesday
HULLAND CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Wed
Thurs
7:30pm
2:15pm
Bible Study: monthly, 3rd Wednesday
Women’s Fellowship: monthly, 1st Thursday
KIRK IRETON CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Wed
7:30pm
Fellowship: monthly, 3rd Wednesday
CIRCUIT STAFF
Rev Tim Morris
16 Booth Drive,
Ashbourne DE6 1SZ
Tel: 01335 342408
E-mail: [email protected]
Sister Merle Wilde
124 The Green Road
Ashbourne DE6 lEE
Tel: 01335 343793
Send “Connections” contributions to24
[email protected]