April 2003
From the Manse
Dear friends,
Spring is in the air. Nine days of sunshine have put a smile on people's faces.
The birds are singing. The first Chiffchaffs have arrived. The daffodils are
waving gaily. The world is waking from its winter slumber, ready for a new burst
of life.
Lent is that sort of season. Looking forward to Good Friday can put you in a
sombre mood. But we know that beyond Good Friday lies Easter and the joys of
resurrection. New life bursting from the tomb.
As I write the war in Iraq is in full swing. We pray it will be a short war,
that it will soon be over. To be in the thick of the fighting must be a terrifying
experience. We pray that it will soon end. And we look to what lies beyond the
war. Pray that it will bring a new lease of life for ordinary Iraqis. Free from
tyranny. Free to build a decent civilised society without the brutality of the
past. Pray that Easter will bring them the new freedom, the new life they are
looking for.
The message of Easter is a message of resurrection hope. That out of the darkest
places new life can come. Look at a derelict building site covered with slabs
of concrete. Soon the cracks begin to appear. Wild flowers and grasses start
to take a hold. New life bursts out of what was a cold grey world.
This is the message for those who go through a difficult time in their life.
The bleakness when a partner has walked out on you. The emptiness of a period
of unemployment. The torment of a life threatening illness. Easter says there
is hope. There is light at the end of the tunnel. New life can come.
And it is New Life. It is not a going back to the old. The resurrected Jesus
was not the old mortal flesh and blood Jesus. He was a transformed Jesus, radiant
with light. Yes the scars were still visible. But that was the only link with
the past. The resurrected Jesus is no longer bound by time and space. He is
free. He offers to us New Life. He offers us a new freedom. He gives to us a
new joy.
God Bless you all as you journey toward Easter.
Chris
Ashbourne Churches Together
FRIDAY MEDITATIONS AND LENT LUNCHES
12.30 - 1.30pm. COST £1.50
AT THE CENTURY HALL ON -
FRIDAY 4th APRIL
AT ST. OSWALD'S CHURCH HALL ON -
FRIDAY 11th APRIL
SERVICE FOR HOLY WEEK 2003
TUESDAY 15th APRIL at 7.30pm.
ELIM PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, South Street
GOOD FRIDAY WALK OF WITNESS
FRIDAY 18th APRIL at 12.15pm. VICTORIA SQUARE
Once again, please join this important opportunity
to witness for Christ in the town.
ASHBOURNE CHURCHES TOGETHER
Spring Fashion Show
Wednesday 23rd April at 7.30pm in St Oswald's Church Hall.
Traidcraft and "Pachacuti" invite you to view their latest range of
Fairly traded clothing at a Spring Fashion Show.
Admission £3.00 (pay at the door) including Fairtrade Coffee and Biscuits.
Clothing from the Traidcraft Spring Catalogue will be shown alongside the latest
items from South America stocked by Pachacuti which is a member of BAFTS (the
British Association of Fair Trade Shops).
For more details, please contact: Traidcraft or Pachacuti
Ashbourne Churches Together One World Group
Brailsford_Alive@9:
THE NEW EXCITING LIVELY WORSHIP SERVICE
Please continue to remember this worship service in your prayers and wherever
possible please try and come along and support us. Worship is at 9am on the
2nd & 4th Sunday of each month in Brailsford Methodist Church. For more
details contact Roger Mallard
Women's Fellowship
Our regular meetings continue each fortnight on Tuesdays at 2.15pm in Cornerstone.
Our next meeting will be:
8th April - Crime Prevention, PC Keith Wooliscroft
If you would like transport, please ring Carole Thorpe no later than the Sunday
evening before the meeting. Please be assured of a very warm welcome - if you'd
like more information, please contact me.
Barbara Blenkinsop
Annual Leprosy Meeting
The Annual Leprosy Meeting will be held at Hulland Chapel on Thursday 1st May
at 2.15pm. Sister Merle will lead the meeting and there will be a bring &
buy stall and a sale of cards, books etc. All are most welcome to come along.
Betsy Allsop
Encounters
Throughout history, there have been numerous examples of people who have encountered
God.
On Thursday 10th, Friday 11th and Saturday 12th April at 7.30pm we will be presenting
"Encounters" which will interpret a series of Bible stories through
drama, music, dance, reflection and visual imagery. We invite you to come and
share the experiences of those Biblical characters and how encountering God
changed their lives.
Please support those taking part by coming along and bringing a friend with
you. We can guarantee an enjoyable and thought-provoking evening, with refreshments
served during the interval. We would also be grateful if you could add your
prayer support to this venture and ask that God will use it as a powerful act
of witness.
MISSION MATTERS
Learning & Caring in Haiti
Only an hour away from the United States, the richest nation on the planet,
lies the Caribbean island of Haiti - the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.
The contrast is stark. Haiti's problems are not one-dimensional, but recent
world trade decisions have meant the US flooding Haiti with cheap maize, rice
and sugar - thus depressing the agricultural base and economy for millions in
rural areas. Money is scarce.
By law in Haiti, education is free and compulsory for children between the ages
of 7 & 13. In practice the government cannot meet the needs of more than
15% of these young people, and so it is left to the churches and communities
to provide schooling for the other 85%. The Methodist Church has a huge role
here. So who pays for all this? Families will pay for uniforms and school supplies,
and if possible some of the tuition, but the Church pays for everything else.
The Church in Haiti asked someone to go from the World Church Office to see
a number of projects that were being stopped due to lack of funds. Could British
Methodists help? How seriously should we take our learning and caring role?
As a result of the visit, the World Church Office is recommending a grant of
£25,000 to provide immediate assistance, but longer-term solutions are
needed e.g. the political goodwill of powerful nations, long-term investment
from overseas, reviving the agricultural economic base. A Haitian understanding
of the situation that was heard was: "Countries such as Haiti all too often
find themselves impoverished by trading rules that favour the richer nations;
the impoverishment leads to social unrest; the unrest results in oppressive
regimes and leads to undemocratic practices; the absence of democracy causes
disapproval and dissuades possible investors from the US and EU". Too simple
an analysis? Maybe, but an uncomfortable germ of truth in it.
Adapted from an article by Mike King, Team Leader, World Church Office
JMA News
We welcome two new members: Natasha Allen and David Haslam.
Diary date: JMA members' party - Sunday 18th May at 12 noon in Cornerstone.
Invitations will follow.
Mission (Im)Possible Conference
We went along to this event during the weekend 28th February - 2nd March and
took baby Christian too. There were over 270 delegates. It was for all those
involved in the mission life of our church (i.e. all of us really because we
are all missionaries). It was advertised as "The big picture and the small
solution, issues and sharing the load".
Some of the topics that could be explored included: World development issues,
gospel and culture, HIV/AIDS, asylum seekers, inter-faith relationships, new
ways of being church, rural church life and buildings in mission. It was good
to focus on some of our mission roles, gain and share knowledge to inspire and
enthuse and to be challenged. There were opportunities for reflection and to
make and develop friendships. Our focus was the mission of God, mission of the
individual and mission of the local church.
It was good to participate in worship, prayer and workshops and to hear very
good talks. One talk was on the changing culture and belief patterns in our
society today and how we can bring the Christian message to our communities
and the other on knowing and sharing God's word.
We went to a workshop "Children love mission!" which looked at resources
to make mission real and to bring the concept of the world church alive. The
group shared individual situations and experiences. The workshop "The challenge
of the Christian church" was an introduction to the church's future and
current situation, reaching our communities and the challenges ahead. We looked
at 10 questions about priorities in our churches. We may like to think and pray
these through in relation to Ashbourne Circuit: The exercise involved us giving
marks out of 10 for our own church situation, with 1 lowest, 10 highest etc.
The marks in brackets are the results of a national Methodist church survey!
Priorities in our church
1. Our worship meets people's deepest needs. (5.5)
2. Prayer is a significant part of our church life. (4.3)
3. We have an effective pastoral system (6.0)
4. Individual spiritual growth is a priority. (4.4)
5. We are good at communicating. (5.4)
6. Our church has a significant influence in the community. (4.8)
7. Leading others to faith is an important factor. (4.3)
8. Our regular giving adequately covers our expenditure. (4.7)
9. We are actively pursuing a planned mission policy. (3.5)
10. We have the resources available to extend our work (5.3)
We came away challenged to share what we'd experienced over the weekend in our
role as Circuit Missionary Co-ordinators and in our involvements in different
activities with various age groups in the Circuit and community and to support
and encourage those involved with "initiatives" reaching out with
the Gospel.
Ruth & Roger Mallard
Sponsored lose the weight
I am trying to lose weight and thought I would raise some money in the process.
Some of you know and some don't know. The money raised will go to Brailsford
Methodist Church for them to use in their redevelopment programme. Please let
me know if you are willing to sponsor me. I plan to lose up to 50lbs.
Roger Mallard
Annual Church Meeting
This is an open meeting for all members of our church when we elect Church Stewards
and Representatives to the Church Council. There is also an opportunity to raise
questions from the reports of the various activities of our church. There will
be a discussion on how we can strengthen the life of our church and your views
are both important and welcome. Please do come and share with us for this important
meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 7th April in The Century Hall.
Carole Thorpe
Christians and Iraq
It is important at this critical time in world affairs, and particularly in
the light of Rev Eddy's letter on the subject in the March newsletter, to make
the point that many Christians have thought and prayed a great deal about an
attack on Iraq and have reached the conclusion that war is justified. They (and
I am one of them) feel that there will be more death and destruction if the
Saddam Hussein regime is not toppled now than if left any longer to defile the
world and possibly gather its strength sufficiently to develop and use even
more weapons of mass destruction.
We can all join in prayers for peace, especially for a just and lasting peace.
We cannot all join in particular prayers for specified courses of action (or
inaction) over Iraq because there are divergent views about the prudence of
some of them.
It is my belief that no Christian has a monopoly of wisdom on this subject.
None of us wish to see our - or any - church divided. To ensure this does not
happen will require care, prayer, diplomacy and respect over the differing views
members hold.
Andrew I Lewer
Parwich and Ashbourne Youth Clubs
We are in need of more helpers. Please come forward and help - It is a rewarding
experience working with these young people.
Please speak with Roger Mallard.
"You know it makes sense" Conference
Do you care for someone with sensory impairment? There will be a conference
at St Oswald's Hall on Friday 4th April. There is a leaflet on the notice board
in the vestibule with more details.
Leaflets on the Bookshelf
In the vestibule is a bookshelf with several leaflets that may be of interest
to you. The latest is called "Rural Care". Please return the leaflets
when you have read them as other people may find them useful.
Half Term Holiday Club
DR EVIL Vs SPECIAL AGENT JC
A big thank you to everyone who helped in various capacities with the holiday
club. A total of 58 children attended and we all had fun. The children learned
a lot about the love of God and what Jesus really did for each of us.
Roger Mallard
Saturday Night Live!
The next Saturday Night Live! is on 26th April at 8pm in Waterside. This is
a time of lively worship followed by refreshments and a time for further fellowship
together. The worship time lasts for approximately 45 minutes. It is for everyone
- the essential criteria is to be young at heart. Cornerstone is open afterwards
for those aged 25 or under to chill out and for more lively music and refreshments.
The following is the planned schedule for the remainder of the year: 24th May,
28th June, 26th July, 30th August, 27th September, 25th October, 29th November
and 13th December.
If you would like to know more or are willing to help in anyway or would like
to be involved in leading the worship or playing an instrument in worship, please
speak with Roger Mallard.
Easter Offerings
On Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, envelopes for Easter Offerings will be placed
in the pews. All proceeds go to the Fund for World Mission. This enables, among
other things, the following to be funded:
Grants for Partner Churches overseas
¨ Training scholarships for those from our Partner Churches
¨ Training for Mission Partners
¨ Support for long and short-term Mission Partners
¨ World Church in Britain Programme
¨ Mission Live Programme
¨ Funding or the work of foreign nationals in Mission Appointments
¨ Special projects
If you would like to know more about the above, please let me know. Our Partners
are grateful for the help we give them and for the interest shown. Please give
generously to provide the necessary resources for the work of sharing the love
of God throughout the world.
Alma Swan
Dedication of Easter Offerings
The offerings will be dedicated at a Circuit Service to be held at Brailsford
on Sunday 18th May at 6.30pm. The service will be lead by ladies from Kniveton
Chapel and the speaker will be the Rev Patricia Olivent-Hayes of the Belper
Circuit. Please book the date and make sure you are there!
Alma Swan
London City Mission
The London City Mission - Ashbourne Annual Rally will be held on Wednesday 2nd
April at 2.30pm at The Century Hall, Ashbourne. The speakers will be Stuart
Baker, talking about his work in Leyton, London and David Linley from Northern
Region Support. Refreshments will be served and all are warmly welcomed
Sue Avery
Miss Marple and the Mystery of the Missing Methodists
As reported briefly in the Church notices, Miss Marple the famous super sleuth
from Midsomer Norton has been seen in Ashbourne talking to Hedley Alcock. Interviewed
by our star reporter over a genteel cup of tea in the Cornerstone, Miss Marple
said "Hedley has been one of my fans for many years and when he told me
of his problem I really felt that I must lend a hand. Before your new Minister
came, Hedley was asked by the Church Stewards to make a photo album of all the
Church family. The request was for photos of all the members, families, regular
worshippers, and those who contribute to the life of the Church. Eight months
on, and Hedley tells me that there are still some missing Methodists."
Asked to comment, Hedley said "At a guess I have handed over about 100
photos of many of the regular folk here at the Church. However, I still have
a list of about 30 families, members, friends who are missing from Chris Eddy's
album. I am anxious to take these photos so that as far as possible, Chris's
folder is complete. Last Sunday, in fact, Chris once again said how useful the
album is."
Hedley went on to say "If you have not yet been photographed for Chris's
folder, will you please telephone me on 343800 and I will gladly make arrangements
to visit you at home to take the photo - it is quick and totally painless!"
Miss Marple said, "This is a new puzzle for me, and I will be helping all
I can. But please let me finish the lovely cup of tea first."
The Cross of Christ
Ashbourne Churches Ecumenical Singers present "The Cross of Christ":
A devotion for congregation and choir. On Palm Sunday, 13th April, at 2.30pm
at Hulland Methodist Chapel.
We would be delighted if you can support us on this occasion. We shall be joined
by the organist and some singers from Derby Cathedral, and led by Rev John Perkins,
so we hope to fill the chapel, and together prepare our hearts for the Easter
message.
Ruth Perkins
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
PRACTICAL ACTION FOR THE SUFFERING CHURCH.
A Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) team will be in Egypt in 2003 visiting
prisoners and their families. If you would like to join this team please contact
the Egypt Desk Officer on (0208 942 8810.
There is an article about a Cuban Christian who has recently been arrested and
who is in need of our prayers and practical support. The article can be found
on the table at the rear of the Church. Please help.
If you want to know more about CSW please speak with Roger Mallard.
Operation Christmas Child
I recently received a report about Operation Christmas Child (OCC) from our
previous church in Redditch and thought it may be of interest. It actually deals
with the distribution point in Evesham, but I suspect it is not much different
from what happened at the Chesterfield warehouse, which is where our boxes went.
This year, Evesham collected 86,000 boxes. Some of these were despatched in
December, and others went in early January to Armenia, as the Armenians celebrate
Christmas at the time of our Epiphany.
The boxes were transported by lorries which had brought goods over to this country
from Europe and which would otherwise have returned empty. This reduced the
cost of transport, for example, one lorry came to this country loaded with Samsung
televisions and another brought a load of bird cages! All returned carrying
Christmas shoe boxes, to Odessa (Ukraine), Constanza (Romania), Budapest (Hungary),
Bosnia and Serbia.
On arrival at their destinations, they were taken to "partners". This
is NOT the stationers, but are people who work for, or in conjunction with,
Samaritan's Purse, the charity which organises OCC. The partners are people
already stationed in the countries receiving boxes, working in outreach, many
of them ministers. They organise the distribution through orphanages, hospitals,
schools, youth groups and gypsy camps. Christian books in appropriate languages,
provided by the charity, are also given to the children.
The 2002 collection is now successfully completed. In a few weeks time (perhaps
even by the time you read this magazine) preparations for 2003 will begin. In
spring the "partners" send in their bids for a certain number of boxes,
and when all bids are in allocations will be made for the 2003 deliveries. The
need is huge. Our contribution may seem like a drop in the ocean (180 out of
6 million), but without the thousands of such "drops" worldwide, the
ocean would not be formed.
If we receive news of the Chesterfield distribution centre we will let you know.
We may even be able to discover where our boxes were sent.
Here's to our next Christmas Shoe Box project!
Betty Hadley
ENCOUNTERS
Relive Biblical Encounters with God
in a production by Ashbourne Methodist Church
7.30pm
10th 11th 12th April
Ashbourne Methodist Church
Trade Justice
Thank you to everyone who wrote a postcard to Tony Blair asking him to help
re-write the international rules of trade. I collected 60 postcards and sent
them in a couple of batches, and I know that many of you sent your own. I realise
that it may seem futile to send him postcards at a time when he is focussing
on the situation in Iraq, but we need to keep reminding him of the importance
that trade rules play in keeping millions of people in poverty. And poverty
leads to the loss of life. A child dies of hunger every eight seconds, and yet
international trade rules continue to be biased against the poor and hungry.
To put Trade Justice into perspective, this year's Comic Relief raised around
£35m on the night, yet international trade is worth around $10m a minute.
It would only need a fraction of this to help lift thousands of people out of
poverty, and give them a sustainable future.
We therefore encourage you to continue to show your support for the campaign
by:
· Wearing a Trade for Life badge - £2 from Stuart or Catherine
Green. Or better still, wearing a Trade for Life T-shirt - £8
· Speaking to your friends and colleagues about Fair Trade and Trade
Justice. If you don't know what to say there's a great introduction to the topic
in the Trade Justice Handbook…
· Reading the Trade Justice Handbook - available from the "Mission"
noticeboard at Ashbourne Church, or from Stuart or Catherine Green
· Writing another postcard to Tony Blair in 2-3 months
· Keeping involved, by signing up for regular news, updates and resources
from Christian Aid by phoning (020 7523 2225 or logging on to www.christianaid.org.uk/campaign
Stuart & Catherine Green, John & Elizabeth Hurfurt
Easter Holiday Club
It is planned to run a one-day holiday club (10am to 3.30pm) during the Easter
holidays on Thursday 24th April. If you are not on holiday yourselves would
you please consider helping out at the holiday club. There are a variety of
jobs that need doing and we do need as much help as possible. If you have some
good ideas for a holiday club or if you are willing to help in whatever capacity,
please speak with Roger Mallard.
Women's Network
TIGHTS
In January, Betty and Alma packed six parcels of tights (mainly clean used ones)
and sent them to the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa, where they are used to
keep bandages and dressings in place. Alma has now received an acknowledgment
from the hospital - so thank you to all who took part in this appeal!
LUNCH AT BRAILSFORD
Our next Circuit event will be a lunch hosted by the ladies of Brailsford. Lunch
will commence at 12.30pm on Wednesday 14th May. Tickets will be £3 and
will be on sale nearer the time - but please make a note of the date now! The
lunch will be followed by a meeting at 2pm at which the speaker will be Mrs
Ann Donaldson of Weston, Stafford.
Alma Swan
Family News
We have received a message from Jenny Waring, who has recently had a heart operation
and is now on the road to recovery.
"I would like to say thankyou to everyone who sent cards and prayed for
me while I was in Glenfield. I'm getting better each day and hope to be with
you all again soon. Jenny Waring"
Joan Constable, who has also recently had a stay in hospital, has also sent
us the following note.
"I wish to thank you for all your prayers and gifts of flowers, and for
all the folk who visited me whilst in hospital and at home. Also all those who
came and had fellowship and prayed with me, and our minister Chris Eddy who
came to visit and give me Communion.
I am also very grateful for the kindness of Rosemary and Lesley for keeping
me supplied with me evening meal. Joan Constable"
We send our congratulations to Ruth & John Perkins on the birth of their
grand-daughter Abigail Alice, daughter for Andrew and Gwen.
We wish a Happy Retirement to Mrs. Chris Dakin who retired recently as a post
lady after 21 years.
We are pleased to hear that Mrs.Barbara Dadge and Pete Mawdsley are both getting
better.
We pray for Mrs. Annie Weston and Mrs. Lillian Shaw who are both ill in hospital.
We remember too, Mrs. Betty Little and Mr. Tom Little. Tom is currently in the
City Hospital for assessment.
At this time we remember the families of Mrs. Kathleen Stubbs, Mrs. Jean Smith
and Mrs. Ursula Spencer. We ask that God be close to them at their time of mourning.
Prayers
We continue to ask for you to especially remember the following
things in your prayers this month:
30th March Our friends at other Ashbourne churches
31st March Those attending the Alpha course
1st April The Youth Club
2nd April The work of the London City Mission
3rd April The Church of North India
4th April World leaders at this difficult time
5th April Groups staying in The Gateway Centre
6th April The young people of our church
7th April The future of our church
8th April Members of the Women's Fellowship group
9th April Members of housegroups
10th April Those preparing for Encounters
11th April The audience of Encounters, that they might encounter God
12th April Those serving at Cornerstone
13th April Ashbourne Churches Ecumenical Singers
14th April Missionaries throughout the world
15th April Those considering helping with Explorers
16th April Those enjoying time off for Easter
17th April The work of Methodist Homes
18th April People seeing the Walk of Witness in Ashbourne
19th April Walkers passing Milldale chapel
20th April Those unable to be at church today
21st April Those who look after our church building
22nd April St Luke's Hospital, Hiranpur
23rd April Fairtrade organisations
24th April The work of NCH
25th April All customers of Cornerstone
26th April Young people at Saturday Night Live!
Nestlé & Ethiopia
Nestlé continue to send updates on the situation regarding the $1.5m
settlement they accepted in compensation from Ethiopia. The first half of this
money has now been paid to Nestlé, who have passed on this money directly
to two humanitarian organisations working in Ethiopia.
Payments of $375,000 have been made to the Ethiopian Red Cross and Caritas,
the Catholic relief and development organisation.
Nestlé also states that it continues to explore "potential ways
it could help Ethiopia to create longer term improvements in the nutritional
and health status of the Ethiopian people."
Let's hope that Nestlé don't forget their commitment to reduce hunger
in Africa as time passes.
Stuart Green
Dates for your Diary
APRIL
Wed 2nd 2.30pm London City Mission Rally Century Hall
Mon 7th 7.30pm Annual Church Meeting Century Hall
Thurs 10th 7.30pm Encounters Ashbourne Church
Fri 11th 7.30pm Encounters Ashbourne Church
Thurs 12th 7.30pm Encounters Ashbourne Church
Sun 13th 9am Brailsford_Alive@9 Brailsford
Sun 13th 2.30pm The Cross of Christ (ACES) Hulland Chapel
Thurs 17th 7.30pm Maundy Thursday Communion Ashbourne Church
Fri 18th 10.30am Good Friday Service Ashbourne Church
Fri 18th 12.15pm Walk of Witness Victoria Square
Sat 19th 11am Milldale Walk Milldale Car Park
Sat 19th 2.30pm Milldale Service Milldale Chapel
Sun 20th 8am Communion Ashbourne Church
Wed 23rd 7.30pm Fairtrade Fashion Show St Oswald's Church Hall
Thurs 24th 10am Holiday Club Waterside
Sat 26th 8pm Saturday Night Live! Waterside
Sun 27th 9am Brailsford_Alive@9 Brailsford
Items (including Dates for Your Diary) for the April Ashbourne Church magazine
to me by 9pm on Wednesday 16th April