North Wingfield Team Blog:
20 October 2018
What does God do all day?
Ever wonder what God does up there in
heaven? Some
of us imagine God the Father resting on a great gold
throne, surrounded by angels dressed in white, eternally
playing on harps.
And beyond them are millions of people, standing
about. After
all, as one hymn (Jerusalem,
my happy home) puts it:
where ‘congregations ne’er break up and Sabbaths
never end’. To be honest, a fairly awful prospect.
But the Bible says differently. Jesus
talks of His Father as being engaged with the world,
working with us, giving us our daily bread, guiding us,
caring for us, protecting us from evil, answering
prayer, judging wrong and welcoming those who turn to
Him. Where
Christians are working, there the Lord is too: ‘And they
went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working
with them’. (Mark 16.20) So God does not merely sit
there and watch us work, He actually works with us.
In our diocese, over 70 people of all ages have learnt to ring this year ready for Remembrance Sunday, 11 November 2018, for the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. They are some of the 2000 people who have joined the national #RingingRemembers campaign to honour the bell ringers who died in WW1.
The new bell ringers have joined teams of current ringers in churches throughout the Diocese of Derby, giving their local churches and communities that iconic soundscape for Sundays, Christmas, weddings and special occasions. New bell ringers soon become 'hooked' on their new activity, enjoying exhilarating new experiences, effective workouts, challenges and rewards and a fun social life.
New ringers are still being recruited. If you are interested, please sign up before 11 November 2018.
On the morning of 11 November 2018, muffles will be used
to make bells sound alternately loud then soft when they
are rung in remembrance of those who gave their lives
serving our country.
In the afternoon and evening the
muffles will be removed and bells will ring out in
celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice:
at 12:30pm for 'Ringing Remembers' and at 7:05pm for
'Battle's Over - Ringing Out for Peace'.
For more information email LearnToRing@derbyda.org.uk.
Facebook: Bell Ringing Derbyshire
Halloween is
on the way
It is that
time of year again – when the pumpkins with scary faces
appear in our shops, surrounded by skeleton costumes,
zombie masks, witch’s hats and sweets with gruesome
names.
How do
Christian parents deal with this annual celebration of
evil and death?
For of course 31st October has pagan
Celtic roots – it was the evening when the souls of the
dead were meant to revisit their old homes on earth.
Most kids
just want the fun of dressing up and scaring their
friends half to death.
They are oblivious to the darker forces behind it
all, or at least do not take them seriously.
Many
Christian families and churches have resolved the
problem not by ignoring Halloween, but by taking it as
only the starting point in a festival, not the end in
itself.
Hence, they allow their children to dress up, but then
take them to a Lights Party, where the whole story is
told, not just the pagan bit.
Instead of discouraging any thoughts of evil and
death, they encourage the children to consider the
darkness – but through a Christian lens.
Christians do not deny death and dying and evil,
but they know that death has no real terrors for us at
all, because it has been defeated through the cross and
resurrection of Jesus.
Halloween is only half the story:
Christianity is the completion, because God in
his love sent Jesus to save us from darkness.
So - Halloween is a time to
remind our children that Jesus is with us in both the
good and bad times of life.
Quotes
"The trouble with quotes on the
Internet is that you can never know if they
are
genuine." -
Winston Churchill.
13 October 2018
Christian fair trade business
Traidcraft may stop selling goods
Traidcraft plc is in trouble.
With very poor recent trading figures and despite
enormous efforts by the staff and management and Fair
Traders, it warns that the present model for the company
may be no longer viable.
Traidcraft's charity branch, Traidcraft Exchange, will
continue to support farmers and lobby government through
its charitable arm, and the decision about closing the
trading arm is still in a consultation period and not
final.
Traidcraft plc first started in 1979, selling fair-trade
coffee, sugar and chocolate as well as rugs and handmade
baskets from Bangladesh. They went on to sell fair-trade
clothes and wine.
Most of
us remember them from church stalls and markets. Their
aim was to keep a close link between producer and
purchaser.
A
spokesperson for Traidcraft said:
'Traidcraft plc's mission to put the principles
of fair trade into commercial practice is not, in any
sense, fulfilled but we appreciate that it is time to
consider new approaches.'
The worse you feel, the more
likely you are to believe in God.
At least
that is a finding from the latest British Social
Attitudes (BSA) survey, which has found that patients
admitted to hospital are more likely to have religious
faith than people in the general public.
It seems
that more than half of us are happy to say that we have
'no religion', according to the latest BSA survey, which
found that 52 per cent of us deny any religious
affiliation.
But this figure drops to only 15 per cent once
you become a NHS patient.
Data from
the Manchester University NHS Trust also shows that
while 40 per cent of the population identify as
Christian, this figure soars to 66 per cent once people
are admitted to hospital.
Love, loss, and remembering
Autumn has traditionally been a time when
Christians explore the big questions about life and
death. Watching the leaves fall and the nights draw in
is an opportunity for all ages to think about love and
loss and remember in special ways.
Children ask questions
about death for all kinds of reasons. It may come from
seeing a local war memorial, or closer to home with the
death of a pet. Or maybe your child has lost a
great-grandparent, grandparent, a family friend, a
teacher, a neighbour, an aunt or uncle.
For some children, the impact of loss has huge
consequences, especially if it’s the death of a parent
or a sibling. However and whenever those questions come,
there are good ways to remember those we see no longer
with family at home:
• Light a candle on important days and say a
prayer. “Loving God, thank you for _ and help us to
remember them well.” This is a simple prayer to say
together.
• Gather some items that remind you of that person
– letters they wrote, photos of them, items of clothing
– and keep them in a nice box. Children can add things
to the box.
• Taking part in charities connected to the person
who died; Race for Life is a family-friendly event that
can honour people who died from cancer, for example.
• Children can help taking care of a gravesite –
pulling weeds, choosing flowers or other items to bring
at special times, washing a memorial stone, etc.
The church also has ways of remembering those we
love who have died. This happens at the start of
November, at All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. A week
later, at Remembrance Sunday, we remember those who died
in wars, and pray for peace.
At All Saints’ Day
(November 1st), we remember those Christians
who have died, who we don’t know personally. A “saint”
is someone whose life shows us how to follow Jesus.
There are all kinds of saints – teachers, artists,
scientists, social reformers, troublemakers, writers,
and many more.
Say that again?
A woman
telephoned her bank and spoke to the accountant who
looked after her holdings. 'I want to make some
changes,' she said.
The
accountant asked for more details. 'Are you interested
in Conversion or Redemption?' he asked.
'Good heavens,' came the
reply. 'I must have got the wrong number.
I wanted the Bank of England, not the Church of
England.'
Temptations are everywhere,
and so is the grace of God.
- Anon
6 October 2018
Prayer for
changing seasons
Follow The Star is the Church of England’s 2018
Christmas campaign. Thousands of Christmas services and
events will be taking place in churches all over the
country in the run up to Christmas.
The
campaign will serve a number of purposes:
More details on their website.
The Revd Barbara
Dale who retired in 2013, died on Sunday, 2 September 2018. Revd
Barbara was Deaconess from 1981, Parish Deacon 1987-1990
of North Wingfield, Pilsley and Tupton (Diocese of
Derby), Parish Deacon 1990-1994 then Team Vicar
1994-2000 of North Wingfield, Clay Cross and Pilsley;
Assistant Curate of Eckington and Ridgeway 2000-2004,
and Team Vicar in the East Scarsdale Team Ministry
2004-2013. Her funeral was held on 18 September 2018.
30 September 2018
Growing numbers of young people train as priests
Growing numbers of young people are seeking ordination
to the priesthood, as the Church of England makes
progress towards achieving a key target of recruiting
more candidates for ordained ministry.
The number of people aged under 32 years old recommended
for training for ordination this year rose by nearly a
third, or 32%, to 169, compared to 128 in 2016, a report
on vocations from the Church of England shows. This
means nearly one in three, or 29%, of those entering
training for the priesthood this year are expected to be
under 32 years old.
The overall number of people recommended for ordination
training is up 7% on last year, from 541 to 580. This
follows a 14% increase the year before, putting the
Church on course to achieving a key target of recruiting
50% more candidates for ordination by 2020.
The figures have been published alongside Ministry
Statistics for 2017 showing just over 20,000 active
clergy in the Church of England, with women making up
nearly a third, or 30% of the total. But the
number of clergy in paid positions in 2017 fell by 50
from 7,790 to 7,740 compared to 2016.
Nearly a quarter, or 23% of paid clergy in senior posts,
such as Bishops, Cathedral Deans or Archdeacons were
women in 2017, compared to 12% in 2012.
Meanwhile, the vocations report shows that women are set
to be the majority entering ordination training for the
second year running, with 54% of this year’s recommended
candidates being female.
Director of the Church of England's Ministry Division,
Julian Hubbard, said: “I am delighted that the Church of
England has seen a rise in the number of vocations to
the priesthood for the second year running. We are
particularly pleased to see the increase in the number
of young women and men entering training.
Catherine Nancekievill, Head of Discipleship and
Vocation for the Church of England, said: “The Church of
England is investing in worshipping communities across
the country from coastal towns to rural areas and urban
housing estates. This rise in vocations to ordained
ministry is a welcome answer to our prayers and hard
work across the country to ensure that we continue to
bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to every community.”
The Church of England is aiming to achieve an increase
in the diversity of those entering ministry and a 50%
increase in the total number of candidates for ordained
ministry by 2020. This is part of its Renewal and Reform
programme .
Safe houses for persecuted Bangladeshi Christians
Barnabas Fund has been building new houses for
Christians among the Santal people of Gaibandah District
in Bangladesh, who have been victims of violent
persecution. One such is Dijen Tado, who was shot in the
chest when he and his family fled a riot back in 2016.
Helped by local Muslims, the police had set fire to the
wooden shacks of all the Christians in the village,
killing at least three, and making about 5,500 of them
homeless.
When local church leaders told Dijen that he would get
one of the new homes, he could scarcely believe it.
“Every day when work was progressing I came to see. I
prayed and waited … I saw a small light that is from
Jesus Christ that I will get a place to live,” said
Dijen.
After living in a wooden shack and then a makeshift tent
for endless months, the sturdy brick house was a dream
come true for Dijen. “Now I have a real place to
live. Not only that, now we have a good toilet, school
for the children and church nearby so we can worship.”
Brick buildings, on church-owned land, make the
Christians far less vulnerable to attack in future.
Fifty homeless Santal families have recently moved into
their brand-new houses. But thousands more still need to
be re-housed.
If you would like to help build new homes, or
donate towards some wells that will provide water,
please go to:
https://barnabasfund.org/us/appeals/victims-of-violence-providing-a-home-will-you-help
Whose fault
is it, anyway?
In a small town a businessman put in planning
permission to build a nightclub complete with dancing
girls. The
local church started a vigorous campaign to block it
from opening.
The church launched a petition and held prayers
in public.
Work progressed, however, right up until the week before
opening.
Then one night a bolt of lightning strike hit the
nightclub and it burned to the ground.
The church members were rather smug after that, until
the nightclub owner sued them all -on the grounds that
they were responsible for the fire. Loudly protesting
their total non-involvement and innocence, the church
members were all taken to court.
As the case began, the judge looked over the paperwork
and observed: ‘I don't know how I'm going to decide
this. It
appears that we have a nightclub owner who believes in
the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation
that doesn't!’
Something definite
Are you in the right place? Are you doing the right
thing?
God has created me to do him some definite service.
He has committed some work to me that he has not
committed to another.
I have my mission.
John Henry
Newman.
22 Setember 2018
Closer ties
The Methodist Conference has welcomed the Mission and Ministry in
Covenant joint report by the Methodist Church and
the Church of England. The report outlines proposals for
bringing the Methodist Church and the Church of England
into communion with each other.
If
accepted, the proposals would enable interchangeability
between presbyteral ministries and see increased
missional opportunities as the two churches work closer
together to support the communities they serve.
The joint
report has already been welcomed by the Church of
England at its General Synod. The Methodist Conference
asked for a further report to be brought to the 2019
Conference.
The story behind the HYMN:
Stand by me
We’ve recently mourned the death of
the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. So it is a good time
to remember another African American song-writer,
Charles Tindley. He not only used his gift to give voice
to thousands of people struggling with pain and
rejection, he also gave them good reason for hope – in
God.
Charles Albert Tindley knew all about
hardship and suffering. He was born to a slave father in
Maryland in 1851, ten years before the Civil War began.
Although his mother was free, she died when he
was very young, and so he was raised by his aunt and
father. They lived in poverty, and from early childhood
he was hired out – ‘wherever my father could place me’.
Yet Charles wanted more out of life.
As a teenager he taught himself to read, and
managed to get to night-school. He had become a devout
Christian and felt called to the ministry.
And so, after completing a seminary course by
correspondence, he was ordained a Methodist pastor, and
went to Philadelphia.
He did not go alone; when just 17 he had married
a local girl, Daisy. They would share 56 years of
marriage and produce eight children.
In Philadelphia, Charles and Daisy
began a small church in a poor section of town.
He was quickly noticed – at 6 foot four inches,
it was hard not
to see him!
He was a born leader, and his little church soon began
to grow…. from nothing to finally 10,000 people.
When he spoke, people could hear an authentic
voice of painful experience, and yet always Christian
hope as well.
Charles knew about poverty and believed
Christians should help: his church offered food banks
and clothing drives to the local community, as well as a
soup kitchen from the church basement.
Charles often went out into the streets of his
rough neighbourhood, visiting the bars to talk to
desperate people about Jesus Christ.
Like Aretha Franklin, Charles knew
that most African-Americans felt trapped in hopeless
situations, and that they were regarded as second class
citizens. So
his music urged them to have hope in the love of God,
and in His protection for them.
This hymn reflects that shining faith.
Stand by me
1. When the storms of life are
raging, stand by me;
when the storms of life are
raging, stand by me.
When the world is tossing me,
like a ship upon the sea,
Lord, who rules the wind
and water, stand by me.
2. In the midst of tribulation, stand by me;
in the
midst of tribulation, stand by me.
When the host of
hell assail, and my strength begins to fail,
Lord,
who never lost a battle, stand by me.
3. In the midst of faults and
failures, stand by me;
in the midst of faults and
failures, stand by me.
When I’ve done the best I can,
and my friends misunderstand,
Lord, who knows all
about me, stand by me.
4. In the midst of persecution,
stand by me;
in the midst of persecution, stand by
me.
When my foes in war array undertake to stop my
way,
Lord, who saved Paul and Silas, stand by me.
5. When I’m growing old and feeble,
stand by me;
when I’m growing old and feeble, stand
by me.
When my life becomes a burden and I’m nearing
chilly Jordan,
Lord, the Lily of the Valley, stand by
me.
Say again?
20 September 2018
Give some ‘mustard seeds’ this Harvest
Did you know that half the population of this country is financially vulnerable? In fact, England has one of the lowest levels of financial capability in the developed world, according to the Just Finance Foundation. A good reason why the Mustard Seed Appeal has returned for another year.
The Mustard Seed Appeal was born out of the Archbishop’s vision for a fairer, more just and equitable financial system that works for all sectors of society. The Appeal, now in its third year was founded by the Archbishop, who made the very first gift to the appeal, which raises vital funds for the work of the Just Finance Foundation.
The Archbishop shares how the Parable of the Mustard Seed relates to the vision of the Just Finance Foundation being a place of refuge and support for all who need it.
With five out of six people who are over-indebted not seeking the help they need, there is still much work to be done. So this autumn the Archbishop is inviting Christians across the country to send a gift to the appeal, and by doing so, help to build financial resilience back into our communities.
Visit: https://www.cuf.org.uk/mustard-seed-appeal
Deliver us... I had been teaching my three-year-old daughter the Lord's Prayer. Then one evening at bedtime she attempted it solo. I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word, right up to the end of the prayer. ‘Lead us not into temptation,’ she prayed, ‘but deliver us from e-mail. Amen.’
