SERVICES in February February am - Family Communion Sunday Club. 8am - Holy Communion (BCP) 2nd Sunday before Lent.

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1 SERVICES in February th Feb 2nd Sunday before Lent 10am - Family Sunday Club 11th Feb Sunday before Lent 10am - Parade Service 14th Feb Ash Wednesday - 7pm - Holy 18th Feb 1st Sunday of Lent 10am - Holy 25th Feb 2nd Sunday of Lent 10am - Morning Prayer & Baptism 4th March 3rd Sunday of Lent 10am - Family Sunday Club February Issue 32

2 Christ Church, Vicarage Street, Ilkeston, Derbys DE7 8TS website: Who s Who? Vicar - Rev d Peter Davey Tel: Associate Priest - Rev d Geoffrey Halliday Reader - Barbara Clayton Tel: Church Wardens - Glenice Boulton Tel: Julie Hart Mob: Church Hall Bookings - Joan Bacon joan_bacon@hotmail.com Tel: Baptisms/Service of Thanksgiving - Barbara Clayton Organist/Choirmaster - Bill Langton Tel: PCC Members Glenice Boulton, Margaret Bromby, Michael Bromby (Treasurer), Barbara Clayton, Rev d Peter Davey, Jeanette Guilford, Geoffrey Halliday (Observer), Julie Hart (Vice-Chair), David Martin, Iris Roe, Lorraine Turnbull and Lu Vitale. CALENDAR for February 2018 DATE TIME EVENT 5th 6pm 7pm Prayer Meeting 6th 10.15am am Coffee Morning 7th 12 midday Lunch Club 12th 6pm 7pm Prayer Meeting 13th 10.15am am Coffee Morning 14th 12 midday Lunch Club 19th 6pm 7pm Prayer Meeting 20th Special Lunch - see page 9 21st 12 midday Lunch Club 26th 6pm 7pm Prayer Meeting 27th 10.15am am Coffee Morning 28th 12 midday Lunch Club Lunch Club - Service usually held once a month Date for your Diary Christ Church News is edited by Ele McGhee. Additional material Parish Pump Contact: or elemcghee@outlook.com if you would like to contribute or to receive a copy via . Large print version also available on request. Contributions for March issue by Friday 16th February. Next PCC Meeting: Tuesday 20th February - tbc Mothering Sunday - 11th March 2 15

3 People serving in church this month Date Welcomers Reader Prayers 4th Feb 11th Feb 18th Feb 25th Feb Dreena Simpson Sue Wood Uniformed Groups Ann Hooker Ele McGhee Maurice Lynn Will Allen Family Planning Group Uniformed Groups * With one other person, depending on clergy presence 14 Family Planning Group Uniformed Groups Assisting at * David Jones Val Norgain Viv Sumner Julie Hart David Jones Val Norgain - - Dust you are and to dust you shall return Dust you are and to dust you shall return. Those of you who come to the Ash Wednesday communion service will hear those words spoken as part of the service. Fewer people realise where that phrase originates, that the words were originally spoken by God to Adam at the beginning of the Bible. In Genesis Chapter 3 God tells Adam the consequences of having eaten the Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (you can see the attraction of wrongly referring to it as an apple ) and because Adam had become corrupt, one consequence was that he was prevented from eating the fruit of the Tree of Life. So sin and death became inextricably linked, not just for Adam, but for the whole of humanity: dust we are and to dust we shall return. The story of the Bible is the story of God redeeming us from the mess that humanity has got itself into. Lent takes us from the fall in Genesis through to Jesus death and resurrection - his death breaking the power of sin over us, and his resurrection offering us the wonderful prospect of life, new life starting now and going on into eternity. The cross and the empty tomb are central to our faith and Lent gives us an opportunity to refocus on them, a time to step back from our normal day to day priorities and refocus on God. So if Lent is a time to refocus on God, what is the best way to do it? 3

4 Many people choose to fast at this time of year in one way or another. Fasting and prayer go together so pray for 10 minutes each meal you miss, or if you do a mini-fast, pray for 2 minutes each time you forego a chocolate digestive or a Kit-Kat. Alternatively, as Lent is linked to the redeeming work of God from the fall to the resurrection, we could perhaps reengage with the Bible. If you have not read the Bible for a while, try reading one of the Gospels through Lent a chapter a day and you will easily have time to finish a gospel and have bonus time left over to read an epistle or two as well. Either way, may our focus this Lent be on God. Wishing you Grace and Peace, Peter Daisy Chain and Buttercups Toddler Groups Presentation to Iris Roe In appreciation of all the hard work, support and love shown over the years that Iris has run Daisy Chain and Buttercups, the mothers and volunteers presented her with an engraved vase and a hamper to say thank you. Jeanette Guilford Uniformed Groups normally meet during term-time: Wednesday - 6pm Beavers Thursday Friday pm Cubs pm Scouts pm Rainbows & Brownies - 7pm Guides DAISY CHAIN TUESDAYS : 9.15am am Play sessions for children 0-3 years. Term time only. Cost 1.50 for first child, 50p for each subsequent child. Refreshments included. BUTTERCUPS FRIDAYS : 9am - 11am Cost 1.50 for first child, 50p for each subsequent child. Refreshments included. Please contact Jeanette Guilford for more information about either group on: Mob:

5 Sunday Club Sunday Club meets at 10am in the church hall usually on: the 1st Sunday each month. Sunday Club welcomes all children and young people, aged 2 years 6 months and upwards, with parents staying with their younger ones if they wish. See back page for dates of all Sunday Club sessions. Barbara Clayton Services at Hazelwood The service at Hazelwood is usually held monthly on a Tuesday afternoon. If you are able to swell the numbers you are most welcome. Please see Peter Davey for more details. Please also remember the residents of Hazelwood, especially at this time of uncertainty regarding the future of their home. Coffee Morning Tuesdays 10.15am am Term time only Held in the small hall, this is a time to relax and chat with coffee and cake - 1 only! Help Wanted! We are still in need of people to help serve the coffee and cakes, roughly once a month. If you can help please see Margaret Bromby. Money News As you may know, I have been recently appointed to the position of Treasurer to the PCC. Thank you to all the people who have wished me well - Good luck with that! seems to be a common sentiment. Special thanks to the previous Treasurer, Lorraine, who continues to help me whenever possible (and I need it). New System for Payments We have been directed by the Diocese not to make cash payments directly out of the collection money. Therefore, I proposed to introduce a Petty Cash system as soon as possible. Receipts for 10 or under will be repaid in cash - just bring your receipt to either myself or the Church Wardens, preferably on a Sunday, after Church. All receipts must be itemised to show clearly what you have bought. Cheques: Any items over 10 will be repaid by cheque, initially, or by bank transfer once I have set up internet banking (although, judging by the time it took the bank to simply change addresses for the statements, this may be a while). Apologies for any initial inconvenience but I don t fancy prison food! Mike Bromby Treasurer 12 5

6 Prayer Focus Fairtrade Fortnight February - 11 March Prayer for Lent - Who Wouldn t? The Master said: This year the Fairtrade Foundation would like us to join them in supporting the farmers and workers who grow our food. It's a shocking fact that millions of poor farmers who produce the food we love still don t earn enough to feed their own families. It s time for this injustice to end. Come, follow. That was all. Earth-joy grew dim, My soul went after him. With Fairtrade we have the power to change the world every day. Fairtrade opens doors. I rose and followed, That was all. Who wouldn t follow if They heard Him call? God s calling.. Anon Will you answer? Do you always hear your phone ring? Most of us would have to say not always. There can be many reasons for this; too busy doing other things; in another room, in a busy shop and numerous other things, so that the ring is drowned out. It reminds me of the lyrics of the old hymn Jesus calls us o er the tumult of the world s wild, restless sea. A verse ending with Jesus saying to us Christian, love me more. Lent is a time for reflection on the amazing love God has for all His children, all people everywhere. Such love that caused Jesus to come and die for us to be reconciled to God. To step into a new life with Him and to make a fresh start. Who wouldn t answer the call if they knew the depth of such love? 6 What can we do? When we reach for our favourite food and drink each day without thinking about where it comes from, we may be feeding exploitation and be part of the problem. But we can choose to be part of the solution. For our morning brew, whether it s a English Breakfast tea or a strong coffee: always look for the Fairtrade Mark on the packet. Fairtrade choice is found in most supermarkets or order via church. Coffee on the go: Before you pop into your usual high street coffee shop, double check to see if their coffee is Fairtrade certified. If unsure, then ask the barista. We have the power to make companies source sustainably through our choices. Lynne Tomlinson & Ele McGhee Christingle 2017 The total raised for the work of the Children's Society is ( from collecting candles and envelopes; from donations via Christmas card posting box). Thank you. Lynne & Ele. 11

7 PCC News During January s meeting the PCC discussed the following: Lighting in Church will be replaced with LED lights as current lights fail. Disabled Parking: It is estimated that this will cost about 1500 to drop the kerb and provide a mesh parking area on the grass for two vehicles. Grants are no longer available from the Council. Any Ideas? The new audio-visual system to be installed in Church soon. The Church Hall floor is to be repaired even sooner. REAL Easter eggs will be on sale soon. Mavis Towlson who was a very long standing member of church died last year and kindly made a donation of 2,000 to Christ Church in her will. Mike Bromby New Secretary to PCC Helen Jacks has offered to serve as Secretary to the PCC, taking over from Mike Bromby. We wish her well in her new role. Life is so busy, there is so much happening around us and so much coming to us through the media. Taking time to fellowship with God not only brings joy to His heart but it also brings refreshing and peace to us. God is calling us all the time, may we take time to fellowship with Him, to thank Him for His grace and goodness and just enjoy being in His presence. May we answer the call, pick up the phone and like the hymn says: Christian, love me more. The cost of discipleship for some is high Prayer Meeting Mondays from 6pm - 7pm Iris Open Doors, one of the organisations supporting the persecuted church worldwide, presented its annual World Watch List to parliament in January. The report lists the 50 most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian and again North Korea was No 1, as it has been since Please pray for courage and protection for the tens of thousands of North Koreans who follow Jesus, despite the risk of torture, imprisonment and worse. Give thanks that, despite these risks, the North Korean church is growing! The spiritual battle always intensifies when God is doing something amazing. ww.opendoors.org The weekly prayer meeting will begin again on Monday 5th February. Please contact Iris Roe for details. Everyone is most welcome to attend. Prayer Notes are available to pick up in the foyer. 10 7

8 Parish Development - Outreach 2017 Report December 19th 2017 saw the culmination of a year s planning and preparation by CCC&S s Outreach team. By that day 800 had been raised through special lunches, donations and the stomach contents of Percy Pig (Sunday morning refreshment donations) amounting to ! The boxes needed to house all the hamper items were donated by Centurion in Doncaster where Barbara C s son, Peter, works. 2 vans and 5 people met at Aldi at 8am to collect the food order and take it to the Church Hall. 26 hampers of 3 different sizes were then filled by more willing volunteers. A pack of mince pies, box of Matchmakers, chocolate yule log and a box of sharing chocolates, all kindly donated by Glenice and her sister, were packed on top of each hamper giving a seasonal touch. With the hampers went 51 bags full of individually wrapped Christmas presents for the children and 11 single parents received gifts too. All of these were kindly bought, filled and wrapped by our congregation and friends. Those unable to shop as easily as others made financial donations. Teams of people then delivered the hampers and parcels around the local area where they were gratefully received. Details of the times of Christmas services and a Christmas card were also given. Since delivering the hampers and parcels we have received many phone calls thanking us for these gifts. 8 What will be happening in 2018? This year we need to raise at least 800. The average cost of a hamper is 30 and there will be more information next month on how you can sponsor a hamper. Our first fundraising event is on February 20th. Please see below for more details. That just leaves us to say a huge THANK YOU to each and everyone for the contribution you have made in whatever way. Lynne Tomlinson (on behalf of Parish Development - Outreach Team) An Invitation to Lunch on Tuesday 20 February at 11.30am Lunch will be served at 12pm. On offer will be a jacket potato with choice of fillings - cheese, beans or tuna with a side salad followed by cake and tea or coffee. There will be a raffle, lucky ticket and pick the winner - you ve got to be in it to win it! Tickets: 4 (adult) 2 (under 16) Tickets available from Sue Wood ( ) or Lynne Tomlinson ( ) Raising Funds for Christmas Hampers 9