Buxton United Reformed Church Hardwick Square East

Transcription

1 Buxton United Reformed Church Hardwick Square East April 2019

2 Hardship or Harvest? I recently attended a two-day conference entitled Brexit: Hardship or Harvest at Swanwick. I do not normally attend such events but, in the light of recent upheavals around the world, including the very chaotic and contentious Brexit process, I felt strongly moved to go. The conference was led by the Rev. Dr. Clifford Hill and his wife, Monica, of Issachar Ministries. Over 100 delegates and speakers attended but we had been allocated to smaller groups of around 10 and a lot of discussion and prayer were based in these group meetings. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that two of those in my group were old friends: Julia was a close friend s older sister and John, her husband, had been one of my Crusader class leaders from the 1970 s! The purpose of the conference was: to seek what God is saying to us about the situation facing us in our nation; to ask Him how we should pray and what we should do: to ask Him to reveal to us how He is working out His purposes today in the maelstrom of conflicting forces at work in the world and in our nation that seek to undermine truth and to cause division and conflict Each day began with worship, bible study and prayer; other sessions were led by Clifford and Monica with occasional contributions from various speakers including Syd Doyle, an Irish evangelist based in Michigan and Andrea Williams of Christian Concern and member of the C. of E. Synod.

3 Clifford Hill is an ordained minister in the Congregationalist church, a sociologist and theologian, an author of over 40 books and a man with a prophetic ministry. Clifford s latest book, The Reshaping of Britain, is a fascinating personal account of changes within Church and State since the 1960 s. I have a copy if anyone would like to borrow it. In summary, during the conference, what we all came to understand more fully, was just how secular our nation has become. Successive governments have passed ungodly laws. The leaders of the institutional Church have not always stood up for Christian values and beliefs. We learned there was much in the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel that apply to God s people today. God was indeed shaking the nations. There is an urgent call to repentance, therefore. And reassurance that should we turn to God in prayer, then though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken. (Isaiah 54, v10) What we should pray for: Pray for God s mercy Pray that the Lord s shaking of our nation from the turmoil in Westminster to the breakdown of our institutions and family life would be effective and His purposes fulfilled Pray that the Word of the Lord would be proclaimed Pray for God s people, including those who meet in small groups and the ones or twos praying around the nation, to be strengthened, multiplied, equipped and united in the spiritual battle The conference concluded with prayers for the nation and for each other. Whatever post-brexit future awaits us, let us pray for healing and unity for our divided communities. Tim Miller

4 A Hymn to consider for Lent and Easter! I am often inspired by authors life stories that have written memorable hymns. One such hymn that is particularly suitable to consider for Lent and Easter is It is a thing most wonderful written as a poem by William Walsham How. ( ) William How became a Suffragan Bishop for East London as Bishop of Bedford and in 1888 he became the first Bishop in the industrial heartland of Wakefield, and was referred to as the poor mans bishop for spending endless time amongst the people of the docks and slums. Another name he was given was the omnibus bishop as he always used public transport but his best loved description was the children s bishop. He wrote many children s stories as well as hymns and sermons that were published by SPCK (Society for promoting Christian Knowledge). The poem It is a thing most wonderful was written by William How, while he was Rector of Whittington in Shropshire. He wrote it reflecting a child s perception of the love of God by considering the cross. Over a 15 year period William How added more verses to the poem. The Bible text of 1 John 4 v 10 was written above the first version text. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. It is a thing most wonderful, almost too wonderful to be, that God s own Son should come from heaven, William W How Poor Mans Bishop Omnibus Bishop Children s Bishop

5 and die to save a child like me. And yet I know that it is true: He chose a poor and humble lot, and wept and toiled, and mourned and died, for love of those who loved him not. I cannot tell how he would love a child so weak and full of sin; His love must be most wonderful, if He could die my love to win. I sometimes think about the cross, and shut my eyes, and try to see the cruel nails and crown of thorns, and Jesus crucified for me. But even could I see Him die, I could but see a little part of that great love which, like a fire, is always burning in His heart. It is most wonderful to know His love for me so free and sure; but tis more wonderful to see my love for Him so faint and poor. And yet I want to love thee, Lord, O light the flame within my heart, and I will love thee more and more, until I see thee as thou art. Perhaps during this special time in the Christian year you might like to consider this poem / hymn in preparation for Easter. Eileen Blane Information about William How from Patrick Comerford Canon-in-residence in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

6 Thought for the month! Don t ask what The world needs. Quote from: Howard Thurman American Civil Rights Movement Baptist Minister Photo: Purdy Blane age 4 climbing at the Roaches

7 Buxton United Reformed Church Everyone is welcome to come to our Sunday Services April 7th am Morning Worship Mark Houghton April 14th Palm Sunday am Morning Worship Chris Walker April 21st Easter Day am Communion Service Peter Meek April 28th am Fellowship Service May 5th am Morning Worship Mark Houghton Easter Day Celebration Sunday 21 st April 10:30am. Service of worship with communion led by Peter Meek. Peter was Minister of Buxton URC and Tideswell URC until he became the Moderator for the URC East Midlands Synod. After the service tea and coffee will be made available followed by lunch. It would be helpful for Eileen Blane to know in advance people who want lunch.

8 Celebrations during Holy Week taking place at Fountain Square Church Tideswell 18 th April Maundy Thursday 7.30 pm A united Communion service with St John's, Tideswell, led by Rev Simon White and Deacon David Hunt (Simon is the Anglican vicar in Tideswell, David is a deacon in the Methodist circuit) 19 th April Good Friday am Led by Paul Mount and Malcolm Bennison 21 st April Easter Day Communion - Deacon David Hunt Then He broke it saying, This is my body given for you. Do this to remember me. The bread was passed around for each to break and eat. Churches Together in Buxton walk of witness 19 th April Good Friday Walk of witness through town starting at St. John s Church at 11:30am.

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10 Lent Lunches 2019 At The Bath Road Centre April 2, 9 Minimum donation 3.00

11 Talking Jesus Course Lent 2019 Buxton Community Church Every Tuesday, 12 th March to 16 th April 7:45pm 9pm Conversations with Christians are one of the most important influences in bringing people to faith. This course will inspire you to share your faith and will give you practical suggestions to help you to be natural and relevant as you talk about Jesus with the people you meet. There are six encouraging, video-based sessions with short films, inspirational, short testimonies, real-life examples from people who are talking Jesus, and a short, easy-to-follow course book. Each session is complete in itself, and each one builds towards the whole. Please feel very welcome to come and attend as many of the six sessions as you are able.

12 Dates to Remember Lunch Club The next lunch will be on Thursday 4th April The next North Derbyshire area meeting with Camilla Veitch is on Monday June 17th 2019 at 7:30pm at Wirksworth URC. Fellowship Evenings Wednesdays at 7:30 9:00pm Locations to be announced but suspended during Lent Contributions for the magazine We appreciate your contributions so please keep them coming. Contributions please for the next magazine to Eileen and Peter Blane by Monday 29 th April 2019 for the May publication. To ensure your magazine is as informative as possible please keep us up-to-date with news and events. Tel: or Please be aware that, in addition to the printed magazine, an electronic version is available to read on the church s website:

13 Extracts from The Zink Project Newsletter Hi Everyone and welcome to The Zink Project newsletter for March You may have heard that some of our funding is ending, read on to hear how last minute donations saved Zink Advice. Zink Employability The original idea was to include an employability programme within a foodbank then foodbank users could be supported into work so they never needed to use a foodbank again. Over 250 people have been helped into work since Zink Employability started four years ago. Now five Zink Work Coaches operate across the area on three separate programmes. To refer to Zink Employability ring (people in receipt of sickness benefits or in recovery from addictions get priority at the moment). Zink Advice This service advocates on behalf of foodbank clients and others in poverty and provides advice to help resolve situations that cause poverty. Around 150 people a year are helped to get benefit in payment, move from being homeless into stable housing etc. Zink Advice was funded by Derbyshire County Council until the end of March 2019 and it looked like the service would end then. Thanks to the generosity of some local people, Zink Advice is now funded until summer Case Study: Twenty year old Jen was three months pregnant when she was referred to the foodbank. She was homeless and had been offered a room in a shared house in an area notorious for drug use. After receiving a food parcel, Zink Advice helped Jen to claim benefits and to look for more suitable accommodation. She is now receiving benefits and a safe place to call home until her baby is born when she will be more of a

14 priority and able to access enough housing benefit for her own house. A big Thank You to everyone who has helped to keep Zink Advice going. High Peak Foodbank Funding to end The Big Lottery have funded the running costs of High Peak Foodbank since This funding of 56,000 a year ends on 31 st March Over the five years of funding, The Zink Project has increased services to include Zink Employability, Zink Advice and Buxton Community Café. Zink Employability not only supports foodbank users into work but also generates income through two of its contracts. These contribute to foodbank costs but not nearly enough to cover all the funding that is being lost. Please help to keep High Peak Foodbank (and Zink Advice) going by making a regular or one off donation. Regular, monthly donations help us to plan better. To donate, visit the High Peak Foodbank website and click the Donate Now button. Date for your diary: Buxton Community Café 5 th April 2019, serving from 5.30pm to around 6.30pm The United Reformed Church in Buxton hosts the café which is open to everyone on a pay what you feel basis. Serving wholesome food in a welcoming place, the café uses ingredients that are surplus in the supply chain. We hope to see you there! (Zink Employability, Zink Advice, High Peak Foodbank, Buxton Community Café)

15 Please Pray For The people of New Zealand following the deaths of 50 people at the mosques in Christchurch. For grieving families and friends in the community as well as those still being treated for gunshot wounds. On 14th March, Cyclone Idai tore through Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, separating parents and children, ripping up homes and destroying livelihoods. Over 125,000 people in Malawi alone have been left homeless and afraid after the powerful floods washed away their homes and many of their loved ones who have drowned. Pray for the relief efforts going on to help so many in all three countries.

16 Sunday Worship There will usually be a Service at a.m. each Sunday Please check inside this magazine for details of the services as the format will vary from week to week We offer a sincere, loving welcome to all in Christian Worship Web site: Weekly Activities for Children and Young People Rainbows: Tues. 5-6pm Leader: Stephanie Sterndale (Mobile Tel. No: ) Brownies: Tues. 6 7:30pm Leader: Cath Sterndale (Mobile Tel. No: ) Guides: Tues. 6pm Leader: Stephanie Sterndale (Mobile Tel. No: ) Other Activities Fellowship Evenings Wednesdays Lunch Club 1 st Thursday in the month Tuesday Club - every week 2pm