This
year has no long journeys and no Methodist anniversaries.
Nevertheless
there are a number of events which I would like to highlight:
1.
On Wednesday 7th May Churches Together are arranging an evening of
exploration, prayer and reflection called "Stop The
Trafficking". This
will be a good opportunity to learn more about this very important social
issue. This will be continued in the morning service on May 18th which is
called" Not For Sale Sunday".
2.
Christian Aid Week
May 11th - 17th. Each year the churches in Mickleover take part in
the house to house collection. If
you would
like to help, please let my wife Christine know.
Also
this year there is a Christian Aid Quiz evening and we shall be holding
this on Saturday July 19th. More details later.
3.
On Tuesday 13th May in the afternoon we shall be hosting the annual
Circuit
Easter Offering Service at 2.30 pm. Our
guest speaker will be Mrs Sandra Lewer from Ashbourne.
4.
The evening service on Sunday 18th -" Worship with a difference
".
At
some of our Open Family
Team Meetings we have been looking at finding new ways of attracting new
people into our church.
Many
churches are exploring ways of
being "fresh expressions". On
several occasions we have looked at the Fresh Expressions DVD and seen
examples from around the country of how Christians from different
denominations and backgrounds are looking at new ways of spreading the
Christian gospel.
Steven
and Vicky Ager are very keen to try new ways of worship and they have been
meeting with Simon Oliver, the Youth Leader from Littleover Methodist
Church. His Youth Group has been meeting in our Hall on Monday evenings
while Littleover Church is being redeveloped.
He
has agreed that some of his young people will help in the organisation of
this service. On the Circuit Plan it says Youth Service but we want people
of all ages to come along and experience a different style of worship.
So
just 4 events in what could be a very interesting and challenging month.
As
a postscript, may I canvas your opinion on one subject in particular.
Recently
there were two letters in the Methodist Recorder about a fixed date for
Easter. Certainly this year's early Easter caused problems for some
people, especially those who worked in different Education Authorities. I
am in favour of a fixed date.
Should
we really still be fixing such an important date by the moon???????.
I
would also advocate the first weekend in April so that seven weeks later
we can celebrate Pentecost at Spring Bank and bring those two together.
What
do you think?????????
Stuart
Radford
