SPECIAL SERVICES

From the May 2008 Magazine

Flower Festival at Christ Church, Hulland

Christ Church, Hulland, are celebrating the 170th anniversary of the consecration of their church in August. To mark the occasion they are holding a flower festival, which will be open from 10am to 6pm from Thursday 21st August until Monday 25th August. On Sunday 24th August there will be a Festival Songs of Praise Service at 7pm. Home- made refreshments (cream teas and sandwiches) and a local produce stall will be open throughout the event. On Saturday to Monday there will be exhibitions, art displays and demonstrations in the Village Hall and live entertainment on Monday.

We are hoping to arrange a trip on Monday 25th August to this flower festival and some of the well dressings - WATCH THIS SPACE.

Melbourne URC

An invitation has been received from Melbourne URC to join them on Sunday 8th June for a Songs of Praise evening with the Melbourne Town Band commencing at 6pm. Tea and cakes will be served between 4.15pm and 5.15pm.

From the March 2008 Magazine

SERVICE NEWS

March to the Evening Service

For our service on March 9^th we will have something rather unusual. Christian Aid will be behind the service and with a visitor from Bangladesh. He is coming over here as part of an arrangement with Christian Aid and as part of his short time here in Derby he will be speaking at our evening service. The service will be open to anyone...

City Centre Churches

We can just confirm the date of the City Centre Churches’ event which will be on March 12^th. It will be a chance to hear David Newman who is currently in Loughborough but is known to many in Derby. He will be leading us through some inspirations and challenges of working ecumenically... it will start at 7.30pm... venues yet to be confirmed but will be advertise on the Sunday news sheet – give David a call if you want more information!

Easter - Easter is very early this year!

16th March - Palm Sunday

20th March - Maundy Thursday, we will be having a simple supper with communion, which will start at 7pm. Please put your name on the list on the notice board if you will be attending. This will help with catering.

23rd March - Easter Sunday. We will be having two communion services, one at 10.30am in the church and one at 5.30pm in the Chapel.

From the December 2007 Magazine

Come and join the celebration -

it’s a very special time!

Sunday 2^nd December

10.30^am - Advent Communion Service

We invite the Derby Scottish Association and Burns Club to join us for this service. You will be welcome to share in the shortbread and a cup of tea/coffee after the service.

3.00^pm Christmas Rose Service

Especially for those who have lost young people, but all are welcome.

7.00^pmThe South Derbyshire Joint Advent Service

will be held at Oakwood Church. It would be nice to have a good representation from Central, so please try to attend if you can.

Wednesday 12^th December 7.30^pmThe Sports Ground.

This will be a special evening - something we have not done before. Everyone is invited to come along and share in fun and games, together with a few favourite hymns and a prayer or two. There will be light seasonal refreshments including mulled wine.

Thursday 13^th December 6^pm-9^pmThe City Centre Churches come together to sing carols in Derby Market Place.

Sunday 16^th December

10.30^amCentral’s Festival Service when we invite the Guides, Brownies, Tuesday Tots and all other youngsters connected with the church to join us in a Festival for this special season.

4.00^pmThe Annual Carol Service which will be followed by a mince pie and cup of tea/coffee.

Tuesday 25^th December 10.30^amDavid will lead our Christmas Day Service. The collection will go to Christian Aid. Please remember, if you are a tax payer, you can use the yellow envelopes, so we can reclaim tax to increase the total we send to Christian Aid.

Please do not allow transport to deter you from attending any of these events. If you would like to come along, but have difficulty or are concerned about getting to and from the venues, please contact your elder, or let Christine know (on 01332 514631). We are sure something can be sorted out for you.

From the September 2007 Magazine

Services News

Evening Services

During the last Church Meeting, there was discussion regarding Sunday evening services and it was agreed, by a very large majority, that, as from September, there will be only one evening service a month. This service will be held on the second Sunday of each month, commencing at 5.30pm and during which communion will be celebrated. This arrangement will be reviewed at the July 2008 church meeting.

Harvest Tea and Service

The September evening service, on Sunday 9th September, will be proceeded by a Harvest Tea, commencing at 4pm. This tea, which is prepared by the Church Life and Management Group and served by the Elders, is open for all to attend. If anyone would like to come along but has difficulty with transport, please talk to your elder.

Little Eaton URC

Harvest Supper - Friday 14th September 7pm.

Two course supper with choice of menu, plus entertainment from “the Hargreaves”. Tickets £5 - book early to avoid disappointment.

Birthday Service - Sunday 16th September -

9.30am - Half hour children’s service with cake and candles followed at

10.00am Coffee and Biscuits (or birthday cake)

10.30am Anniversary service of the church

And for the diary - Sunday 21st October - All Day Breakfast.

From the June 2007 magazine

Sunday 3rd June - 6pm Communion Service at Little Eaton

This service will be led by Rev. John Slow. Everyone is welcome.

From the May 2007 magazine

Sunday 3rd June - Evening Service at Little Eaton

Reverend John Slow, who was Moderator of the East Midlands Synod between 1979 and 1991, will be leading the evening service at Little Eaton on Sunday 3rd June, starting at 6pm. Everyone is invited. There will be no service at Central that evening.

Sunday 6th May - service and lunch

Morning Service: During the morning communion service, there will be the rededication of our Elders.

Church Lunch: Following this service, we shall meet for a shared lunch (just bring a small contribution). Drinks will be provided. What is the lunch all about? David explains:

I hope that as many of us as possible will come to the church lunch on May 6^th after the morning service. Let me explain what is going to happen… Firstly, and most importantly, it is a lunch so we will eat!!!

Then we will share ideas, dreams, visions and questions. Hopefully you remember your thoughts regarding the bookmarks that we had through Lent. If you were able to get to one of the groups, you may recall some of the discussions that went on there. I hope that this will be a sharing lunch.

I also want us to be clear about what this lunch is not. It is not a day when we will agree on the future of our church. I do hope it will be a day when we allow ourselves to open up to possible shouts or whispers of God’s vision for Central URC.

Perhaps you feel you would like to write something down, text, email or even draw something that encapsulates a vision. If this is you, then please do so! I want to hear as many angles to vision as possible.

I hope that we will finish by 2.00pm or 2.30pm but what will happen after this lunch – after all has not Central been here before? Well the Elders have set aside time to reflect on what comes out of that lunch. They will be meeting after the Sunday morning service on 3rd June from 12 noon to 7pm and then there will be the summer to work it through a bit more, during which time you may still make a contribution.

Come September/October time (a time of harvesting) we as a church family will be settling down to discern a vision for Central URC

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Evening Service Sunday 27th May - this is an ecumenical event when the City Centre Fellowship of Churches join together for a joint service. On this occasion, the service is to be held at the Queen’s Hall, London Road, commencing at 6.30pm. It would be nice for Central to have a good representation. Please join us if you can. There will be no evening service at Central on 27th May.

From the April 2007 magazine

Easter Events

Maundy Thursday (5th April)

There will be a simple supper and communion round the table commencing at 7pm. All are welcome. If you intend coming, please sign the sheet on the notice board to help with catering.

Good Friday (6th April)

City Centre walk - for details see next page.

The walk will conclude at Central where the Worship and Christian Living Group are organising hot cross buns and coffee. If you are able and willing to assist with serving these refreshments, Laura would be very pleased to hear from you. She can be contacted on 366279.

Easter Sunday (8th April)

Communion both 10.30am and 5.30pm with David leading our worship.

Do come along. We would love to see you.

Easter Flowers: We are hoping to decorate the church with spring flowers for Easter. If anyone would like to make a do

nation towards the cost of the flowers, or as a memorial for loved ones, please pass your contribution to Christine, or use the yellow envelopes at the back of church.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

As we approach Easter, many of you have offered to help the church celebrate this important time in the church calendar. To all those who contribute in any way whatsoever, whether with the Maundy Supper, decorating the church so beautifully with flowers, assisting with the Good Friday refreshments, or in other ways, to make Easter a special occasion, we thank you all.

Christine

Notes re Other Central Services

Themed Worship Services

David is proposing introducing Themed Worship Services - which should bring relevant issues to our attention and make worship more relevant and meaningful. He would like a small group of people to meet to make suggestions. If you could contribute in this way, please get in touch with him. The answerphone is on!

Betwixt and Between

Chris Scott has been asked to lead our evening service on 15th April. As this date falls between the end of our Lent Groups and the Discussion Lunch on 6th May, he will take as the theme, “Renewal”.

From the March 2007 magazine

Easter Services

Easter this year falls at the beginning of April.

Our services are as follows:

Maundy Thursday, 5th April - There will be a supper and communion,

commencing at 7pm.

Good Friday 6th April - City Centre walk. More details next

month.

Easter Sunday - 8th April. Communion both 10.30am and 5.30pm.

with David leading our worship.

Do come along. We would love to see you.

Easter Flowers: We are hoping to decorate the church with spring flowers for Easter. If anyone would like to make a donation towards the cost of the flowers, or as a memorial for loved ones, please pass your contribution to Christine, or use the yellow envelopes at the back of church.

Lent Information

David is delighted to say that there will be 4 Lent Groups up and running throughout Lent - why not get along to one of them to share and hear? ...

Monday afternoons - 2pm - first session 26th February

Led by Jim Gibson at Irene and John Bink’s home (27 Church Lane, Darley Abbey)

Wednesday mornings - 10.30am - first session 28th February

Led by Chris Scott, here at Church.

Thursday afternoons - 2.30pm - first session 1st March

Led by various leaders at Jack and Maureen Charlton’s home (179 Station Road, Mickleover)

Thursday evenings - 7.30pm - first session 1st March

Led by various leaders at Judy and Steve Levitt’s home (24 Church Lane, Darley Abbey)

Also, please do not forget that David will be in his vestry at the church on the following Friday mornings,

23rd February, 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd March, between 11am and midday

to talk with anyone who wants to come and talk about the church’s vision ...

Tea and coffee provided - possibly even biscuits!!!

Central URC Lent Readings

These are the readings that will be used in worship, in the small groups and, hopefully, by yourself wherever you are!!!

Please try to do only one of these per week and therefore let them have time to sink in.

Please also try to record your thoughts in some way so that they can be fed into the church’s conversation.

Week 1 - Genesis 1: 26-2: 24

The Garden of Eden as an image of Church

Whether the Garden of Eden story is seen as literal truth or metaphor, what is there in this story that gives us hope and warnings for the Church, the Body of Christ?

Think about who is in the story, what is in the story, where could the story be set, when could the story be set, what is the purpose of the story?

Week 2 - Ezekiel 37: 1-14

A Church of Dry Bones?

Which do you see the church more akin to, the bones of the one present with the Lord?

What similarities are there between this story and last week’s story?

What might this say to you as an individual and to us as a church, about the future?

Week 3 - Matthew 2: 1-12

Follow that star!

The birth of Jesus relied on some events to announce the Good News - the angels singing to the Shepherds, and the star to lead the magi, chieftains, kings, wise men (delete as appropriate).

If God provided the star to lead people onwards, what stars is God providing today?

What is there that might lead us as a church onwards?

How similar is the message of the church to the message of the angels?

Week 4 - Matthew 6: 9-13

Give us this day ...

When we say the Lord’s Prayer, even when in groups, we tend to say it in a personal way. In reading the Lord’s Prayer again, is there anything that could guide a church in setting priorities for itself?

Week 5 - Romans 12: 4-5

A church is like ...

Is this image of a body in Romans a relevant metaphor for the church or is it a tired one?

What scriptural descriptions can you think of that describe the church?

What metaphors can you think of that in some way describe what a church should be?

From the December 2006 magazine

Colin Meynell has decided to retire as our Associate Minister at the end of this year. His last service in this capacity will be the Sunday morning service on 14th January, when he will join David in leading the service. We hope as many as possible will attend to make this a special occasion marking Colin’s retirement.

We take this opportunity to thank Norman Smith who has now been church organist for 50 years.

For many years Margaret McLean has taken on the task of arranging preachers for us on a Sunday when we did not have our own minister. She initially assisted Bill with this, but continued after his death. Margaret has now handed this work over to Winifred Baldwin. We would like to thank Margaret for the excellent job she has done and also thank Winifred for agreeing to do this vital task for us.

Special Christmas Services 2006

3rd December

Morning Service - 10.30am: We are pleased to welcome the Scottish Association and Burns Club to our morning service, which will celebrate St. Andrew’s Day. All will be welcome to share coffee and shortbread after the service.

Afternoon Service - 3.00pm: Is the annual Christmas Rose Service, specially prepared for those who have lost young children.

Evening Service - 5.00pm: In the evening, there is the South Derby Team Ministries Joint Advent Service. This will be held at Sinfin Moor Church at 5.00pm. There will be no evening service at Central.

10th December

Family Festival Service - 10.30am: This is a Family Festival Service, suitable for all ages. There will not be a Young People’s Activity Morning in December but all ages, particularly the younger people, will be encouraged to participate in this Festival Service.

17th December

Carol Service - 4.00pm: We will be holding our annual Carol Service at 4.00pm which will include carols, poems and readings. Why not come along and enjoy the traditional celebration with fellowship, a cup of tea and mince pie to follow?

25th December

Christmas Day Service - 10.30am:

Our Christmas Day Service will commence at the normal time of 10.30am. The collection taken during the service will go to Christian Aid. Please remember, if you are a taxpayer, the church is able to reclaim the tax and send Christian Aid £1.28 for every £1.00 given. In order to do this, you must identify your giving and have signed a Gift Aid declaration. If you use a numbered envelope during the year, just putting your weekly envelope number on one of the yellow envelopes at the back of the church is sufficient. Please make sure you also put the words “Christian Aid” on the envelope to ensure it is allocated to the right fund. If you have any queries regarding this, please speak to any of the Finance Group who will be very happy to help.

Service to mark the retirement of

Right Reverend David Hawtin - Bishop of Repton

Saturday 4th November at 4pm at the Cathedral

Neither David nor Jean Kingsbury could be present, so I alone attended what was one of the longest services, including the Eucharist and speeches, that I have ever experienced. It did not finish until 6.15pm and I was in a pew without a cushion! However, I found myself behind Graham and Vera Maskery, who both seemed very well, and also amongst Moravian and other Ockbrook representatives whom I knew through teaching there. I also saw Reverend Colin Meynell in the distance.

Canon Nicholas Henshall warned us that there were going to be eleven hymns, but they contributed towards a lovely celebratory service, which reflected the wide scope and achievements of Bishop Hawtin’s work, in particular since 1999 in Derby. Visiting clergy included a bishop from North India and Bishop Malcolm McMahon, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nottingham, who led the prayers for the Affirmation of Baptismal faith. At one point many representatives of groups and communities with which Bishop David had been involved, gathered in the main aisle. The sermon was given by Reverend Canon Wesley Blakey, Chair of the Nottinghamshire and Derby Methodist District.

The affection for Bishop David, his wife, Elizabeth, and appreciation of his work in support of both Bishops Jonathan and Alastair, were very obvious. He was eventually presented with a cheque for garden furniture for his new home in Sheffield.

Despite the length of the service, I was pleased to have been present at such a memorable occasion.

Maureen Hinchliffe

From the November 2006 magazine

26th November

We will be holding our annual Christmas Gift Day Service on 26th November. If you have anything to offer an underprivileged child or adult, please bring it along to this service. Gifts should be wrapped and labelled (boy or girl with appropriate age if a child, or male or female if for an adult). The end of November may seem rather early to start the Christmas festivities, but it allows time for the appropriate organisations, such as the Padley Centre, Night Shelter or Derby City Centre Basics Bank, to allocate and distribute the parcels around the city.

3rd December

Afternoon Service - 3.00pm: Is the annual Christmas Rose Service, specially prepared for those who have lost young children.

40 Days of Purpose

On November 5^th, our Sunday services will focus on the end of this particular stage of our journey. As you may have heard me say some months ago, I thought that by getting involved with 40 Days of Purpose we would open ourselves up and get talking about faith issues. From what I’ve heard we have certainly had the chance to talk and explore faith with each other!

I also said that we were going to go through a pregnancy in the church, a time of 9-10 months where we would be giving birth to … well just as we aren’t sure whether it’s a boy or a girl coming in real life we aren’t too sure what will come out of this, but the first step was to get through 40 Days of Purpose. I hope there hasn’t been any morning sickness… I do though want to thank all who have helped enable the small groups to

take place (leaders and hosts) and those who helped with the Ministry Fair, and all the other bits and bobs. Thank you…

Now what?

Now Advent, and reaching for the stars! Well, looking for them anyway. Our Advent theme will be based around stars seeing times, places, and people. It will be kicked off with a family concert at our church on November 24^th from 6pm. This will be mainly aimed at younger children but all families are welcome to this show which will be done by Derby Kids for Christ. The show is called Star Tours, and after our show it will then be going on tour. Tickets will go on sale soon for the 24th…

There is of course continued discussion about the future of our site, the Debenhams’ building and Duckworth Square. While it may seem that there is little we can do except wait, I suspect there is actually a great deal we need to do in sorting out what sort of church we are called to be for Derby. So, please get involved whenever you get the chance. This is an exciting time for the church, and if you want to be a part of a ‘decent display’ (see my letter) then why not get involved! If you have any comments about our church’s future, then please feel free to write or email, call or catch me after church…

Who knows what we are going to give birth to!!!

David

Thanks to all those who have opened their homes to offer hospitality to the groups, and to those who have acted as leaders. We appreciate it has involved not just attending weekly, but also time for planning and preparing the sessions. We thank all those who have attended and shared ideas, knowledge and fellowship, and made others welcome. May we all learn something to enrich our personal lives and that of our church and church family.

Above all, our thanks to David for his initiative, training days he attended and all that went into the oversight of the ’40 Days of Purpose”.

Christine

From the October 2006 magazine

40 Days of Purpose

Just to keep you informed with what is going on at the moment.

We have our special services on both Sunday mornings and evenings. We would love to see you but we do understand if you are unable to join us.

If you have not purchased one of the books, then it is not too late - but ask us soon, and do not forget you can ask for large print, tape, CD or Braille if it makes it easier.

It is not too late to join one of the small groups that are running! Feel free just to go along. If you have been reading the book you will know what the theme is for each week. You do not have to attend the same group each week. All groups will follow the same programme.

Another important thing is the Ministries Fair which will take place on Friday morning the 27^th October and Sunday morning 29^th October – come and see what different ministries we are involved with at Central! You may be surprised!!!

Also, each week at church there will be a 40 Days Newsletter for extra news.

I hope that this is going to be good for as many of us as possible – so why not get involved!!!!

David

40 Days of Purpose - Small Groups

Day and

Time

Hosts

Location

Leaders

Monday

2.30pm

Irene Binks

27 Church Lane

Darley Abbey

Irene Binks

Jim & Tricia Gibson

Tuesday 10.30am

Eric Freer

The Pavilion

Brayfield Road

Chris Scott

Wednesday

10.30am

Gordon and Marie Tough

Central Church

Nancy Robertson & Elspeth Jardine

Thursday 2.30pm.

Jack and Maureen Charlton

179 Station Road

Mickleover

David Downing

Thursday

7.30pm

Judy and

Steve Levitt

24 Church Lane

Darley Abbey

Colin Tonks & Charlotte O’Toole

Harvest Sunday - 10th September 2006

Our Harvest Sunday is on Sunday 10th September and we would love to see you for any of the three main things happening.

The Sunday morning worship will be looking at the creation that sustains the Harvest. We will think about God’s Creation, and how the environment changes have changed harvest for us and many others.

In the afternoon, the Elders’ are inviting you to join them for a Harvest Tea at Central from 4pm. Do come and join us if you can.

After the tea we will then go straight into the evening service, which will be a celebration Songs of Praise service during which we will celebrate communion. It might be good. It might have good readings and poems. It might have good hymns. It might .... But it depends on you! You can choose what goes into the service. At the back of the church there are slips of paper to be filled in with your chosen items for the service. Please complete a slip and give it to either Christine or David by the end of worship on Sunday 3rd September. Or you can just write in ... or email .... or phone .... or even text David! We cannot guarantee to use your item but time allowing we will.

We look forward to seeing you on Harvest Sunday.

(To assist with catering, could Elders please pass on numbers for the Harvest Tea to Eric as soon as possible.)

Sunday 4th June 2006

City Centre Songs of Praise at the Cathedral starting at 6pm.

Induction of new Minister at Melbourne URC

Reverend Christine Denise Willis

Saturday 20th May

Christine Fielding, Joyce Allan, Keith Johnson and myself were delighted to attend the Induction at Melbourne of Reverend Christine Willis. Christine has come to Melbourne from Hertford and was supported by many of her friends and congregation from that Church.

Everyone was welcomed to the service by the District President, Mrs Helen Lidget, and a very full church enjoyed a wonderful service. Our own minister, David Downing, gave the sermon in which he built the walls of Jericho and the chidren had the pleasure in knocking them down. Then the Moderator, Rev. Terry Oakley, inducted Christine as the minister for Melbourne Church.

After the service we all met in the church hall for refreshments and to meet Christine. A most enjoyable afternoon.

Kathryn Kemp

The Installation of Rev. Dr. Christopher Cunliffe

as Archdeacon at Derby Cathedral

Saturday 29th April

Once again, Jean Kingsbury and I found ourselves, on your behalf, processing up the Cathedral amongst countless robed clergy. Rev. Colin Meynell also represented the URC. Once more seated in the Retro Choir behind the altar, I was this time on the front row and at least had a good view of the Bishop’s back! The Bishop anointed the Archdeacon with the Oil of Chrism to the post of responsibility for priests and parishes south of Ashbourne. Although previously having been chaplain to the Bishop of Bradwell, Chelmsford, Essex, the Archdeacon started his ministry as a curate in Chesterfield and has family connections in Derby. The press has made much of the fact that his wife Helen is Archdeacon of St. Albans. His sermon emphasised the need to be attentive to God.

It was again a very pleasant experience and when I remarked to someone that it was probably the last such occasion to which Jean and I would be invited, I was reminded that the Bishop of Repton is due to retire soon - so watch this space!

Jean and I were also invited to the special evensong to celebrate both St. George’s Day and the Queen’s 80th birthday, followed by a Loyal (spoken) toast led by the Lord Lieutenant. Maureen Hinchliffe

Worship is…

please come to lunch! In fact, please bring something to share!

On Palm Sunday, 9th April 2006

we will be having a church lunch from 12:15pm until 2:15pm at the latest. The lunch will be a start in getting to grips with some of the questions about our worship at Central that I know many people are starting to ask.

The session will work something like this:

you can eat your main course - (depending on what you and others bring!) with whoever you like.

Then for the dessert - you can choose where to sit.

Each table will be asked to look at a specific area of worship eg resources, time, family worship etc. Your table will then have time to discuss it’s area of concern, following which we shall hear back from each table. When we have had the feedback we will then have the chance to feed in to other tables’ comments etc.

I do not expect we shall be able to answer all our questions, but as a congregation we may be able to discover what our priority areas are.

Please sign up for this lunch on the poster at the top of the stairs so we have a rough idea for catering (soup will be provided). If you have not signed up but suddenly find you are able to stay after worship please just stay with us!!!

If you are unable to attend I would be delighted to receive any questions or comments either by post or email. I really want as many people as possible to engage in this discussion somehow!!!

David

EASTER 2006

Maundy Thursday - we will be having a simple supper, followed by Communion. Please sign the list on the notice board if you are able to come, as this will assist with catering.

Good Friday - Service at St. Peter’s, commencing at 10.00am.

Easter Day - David will lead the morning (11am) and evening (5.30pm) services and at both communion will be celebrated .

Easter flowers will be put in the church - if you wish to make any contribution, please see Christine or Laura. Easter lilies are synonymous with Easter and many churches only use them at Easter as a sign of the risen Lord.

Lent Groups - please let David know if you enjoyed the study and found it satisfying. Also any ideas you have for future meetings.

LITTLE EATON URC - GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP

There will be a Procession of Witness (with the congregation of St. Paul’s) leaving St. Paul’s at 10am to process to the URC for the Good Friday service starting at 10.30am.