Ploughshare February March 2016

Ploughshare Volume 24 Number 1

February March 2016

He sent me so that you can see again

and be filled by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9 vs 17 60p per copy ÂŁ3 per year Online: www.st-thomas-brampton.org Facebook:www.facebook.com/stthomasbrampton Email:admin@st-thomas-brampton.org

Pattern of Sunday Services There are a variety of services each Sunday in both our churches.

Please note that changes may occasionally occur at short notice.

For the latest up to date information please check the weekly notice sheet or look on line at: www.st-thomas-brampton.org/diary.html St Thomas’ Sermon themes and readings are available in church or at www.st-thomas-brampton.org/services.html Recordings of the sermons and readings are available at www.st-thomas-brampton.org/podcast index.html For those who enjoy tradition: A service of Parish Communion 9.30am-

Using 'Common Worship' and accompanied by the organ.

Once a month Morning Prayer

For those with families: Service of the Word 11.00am-

An informal service that’s ‘family friendly’. Sung worship led by the band. There are activities for Children 0-12 years.

Once a month Holy Communion

For those looking for something more: 6.00pm-

Evening Worship

A relaxed service with in-depth teaching and extended worship led by the music team.

Once a month Holy Communion

7.45pm to 9.30pm- Youth Group for 14-18 year olds FOR EASTER SERVICES SEE PAGE 21

Rector’s letter Question, what do the Rector and a deep sea diver both have in common?

The answer is the London Marathon! Just in case you didn’t know Lloyd Scott ran in the 2002 London Marathon wearing a 130lb deep sea diving suit, he broke the world record for the slowest marathon time ever recorded completing the course in six days. I’m hoping to run the 2016 London Marathon in April, I’ll not be wearing a diving suit but there’s every chance I’ll be challenging Lloyd for his record! Why am I doing this? Well, the answer is that I’m passionate about supporting disadvantaged children and so it’s my privilege to take up a charity place on behalf of the Children’s Society and run to raise money for this very worthy cause.

The Children’s Society was originally the Church of England’s children’s charity. It still works in very close partnership with the CofE and is an amazing organisation. The Children’s Society worked with over 34,000 vulnerable children and young people last year, whilst their campaigns brought lifechanging support to more than 1.8 million. The Children’s Society reaches out to the most vulnerable in our nation and works actively to stop child abuse, sexual exploitation and neglect.

As I’m pounding the streets of Chesterfield why don’t you consider how you can get involved and support me? The obvious answer is you can give money – I’ve set myself a target of raising £2,000, currently I’m only about 25% of the way there so plenty of work to do before the 24th April. You can give through my Just Giving page (www.justgiving.com/Matthew-Barnes11) or by simply texting CHSO50 £your amount to 70070. Alternatively you can drop your donation into the Parish Office in an envelope marked “RECTOR’S RUN”.

I’ll be organising various events and activities that I do hope you’ll be able to support – these include a ‘Guess my finish time’ competition (the top prize will be the (unwashed) socks that I ran the marathon in, but there will be other more desirable prizes too for second and third places)! If you can make a cake for my cake stalls, offer a raffle prize or come along to one of my other events then please let me know – if you organise a group and you think I might make an interesting speaker then do invite me, I’d love to come.

Thank you so much in advance for your encouragement and support – at the end of the day it’s about helping those who need our help the most – something that’s as close to your heart as it is to mine.

Revd. Canon Matthew Barnes.

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The Christmas tree festival 4-6th December 2015 Marie Witham The Christmas Tree Festival began at St Thomas’ four years ago, with 32 trees; last year we had 49 trees – representing local businesses, charities and groups at St Thomas’.

Over the three public days and the schools day we had 1,300 visitors.

Many thanks to Jane Simmonds for being the guiding light and instigator of the festival also thanks to all the volunteers who were available to talk to people in Church, offer refreshments etc.

We had many positive comments.

“Thank you for organising another lovely community festival. Fabulous trees. Happy Christmas. “ “My favourite tree is the Old Hall one because it is my school. All the others are beautiful too. “ “Fantastic display and welcome” “The church looks amazing! A perfect start to our Christmas season. Thank you” “Wonderfully imaginative and innovative. Outstandingly brilliant.”

Pictures from previous events can be seen on the website 2

But what is a Christmas Tree festival?

In theory a lot of trees in one room! In reality a time where the whole community comes together, groups, schools and businesses alike participate by owning and decorating a Christmas Tree; demonstrating, under one roof, the diversity of talents and services we have on our doorstep. We also remember our neighbours across the globe.

I asked Jane Simmonds what her motivation was to bring a Chtistmas tree festival to St Thomas’. Jane replied “I used to work throughout the Midlands, and in the Leicestershire area in particular, I came across many Christmas Tree Festivals. Working for a charity, meant that I appreciated the opportunity to provide and decorate trees to depict the charity appeals I was involved with. But I soon realised how wonderful the event was as a community event - appreciated by so many people, for so many different reasons. We live in such a ‘busy’ time. If nothing else, families coming along to see the trees are taking ‘time out’ of their busy lives; enjoying a free activity - and more importantly enjoying some quality time together. What better reason could there be to provide an event that appeals to all ages, whilst encouraging businesses, community groups, local schools and the church to come together and celebrate such a ‘Wonderful Time of the Year’!”

I have visited the festival previously and always enjoyed the spectacle but this year I was able to be much more involved in setting up and being in church when visitors came. It was truly eye opening. I had some interesting conversations about the groups and a more thorough understanding of the trees and the people behind them. I certainly learned a lot about what goes on in our neighbourhood. We tend to whizz up and down Chatsworth Road and through Brampton in cars we do not always see what is there. Many times I heard people say – “oh where is that? I didn’t know they were there” We should be encouraging local businesses and re-building a sense of community and I think the festival comes some way to doing this in a fun, but also awe inspiring way.

It does open up conversations about what goes on at St T’s – groups that people can relate to and perhaps become involved if they are not sure whether they have a faith but wish to explore. A good outreach tool and good that people felt welcomed – that people involved in the church are just like them – with concerns and worries BUT who have a rock to cling to and a support that is as vital as breathing.

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Meditation article – Appeared in the World Community for Christian Meditation, (WCCM), Winter News Letter (www.christianmeditation.org.uk)

Reflections on a training day in the Diocese of Derby In September I attended a training day on Christian Meditation at St Oswald’s, Ashbourne led by a team from the WCCM and organised by the Rev. Canon Alan Harper. I was excited to attend as I have been meditating with the WCCM for the last five years and a year ago started a new meditation group in Holymoorside, Chesterfield. The practice has allowed the spirit of God to work more closely in and through my life and I am so thankful to have discovered meditation. The day was inspiring and had a depth and quality to the teaching that impressed the group I attended with, who being new to the wider work of the WCCM, gained much more than they expected.

The Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, set the scene using Acts 12 to paint the picture of a violent and controlling society in to which we are imprisoned by our human need to have and possess.

Posing the question: “how do we handle the instinct to have and consume?”, he pointed us in the direction of the spiritual journey and meditation as a vehicle for that journey, where we can learn to be still, learn acceptance of what is and who we are, and recognise the ‘I AM’ rather than the ‘I want to be’ of the ego.

We were ably guided by the WCCM team, gaining information about meditation and its history, and instruction on how to meditate with the opportunity to practice at the beginning and end of the day. There was a helpful section where the team gave their experiences and answered audience questions. Canon Alan and Graeme Watson encouraged us to set up new meditation groups, explaining how the WCCM supports these groups, and I talked about my experience of using the starter pack. The book The Pearl of Great Price shows how to teach the procedure for meditation, which has made running the group a simple

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task. I also spoke about how the practice of meditation has affected my own spiritual journey in such a positive way that I want to advocate its use. I had the delight of a number of conversations with fellow attendees, one of whom now comes regularly to my meditation group along with a friend.

I found the section on meditation with children very inspiring, as we learnt how children can easily be helped to connect with the loving God within them, and we were encouraged to meditate with children rather than just watch, to enable the child to freely engage with the silence within themselves. Janet Robbins gave us an example of how grandparents can help their grandchildren to find the silence within themselves and engage with the wonder of the natural world as she did with her 6 month old grandson. As I look after my 11 month old grandson once a week I was eager to mirror Janet’s example and have experienced a wonderful time with him in his local park, enjoying the dappled light through the trees and then having lunch on a picnic rug, sitting playing with the autumn leaves and him walking on the grass holding my hands, thank you Janet! Later that week Bill Bazely, one of the team ministers in my Church, suggested we took the meditation into the local school at his next school assembly. We created a sacred space as directed by Sue Purkis, with a small table, cloth and battery operated candle. We turned down the assembly hall lights. Bill introduced the theme and prayer intention and I taught the mantra. We closed our eyes and trusted that 100+ primary school children would still be there when we finished the two minutes silence! Of course they were, though some had found it easier than others. I think the teachers were more anxious about some of the children’s restlessness, but early days and a great start! I have since been asked to introduce meditation and its practice into a house group in our parish and been invited to do the same with a church in Sheffield.

All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable and helpful day that has caused ripples to extend outward from the event.

Thank you to everyone involved!

Maxine Rotheram 5

Crucifixion "Weep not for Me, Mother, in the grave I have life."

I. The choir of angels glorified the great hour, the heavens melted in flames.

He said to His Father: "Why hast Thou forsaken me?" and to His Mother: "Oh, weep not for Me..."

II. Mary Magdalene smote her breast and wept, the disciple whom He loved turned to stone, but where the Mother stood in silence nobody even dared look.

Anna Akhmatova (1889–1966)

Easter Communion Pure fasted faces draw unto this feast: God comes all sweetness to your Lenten lips.

You striped in secret with breath-taking whips, Those crooked rough-scored chequers may be pieced To crosses meant for Jesu's; you whom the East With draught of thin and pursuant cold so nips Breathe Easter now; you serged fellowships, You vigil-keepers with low flames decreased, God shall o'er-brim the measures you have spent With oil of gladness, for sackcloth and frieze And the ever-fretting shirt of punishment Give myrrhy-threaded golden folds of ease.

Your scarce-sheathed bones are weary of being bent: Lo, God shall strengthen all the feeble knees.

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)

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In these two sharply contrasting poems we have the agony of Good Friday followed by the glory of Easter day. Akhmatova’s Crucifixion, bare and forbidding is primitive in its illumination of the horror and isolation of Christ’s death. The angels provide the only hope in this grim tableau. Anna Akhmatova was a Russian poet who suffered injustice and imprisonment for her political and religious beliefs. Her biblical themed poems such as Christ's crucifixion and the devastation of Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mary Magdelene, reflect the ravaging of Russia during her lifetime.

In sharp contrast Hopkins’ poem rescues us from despair. He uses his famous ‘sprung rhythm’ a meter in which Hopkins tried to approximate the rhythm of everyday speech. The last line is light and comic; this juxtaposition is fascinating given the subject matter and that Hopkins’ life was continually troubled by insomnia and inner conflict, which arose, not from religious skepticism, but from an inability to give himself completely to God. Both his poems and his letters often reflect an intense dissatisfaction with himself as a poet and as a servant of God. Though he produced a small body of work, he ranks high among English poets, and his work profoundly influenced 20th-century poetry.

Millie Guthrie

'Deepening Quality Relationships' 13th February 11am -3pm St Peter’s Training looking at what quality relationships look like, what obstructs them and how to develop them.

This is being paid for by the church and is offered free to all.

The course will run again in April at St Thomas' .

If interested contact Maxine 01246 769040 7

Views from Jackie Santos I am Jackie Santos, I’m 25 years old. I was born in Manzini in Swaziland. My father was Portuguese and my mum was Swazi. I’m the last born in my family, my parents died while I was still young and my brothers and I separated. I was homeless for some time and I had nothing at all, but God saved me and has also given me a new family.

In Swaziland I was studying Business Information Technology, at IDM college (Institution of Development in Business Management). I completed my first year and I’m getting a diploma, but I cannot continue with my studies because of financial problems. I was the leader of the church at the college and I also started a charity group in the college. I was a youth Pastor at my church and I was also involved in a charity that was set up by the church. The name of my church is THE BRIDGE FAMILY CHURCH. I wanted to come to England because I wanted to learn more about Christianity since England is a Christian country, I wanted to have more knowledge about God and about the church and how people in this country have a relationship with God. I wanted to learn more about how churches here manage to reach out to people all over the world with the help and ministry the country offers, and be able to take that knowledge back to Swaziland. I wanted to come here to also teach people of England about how we as Swazi’s worship God and have fellowship together.

I have only been here for a month and I have noticed that there are a lot of people who are lonely. Some are more materialistic than others and many seem always busy compared to Swazi people. We are more of a country who

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is not so busy and most people belong to extended families which helps people not to feel lonely. Swazi people who live in the villages normally meet and help with community projects which also helps them build relationships with each other.

The food in England is completely different to Swaziland. People here love vegetables and a lot of coffee but in Swaziland we love our meat and sour milk.

I have also been surprised how young people behave and how they don’t respect their elders. It was a shock for me because in Swaziland we are taught from a young age to respect older people.

In this last month I have been taken to Old Trafford in Manchester to watch Manchester United play a football match, that was amazing for me, that was the best thing I have experienced so far. It also reminded me that nothing is impossible with God, “how can a poor and once homeless boy make it to watch Manchester United play in a VIP suite? Only through God!” I have been a Manchester United fan since I was 7 years old when I used to watch them on my neighbour’s television.

Also since I arrived I have been to the Proact Stadium to watch Chesterfield Football Club play about three times. I have been to the different church house groups, also been to visit Church on the Bus where I saw the work of God at hand, I saw a young man, almost my age, being helped and I was deeply touched because I know what it’s like to be alone and homeless, and feel like you don’t belong in this planet. I was really touched by that experience and I pray that the church continues the work of God in this area and that this young man learns to know God. I have been to almost all the small groups that the church works with and I enjoyed them all. I have also been invited by a few families to have tea with them and I was amazed by the love they showed and had for me. At the moment I don’t even miss home.

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22 November - Thomas Sellars, Jack Sellars, Sebastian Munro-Brown, Isabella Whitworth at St Thomas' 29 November - Joey Jones at St Thomas' 6 December - Joshua Ainsworth at St Thomas'

12 December - Christopher Fowler and Sophie Stevens at St Thomas’ 29 December - Craig Hirst and Faye Tory at St Peter's

5 October 2015 - Alan Green, age 46,

at St Thomas'

14 Oct0ber

- Florence Toyn, age 92,

at St Peter's

2 November

- Glenys Bond, age 97,

at St Peter's

6 November

- Charles McGarrity, age 87, at St Peter's

6 November

- Robert Batten, age 71,

27 November - Carl Bee, age 40, 8 December

at St Thomas' at St Thomas'

- Margaret Baxendale, age 80, St Thomas'

16 December - George Marsh, age 94,

at St Peter's

29 December - Peggy Smith, age 92,

at St Thomas'

12 January 2016 - Valerie Hoskin, age 61,

at St Thomas'

13 January

at St Thomas'

- Roger Wilson. age 71,

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A special message to you from Traidcraft Thank you for all you’ve done to over the last year to bring hope and justice to the families and communities we work with. We are very pleased to announce that last year’s figures were on the up, with a 24% increase in December sales compared to 2014, making four consecutive months of growth. For 2016 please keep up the good work!

FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT 29TH February – 13th March.

The Fairtrade Mark is 21 years old this year.

In Fairtrade Fortnight 2016, join us in shining a light on the scandal that despite working hard to grow the food we eat every day, many farmers and workers in developing countries don’t earn enough to know where their families’ next meal is coming from. Fairtrade works to change this, and where producers are able to sell enough of their produce on Fairtrade terms, it can make a life-changing difference. Fairtrade now reaches over 1.5 million farmers and workers across the globe. However, with around 795 million people undernourished globally, and many in farming communities, we still have so far to go. We have the power to change this by your regular shopping habits, at your local supermarket and of course at your regular Traidcraft stalls in church and at the Brampton Food Market. Thank you to all those who regularly do this, but can I make a plea to those of you who don’t?

Can I ask you to change one of your shopping choices from a non-fairtrade product to a fairtrade one? Just one change – try an alternative and then think of the difference that will make to the people who have produced that item for you to enjoy.

Before you finish eating breakfast in the morning, you’ve depended on more than half of the world… We Aren’t going to have peace on earth until we recognise this basic fact of he interrelated structure of all reality.

Martin Luther King Jr.

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Why do you think Martin Luther King says we won’t have peace on earth until we recognise this? Think about where your breakfast came from this morning.

Tea from India or Kenya, coffee from Ethiopia or Honduras, bananas from Colombia or the Windward Islands, sugar from Malawi or Fiji? What work by farmers might have gone into producing these products? Is it fair that those who produce our food don’t earn enough to feed themselves or their families?

Food security cannot be taken for granted in many parts of the world, including for many who grow the things we consume every day, such as cocoa or coffee. In some Latin American countries for example, many coffee growing families still consider that they have no guarantee of food security for up to four months a year. It’s so common that the phenomenon has many names: the thin months, the months of the big stomach, seasons of hunger, times of silence or the months of water. It means families subsist on a basic diet of maize and beans, or parents skip meals and children can’t concentrate at school because they’re hungry. Have you ever felt really hungry? How did it feel? What did it then feel like to have a meal? Imagine if you didn’t know if you would have a meal today. How different would your day be?

It is not God’s will for some to have everything and others to have nothing.

Archbishop Oscar Romero.

What did Archbishop Oscar Romero mean when he said this? Some 795 million people are undernourished and it is estimated that half the world's hungry live on small farms, some of which grow crops to export. How do we challenge the injustices that cause hunger and food insecurity?

Perhaps today you can change one of your shopping habits so that hunger and food insecurity will diminish.

Creator God, You created a beautiful world for all your children.

As we taste and smell the fruits of this creation help us to remember those who farm the land to grow them.

Help us live in a partnership of love and support with those who produce our food and drink so that we might enable others to feed their families and create a sustainable future.

Amen.

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Loving God, you make us in your image.

Forgive us when we fail to see your image in each other, when we give in to greed and indifference, when we do not question the systems that are life-denying.

As we are made in your image, let us live in your image and be Christ-like in service, endurance and love.

Amen.

STOP PRESS – In addition to our regular church and food market stalls, we are pleased to announce an extra opportunity to shop the fairtrade way –

4th March 9.30am to 3.30pm Fairtrade Stall in the foyer at St Thomas’ Café and Centre – see you there!

Alison and Graham Wells alisonjanew@sky.com

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Did you know? The custom of giving eggs at Easter celebrates new life.

Christians remember that Jesus, after dying on the cross, rose from the dead. This miracle showed that life could win over death. The egg is a symbol of Jesus' resurrection, as when they are cracked open they stand for the empty tomb.

Out of the 80 million chocolate Easter eggs sold each year in the UK, The Real Easter Egg is the first and only Fairtrade chocolate Easter egg to explain the Christian understanding of Easter on and in the box. The original milk chocolate egg has been revamped this year and includes a chocolate egg, a yummy bar and a leaflet of the Easter story – price £3.99. The dark egg is £5.50, containing a larger egg, chocolate squares and the Easter cross shaped leaflet. The special edition egg is larger still (milk) and has an orange milk chocolate bar and an olive wood cross key ring from Bethlehem - £9.99.

A sizeable donation from profits and Fairtrade Premium fees go directly to the farmers who provide the ingredients that go into the egg. Easter is early this year so get your Real Easter Egg today from your regular Traidcraft stall or by ordering directly from Alison Wells on alisonjanew@sky.com or 01246 566257 or signing up on the form at the back of church.

Deadline date for orders is March 6th.

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ST PETER’S CHURCH A village, family style church with a friendly welcome.

(See website for more details – www.st.petersholymoorside.org.uk) Services – 9.30 am Morning Prayer 7th February and 6th March 9.30am Holy communion (All age 3rd week of each month) 14, 21, 28th February and 13, 20, 27th March 4pm Evensong 21st February and 20th March 9.30am POD 21st February and 13th March 10 am Coffee & Communion (URC) 3rd February and 2nd March 9.45am Ecumenical Lent Bible study (URC) 15, 22, 29th February and 7, 14, 21st March Meditation every Tuesday 2pm prompt (google WCCM uk website) Additional Easter Services – (See above for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday) Ash Wednesday 7.30 pm 7th February.

Good Friday - Hour at the cross, 2pm 25th March House group meets fortnightly at Mary and Simon's house (Enquiries welcome). Mary and Simon's is 01246 567668 and next meetings are 4th February – then 18th February.

New house group beginning shortly at Ken and Irene's home, 'Living Faith Today' – start date to be announced.

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FiND Leader Listening Generously In order to live generously we must be in the business of listening generously – when we listen long and hard we often gain insights that would other-wise have gone unnoticed – yes sure it’s a lot easier [lazier?] to rush to judgement, and let’s face it, we are busy, busy, busy, and listening takes time.

But if we are truly serious about being the church God intended us to be, we need to continually develop our listening skills.

You might know the story of Monty Roberts, ‘The Horse Whisperer’ a man who through observing mustangs in the wild, learned their methods of communication, and developed a way of taming horses that was not painful and did not break their spirit.

Ask anyone whose passion is horses and they will tell you that mirroring the breaths of a horse nose to nose, immediately builds a bridge between that creates calm and a level of trust. It requires an intimate proximity and a vulnerability. Think about this connection for a moment…

The missional equivalent of horse whispering might require us to slow down, be more available, pay more attention and reflect a little harder – but just imagine how much more effective your presence in your community might be. Understanding how your neighbours around you communicate, what language they speak and understand, has the potential to change the relationship between your church and its community beyond recognition.

Often when we are thinking about a parish Mission Action Plan or project or event, we want to get stuck in and do something – with the added pressure of declining numbers, tight finances and the message from all around that the Christian faith is under siege and losing ground, a desire to have almost immediate results through effective mission seems irresistible.

Jesus lived a life comprising 30 years of virtual anonymity followed by 3 years of gracious and courageous ministry. Now I don’t know, but as a child and young adult Jesus may have been a great listener, he may have been the ideal student, but aside from the glimpses the bible affords us, all we can be absolutely sure of is, that he lived those thirty years in a family setting within a typical Jewish community – if the Saviour of the World invested this much time to simply live and be and listen, then maybe we need to keep our heads when all about us are losing theirs.

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As we come across the many varied people, situations and challenges in this New Year, let’s give the appropriate amount of time and space for listening and then respond generously to what we see and hear.

Gareth Greenwood Community Project Development Officer This article is published by Derby Diocesan Mission and Ministry Team. If you would like to receive this publication by email please contact us at rita.brierley@derby.anglican.org or 01332 388684.

Blessed Charles the Good Count Charles of Flanders, was called "the good" by the people of his kingdom. They named him for what they found him to truly be. He was the son of St. Canute, king of Denmark. Charles was just five years old when his father was murdered in 1086. When Charles grew up, he married a good young woman named Margaret. Charles was a mild and fair ruler. The people trusted him and his laws. He tried to be an example of what he expected the people to be.

Some nobles accused Charles of unjustly favouring the poor over the rich. He answered kindly, "It is because I am so aware of the needs of the poor and the pride of the rich." The poor of his realm were fed daily at his castles.

Charles ordered the abundant planting of crops so that the people would have plenty to eat at reasonable prices. Some wealthy men tried to hoard grain to sell at very high prices. Charles the Good found out and forced them to sell immediately and at fair prices. An influential father and his sons had been reprimanded by Charles for their violent tactics. They joined the little group of enemies who now wanted to kill him.

The count walked every morning barefoot to Mass and arrived early at the Church of St. Donatian. He did this in a spirit of penance. He longed to deepen his own spiritual life with God. His enemies knew that he walked to church and also that he prayed often alone before Mass. Many people who loved Charles feared for his life. They warned him that his walks to St. Donatian could lead to his death. He replied, "We are always in the middle of dangers, but we belong to God." One morning, as he prayed alone before the statue of Mary, his attackers killed him. Charles was martyred in 1127.

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Ordination Training – half way there: Julie Lomas A year last September, I set out on a pathway marked “Ordination Training This Way” – it looked a fairly well worn path, quite wide and easy to follow and heading off into the distance with little to suggest that it would be anything but a straight forward quick march. Eighteen months later I have just been at the residential weekend that marks the half way mark and it seems a good point to take a moment to stop and reflect on the events that have passed, and to then look ahead.

The basic structure of the pathway I am taking is the same for everyone – it involves formal teaching in topics such as Old and New Testament studies, Church history, Liturgy, Doctrine, Ethics to name a few. This is delivered in lectures, and followed up by writing essays to deadlines. We also take time to become at ease with the wide variety of tradition within Anglicanism expressed through the Book of Common Prayer all the way to Messy Church, and everything in between. But the training is not just academic and book based, but it also involves something called “Formation”. My understanding of this now, 18 months on, is that this is where as individuals we, as it were, surrender ourselves into the loving hold of God for the process of shaping, moulding, removal of unwanted or unnecessary parts of our inner life, in order that our true selves might be even more visible, stronger and resilient for the calling. Dr Suess says this - “Today you are you, that is truer than true, there is no one alive who is youer than you!” Formation for me is about becoming even more me than the me that I am, if you follow the logic! Over the years I have accumulated “stuff” and some of it needs to be released and some of it needs to be enhanced, and who better to tease these aspects out that the One who knows me, loves me, and has called me to follow Him – God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

So ordination training involves every part of life, reading, praying, stillness, companionship as well as frustrations, tears, lack of understanding, repetition and getting it wrong. That is where the path can get rocky and narrow and the edge gets steep and dangerous. At this point the Yorkshire Ministry 18

Course who are responsible for me remind me of the following – that the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield is the permanent praying community whose daily rhythm of prayer holds us before God. We are blessed to be so supported by the Brothers. Then as a dispersed community we pray for one another on a daily basis, and when we meet as a gathered community, our weekends start and end with prayer and are punctuated with six further times of prayer. We also meet in dedicated small groups for prayer and support twice within the 48 hours.

Along the way we also engage in experiential learning, for example I spent four months on placement at the Crooked Spire Church in town, and I am planning a further placement in the coming few months where I will be in a community setting. Alongside this is the ongoing experience I have of serving God as Chaplain within the Hartington Unit and the Derbyshire Mental Health NHS Trust. In other words, nothing is outside of the scope of the training, far from it, we are invited to bring our whole selves and every aspect of life in all its ups and downs. And in so doing, I think I am learning to vary my pace, sometimes to slow down, to change from seeing this as a quick march, to an exploration through difficult and time consuming terrain, whilst at other times it is a more measured and sustainable walk where there is time to stop and admire the view, to pause and enjoy a refreshing brew, to say thank you for the everyday mercies that surround me and those I am with. In the words of T S Elliot, we all “ought to be explorers here or there does not matter we must be still and still moving into another intensity for a further union, a deeper communion” On January 1st I realised I could say, “Next year, God willing, I will be ordained”. As I set off from this half way point, these words are before me, to encourage and prompt within me God’s spirit of exploration, to be still and still moving.

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How great is our God Tony Witham

How great is our God, sing with me How great is our God, and all will see How great, how great is our God so runs the chorus of one of my favourite songs. However, occasionally my mind adds a question mark – How great is our God? – and this sets me to thinking.

When the weather is reasonable I like to walk to Church. I can measure my journey in two ways: either by saying it’s just over 2 miles or by saying it takes me about 40 minutes. My sister and some of her family live in Hastings on the south coast. That’s a journey of 230 miles and I’d be silly to try to walk there!

By car it takes about 4½ hours so I could describe it as a distance of 4½ car hours (provided the motorways are kind to us!). Some time ago Marie and I went on holiday to western Canada. We flew to Vancouver, a distance of 4,500 miles or 9½ aeroplane hours. Can you imagine walking that far?Even that long a flight didn’t take us halfway round the world.

Someone who is going right around the world at the moment is Tim Peake, the British astronaut who is currently living on the International Space Station. The ISS goes all the way around the earth more than 15 times a day and to do this it travels at around 17,000 mph (a bit faster than my walking pace!). We could measure its orbit as 92.7 ISS minutes. Even at this tremendous speed, Tim Peake does not hold the human speed record. This belongs to the three crew members of the Apollo 10 space mission who achieved a speed of 39,896 mph in 1969.

The aim of the Apollo missions was to reach our nearest neighbour in space – the moon. Even travelling at thousands of miles per hour it took about 66 hours for each spacecraft to reach the moon – a journey of more than a quarter of a million miles. At this distance we start to notice an interesting effect.

Radio signals travel at the speed of light which is about 670 thousand miles per hour, and so there is a delay of about one and a half seconds in receiving signals from the moon. So we can say that the moon is 1½ light seconds away.

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The nearest star to Earth is of course our sun. This is roughly 93 million miles away but even this vast distance is only 500 light seconds. Now God didn’t just create our planet for us to live on and give us a single star to provide us with light and warmth; he created a whole universe of stars and galaxies. The next nearest star to us is 4 light years away – that’s 250,000 times the earth – sun distance. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, extends for more than 100,000 light years and the Hubble Space Telescope has photographed galaxies thought to be 13,000,000,000 light years away from us. All part of God's wonderful creation - “and God said 'Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven.'“ (Genesis 1:v15). If you can comprehend even a few of these numbers I’m sure you will join with me in exclaiming ‘How great is our God!!’

Tony Witham.

EASTER SERVICES St Thomas’ 10th February ASH WEDNESDAY 7.30pm March 21st, 22nd 23rd Holy Week service 7.30pm March 24th Agape service 7.30pm March 25th

10.30 Hot Cross Bun Service 2pm An hour at the cross

March 27th

EASTER DAY 10.30 am service NB no 6pm service.

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1000 crocuses planted at St Thomas's The Chesterfield Civic Society has donated 1000 crocus corms to the church which have been planted close to Chatsworth Road to improve the attractiveness of the church and be a source of springtime enjoyment to those who pass by.

Civic Society Executive Member, Amanda Chalke, said: The Society is committed to working with others to make Chesterfield a better place for everyone. The crocuses will, in a small way, make the front of the church and the Brampton Conservation Area more attractive. If repeated many times even modest improvements inspire more, and incrementally Chatsworth Road becomes a better place to be.

Rev Canon Matt Barnes said: Our church is committed to working with the community and being a focal point within it. Here is another example where there is long term mutual benefit. It adds to the planned refurbishment of our church tower which will start next year.

Front cover photograph.

Confirmation at St Thomas’, 24th January 2016 The Right Reverend Richard Inwood Confirmed Dawn Cooper Rachael Farrell Robyn Riggans Phoebe Sellars Baptisms took place at the 11o’clock service Autumn Wild Grace Beecham Nikitah Tomlin Robyn Riggans Anna Widdowson A glorious day!!

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Parish Contacts www.st-thomas-brampton.org

St Thomas’ Church Office & Parish Centre Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 3AW Open Monday - Friday 9.00 am - 3.00 pm For general, baptism, marriage, funeral and booking enquiries please contact Telephone: (01246) 279916 Email: admin@st-thomas-brampton.org

Staff Rector:

Canon Matthew Barnes

Tel: 01246 567634 Email: rector@st-thomas-brampton.org

Curate:

Rev Ben Griffiths

Tel: 01246 569142 Email: curate@st-thomas-brampton.org

Parish Manager:

Sally-Anne Beecham

Tel: 01246 279916 Email: admin@st-thomas-brampton.org

Hospitality Manager: Beth Robson

Tel; 01246 279916 Email: beth.robson@stthomascentre.com

Youth Worker

Letty Underdown

Tel: 01246 279916 Email: letitiaunderdown@hotmail.com

Children & Families Worker

Emily Stockton

Tel: 07738 016087 Email: e.stockton@hotmail.com

Worship

Mark Depledge

Tel: 01246 279916 Email: worship@st-thomas-brampton.org

Admin Assistant

Michelle Depledge

Tel: 01246 279916 Email: admin@st-thomas-brampton.org

Licenced Readers Robin Dawson Bill Galloway Tim Wheeler

01246 550554 01246 569296 01246 450680

Julie Lomas Dee Ashton

Parochial Church Council Warden Warden Secretary Treasurer

Mark Hoare Phil Bird Mark Simons Phil Johnson

01246 566722 01246 455854 01246 568562 01246 375947

St Peter’s Holymoorside District Warden DCC Secretary DCC Treasurer Music Sunday Club Health & Safety

Maxine Rotheram Ken Franklin Mary-Jane Sagar Shirley Whitham Mary Neider Neil Killingley

01246 769040 01246 568401 01246 568325 01246 68217 01246 566644

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01246 277448 01246 221334

Deputy Wardens Karen Riley Michael Mann

566085 237816

Bernard Blanksby Paula Simons

237552 568562

St Thomas’ DCC Secretary Treasurer

Vacant Phil Johnson

275947

St Thomas’ Church Worship Music Sacristan Flowers Notice Sheet

Mark Depledge Pam Brimelow Margaret Taylor Michelle Depledge

279916 279451

Rotas 9.30am & 11.00am 6.00pm

Ann Hoare Sue Ward

566722 202644

Letty Underdown Emily Stockton Paul Benson David Oldale Nanette Sanderson Phil Johnson Gail Widdowson Sue Wheeler Tim Wheeler Jane Simmonds Michelle Depledge Rev Ben Griffiths Robin Dawson

07990 586343 07738 016087 279188 272333 231115 275947 567409 450680 450680 235844 279916 569142 550445

279916

Ministry Team Leaders Youth Children & Families Men Seniors Finance Mission Discipleship Pastoral Community Communications Worship Estates

Magazine General comments, information or articles for the magazine can be sent to: editor@st-thomas-brampton.org or write to: The Editor, St Thomas’ Church Office, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 3AW

Prayer Requests Prayer requests can be emailed to the Church office at admin@st-thomas-brampton.org

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