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The Rector's letter is printed in each edition of the Church Magazine
February/March 2008
As we are in an without a Rector at present the Church Wardens have taken over the writing of the 'Rector's Letter'
‘Do not dwell in the past. See, I am doing a new thing’ -Isaiah 18-19.
As I look forward to Lent and Easter I find myself reflecting on the past year. We have seen some big changes; sad ones -Alex Simpson leaving St Peter’s to move to Norfolk and David Mouncer having to leave St Thomas’ for health reasons, and happy ones -Dawn Edingborough joining as our Children’s and Families’ Worker and Audrey Smith being appointed as minister for St Peter’s.
Being in a vacancy is never easy and Bernard and I are very grateful to everyone for pulling together to ensure we continue to share God’s love with our communities, especially in making all our Christmas services and events so successful. (See the pictures of the Youth Ball on the front cover.) A visitor leaving a carol service was overheard saying “You’d never know they haven’t got a vicar”.
The interviews for the Rector’s post are on 6 February. If it is God’s will we will appoint one of the candidates. If not we will have to be patient and wait for God to show us the right person.
We have lots of new things to look forward to in 2008. As well as finding a new Rector, Audrey Smith will be joining as the Non Stipendary Minister for St Peter’s soon after Easter. We are forging ahead with our development plans for St Thomas’ Parish Centre and there are plans to replace the vestry at St Peter’s.
No doubt many unexpected things will happen, but on the days when we are bewildered by events, or we wonder “what is the world coming to” we can be reassured that God loves us and knows his plans for us. Easter reminds us just how much God loves us.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who can be called according to his purpose……If God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all -how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? -Romans 8: 28, 31-32.
Karen Riley -Church Warden
From the February 2008 edition of the magazine
April/May 2008
As we are in an without a Rector at present the Church Wardens have taken over the writing of the 'Rector's Letter'
Here we are in springtime once again. Spring is a wonderfully refreshing time to appreciate God’s creation. We see the bright colours in displays of new flowers and bursting buds and the air is fresh.
What a great time this is for our Parish as we look forward to new arrivals: Revd. Audrey Smith will join us as Resident Priest at St Peter’s in mid April and Rev Matthew Barnes (Matt) is making preparation to move into the Rectory ready for his
induction as Rector of Brampton St
Thomas’ on 5 June.
We are really blessed to be having two new ministers among us before the summer. We have now passed through our darkness and the light shines brightly ahead.
‘For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.’ -2 Corinthians 4:6.
As Ploughshare Distributor, may I take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support for St Thomas’ and St Peter’s by taking and reading the Magazine.
Bernard Blanksby -Church Warden
From the April 2008 edition of the magazine
June/July 2008
As we are in an without a Rector at present the Church Wardens have taken over the writing of the 'Rector's Letter'
I'm writing this letter a few days after
Pentecost. You're probably very familiar with the account in Acts chapter 2 of how the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in different languages so that the Jewish visitors to Jerusalem from many countries could understand what they were saying, and how Peter spoke to the crowd and how many
thousands became believers that day. It is the beginning of the Christian church.
If you're not familiar with the account, and even if you are, I recommend you to listen to Eileen Balch's sermon from the 9am service on Pentecost (11th May) then read again the account in Acts 2. (Download sermon here)
Listening to Eileen, it was brought home to me that these were ordinary men, not highly educated scholars. They had given up their normal lives to follow Jesus and all the hopes they had had been shattered with his death. But they had seen him again and they continued to believe and to pray together. They were filled with the Holy Spirit which enabled them to spread the message of Jesus Christ to thousands of others who became believers and the Christian church began.
Maybe you're a bit like me. I know I couldn't stand up and preach about God's word. I find it hard to talk to non Christians about my faith and why it is so
important to me. I'm lucky, most of my friends are Christians but sometimes I wonder what my colleagues think of my beliefs.
What I was reminded of on Sunday was that we are all called to serve God and to share our faith with others in different ways and that God equips each of us with the skills and strengths to do just that. Each way is just as valuable to God as the next, there is no right or wrong way to show His love to others.
This led me to think about something that happened to me last month which, quite frankly, has been bothering me. Late one Saturday night in Chesterfield last year I went to help a young lady who had an accident. I was surprised a few weeks later to receive a letter from the Derbyshire Police thanking me for what I had done.
was amazed a couple of months ago to learn that I was being given a Police award for what I had done. So last month Phil and I went to the awards
ceremony, which was nerve wracking, and I was astounded to learn that the
majority of people, nine out of ten, would not have stopped as I had done.
What has been bothering me ever since is why what I did was regarded as so amazing. On Sunday I realised that I helped because God has given me the gifts to be able to do so, just as he has given others the gift of making music,
organising things, preaching etc. The gift he has given me is to give practical help to others, be they friends, colleagues or complete strangers.
We all need to ask God to show us the gifts he has given to each of us and the courage to use those gifts to spread the amazing news of Jesus Christ.
And that brings me to the arrival of our new clergy to the parish. This is the last Church Warden's letter in the parish magazine. On 4th May Audrey Smith was licensed as Associate Priest to serve in the parish with responsibility for
St Peter's, Holymoorside and on 5th June Matt Barnes will be inducted as
Rector of St Thomas'.
I thank God that He has given Matt and Audrey the gifts to be leaders in His church and that He has led them both to us here in Brampton and
Holymoorside. We look forward to their ministry and to new people being drawn to our churches as a result. Thank you to everyone who has helped Bernard and me with the running of St Thomas' during the vacancy and to Mark Marsden for keeping St Peter's afloat during their twelve month vacancy.
Karen Riley -Church Warden
From the June 2008 edition of the magazine
August/September 2008
This is the first 'Rector's Letter' by Matt Barnes our new Rector.
Dear Friends,
Here’s something I read recently, “You don’t have to change. Survival isn’t mandatory”.
Change is all around us and if we choose not to change and adapt then
eventually we will end up like the dinosaurs! My family and I have experienced a great deal of change recently as we’ve moved from our very settled life in Clay Cross to a brand new community here in Brampton. I’m really grateful to everyone who has made that transition easier for us but nonetheless we’ve experienced an enormous upheaval. Why do we all find change so difficult? Maybe it’s because of what change means to us. Change means leaving
behind old and comfortable ways of being and doing. Change means learning new skills and engaging with new people. Whatever the reason we sometimes struggle with new things. We must recognise that the only constant in life is
indeed change itself.
Churches sometimes have the unfortunate reputation for being the institutions that are least open to change. The newspapers enjoy reporting the fierce
reactions of angry Christians opposing new things –this is especially true as I write this article in the build-up to the Lambeth Conference –much of this
reporting is sensational and inaccurate (–don’t believe everything you read in the paper or see reported on the TV!) but it still aptly illustrates that the church is not always comfortable with new ideas. [See article on page 17]
For as much as change is a constant there are other constants in our lives that should have a great and more profound influence over us. Here’s a couple to ponder. Through all the changes of life God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Here’s another, God’s love for us never fails.
As Christian people Jesus is always calling us forward into new things –that’s the nature of life and faith –but God has promised to walk with us along the path he calls us to tread. However uncertain we are about where this path might take us, God is there to be our guide. This is the single fact that gave me confidence to leave a settled life and move to Brampton.
I’m sure that we’ll experience many changes in my time as Rector, some will be good, others more challenging –but together we can face those times
confident in the knowledge that God holds all things in his hands and he will never abandon us –indeed, he will lead us all into his promise of good things.
Be at peace,
Matthew Barnes, Rector
From the August 2008 edition of the magazine
October/November 2008
Dear Friends,
In the last edition of Ploughshare you may remember reading about a number of
members from our congregation who felt God was calling them away from
Chesterfield to do other things in the wider church. It’s always sad to say good bye to long standing friends. Whilst we as a church are thrilled to have played a part in their Christian journey it’s heartbreaking to
actually say good bye – this of course is the way of life!
The make up of our church is constantly changing, people go ... others come.
I hope that as a church we are always ready to greet with open arms new people who are looking for a spiritual home. If you’ve not yet tried us you’re more than welcome to come and see for yourself!
Let me tell you about two new people who will be joining us over the next few months.
Kat Witham is not exactly new to St. Thomas’ but is taking on a new role amongst us as from September she began working for St Thomas’ as a
trainee youth worker. Kat is working with Gemma (our full-time youth
worker) and the rest of the staff team in helping to bring about an even greater impact amongst young people in our church and community. I’m thrilled that Kat has decided to take a year out to serve God in this way and to help
St Thomas’ youth work move forward.
I’m also thrilled to be able to announce that as of next year we will be joined by the then Rev Ruth Turner.
Ruth is currently training at Ridley Hall in Cambridge. She will be ordained as Deacon in the Derby Diocese next Petertide (June 2009) and then begin work as our new Curate. Ruth will work as a close colleague of mine as she moves into the more practical aspect of her training for priesthood. Ruth will be with us for four years and will contribute to every aspect of our parish’s life, both at St Thomas’, St Peter’s and in the wider community.
Ruth comes to us with an enormous amount of skill in church work and ministry. Prior to her current theological training at Ridley Hall she was on the staff at
St Alkmund’s in Derby as their full-time worship leader. Prior to that she was Director of music and worship at St Aldates Church in Oxford – the church that Gareth Simmonds has just left us to work for! Ruth has worked for J. John,
St Michael’s Cathedral (Wollongong, Australia) and as a Youth with a Mission (Y.W.A.M.) team member.
I’m sure both Kat and Ruth will bring wonderful new things with them in their new roles amongst us - but they will be just two of many people who I’m sure will join us. Everyone is equally welcome. We all have things to bring to the life of the Church; you don’t have to be on the full-time staff to have a vital role to play in making St Thomas’ the great church it is – everyone is welcome, everyone has a part to play.
Yours in Christ,
Matthew Barnes, Rector
From the October 2008 edition of the magazine
December 2008/January 2009
Dear Friends,
All we seem to hear about at the moment is the credit
crunch –despite the government and all political
parties trying to persuade us that they are the ones
who can ‘look after us’ the reality is that many folks
are facing a much reduced Christmas this year. I
know of several people who have already lost their
jobs and are finding it difficult to re-enter the market
place. It’s one thing to be forced to ‘give up’ luxuries,
it’s completely another to choose to do so.
At Christmas we remember how God made a conscious choice to ‘give up’ the
glory of heaven in order to be born in a stable as a tiny baby. The bible
reminds us that God ‘made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a
servant, being made in human likeness’ (Phil 2:7). The question begs to be
asked, “WHY?”
The answer is of course love –unless God did this thing then we would never
be able to enjoy knowing God as our friend. That which began in a stable in
Bethlehem ended on a cross in Jerusalem –the place where Jesus
surrendered his life, in order for us all to truly know God and live.
We understand that whatever our circumstances we’re prepared to make
sacrifices for our children at Christmas –how much more true is this of God
who sacrificed himself that we might know him completely.
Confused? Amazed that God could do such a thing? Come along and join us
at St. Thomas’ as we explore the depths of God’s love at Christmastide.
Have a very Happy Christmas and peace filled New Year.
Rev Matthew Barnes, Rector
From the December 2008 edition of the magazine
Rector's Letters 1980
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