St Thomas' Brampton and St Peter's Holymoorside, Chesterfield Rector's Letters February 2009-January 2010 Our vision statement: Sharing the love of Jesus

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The Rector's letter is printed in each edition of the Church Magazine February/March 2009 April/May 2009 June/July 2009 August/September 2009 October/November 2009 December2009/January 2010 February/March 2009 As I write this letter we are about to begin a new sermon series at St Thomas’ entitled ‘Resolved’. (See page 13.) The idea of the series is to help us ‘shake out’ our spiritual life as we set some New Year ‘spiritual’ resolutions. What are we doing that helps grow and develop that side of us? Have we got a little jaded in the prayers we use or the services we attend? Do we take for granted that a new day dawns and forget to start the day with thanksgiving on our lips? Here’s a challenge: I would like to encourage you to work out how much time you spend sorting out the house, or your wardrobe, or the Christmas decorations or what ever earthly start you make to January, and then suggest you set aside a similar length of time for a look at some spiritual reflection. When undergoing training for authorised ministry such as Reader or the Ordained ministry the words 'spiritual reflection' become part of your breathing pattern. Nothing can be studied, prepared or undertaken without that element of things being considered to the point that one feels that if you have to 'spiritually reflect' one more time you will have a few choice words to share with your tutors! But if so much weight is placed on spiritual reflection in ‘formal’ ministry surely we all should be encouraged to do the same. After all when you read the Gospel records of Christ just such an activity frames all of his recorded life and ministry. Often verses start with something like 'Now during those days he went onto the mountain to pray' (Luke 6:12), or 'He withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself' (Matthew 14:13b). His ministry is rooted in spiritual care of himself in the presence of his Father, and his words to us are one long spiritual reflection on life and how God calls us to live. So surely, as we start our new year of 2009, one of the most useful things we can do is to resolve to find a way that aids us to refresh and develop our own spiritual lives. Listen to our new sermon series on-line. Better still, make the effort to come to church in person, read a book, visit a different service, take a course (like ALPHA), join a small group or book a retreat. All these will encourage our soul into a healthy shape. So I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year, in every sense of the word. Matt Barnes -Rector From the February 2009 edition of the magazine April/May 2009 Dear Friends, Easter is a wonderful time of year as we celebrate the joy of God’s love for us –it seems that nature itself joins with us in praise as all the beauty of spring bursts forth into wonderful new life. The link between the new life of Easter and spring is one that is often made by Churches. It’s a helpful reminder each year of how Jesus’ death on the cross (winter) is miraculously transformed into new life (spring). This new life is one we are all invited to share in. I’m sure we’ll all agree it’s a great picture but for it to mean anything to us it first has to mean something for us personally, as individuals, and that requires a step of faith. Faith is a strange thing, if you have it you can’t imagine living without it, if you don’t it seems like nonsense. The Bible says ‘faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.’ Reason goes a long way in helping to discover faith and is vital in the process but there comes a point when you just need to step out and trust. We all need to grow in faith and so can I urge you this Eastertide to do just that ... step out and discover (or rediscover) a new and wonderful faith in Jesus. What have you got to lose? A good ‘first step’ might be to come along to church for one of our services or give the church office a ring and ask to make an appointment for me to come and see you and talk about what ‘new life, new faith’ might mean for you. Go on, step out, start a new life today! As a church we’re stepping forward in faith with our ‘Living Stones’ parish centre project. This has taken another huge step forward recently with the granting of planning permission to build a new ‘eco’ style parish centre in the grounds of the Church. There is still some way to go but I’m confident that we will soon be in possession of all we need to get started. At the heart of this centre is a desire to birth new life and new faith in our community. Not just for those who are already members of St Thomas’ but for everyone who lives in Brampton. I’d love to tell you more about our plans, if you have any questions or concerns then please don’t hesitate to contact me. Matt Barnes -Rector From the April 2009 edition of the magazine June/July 2009 Dear Friends, Welcome to another packed edition of Ploughshare. Have you heard the expression ‘a curate's egg’? Nowadays it’s a saying that means something that has a mix of good and bad qualities. The phrase dates back to 1895 and is derived from a cartoon in the humorous British magazine Punch. Drawn by George du Maurier and entitled ‘True Humility’, it pictured a timid-looking curate taking breakfast in his bishop's house. The bishop says, "I'm afraid you've got a bad egg, Mr Jones." The curate replies, "Oh, no, my Lord, I assure you that parts of it are excellent!" So if that’s what a ‘curate’s egg’ is; what’s a curate? A curate is an assistant minister who, after their initial academic training, is ordained and sent to a parish to gain the practical skills necessary to have sole responsibility for running their own parish. Ruth Turner will be arriving in Chesterfield at the beginning of July (Ordination Service 10.45am 5 July at Derby Cathedral) to begin four years as our new Curate. Ruth, who is a trained teacher and musician, is currently finishing her theological training in Ridley Hall, Cambridge. During her time with us Ruth will be doing all the things that you would expect of a minister, for instance leading services, preaching, conducting weddings, baptisms and funerals as well as learning how to run an Anglican church. Please make Ruth feel really at home as she comes to work amongst us. You are especially welcome to meet her on her first full Sunday in the parish, 12th July. There will be receptions after each of our three services at St Thomas’ (9am, 11am and 6pm) to properly welcome her to the parish. Do join us if you can. Matt Barnes -Rector From the June 2009 edition of the magazine August/September 2009 Dear Friends, OK –the truth, I write this letter half focusing on my ministerial responsibilities but increasingly thinking about the fact that in a few days time I’ll be on holiday! Holidays are great and I don’t imagine I’ll be the only one looking forward to some time to lay down the responsibilities of life and draw refreshment from being with family and friends. As we spend, on average, about ten percent of our disposable income on holidays, what does the Bible say about something that is such a major annual expense for many of us? In most English Bibles the word ‘holiday’ is only found in the book of Esther (8:17, 9:19 and 9:22). Holiday here is a translation of the Hebrew ywm twb, which literally means ‘good day’ (hence the NIV a ‘day of joy’). You may have realised that in English, the word holiday is a contraction of ‘holy’ and ‘day’. Holiday originally referred only to special religious days, days of observance. At the heart of the nature of ‘holy’ is someone or something ‘set apart for God’. A holy day then, was a day set apart for God. Not a time of self absorption or self gratification but actually a time set aside to focus on God differently. In our 21st century context perhaps we should consider our holidays as times of opportunity to see God in different ways. Maybe through a deeper encounter with our family and those we love, maybe by engaging with creation in refreshing ways (like on the beach!) or maybe by stimulating our minds and thinking in new ways (like reading a good book). Whatever we choose to do on holiday, it should be God-centred; a time of spiritual as well as physical rest, where our families and God are honoured and valued, and where our love for God and His people grows even stronger. So finally, may I wish you all a very, very happy summer holy-day, may your days be days of joy! And with that I’m of to pack my suitcase..... Matt Barnes -Rector From the August 2009 edition of the magazine October/November 2009 Dear Friends, Summer is giving way to autumn, leaves are starting to fall from the trees; lighter evenings are becoming darker with each successive night. Things are changing all around us, nothing stays the same. It’s because things change that it’s important to make time to stop and remember. This time of year is always good to do that. Through these months the church gives us plenty of opportunity to remember all sorts of important things. We remember with thanksgiving God’s provision of good things to eat at Harvest time. We remember with gratitude those who fought and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today at our Remembrance Services and we fondly bring to mind those who we have loved yet lost through the curtain of death at our Memorial Services. Yet some things never change, the Bible tells us that God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the sure anchor point that we can build our lives upon through all the changing scenes of life. Whether our lives are going well or are in difficulty God’s constant, steadying presence can help us and change us for the good. I remember reading a book that played with the word ‘remember’ It suggested that we should read the word as ‘re-membered’ as in, having the members (pieces) of your lives put together again. God can do this as we remember his love and constant care for us, but like the other opportunities we have to remember over these next few weeks we need to make a conscious effort to do this otherwise it will mean nothing. I hope to see you all at our ‘remembering’ services and also at our services at which help us to remember again God’s amazing, transforming love for us. Matt Barnes -Rector From the October 2009 edition of the magazine December 2009/January 2010 Dear Friends, The coming of a New Year brings with it lots of hopes and dreams. Some of us have a plan for how we’d like things to be different; others of us just wonder what the future will bring. A hope foremost in my mind is that St Thomas’ will be a very different place by the end of 2010. If our plans are successful then the desire to build a much longed for new parish facility that will service the needs of both the Church and local community will be realised. After thirty five years of effort, finally we hope this project will be brought to its conclusion. There is still some hard work ahead of us; we have many obstacles to overcome. One difficulty is we’ve been told that our land may be very tough to build on –filled with unseen problems and pitfalls. The only way our new building will stand is if we get our foundations right –this may be a costly endeavour but if we fail to make the investment ‘below ground’ any money that is spend ‘above ground’ will be wasted. This is an analogy for life –if the foundations of our lives are not secure then we try and build our life on shifting sand. The fundamental foundational human need is to know that we are loved. As parents pass away, as marriages fail, as friends and family leave the area, is it any wonder why so many people struggle in life to find secure love? We need to find a solid foundation upon which to build –who would have thought to look into a dirty stable and there to find the most solid of all foundations lying wrapped in baby’s swaddling clothes. Whatever your hopes and dreams maybe for 2010 the only way that they will make a lasting change is if they’re based on Jesus Christ –the cornerstone to our lives. I do look forward to welcoming you to St Thomas’ over the Christmas period and New Year as together we lay the foundations of faith and hope and love for the new year upon the Christ child, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. If you’d like to make a New Year’s resolution to explore faith more deeply then why not consider signing up for our Alpha course (more details here). Every best wish and happiness for a joyful Christmas and peaceful New Year. Matt Barnes -Rector From the December 2009 edition of the magazine Rector's Letters 2010