There is an Open Invitation to an Open Forum for ‘Living the Questions’ on

• Wednesday, 3oth July or Monday, 18th August - 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m.
• in Cornerstone Cafe Lounge at Central Methodist Church, Saltergate.

These will be ‘taster sessions’ with a view to a later series of events through the coming autumn and winter.

What will happen?

• Anyone who comes will have the chance, over tea or coffee, to raise questions, make statements, open up discussion regarding aspects of the Christian faith - or just listen while others do all that.

Who will run the Open Forum?

• Paul King, assisted by other members of the Progressive Christian Network (a network of groups related to the Centre for Radical Christianity at St Mark’s Church, Sheffield).

What is ‘Living the Questions’?

• This is the title of some published material which is to hand and which suggests the style of what is planned.
• The approach involves ‘living with questions’ rather than providing simple and easy answers.
• It is hoped this will be helpful to interested people both from within and from beyond the churches.

There’s no need to book - just turn up on either date!

For more information contact Paul King - at paul.king7@virgin.net or (01246) 270936 or at Central Methodist Church.

Almost 80 people attended ‘QuizAid’ (for Christian Aid) at Central Methodist Church on Saturday, 19th July, participating in a quiz and sharing a fish & chip supper.  Approximately £250 was raised for Christian Aid, following on from Christian Aid Week in May, when collectors from Central helped to raise £1,240 from the house-to-house collection.  The theme for the Week was: 

‘Time for Action on Climate Change’

The changing climate is poised to reverse decades of development.  Forget making poverty history; poverty is set to become permanent unless we address climate change as a matter of urgency!

Donations collected during Christian Aid Week 2008 will help communities in the developing world to cope with the effects of climate change.

But money in itself is not enough - we need to act!  We can all use our influence on politicians and business leaders in the rich world, who are the ones making the key decisions affecting poor countries.

Climate change is an issue of injustice - the world’s poorest people have done the least to contribute to the problem, and yet they are suffering the worst effects.

Visit the Christian Aid website for more details about Christian Aid Week, Christian Aid’s Climate Change campaign and to sign up to take further action.

A Prayer for Christian Aid Week

• Lord Jesus, you were anointed to bring good news to those who felt no good news,
• to proclaim freedom to those imprisoned by injustice,
• and recover health and wholeness to all the world.
• You took up the cause of the oppressed.
• You proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favour.
• At the heart of your ministry was action.
• Remind us of the unlikely group of people you gathered around you
• to perform your work of love,
• and empower us to bring your good news
• so your kingdom will come and your will be done,
• on earth as it is in heaven.
• Amen

The annual churches’ ecumenical Procession of Witness, which began more than 150 years ago, brought a message of hope for Chesterfield on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, 26th May.

The theme of the procession this year was ‘Jesus Christ - Hope for Chesterfield’ as part of the continuing ‘Hope4Chesterfield’ campaign. Over 500 people from more than 25 churches took part, together with representatives from Samaritans Purse, St. John Ambulance and St. Michael’s Soup Kitchen, processing around the town centre behind many colourful and imaginative tableaux.

Central Methodist’s tableau was entitled ‘Word of Jesus - Hope for Chesterfield’ and portrayed the work of Cornerstone Coffee Bar and Bookshop - including a giant cup and saucer, to show God’s work and love through sharing coffee, books, music and fellowship.

The Procession started and finished with singing and prayers on the steps of the Town Hall, and organiser, Chris Townsend, Secretary of the Christian Education Council, said "The churches and other organisations involved found imaginative, colourful and attractive ways of showing the people of Chesterfield that there is hope in Jesus Christ.  This was one of the best acts of witness in recent years and, we hope, a splendid contribution to ‘Hope ‘08′." 

CHESTERFIELD ON A WORLD MAP

 In the MARKET HALL 

 SATURDAY MAY 10^th , 2008

All sorts of people mingled in the Market Hall on Saturday, 10^th May for ‘Chesterfield on a World Map’ – an event marking Pentecost Saturday and the latest stage in Hope4Chesterfield’s celebration of the year 2008.  A huge world map was the backcloth, along with flags and balloons.

You can view more photos of the event in the Photo Gallery on the Resources page.

The town’s twinning arrangements with Darmstadt and Troyes, with Tsumeb and Yanquan were joined by personal, denominational and ecumenical stallholders.  Traidcraft and Fairtrade were side by side, urging us to trade more fairly.  Opposite were mission partners from Sri Lanka, linked to the local Methodist District.  Samaritan’s Purse, with its warehouse in Chatsworth Road, were promoting their work in many countries, especially Belarus.  

Amnesty International exhorted us to sign up in support of their campaigns for prisoners of conscience.  Refreshments were fairly traded and/or from Denlita and Babuschka, two of our ethnic food suppliers.

From time to time, speakers were interviewed briefly: these included Talita and Ben Bentley, who married in Brazil, Talita’s home country and Cllr Alexis Diouf, who hails from Senegal and now sits in our Borough Council’s Cabinet.

Musical instruments from developing countries were available to be played.  A huge collection of national dolls, belonging to John Tranter and his family could be seen and admired.

The event came to a conclusion with a short recital by the choir of the New Testament Church of God.

Both Pentecost and Chesterfield were seen to be on a ‘world map’.

(Visit Hope4Chesterfield and Hope2008 for information about other events)

Many churches in Chesterfield are working together on various events and initiatives throughout 2008 as part of national HOPE08. 

There is a week of events - ‘Fresh Hope’ - leading up to Palm Sunday aiming to bring hope for Chesterfield, including the Launch at Central Methodist Church on Saltergate on Saturday, March 8th - 3.00 - 4.30 pm and the ‘Fresh Hope Finale’ at St Mary’s School in Newbold on Palm Sunday, March 16th - 6.00 - 7.30 pm.

Please click here for more details.

With God’s help:

I affirm that in 2008, I intend to bring:

• Harmony in place of discord
• Opportunities out of challenges
• Praise instead of criticism
• Encouragement to replace despair.

We affirm that in our Church, 2008 will be a year of:

• Holiness and wholeness
• One purpose for many people
• Prayer that leads to action
• Everyone finding a place to belong

We pray that for our community, 2008 will be a year of:

• Healing for those who are broken
• Order where there is chaos
• Protection for the vulnerable
• Enterprise for all

We pray for our nation, that 2008 will be a year of:

• Health of body mind and spirit
• Open-hearted attitudes
• Passion for justice and mercy
• Expectations and visions fulfilled.

We pray that the God of all Hope will give us the faith and courage to live lives that will release HOPE this year.

I make this declaration and pray this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.

Amen

World Prayer Centre http://www.worldprayer.org.uk/