As I write this article, I have been selecting items to pack for a forthcoming
trip around Europe by train. The challenge has been to pack enough clothes
to survive 2 weeks into a single backpack. I now have to decide what to take
out as there is not enough space for all the items I felt I needed.
This reminds me of the time when Jesus sent his disciples out in pairs to go
and preach and teach. They had no such problems. Jesus told them to take no gold or silver, or copper in their belts, no bag for their journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff. In other words, go with what you are wearing AND NOTHING ELSE. I’m not sure if my fellow travellers would appreciate me travelling like that.
However, those of us who have much need to be aware of those who have
little or even no choice in what to wear. It is a sobering thought that a huge
number of people across the world are in just such a position – of having little or nothing. Perhaps I need to review the clothes I have and give away those that I have no need of. The same for the other possessions I have where I have sufficiency and others are sorely lacking.
The commands of Jesus ring out – if one of your fellow believers has need of a cloak and you have 2, give him one. This puts into action the good news, that of a God who loves and cares for all.
Chris Prior
Churches Together
The first of our Churches Together services which sees the congregations of Breadsall, Morley and Smalley come together on the 5th Sunday for a joint service takes place this Sunday 30th June at 1030, for this time hosted in Breadsall. Please support this if you can.
New Rector arrives
Our new Rector, Kate Plant, has arrived and has been duly ‘installed’ by Bishop Jan at a service at Smalley Church on Thursday 9th May. She and her husband Tom and mother-in-law Jean are residing in Breadsall Rectory on Rectory Lane. Please give them a warm welcome and help them to settle in to their new life in Breadsall. As noted elsewhere, her first service will be a joint communion with our sister churches of Morley and Smalley to be held on Sunday May 12th at Morley church at 1030 am.
Her first services at Breadsall will be on Sunday 19th May at 8.00 followed by the 8.00 and 10.15 services on Sunday 26th May.
Christian Aid week
In the next weeks, we will be trialling a device that allows gifts to be made using your contactless bank card. Initially, this is to raise funds for Christian Aid. However, if this proves successful, we will consider acquiring the device for future use. Please support the Christian Aid collection as we are not aware of any door to door collections in the village this year.
Sunday 12 May
Please note that there will be NO service at 0800 or 1015 in Breadsall church on the 12 May. We are all invited to a joint service at Morley church at 1030 to celebrate Kate’s first communion with us.
Lent Groups
Lent groups will be happening from Thursday 7th March for 6 weeks.
There will be 2 groups meeting: one in Morley Hayes on Thursdays at 7.30pm: the other will meet in Breadsall Church (at least initially) on Friday evenings at 8pm. We will be using a book called Cover to Cover: Who is the Christ?, copies of which should be available this week. We are meeting jointly with Morley and Smalley churches who will be our sister parishes once Kate arrives.
Electoral Roll
The electoral roll is subject to a complete renewal in 2019. All existing persons on the roll will need to apply to join the new roll, being prepared before the Annual Meeting. The closing date for applications for the new roll will be 17th March 2019.
Forms will be available in church shortly.
Appointment
The Diocese has announced the appointment of the Rev Kate Plant as Priest-in-charge of Breadsall and Morley with Smalley. Mrs Plant will take up her post in the Spring.
Please watch for confirmation and place for her licencing, and pray for her and her husband as they prepare for the move.
Extraordinary Meeting 27 January
There will be an extraordinary meeting of the church and parish to be held at the end of the Morning Service on Sunday 27th January at around 11.30 in Church. The sole item will be to vote on a proposal to extend the maximum term for Churchwarden by 1 additional year.
Christmas Card 2018
The pupils from Breadsall School again have provided the church with a difficult choice for the cover of this year’s xmas card. We finally chose the following design by Millie – watch out for the card coming through your door in the next week or so.
To all the other entrants – thank you for your entry. We intend to have them all displayed in the church for the next few weeks.
Vacancy advertised
The position of Priest-in-charge for Breadsall, Smalley and Morley has now been advertised on the Derby Diocese website. Please pray that the right person will see and respond to this advert and that an appointment can be made in the New Year.