Author: chris

Last weekend, October 5^th -7^th, ypig? (young people interested in God) went away to the Peak Centre at Edale and had a wonderful time. Most of us travelled up by train on Friday evening, arriving at around 8pm where Claire had already unpacked the food and prepared pizzas. After all the excitement of trying to make beds and playing parachute games it was time for bed and, amazingly, quite a lot of sleep!

On Saturday a lot of rain was predicted which was a concern as we had planned a walk and other outdoor activities. However, thank you to praying friends, the weather was actually fairly good in the morning and improved throughout the day. The walk went ahead, as did the den-building in the woods and the evening campfire. Sunday morning saw us climbing the walls – literally, before packing, cleaning up and leaving.

During the course of the weekend we spent time looking at “Who is King?”, thinking about the God of Creation and his solution to our world by sending Jesus. Many thoughtful questions were asked and our prayer is that this group would draw closer to the God who loves them.

The church now has the facility to accept contactless donations. So, if you forget your wallet, envelopes or just want to make a donation using your credit or debit card, we can accept it. Please talk to the wardens. Initially, it will only be available at the main Morning Service.

Time for Amendment

I know when officially the New Year happens – but perhaps because I have taken a long time to grow up, I still think of September as being the start. Something to do with new shoes and protractors and a new class teacher.

That means that time in August has a particular quality all of its own. It is a slow time, a time to ponder, a time to consider the harvest that is to come, to draw down  – and in the warmth of the sun (or of the clouds!).

Towards the end of August the leaves begin to have a quiet rustle, their drying has begun – there is a dustiness on paths and a beginnings of mist in the early morning.

There are far fewer meetings in August and many are away on holiday. It is possible that some people will be lonelier than normal. Look out for that.

I am hoping for time to reflect a little and also to re-group my energies. I would like any resolutions that I want to take effect in September to be thought out carefully. The time between Christmas and new year is not long enough for serious thinking and because of the season every new year’s
resolution is always to loose some weight – August gives us time to turn over more important things than that.

Are there things that we’ve planted that have not thrived? Do we mind? If we do, was it because they needed more attention, or space. Are there new unexpected things that have come unbidden, have we coped well with them, did we feed them well or up root them before we knew their worth.

Are there things we might still cut back a little – prune a bit so that the darker places can have some light and perhaps yield still – a flourishing.
Have we loved enough the flowers we have been given, have we noticed them and been thankful.

There is time.

Each week, after making our confession our congregations prays for time for amendment of life. August each year is a gift to ponder what that might mean for each of us. My prayer is that we will use it wisely.

PS my husband reading this over my shoulder, says obviously the new year starts in August with the new football season. Blessings on your new year!

PPS. Does everyone know what the Woodland trust is doing just close by Smalley – Very exciting!.

Rev Kate Plant

The girls from y:pig successfully negotiated a challenge for Sport Relief on Friday 23rd March. Three teams of 3 took part in a 4 legged race over a short course around the village and Greenway. Here is one photo of the final team climbing the slope to the Greenway.

The girls have raised £130 so far. The winning team is shown below:

 

Ypig* is the Youth Group of All Saints’ Breadsall. We meet every Friday evening from 6pm-7.30pm, usually at Breadsall Memorial Hall, for games, crafts, challenges and Christian teaching. All young people are welcome from Year 6 upwards. Once a month there is something called “Friday Night Drop in” which is open to Year 5 children too. Check out our current programme.

* We are often asked “Why ypig?”. It stands for Young People Interested in GodAt The Peak Centre in Edale

Earlier in the year we collected money to send to Kumi in Uganda. Some of this money was to pay for a new home to be built for one family. One of the teams that went out with “Mission Direct ” recently were able to build the house below for John and his family. John and his wife have 7 children crammed into the small home you can see. John was orphaned in the insurgency and has some small learning difficulties. He does well to keep his family going through subsistence farming but not all his children are at school and there is no spare money for things like house repairs. So our gift has provided a new home for him.

 

The Mission Direct Team building John’s house with the money we sent out earlier this year.

It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Jean Boiling. Jean was a faithful member of this church for many years, serving in the choir amongst other roles.

In latter years, she has not been able to attend church due to illness.

She will be missed by her husband, Derek,  and son, Michael, as well as all those who knew her from church or as a Dinner lady at the village school.

As a church we enjoy good links with our local Primary School. Each week members of the congregation go into school to lead Collective Worship and several of the children come to our after school clubs. The school uses church for end of term services and productions. Here you can see Key Stage 2 in their end of year production of Snow White – a version by Roald Dahl.
To all who are leaving to go to new schools – we wish you well.
And to all Staff and Children – have a Happy Holiday!

 

 

At our last meeting before the summer holidays Minnows had some unexpected visitors. We were just about to pack away all the toys and tidy up when a group of Ladies came and asked if they could look around the Church. The Ladies were some of the Indian Ladies Cricket Team who were staying locally before their semi-final match against Australia. They spent some time in church and then graciously agreed to have a photograph taken with the Mums and Toddlers.
It was lovely to meet them and chat. We wish them well in their careers.

The church has been donated a new projector to replace the one we have been using for the last 8 years. The projector is used for our 1st Sunday All Age services as well as for Cafe church and the children’s activities on Tuesdays, so we are indebted to Michael Bowers of the Bower Group of Companies for the generous donation which will be enjoyed for many years to come.