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Dear All,
First of all I wish to use this opportunity to express my appreciation for all that Andy and Annie have contributed to this Parish in the last 3 years. The Curacy did not have an easy start, since Tim Davis was still in 6 Dowie Way, but with quiet grace Andy and Annie commuted from their home in Duffield. It did mean that it was initially harder for them to get going in their life with us.
Andy has been a great support for me, through his willingness to undertake any task given to him and through his deep spirituality and consistent prayer life. He has not been afraid to question me, and we have worked well as a team together. He has shared with me in all the life of the Parish, but has taken a particular responsibility for family services at Crich, the bible study and Lent courses at South Wingfield, and for home communions to those who meet at Margaret Smith's and Nellie Brumwell's. He has played a full part in the life of Crich CofE Infant School as governor. He has led many improvements in St. Mary's Church itself, both tidying up the interior and leading our away day about our way forward. Annie has also added much to our congregational life, and been a highly valued member of the house group that is led by Robert and Nigel. It has been a joy to watch Andy grow in confidence and ability over these years, and now he is more than ready to lead his own church. We wish them well as they prepare for their move and then make the physical journey to Lugarno in Switzerland at the end of August. Andy's first service will be on 14 September.
Now we have been planning how to cope without him! We have been told that we will not be getting another stipendiary Curate in the near future. I do believe that it is really important that we continue to focus on families; both All Saints and St. Mary's have restructured their service pattern so that I can take the lead at both Family Services. From September our informal evening worship is moving from the First Sunday of the month to the second Sunday. This will have many benefits, among them the availability of our Worship Band to play at Family Services. I am really hoping for a broadening of involvement in these family services, and hope that you will make suggestions even if you cannot get involved.
Another thing that we are attempting is to co-ordinate the teaching that our children receive; here is a summary of our provisional Autumn programme.
September 7: Family Service New Beginnings
September 14: Groundbreakers Circle of the Year
September 21: Lighthouse
September 28: Groundbreakers Creation
October 5: Family service Harvest
October 12: Groundbreakers The Flood and the Ark
October 19: Lighthouse Tower of Babel
October 26: Groundbreakers The Great Family (Abraham)
November 2: Family Service & baptism Joseph & Family Relationships
November 9: Groundbreakers Craft - t.b.a.
November 16: Lighthouse Joseph & Forgiveness
November 23: Groundbreakers The Exodus
November 30: Groundbreakers Advent 1: The Prophets
December 7: Family Service Advent 2: Toy and Tin
December 14: Groundbreakers Advent 3
December 21: Lighthouse Advent 4: Mystery of Christmas
December 28: Groundbreakers Epiphany
As we focus on new beginnings in September, I would like to hear from you if you or your family are involved in a new birth, new school, new job, etc. so that the whole church family can be listening, supporting and praying for those who are undergoing a major transition in their lives.
Also I would like to receive photographs of our beautiful world, particularly harvest sort of pictures, to enlighten our Harvest Festival. There will be prizes for the best children's ones, though I would like adults to submit photos too! I can project them so that we can all see them, even if they are prints, provided I get them in time.
Any other ideas that you have for enriching our family services would be welcome.
The New Service Pattern from September will now look like this:
1st Sunday
8.00 am Holy Communion (Traditional Prayer Book)
10.15 am Family Service
6.30 pm Evening Prayer (Prayer Book)
2nd Sunday
8.00 am Holy Communion (Traditional Prayer Book)
10.15 am Special Service led by house groups (Groundbreakers )
7.00 pm Second Sunday @ 7 (led by Worship Band)
3rd Sunday
9.15 am Holy Communion (Modern language, choir and organ)
10.15 am Lighthouse in the Glebe
6.30 pm Holy Communion (Traditional Prayer Book)
4th Sunday
9.15 am Holy Communion (Modern language, choir and organ)
10.45 am Morning Praise Communion (Worship Band, & Groundbreakers)
6.30 pm Evening Prayer (Prayer Book)
5th Sunday
8.00 am Holy Communion (Traditional Prayer Book)
10.15 am Holy Communion (led by Worship Band)
6.30 pm Evening Prayer (Prayer Book)
However, do note that it will deviate from this for special services.
Philip Brooks
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