Ashby and Coalville Methodist Circuit

Circuit Activities & Special Sundays

There’s always something happening in the Ashby and Coalville Circuit. You will find here details of groups that meet within the Circuit – some meet on a regular basis as a Circuit and some meet at individual churches but get together as a large group at regular intervals

Mission Shaped Ministry – a one year part-time course

All over Britain, Christians are beginning fresh expressions of church for our changing culture. Mission Shaped Ministry is a one year part-time course which aims to equip you to begin this ministry and to go on learning.

Who is it for?

• Christians who want their churches to be more effective in mission

• Individuals and teams who are exploring ideas for fresh expressions

• Experienced pioneers who want to revisit their foundations

• Lay Christians taking their first steps in mission and ministry

• Emerging leaders for new forms of church

• Recognised ministers who want to sharpen their skills

• Church leaders with an area of responsibility

• Those supporting and accompanying pioneer ministers

• All denominations, traditions and streams

• Urban, suburban and rural contexts

What will we learn?

• The qualities and characteristics of Christian Ministry

• Listening to God in your culture and community

• The Christian call to share in God’s mission

• The nature and shape of the church

• Growing new Christians and making disciples

• How to begin a fresh expression of church

• How to sustain and grow a fresh expression of church to maturity

Features of the course

• Designed for busy Christians who are active in ministry

• Owned by local churches, dioceses, districts, circuits and denominations

• Delivered ecumenically with students from a broad range of traditions

• Teaching by local and national teachers

• Learning through reflection on your own context and story

• Rooted in prayer and worship

• Giving practical support through mentoring and accompaniment

• Immediate application to your own context

• Access to a growing on-line guide to fresh expressions

• Uses different learning styles

• Lots of varied learning resources

• Designed to lead to a lively local learning network of people who support one another in ministry

• Suitable for clergy and lay Christians

The Origins of the Course

The course has been developed by Fresh Expressions in partnership with a number of other national networks and mission agencies (for full details see www.freshexpressions.org.uk/missionshapedministry) or contact Diane Woolridge, on (Stafford ) 01785 824965 or email diwoolridge@btinternet.com If you do contact Diane, please tell her that you have had this initial information via Revd Lynda Coates.

Women’s Network

The Women's Network of the Methodist Church aims to encourage, enable and equip women to participate fully in the life of the Church and in society.

It does this through:

Training in specific skills

Conferences and events on issues and themes

Different styles of worship and ideas for worship

Campaigns in which women may be actively involved

Provision of information about other groups and resources

Mutual support through all of the above

Several of the Circuit churches hold their own Women’s/Ladies Fellowship meetings but meet together for events such as Women’s World Day of Prayer and various activities held at Willersley Castle. Click onto the individual churches for full details and information.

Magnet Magazine

The Magnet Magazine has existed since 1987. It was originally the main resource of the Women's Network of the Methodist Church, but it has grown to provide resources and interest for Christian people of different traditions.

Each issue covers a theme and provides:

a Bible study

a Prayer focus

stories about people and their experiences,

informative articles on social justice or development issues that are related to personal experience

worship resources

colourful words and picture pages

reviews of resources

an introduction to the current debate

Copies are available for a small charge from the Circuit Magnet Secretary. (currently £8 per annum)

Contact: Phyllis Withington at Hall Lane Methodist Church

JMA – Junior Mission for All

JMA is well over 150 years old and still a great way for children to help others all around the world.

Learn, pray and serve is our promise to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Children and friends are asked to collect money on a weekly, monthly or annual basis which is used to help others around the world. Badges and certificates are awarded to children as a reward and encouragement to collect or raise money and be part of the mission of the world wide church. At many or our Circuit churches a special service is held to make these awards.

Circuit Services

Each quarter there is a Circuit Service which is either held at Marlborough Methodist Church or at Ashby Methodist Church as these are the two largest churches which can cope with the large numbers of people attending. All other churches are closed to encourage everyone to attend. Take a look at the Circuit Plan for dates.

Special Sundays

The Ashby and Coalville Circuit has agreed on a programme of special services that will be observed in local church services. They will not necessarily be the main theme of the service but will be mentioned during the services on that Sunday.

Education Sunday

For well over a hundred years there has been an annual recognition of Education Sunday in England and Wales. It is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone in the world of education.

The theme is devised by an ecumenical steering group representing different Christian denominations. For some years it has been celebrated on the ninth Sunday before Easter. The ideas in this leaflet are intended to be used as a springboard for a variety of events on or around Education Sunday. If you feel unable to devote a whole service to the theme in February why not use some of the ideas on another occasion?

18th May 2008

Aldersgate Sunday on 18 May 2008 (along with Wesley Day on 24 May) provides us with a real opportunity to give thanks to God for the work of the Wesley Brothers and for the people called Methodist.

8th June 2008

Methodist Homes Sunday will be held on June 8th 2008. Methodist Homes for the Aged (MHA) is about to embark on its 65th year – but has no plans for retirement!

MHA is a major provider of quality care for elderly people in this country and has recently opened new homes in Aberystwyth and Bradford. MHA serves over 12,000 older people in residential and nursing care homes, specialist dementia care homes, sheltered housing schemes and community projects, and benefits from the dedication of 4,000 staff and the commitment of over 5,000 volunteers. The support of the Methodist Church remains central to the work of MHA, enabling the Care Group to plan confidently for the future care of older people and more vulnerable members of our communities.

All MHA homes and schemes are supported by Chaplains from the local area. Their work is equally important to the well-being of staff and residents alike. Please support the work of MHA in prayer and continued generosity of giving.

Revd Lynda Coates – former MHA Chaplain

13th July 2008

NCH is the children’s charity of the Methodist Church. It was founded in 1869 by Methodist minister Revd Thomas Bowman Stephenson in response to the poverty and danger faced by vulnerable and destitute children and young people living rough on the streets of London.

Today, NCH (formerly National Children’s Homes) has grown to become a leading children’s charity running over 500 projects and working with more children and young people affected by poverty, disability and abuse than any other UK charity.

The second Sunday in July is the anniversary of the opening of the first children’s home and a chance to celebrate the work of NCH and our partnership with the Church at services and activities throughout the country.