Ashby and Coalville Methodist Circuit

Hall Lane Newsletter Winter 2007
Issue 15

LETTER FROM SISTER BARBARA CROCKETT

Dear friends

Sister Barbara As I write this letter I am thinking about an event on 15th December that I will be attending called ‘JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.’ It’s an event that takes place every year at one of my churches and it encourages people to stop and take time to listen to carols played wonderfully on the organ, drink coffee and eat mince pies. It gives people time to stop and remember what this time of year is about. However, if we only concentrate of Jesus in December how will we ever come to know him as Lord and Saviour?

It would be wonderful if we could have a banner across every church in the land that stated ‘JESUS IS THE REASON FOR LIVING EVERY DAY.’ Everyone who comes to church at Christmas is welcome we love to see you – it is a time when more people attend church than at any other time of the year. Nevertheless I believe that everyone who believes they are a Christian must want to know Jesus everyday.

I am often told I don’t go to church regularly but you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian do you? This is true. The reason for attending is to grow in knowledge of Jesus and in the ministry he has called his church, his people to. When life is going well we think less about God and rely on our own resources but when life is desperate – when we are faced with life and death issues – as many of us are as we get older – we realise that only God can answer our prayers, it is then that I believe that our faith built up in a prayer in the good times brings us through the bad times.

So as I write this letter can I encourage you to attend Church at least once a month in the coming year, to come to build up your faith reserves for when you need them, because Jesus is more than the ‘REASON FOR THE SEASON’, he is the ‘REASON FOR LIVING’.

May you and all those you love had a wonderful Christmas remembering that the baby who was born homeless, vulnerable but loved, changed the world 33 years later by dying on a cross homeless, vulnerable and loving us to death.

Yours in Christ
Sister Barbara

Santa’s Prayer on Christmas Eve
By Warren D. Jennings

The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed,
But Santa still knelt by the side of the bed.
"Dear Father," he prayed "Be with me tonight.
There’s much work to do and my schedule is tight.
I must jump in my sleigh and streak through the sky,
Knowing full well that a reindeer can’t fly.
I will visit each household before the first light,
I’ll cover the world and all in one night.
With sleigh bells a-ringing, I’ll land on each roof,
Amid the soft clatter of each little hoof.

To get in the house is the difficult part,
So I’ll slide down the chimney of each child’s heart.
My sack will hold toys to grant all their wishes.
The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.
I will fill all the stockings and not leave a track.
I’ll eat every cookie that is left for my snack.
I can do all these things Lord, only through You,
I just need your blessing, then it’s easy to do.
All this is to honour the birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.

So to all of my friends, least Your glory I rob,
Please Lord, remind them who gave me this job."

Ho! Ho! Ho!

What is Father Christmas’ wife called ?
Mary Christmas

What do elves learn in school?
The elf-abet

Christmas Lunch Club

A Christmas dinner was served up at the final lunch club before Christmas on Thursday 13th December. Forty nine people enjoyed the two course banquet of roast turkey and Christmas pudding. Crackers with the usual bad jokes kept everyone amused and judging by the amount of talking and laughter taking place, everyone enjoyed the occasion.　

Happy Christmas to all our members and we look forward to seeing you again on Thursday 10th January.

Family Weekend

On the weekend of 7th- 9th December 39 friends from Hall Lane travelled down the M5 to Ross on Wye for a family weekend away together at Lindors, a Christian Guild Hotel.

At times, the sight of everyone sitting in a wooden-panelled room around a log fire, may have seemed like a scene out of a sleepy book with people either chatting or reading a book or just soaking in the peace and tranquillity of the moment. But quietly stirring inside those that had put their names down for the table tennis tournament was the competitiveness that, for some, hadn’t been seen for many years. Once the games had begun, the skills gained many years before, were quickly polished up and matches were played throughout the weekend. Deacons, local preachers, former ministers and ordinary folk all played nicely together until the quarter finals when the winning of a bar of chocolate became a possibility. Danger money was paid to spectators as they braved watching each game as balls started to fly about at high speed. The final was eventually played between Lesley and Allison with Allison just coming through as winner in a close match watched by most of those that had taken part.

I think the table tennis table at church may be dusted down very soon!

Alan, Margaret, Robert and Natalie won the Friday night quiz with their specialist subject of musicals winning then vital points. Other rounds included general knowledge, Christmas music, famous faces, anagrams of names of Hall Lane people and the Bible.

Prayers throughout the weekend were led by Derek, John, Natalie and Margaret and prayers were included for those that were unable to be with us on our family weekend.

Jack won the duck race on Saturday morning as we all stood around in the rain waiting for our bright yellow ducks to come racing down the stream. Some people braved the wet and went for a walk afterwards around the beautiful grounds of Lindors. Others decided that morning coffee was a better idea.

After lunch we travelled a short distance to Dean Valley Preserved Railway for a Santa Special. Kim, Abigail and Jack all received a gift from Santa and the rest of us received mince pies and a drink from Santa’s little elves!

Good old fashioned Methodist entertainment took place Saturday evening with Malcolm keeping us entertained with silly games and we also watched a sketch written by Mark starring Bill and Ben and Weed giving everyone a good laugh. The finale was watching Eddie and Malcolm dressed up as old ladies moaning about the ‘price of peas’ which was very brave (or silly) as we’re not going to let them forget about it in a hurry – especially with photographic evidence!

Sunday morning arrived very quickly and we all drove to nearby Bream to a Methodist Church for morning worship. We all made our own Christingle and enjoyed a lovely service led by Rev David Bull.

The weekend was punctuated with food, food and yet more food. No more than a couple of hours passed before we sat down for yet another meal. We all moved around at each mealtime so that we shared time with different people throughout the weekend.

Fun and fellowship was enjoyed by all and left us feeling refreshed and ready for Christmas!

Cilla’s Grotto

Cilla Birch once again decorated her conservatory with as many fairy lights and decorations as could be fit in and invited everyone to come along and see it all lit up. Lots of people came and played bingo, tried some exercises to Christmas music and did lots of talking. Eveylyn, of course, won a prize in the raffle!

This is the final year that Cilla will be opening her home in aid of charity and our thanks go to her for all her hard work over the years.

Wesley Evening

Forty five people came along to Hall Lane Methodist Church to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of Charles Wesley on Saturday 10th November.

The history of the life of Charles was told by Rev Roy Pape and Malcolm Godfrey played the piano as we sang a range of hymns written by him. We listened to pieces of music written by the grandson of Charles and also listened to several hymns sung by guest singers.

Everyone enjoyed the evening and the retiring collection, amounting to £75 was donated towards the Alternative Market held earlier in the day at Hall Lane.

Ho! Ho! Ho!
Who looks after Father Christmas when he’s ill?
National Elf Service

What do you call a man who claps at Christmas ?
Santapplause

Broom Leys Retired Peoples’ Fellowship

The retired people’s group visited Loughborough College for their Christmas lunch together. All the food was prepared and served by the catering students at the college.

The food was good, service excellent and all who attended would recommend that you try a meal there at some time.

The next meeting of the retired people is Tuesday 8th January.

Lunch Club Carol Service

Several members of the lunch club stayed after their lunch for a carol service on 6th December. Everyone was asked which carols they would like to sing and as many as possible were fitted into the time available.

Deacon Barbara Crockett led the service with Malcolm ably assisting on the piano.

Nativity Scene

If you haven’t walked past the window of the old kitchen you won’t have seen the nativity scene that has been set up for the Christmas period. Bring your grandchildren to take a look after 3.30pm when it is lit up in the dark.

Thank You

A coffee morning in aid of Leukaemia Research was held at Hall Lane on Saturday 1st December. A craft stall, bring and buy, Fairtrade Stall and goodies from Leukaemia Research all added to the proceeds. Together with the sale of cakes and refreshments a total of over £325 was added to the funds raised so far this year for the charity.

A Christmas Prayer

Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Ruby Celebrations

The ruby anniversary of Hall Lane was celebrated during the weekend of 20th - 21st October 2007. A concert and buffet took place on the Saturday evening when all our past ministers and their families were invited along to join with us in our celebrations.

The entertainment was ‘home made’ and included sketches, monologues and singing. In the music charts in 1967, the year the church was built, a song called Lily the Pink was number one, so a ‘choir’ was formed for the evening to perform the said song. There was more laughing than singing – and that was by the audience – but the Hall Lane rendition was appreciated by all who attended the concert.

A buffet completed the evening together with lots of reminiscing and chatting.

Books produced specially for the weekend were sold with proceeds being donated to charity. The books contained prayers, readings and memories of the past 40 years, contributed by friends and members of Hall Lane. If you didn’t get your copy at the weekend, copies can still be purchased from Mark Bennett at £3.50.

The following day, Rev Wesley Blakey Chairman of the Nottingham and Derby Methodist District, led our morning worship which included holy communion. Local dignitories, David Taylor MP for North West Leicesteshire and also Councillor Ted Purver, Chairman of North West Leicestershire District Council and his wife attended the occasion to help celebrate our weekend.

Our evening service was led by our worship leaders and included pieces from the commemorative book read by their authors.

The weekend was a wonderful event looking at our past, our present and looking forward to our future together in the work of our Lord.

DANGER AHEAD!

This is the transcript of an ACTUAL radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995.

Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.

Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

Americans: This is the Aircraft Carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States’ Atalantic Fleet. We are accompanied by three destoyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I DEMAND that you change your course 15 degrees north, that’s one-five degrees north, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.

Canadians: This is a lighthouse.... Your call.

A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Several ladies dressed up for this year’s Ladies Fellowship Party. There was lots of scope - there were White Rabbits, Queen of hearts and of course - Mad Hatters.

Deacon Barbara Crockett played the part of Queen of Hearts very well, giving out her orders all evening and demanding to be waited on. But the Queen’s servants made a good job of having a party. After tea, tarts were served and then the party games began.

Lot’s of childhood games were played: passing an orange under the chin from person to person, pin the tale on the donkey and ‘Who Sir, Me Sir?’.

Friends from local churches, St David’s, Whitwick Methodist and Thringstone Methodist came along to join in the fun and all agreed that it had been a fun evening.

Thanks for Making a Difference!

The Ashby and Coalville Methodist Circuit’s first Alternative Market took place at Hall Lane Methodist Church on Saturday 10th November.

Over one hundred people came to buy gifts for needy people around the world, making a difference to hundreds of families. Instead of struggling to buy a gift for a friend or loved one this Christmas – or instead of giving chocolates or socks - gifts will now be sent to people who need basic items that we often take for granted. Medicines, cooking pots and baby blankets, amongst other items, will now be sent to those in need in the name of friends and family.

The biggest selling gifts were crayons that will now be distributed by NCH, hotly followed by fruit trees and chickens to be distributed by MRDF and Leprosy Mission respectively. These agencies will ensure that the gifts will be received by those in greatest need to make the biggest difference.

Over £5,000 has now been taken and it is hoped that almost £1,000 will be claimed back through the gift aid system to make a final total of over £6,000.

In addition, ‘bricks’ were sold to buy a low cost home for a family susceptible to diseases like leprosy. A safe, dry house can mean the difference between life and death and raises the status of people stigmatised by leprosy.

Profits from the refreshments served throughout the day and also the proceeds from a Wesley Evening, that took place the same evening as the market, will go towards the low cost home.

Thank you to everyone who came along and bought gifts from the market and to everyone who helped organize the event.