The Elders of St Andrew's and Rose Hill are working hard to complete their Pastorate Profiles and combine them into one document. The Call Group with representatives from all the churches in the Area is meeting and gradually working their way through the various questions which need to be resolved. They hope that everything will be ready by the end of October 2019 so that we can ask the Synod Ordained Ministry and Churches Group to declare the vacancy at their meeting in November. The search for a minister can then begin.
It has been a long wait, especially for Rose Hill whose minister retired on Palm Sunday 2018. However lot of work was needed to create the new pastorate. Please pray for all those involved in the preparation, including our pastorate consultant, Revd Camilla Veitch, as she starts her sabbatical. Revd Marcus Hargis will cover for her while she is away.
Chesterfield's famous Whit Walk, a procession of witness through the town on May Bank Holiday Monday, set off under cloudy skies and showers. The event began at Chesterfield Town Hall with a short service of hymns and prayers and the mayor welcomed people taking part. The procession set off down Rose Hill into the town, with Holymoorside URC at the front behind the band. St Andrew's brought up the rear with their new banner, carried by Shelley and Jon. As the procession passed through the town, shoppers paused to watch it pass. After returning to the Town Hall, participants gathered in Rose Hill URC for a welcome cup of tea or coffee. All four of the Chesterfield Area United Reformed Churches took part - Calow, Holymoorside, Rose Hill and St Andrew's.
Revd John Cook retired at the end of September 2018. He and Ann have moved to Felixtowe where we pray they may enjoy a happy and fulfilling retirement.
Holymoorside and St Andrew's are moving into interesting times. Our two churches are joining five others to form the United Reformed Church North Derbyshire Resource Area. The other churches are Rose Hill URC in the centre of Chesterfield, Calow URC, West Derbyshire URC Wirksworth, Fountain Square Church Tideswell (Methodist/United Reformed), and Buxton URC.
The Annual Schools Art Exhibition organised by Chesterfield Rotary Club and seven secondary schools in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire and hosted by St Andrew's Church took place in St Andrew's Church and halls over the weekend of 6th and 7th October 2018. The exhibition was officially opened at 10.00am on Saturday 6th October when the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield and Toby Perkins MP attended. Certificates were awarded to 10 students from each school.
Thousands of men and women who arrived in the UK as children during the first wave of Commonwealth immigration after the second World War, now face being threatened with deportation. Read about their plight here.
WINDRUSH GENERATION RESOURCES
Should anyone in your churches be affected by the Government's failings in regard to the Windrush generation - themselves, or someone they know or are asked to help - you may wish to let them know of this resource, of which we have been advised by Churches Together in England.
With a warming climate, and birds and wildlife are facing a perilous future.
To help the birds as much as possible, we could try to make our gardens bird friendly; providing bird feeders,bird baths,plants, hedges and trees that will provide food and shelter.
With a warming climate, and birds and wildlife are facing a perilous future.