EAST MIDLANDS SYNOD

E-Letter
No. 71: 14^th January 2010

Edited
this week by: Terry Oakley

GETTING AROUND THE SYNOD

With this E-Letter comes
an invitation to share in one of the six Roadshows across the Synod in
February. The theme is ‘Powered by Prayer' - reflecting the Vision4Life second
year focussing on prayer and spirituality. They will be held 7pm-9.30pm

and the
programme will include Worship and Prayer and the choice of four groups:  Financing the Mission
of the Local Church, 
Profiles4Mission, 
Prayer & Spirituality, 
Growing in Faith

There will also be a plenary for questions and closing
prayer time.

PLEASE print off the attached
flier and give it to as many people as you can. Put it in your local church
newsletter and put copies on the notice-board and in the church vestibule.                        

Terry Oakley

PRAYERS

The weather has
affected many events over the last month. We are grateful that many minsters
and Lay Preachers have managed to reach their destinations safely. Please pray
for all those who travel across the Synod in Christ's name. We are sad to hear
of serious injuries to Dawn Chandler, Church Secretary at Long Buckby, who was
involved in an accident before Christmas and remains in a critical condition. Please
pray for her and also for Stan Crane (Leicester) and Gillian Spiby (Nottingham) who have been diagnosed with serious
illnesses.

ME,M' PRAYER & M' GOD
2010 - CANCELLED

We are sorry to say that
due to a lack of numbers we have had to cancel the above event.  Any people that have applied will be
receiving refunds shortly.

DEATHS

Maisie Brown, Church Secretary at Groby URC, Leicester for over 20 years and involved
in the building of the new chapel and the growth of the fellowship, has died.
There will be a celebration of her life and witness at Groby URC on Saturday 6^th
February at 2pm

Roy Wood, Treasurer and Elder at
Sutton in Ashfield URC for over fifty years died on 31^st December
2009, aged 72.

Revd
David Fox, minister and Synod Clerk of the
National Synod of Wales disappeared in 2008 and has now been declared ‘presumed
dead'. As the time approaches when David's manse will have to be emptied, I
wonder if there are any books that you would like that David might have had? If
there are, please let me have the details & I'll get David's library
checked, on a ‘first come, first served' basis. I'm sure David would prefer colleagues
to have first refusal of his books. If you receive any books from David's
collection, we would ask for an appropriate donation please to the Ministerial
Training Fund, the beneficiary of David's will. I can supply details for making
payment.

With all good wishes,

Shelagh Pollard, Synod Clerk, National Synod of
Wales synodclerk [at] urcwales [dot] org [dot] uk

CHRISTIAN AID LAUNCH
EMERGENCY £1M HAITI
EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 18^TH -25^TH
JANUARY 2010.

‘Dwelling
together in unity' an opportunity to experience praying together in different styles.
Thursday, 21st January 2010 at 7.45 pm (till 9.15 pm) (Refreshments
from 9.15 pm). Hosted by the Salvation
Army, Conniburrow, Milton Keynes. With
contributions by members and leaders of different churches.

URC HOLY WEEK 2010 24/7 PRAYER

During Holy
Week 2010 the URC is having a continuous week of prayer, leading up to Easter
Sunday. A group is to make people aware of this, and to share ideas of how you
could contribute in your church. If your church would like to sign up for a
prayer slot during the week, please contact Heather Latimer on 020 7916 8682 or
at youth [at] urc [dot] org [dot] uk.

FUN DAY FOR THE FAMILY -
PRAYER4LIFE - 12^TH JUNE 2010

A
date for your diary - 12th June - our Synod "Fun Day for the Family"

Following the successful
Synod day in 2008 there is another opportunity to join together as Synod
members and enjoy a variety of activities. Our theme comes from Vision4Life
-Prayer - and the Revd Janet Lees from Vision4Life will be our keynote speaker.
There will be all sorts of workshops for your delectation including activities
such as drumming, circus skills, singing and intellectual challenges including
writing prayers for children, spirituality and young children and the
environment. Full details of the day will be circulated and be put on the
website.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
REPRESENTATIVES

The General
Assembly for 2010 is at Loughborough from Friday July 2 to Monday July 5
inclusive. Each Synod is allowed to send a number of representatives (dependent
on the number of churches and members within the Synod). Our number is 16.

There has to be a balance
between lay and ordained, female and male and there has to be some young people
and some attempt by the Synod to ensure BME (British Minority Ethnic)
representation.

Currently we have 6
persons who wish to attend and I am asking churches and officers to consider
nomination of individuals as representatives of the East
Midlands. Attending Assembly, I found, was an interesting and at
times, inspiring event in the life of our church.

Please consider nominating
someone as a representative (names to be sent to Chris Willis).

GENERAL ASSEMBLY STEWARDS

Since we are the host
Synod, we are asked to steward the Assembly. Daphne
Beale is the chief steward and she will work with me to
ensure we are well prepared for the tasks that have to be undertaken including
reception on the first day, distribution of papers, helping delegates with any
questions they have, assisting with communion arrangements for 500 people,
staffing the information desk.

We are very grateful that
the following have volunteered:

Philip Burton, David Todd,
Maureen Green, Barbara Turner, Ann Clark, John Henley, Gwen Johnson, Maureen
Bruce, Irene Moore, Andrew Payne, Brian Heeley, Dave Wren, Leslie Allwood, Sally
Gibbs, Clarice Green, Val Smith, Daphne Beale, Joan Oakley, Margaret Marshall,
David Marshall.

Not all these can attend
for all of the time and on the Sunday and Monday we estimate we need around
30-36 stewards!

Expenses are paid, there
are two meetings at Loughborough before the weekend and I am confident we shall
enjoy the work!

If you would like to be
considered as a steward please contact Chris Willis

(Office Administrator) who
will send you a form to fill in.

Duncan Smith, Synod Clerk

LINCOLNSHIRE

Gainsborough United
Reformed Church was delighted to welcome six new members at the annual
Rededication Service on 3 January 2010. 
The journeys across cultures and denominations which have brought the
members to Gainsborough URC meant that Epiphany Sunday was a particularly
appropriate day for them to join. 
Angelito and Elaine Mangaring and their daughters Anne Bearl and Anlaine
Bethel grew up in the Fundamental Baptist Church
in the Philippines, whilst
Martin Bade and Samatha Asoda are from the Church of South India,
a CWM partner church.  During the three
years they have worshipped at Gainsborough URC, the local congregation has been
enriched by learning about their home churches.

CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE

A National Fresh Expressions Day to be held in Lincoln on 5^th March
10.30am to 4pm at the Epic Centre on the Lincolnshire Showground (LN2 2NA) The
Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams and Revd Dr Martyn Atkins (General
Secretary of the Methodist Church) will be speakers The cost of the day is £25
including lunch and there may be grants available. Further details and booking
arrangements can be found at www.freshexpressions.org.uk/training/lincoln/book

HARROWBY LANE
METHODIST CHURCH GRANTHAM NG31 6PY www.harrowbylane.org.uk

invites you to "YOURS
FAITHFULLY" a day of teaching on discipleship, mission & service.

Led by REVD DR PETER PHILLIPS - Director of
Research for the new Centre for Biblical Literacy, St
John's College, Durham  http://www.dur.ac.uk/codec/about/cblc/

SATURDAY 30 JANUARY 2010 10AM - 3PM

Free admission - Open to everyone!  Crèche and hot drinks available. Please bring
a packed lunch

Car Park and on-road Parking available.

Please
let us know if you are coming so we can have an idea of how many people to
expect, by phoning Muriel Sowden (Administrator)
on 01476 561992 or e-mailing: msowden [at] gmail [dot] com">msowden [at] gmail [dot] com

DERBYSHIRE

CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND
CONSECRATION MENTAL HEALTH AND THE EXPLORATION OF FAITH 2 February
2010, 9.30 -4.00, cost: £25 including lunch,
reduced rate for service users: £10

Venue: The Riverside Centre, Pride Park, Derby, DE24
8HY

The keynote speaker- please note the change-is the Venerable
Arthur Hawes, Co Chair of the Interfaith Forum for Spirituality and Mental
Health and Chair of the Church of England's Mental Health Advisory Group.

Full details about the
interactive workshop choices and booking forms can be downloaded at: www.faithinderbyshire.org or are available
through the post from Social Responsibility Office: Tel: 01332 388684. Please
book in advance as we cannot accept additional delegates on the day

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

CITY
OF NOTTINGHAM SERVICE OF PRAYER AND MEDITATION is part of the city centre
churches ecumenical covenant activities. The services are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 6pm in St
Andrew's with Castle Gate. They last around 45-50 minutes only. A cup of
tea is available from 5pm onwards for those working in the city centre or there
for other reasons.
These services which are in the Taizé style might be of interest to those
seeking to explore different forms of prayer and meditation during the
Vision4Life year of prayer. A welcome will be given to anyone who wants to drop
in and try out this service.

NORTHANTS

ROSEMARY PULLEN

January due to the bad weather.

OPEN
DAY ST MATTHEW HOUSING, 1-3
JUNCTION ROAD, NORTHAMPTON NN2 7JQ

"We are holding an
open day at our project in Junction
Road, Northampton
on Tuesday 19th January, between 13.00 and 15.00. Staff and residents will be
available to give you information about how we work, show you around the
project and answer any questions that you may have. Refreshments will be
provided. Please contact Del Pickup  
(Senior Support Worker) by Phone: 01604 792214 or Email: del [dot] pickup [at] stmatthewhousing [dot] org    or look at their web site: www.stmatthewhousing.org.

LEICESTERSHIRE

LAUNDE ABBEY RETREATS

Lent Retreat 22nd - 26th
February 2010

Led
by David McCormick. Our journey will be explored through the lens of
personality type using Myers Briggs. 

QUIET DAYS AND DAY COURSES On Mondays: 1st February and 1st March.

These
are held monthly and are open to everyone.  The outline of the day is
usually as follows: - coffee at 10.00 am, followed by a talk, a short service
in the Chapel and lunch.  In the afternoon there will be a second talk,
Holy Eucharist followed by tea and cake at 4.00 pm.

FAMILY EVENTS

Valentine's
Supper Sunday, 14th February 2010. Come along and enjoy a three course
Valentine supper with someone special in the peaceful surroundings of Launde
Abbey.  Take some time out to enjoy each other's company and relax awhile
away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Snowdrop
Spectacular at Launde Abbey Sunday, 21st and Monday 22nd February 2010. Enjoy
a stroll through the fragrant flowering winter borders in the woodland walk at
Launde Abbey, followed by afternoon tea and homemade cakes in the Abbey's
dining room.

For
further information about the course please contact Launde Abbey on 01572
717254, via e-mail laundeabbey [at] leicester [dot] anglican [dot] org or visit www.launde.org.uk

WINDERMERE CENTRE WEEKEND
- VISION4LIFE - 22-24 JANUARY 2010

Luke's
story of Jesus is the Lectionary gospel for this year (Year C). This weekend is
an opportunity to explore its narrative structure, content, major themes and
message. The aim is to introduce preachers, worship leaders and Bible study
leaders to the richness of what is probably the most popular of the four
gospels. Expect to have your eyes opened to new insights and to be excited by
what you discover.  £120 For more
information, programme and booking form, please visit: www.urc5.org.uk/?q=LukeIW or Synod website www.urc5.org.uk

FOR YEAR BOOK

David Richmond is Acting
Treasurer for Sutton in Ashfield URC.

John New is Acting
Church Secretary for Clifton URC. All correspondence should be addressed to
him.

Dr Brian Coaker is the new
Church Treasurer at Riverside
Church, Sleaford.  His contact details are:**available from synod office**

Revd Rosemary Pullen, minister at
Long Buckby; Crick; Creaton and Kilsby, contact details are: **available from synod office**

Revd Jonathan Haigh, minister at
St. Andrew's Community
Church, Dronfield, has a
new email address: **available from synod office**

AND
FINALLY: -  

Please
send any comments or feedback on this e-letter to Terry Oakley mod [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk

The URC East Midlands Synod, 1 Edwards Lane, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG5
3AA.

Telephone: 0115 960 9241.  Facsimile: 0115 960 9202

Copy
date for Next E-Letter: 25^th January 2010

Email address for E-Letter
Editor:
editor [at] urc5 [dot] org [dot] uk

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