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The Quarterly magazine of Fairfield Methodist Church - Spring 05

Letter from the minister…

By the time you read this, most of the work on our church building should be completed: a new roof, new ceiling, new lighting and decorated all through! It has been great to see each phase completed on schedule, thanks in no small part to Russ, who has done a brilliant job of master-minding the whole project. We shall soon have a set of premises that are once more attractive and comfortable for all who come.

Wouldn't it be brilliant if the victims of the tsunami could say the same about their houses, schools and places of worship? Hopefully, some of the huge amounts raised will be used for rebuilding work, but this catastrophe has shown just how vulnerable poor people are to natural disasters. Poor communities will continue to struggle to survive at such times unless more is done to eradicate the causes of poverty.

The Make Poverty History campaign, running throughout 2005, aims to urge Tony Blair and other world leaders to deliver trade justice, debt cancellation and more and better focussed aid for all of the world's poorest countries. With the report due from the Commission on Africa, Britain's hosting of the G8 in July and Tony Blair's chairing of the EU in the second half of the year, 2005 is a God-given opportunity (for us in Britain especially) to put pressure on our leaders to change the way the world works.

As some of you know, I went down to London in January to take part in a march, along with 500 other women clergy and Dawn French (BBC's Vicar of Dibley), to draw attention to this campaign. Because of the presence of Dawn French and Gary Waldhorn (David Horton from Dibley), and the fact that it was a beautiful sunny day, the event had something of a carnival atmosphere, but this in no way detracted from the serious intention behind the event.

At a meeting around the cabinet table with a small delegation led by Dawn French, the Prime Minister expressed his support for the campaign, but did admit that there were some differences with the government position, particularly on free trade versus fair trade. The meeting highlighted our need to put pressure on the government throughout the year.

To get involved in the campaign during 2005, there are things we can all do. We can wear a white arm band (available from Oxfam or make your own), send a letter or postcard to Tony Blair, contact MRDF or Christian Aid for background information on the issues, visit www.makepovertyhistory.org to sign up for campaign actions, buy food and drink with the Fair Trade Mark wherever possible and consider fasting or attending an all-night vigil in London in April. We can also continue to pray for justice and generosity on the part of the rich nations of the world. We must keep up the pressure in order to convince our government and other world leaders that we want them to act. The alternative is ongoing misery and injustice for millions of people who just happen to be born in the 'wrong' country.

I will finish with a prayer we used in London and which I shared with the Mid-week Fellowship:

Yours in Christ, Margaret

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH. Nancy Frith

To begin with it was very crisp and snowy underfoot, and a lot of hard work had gone into clearing the church drive for both vehicles (delivering guests) and us pedestrians-just a start to the day.

We had a short service, entertainment, then coffee or tea and biscuits. When we went into lunch the tables were beautifully set out. The meal was superb and everything nice and hot.

Our church "staff" had excelled themselves and deserve more than a pat on the back. An extra big thank you to Margaret Ford, who looked after the "wheel chair" ladies. We were informed after lunch that she was then going to her "WORK" for the day. I bet she was very tired after her shift.

More entertainment after lunch, followed by a visit from "Santa" who gave us all a present. Then tea or coffee and mince pies before going home.

A very big THANK YOU from us all.

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land 2006.

I am now organising my next pilgrimage to the Holy Land for spring 2006 (25th April - 4th May). I specialise in taking people from all over the country who are interested in joining a group. If you are interested contact- Les Fletcher, Thrum Hall Methodist Church, Rochdale 01706-656776

Twentieth Century Saint? By Edith Stanton

The last time he was in our pulpit, David Harris asked us who would we consider to be a modern day prophet? We were taken unawares, but the names of Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa were suggested, and accepted by our speaker. However, on consideration I would name them not as prophets in the old sense of the word, but as God's witnesses, sometimes martyrs, in our own time.

Thinking about this later, I recalled an occasion at a Manchester & District Conference when the Rev. Dr. John Taylor asked each of us who we would nominate to write a further chapter, or appendix,to the Bible. Why was it assumed that God had finished speaking to His people through the written word after the Bible was published?

At that time, the name of Hugo Gryn came to my mind. A Jewish Rabbi who had been imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp and came through with his faith in God intact. He spoke regularly on Radio 4 for many years. That is how I came to know him. After his death his daughter found among his papers a record of his concentration camp experiences, which she had not known about. She included them in a biography, revealing what a true witness to his faith he had been.

To read about the lives of many faithful witnesses of the 20th century is as inspiring, sometimes more so, than reading the Bible, but these books become out of print and their stories are lost to posterity. If they were printed as an Appendix to the Bible, they would be thought about and talked about and written about more often, especially those who have kept their faith in God throughout evil experiences.

The most recent I can think of was a man named Wilson whose much loved daughter was killed by an IRA bomb, and a Warrington man whose son was likewise killed. These men are using their Christ-given faith in forgiveness and reconciliation, not the vengeful "eye for an eye" injunction of the Old Testament.

I've recently re-read the story of Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who during the first years of Nazi occupation sheltered and saved many Jews. This involved dangerous liaisons with messages - finding more and more hiding places as the persecution of the Jews increased Eventually their activities were discovered and the ten Boom family were arrested and taken to forced labour camps, enduring much cruelty, and thence to Ravensbruck concentration camp. Corrie was the only member of her family to survive.

During their years in captivity, she and her sister Betsy kept in close touch with Jesus through prayer, and made plans as to how best to serve Him after their release. Betsy did not survive their ordeal, but Corrie lived into old age and carried out their plans. She provided a home for outcasts and worked steadfastly carrying out the teaching of Jesus to be a good neighbour to those in need of love and protection.

Then there's Martin Luther King. Of his book "Strength to Love" a critic wrote: "His conviction was acted upon daily, not just stated as a vague principle-- loving your enemies".This is surely worthy of inclusion in an Appendix to the Bible.

I think of Gandhi, Bonhoeffer, Leonard Cheshire all worthy of a place in our Bible. We believe in prayer and in the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit: isn't that evidence that God continues to speak to His people?

Would the Bible be less Holy if it contained more recent stories of people who have followed the teachings of Jesus and served the Lord to the uttermost, inspiring the rest of us along the way?

Christmas Joy. Audrey Evans.

Writing this on the last week-end of January 2005, I am thinking back to Christmas Day. We awakened to a winter wonderland with trees and bushes looking beautiful as the snow weighed heavily on their branches and the ground was covered with the newly fallen blanket, keeping all the bulbs snug.

Many folk were looking anxiously at the still falling snow, wondering if they would get to their various venues where they hoped to enjoy Christmas Dinner. However, the weather improved, and from what we hear, the guests attending our Fairfield Methodist Church Christmas Dinner had a wonderful time. So, a hearty cheer to all the helpers who worked so hard to make it a very special day. Our family also enjoyed a happy Christmas Day and I hope other Church families did too.

On Boxing Day the celebrations and parties continued, and tons of leftover turkey was probably used up in different recipes, with surplus trifle to follow. Children had by now chosen their favourite present and little ones probably played more with the big box than the toy that had been inside it.

After Boxing Day we all expect to get back to normal. Not this time though, for the world received the tragic news of the Tsunami, which brought so much destruction, and loss of life. We were all stunned. Where was Christmas joy now?

It was in the marvelous speedy response of volunteers from all walks of life to get to people desperate for help. Various charities hastily co-ordinated to get essential supplies of food, water, clothing and medical equipment together to transport to the islands. Worldwide, people dipped into their pockets, raising millions of pounds to help with the costs of rescue and temporary shelter.

There was special joy for some families who found each other, and small children and babies were saved. Churches joined together to pray and provide support for anxious relatives. I am sure our Lord Jesus would smile with joy on seeing the people He created coming together to help their neighbours just as He commanded us to do.

Yes, our Christmas Joy was overshadowed, but other kinds of joy came shining through to help us in our time of need.

Anonymous from the Friendship Book of Francis Gay 1984 shared with us by Mrs Edith Hilbert

Village Chapel Memories by Mary Percival

I felt sad when the Chapel at Peak Forest closed. For twenty-five years it had been a big part in my life, from Sunday School until I married and left the village. I was in all the activities, the choir, assistant organist, and all the other events that a church does.

In the early years there was no bus service, so any entertainment we had was made there. We had concerts, which we all enjoyed: Potato Pie Suppers were always enjoyed. I think it was who could make the biggest pie?

Having no bus service made it hard for the preachers. One preacher walked from Edale to take the service; I call that dedication! We always knew he would have one special hymn.

We had many Cliff College students, and the members provided tea in their turn.

A great influence in my life was my grandmother. We would walk to Tideswell Moor and she would take us to the service at Little Hucklow, walking both ways. Her faith never faltered, although my grandfather fell from a load of hay, lost his life, with a broken back. Her two sons had to go to war, and she was left with the farm. All that after having a family of eleven, my mother being one of them.

I came to Fairfield in 1939, expecting to carry on with the same things, but it was not quite like that. I think I made a mistake in waiting to be asked to join in the activities of the church. However, after many years I feel part of the church and miss not being able to attend at the present time. But my interest is still there with you all.

FRIENDS. Written by Kathryn Garrard for the Friendshop Book shared with us by Mrs Edith Hilbert-verses that mean a lot to her.

The Photo Mary Brittain

I was interested in the photo in the last Newsletter which was sent in by Mrs. Alice Crookes. I can recognise one other girl, Kathleen Cooke, she is the third from the left on the front row. Kathleen lived near to us and we went to Sunday School together. Her mother and father, Mr. & Mrs. Cooke also attended Fairfield.

I was very generous in those days - I got whooping cough and I gave it to my mother and Kathleen, so Kathleen and I could play together. I, too, owe a lot to Mrs. Edward Morten. It was Mrs. Morten who asked me if I would play the piano for the Primary Department in the Sunday School. I used to go to her house on Lansdown Road to practice the hymns for the following Sunday. I remember one "Hear the pennies dropping" which was played as the collection was taken.

Later on Jack Crookes asked me to play for some of the concerts we had from the Sunday School and the Comrades Guild. So my thanks go to Jack as well. I also played for occasional Sunday Evening Services. During the time the new church was being built Evening Services were held in members homes and when a piano wasn't available I recorded the hymns on tape and we sang along with the tape.

I miss playing the piano but owing to failing eyesight I cannot read the music.

WOMEN'S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: Audrey Evans

Friday, 4th March, St.Mary's Church, Dale Road Commencing at 2.p.m. Speaker: Mrs. Marjorie Carnelly

The theme this year is "Let our Light Shine"

This all began as a simple service of prayer and contrition in 1887. To-day the service is translated into over 60 languages and 1,000 dialects, and used throughout the world on the first Friday of March each year, thus uniting women, encouraging them to be aware of their talents and to use them in the service of the wider community: "Informed Prayer - Prayerful Action".

This year the service has been prepared by the women of Poland - often called "the melting pot of Europe". Surrounded by countries with conflicting ideologies imposed on them. The 1980 great social resistance movement, and political change in the USSR contributed to democratic changes across the whole of Eastern Europe, and in 1989 brought independence to Poland.

The Roman Catholic Church has played a crucial role in preserving Polish tradition and independence, especially during communism. In 1979 Pope Paul II visited his native land and Catholicism was reinforced in this officially atheistic country. The publication of a Polish Ecumenical Bible containing the New Testament and Psalms in a contemporary Polish translation has had the support and encouragement of eleven denominational leaders. Since 1962 ecumenical World Day of Prayer Services have taken place regularly. They unite women in growing numbers, in many towns, from various Christian traditions.

Newbiggin Methodist Chapel- Eirawen Wilmot

In May 2004 I was invited to visit County Durham with some friends and their two dogs. They rented a cottage in Forest-in-Teesdale, about ten minutes from the town of Middleton- in-Teesdale. When we arrived we saw the white cottage set upon a hill with very little else around it. To enter the field we had to open two large gates and shut them, (for fear that the sheep around the cottage would not stray on to the road, which was very busy.

The cottage was beautifully well equipped and furnished in pine. There was a large fireplace, which housed a log burning stove, which added character to the cottage. All the cottages around were painted white, which was ordered by a previous owner of the estate, who was said to have lost his way in the dark, (white cottages easy to see).

My friend reckoned nothing to the place: "too isolated" and wanted to go home that night. However, after a night's sleep and a visit to Middleton she felt a bit better. We made enquiries as to where there were good walks for the dogs, including the North Pennine Way, and soon we settled down to country life.

In Middleton there was an excellent bakery, which served morning coffee and delicious cream cakes, and we made full use of this at 11a.m. and 4.p.m. every day - hence the weight.

During our time there we visited several interesting places and walked miles each day. About five minutes from Forest we came upon Newbiggin Chapel, opened in 1760 and renovated in 1996. John Wesley preached at the chapel many times. It is believed to be the oldest Methodist Chapel in the world in continuous use. If you wish to go inside as we did, you just go and ask for the key and let yourself in; (trusting, aren't they?) The inside was similar to the Lowe's Chapel at Rewlach, seats going up from the front in ascending order.

The chapel was full of pictures by children and adults, information leaflets, in fact it was cram full of interest. You could have spent many hours reading about the chapel, of which the village is very proud.

I wonder how many more chapels of that era still exist and have regular Sunday Services? It will be interesting to find out.

REMINISCENCES. Edith Stanton

Highlights of childhood seem very ancient now. A visit to a local coal yard to buy a half-hundredweight of coal in a wagon. This was great fun, especially the journey back with the empty wagon, taking it in turns to ride whilst the other pulled the leading iron bar. Our mum provided a dustsheet for this, of course!

From time to time a carthorse fell on the cobbled street and couldn't get up. All the children of the neighbourhood gathered round to watch. It was a very difficult job, sometimes resulting in the horse needing to be shot dead.

Then the water supply sometimes failed and we took buckets to a stand-pipe some streets away. Another of life's little adventures... We were within walking distance of the swing bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal. It had to turn to let the ships through. The gates were closed and access to the road barred for half an hour or so. Most dads took their children to watch this interesting occurrence - another fun adventure as it usually happened on a Sunday morning.

Having left school at 14 I worked in a piano show room and was very unhappy there. So much was expected of a 14-year-old in those days. I was chastised for daring to ask for my ten-shilling wages. The snobbish cashier told me it was a "salary"!! I was required to dress a window with gramophone records, sheet music and needles, and as I've never had any artistic talent, it was hopeless, and they told me so. And my musical knowledge was not of contemporary songs, so I was a failure in the "Small Goods" department.

I worked until 6.30 each evening and until 1p.m. on Saturdays. At 7.p.m I attended commercial college to learn short- hand and typing. I excelled at shorthand and that boosted my confidence no end! On the strength of my 130 w.p.m. certificate I was engaged by the Co-operative Movement Headquarters as a secretary. This involved attending meetings and conferences on trade and cultural subjects, taking verbatim notes.

"Can't we have something livelier?" The record owner changed it for a musical comedy item later, saying "Yes, but remember that the purpose of all music, all art, is to glorify God." (Little did I think then that sixty years later I would be playing the Bach Chorale on a church organ!)

As an unbeliever, this was my first encounter with a committed Christian. It transpired that he was organist at a church in one of the Lancashire towns. I thought about it afterwards this man knows something that I would like to know………. Another "good influence"?

STAR TREKKIN' TO FAITH John Hayman

Back in the 'Fifties before the era of television, one of my regular 'terror treats' was to switch off the lights in our lounge on a winter's night and tune into the weekly episode of Charles Chilton's 'Journey into Space', a sci-fi series announced in echoing chilling impersonal tones by David Jacobs accompanied by some of the spookiest music ever broadcast.

There I would sit entranced by the adventures of Jet Morgan, Doc, Lemmy and Mitch as they journeyed throughout the Solar System grappling with all manner of Earth threatening situations such as alien lunar based invasions to descending into caves on Mars and discovering signs of .......... (We never found out).

Whoever said that radio paints the best pictures never spoke a truer word. The images and atmosphere created in those far off days remain to this day vividly imprinted on my mind.

Perhaps these early experiences led to my becoming a fan of the cult BBC television series Star Trek first broadcast some thirty years ago or so. Now I wish to make it clear at the outset that I am not one of those diehard 'Trekkie' fans who every now & then take themselves off to 'Star Trek' conference weekends, thereby to adorn pointy ears, don star ship 'Enterprise' crew suits and avidly discuss the significance of various Star Trek episodes.

Nevertheless I will admit to a fondness of the first and arguably best series of Star-Trek where Captain Kirk and his indomitable crew boldly went where no man had gone before. I enjoyed the obvious needle that existed between Doc ' Bones' McCoy, the pointy eared Vulcan, Spock, and the ship's engineer Scotty whose teletransporter would 'beam everybody up', to say nothing of ogling the attractive female members of the crew.

Although of course a fantasy it is interesting to note that one or two features of the programme have now become part of every day life. The communication handsets used by the crew looked uncannily like today's mobile 'phones and even molecular teletransportation of single molecules has recently been achieved in laboratory conditions.

I was reminded of all this some time ago when Mary and I took a long autumn weekend holiday in our beloved Lake District a year or two back. It had been a showery day (now there's a surprise) and later in the evening after dark, leaving Mary luxuriating in a warm bath, I took a stroll from our B & B in the little village of Pooley Bridge and wandered up into the hills that lie at the top of Ullswater. The lights of distant Penrith were blacked out by the bulk of the mountains and the sky had completely cleared, the atmosphere washed pin sharp by the day's rain. Looking overhead I had the best view of the night sky that I have ever seen. All the six thousand or so stars that it is said can been seen with the naked eye glittered before me like so many flashing diamonds and beyond them, the pale wisp of the Milky Way was clearly evident, stretching to seeming infinity.

The Hubble telescope, stationed as it is on the edge of space, its vision uncluttered and undimmed by the atmosphere, is revealing more and more images of startling clarity. Amongst other discoveries it has already detected the presence of large gas giant planets encircling many distant stars by detecting the wobble of the star caused by the gravity pull of the planet in its orbit Astronomers are confident of refining the technique within the next decade or so to enable detection of smaller earth-sized planets even though the parent stars lie many light years away from us. There is already considerable speculation that some of these smaller planets may resemble Earth with water and oxygen containing atmospheres that could harbour life-forms. This may sound like pie-in -the-sky stuff (excuse the pun) but today's fantasy can become tomorrows' reality. For example only twenty or so years ago the conception of widely owned personal computers, such as being used to record this little homily, was dismissed by some computer company executives as pure fantasy.

Eventually the crick in my neck forced me to abandon stargazing and retrace my steps but I still recall the wonder of that night and the glimpse of the vastness that surrounds us and of which we are such a small part. It may be a strange route to faith but I could not help feeling at odds with those who maintain that the existence of the universe has been triggered by mere chance, a flash in the pan that might never have happened at all.

To me it makes far more sense of everything that Creation was planned and mapped out by a supreme Deity albeit for unfathomable reasons.

Or as Mr Spock, the coldly reasoning emotionless member of the 'Enterprise' might have said 'An accident Captain? Such a proposition is not logical'.

Greetings from South Africa- Russell Baker

You will be aware that for many years our Church has been on the World Wide Web and we have had interest from many countries. Some years ago Eirawen went on holiday to South Africa and met Graham Kissack a local preacher there. Some while later when Ann & I went to South Africa we met up with Graham and shared a splendid introduction to our holiday with him in Cape Town. We have kept in touch with Graham since and he regularly visits our virtual church. I thought you might be interested in some of his recent thoughts.

"My family down in Bognor said that they had lot of wind and the sea was quite dramatic. If it makes you feel any better, in Cape Town we had very poor rains this year and are now having a drought. The daily temperatures now reach the upper 20's (degrees C) and soon will be into the lower 30's. So it looks as though it will be a long hot summer. We have water rationing and can only water our gardens for half an hour per week. Using hosepipes for washing cars or driveways etc is prohibited.

The Lord has blessed our Church this year with some exciting programs and we thank Him that we seem to have had an increase in numbers at our services. It is always a joy to meet the frequent visitors from the UK, although I am usually only there in the evenings. I still continue to travel to the country districts to take services for independent churches out there. I am now away for two Sundays each month, but it is worth it as the country congregations are growing as people leave the cities to retire away from the hustle and bustle. "

"I went onto your website to see the pictures, looks like everyone had a really nice time at your Christmas Day Event. I must tell you that we would get quite excited about snow, or even rain in fact. Some years ago Ann and myself went up Table Mountain and were in a very rare fall of snow for about 20 minutes, which we found very exciting. No doubt you might not share our joy at such an experience!

I sometimes help at a gathering especially for the old folk in Fish Hoek. The Church ladies provide tea and some eats and very occasionally it is my job to play the piano for a sing along. It's nothing nearly like yours, but it does provide an afternoon out for some of them who only get out on few occasions.

Work is interesting at the moment as the organisation is busy making preparations to get rid of most of the white male managers (of which I am one). We have to apply for our jobs and compete with outsiders as well. It could be that I may join the ranks of the unemployed or early retired in the next year. I have recently finished a degree in Theology so I may look for a ministerial placing somewhere.

At our Church we are using "The Purpose driven Life" book by Rick Warren and its associated program lasting 40 days. It has drawn more people into the active life of the Church and hopefully they will continue to attend. It is interesting to see how these organised 'courses' make the members more active in the Church and encourage them to bring friends and family along. Yesterday's subject was "Worship" which seemed to be well received by the congregation. "

Editors Note; Graham's reference to possibly losing his job relates to South Africa's policy of positive discrimination for non-white people. Amazingly when we were in South Africa we met white people who had lost their jobs in this way and they seemed to accept it, some even training the person who replaced them.

Fairfield "Meths" Team – Report by our Sports Correspondent.

It's been a good season up to know for the "Meths". They’ve had some hard matches and had some good results. At Christmas they took on and beat the weather and all the problems connected with the Christmas Day Event. The ground staff did a wonderful job to make the pitch playable after over night snow and their midfield and attack ensured that they scored with the entertainment and the dinner. A really excellent performance all round.

The best result of the season must be against the Church Enhancement Scheme. The "Meths" were shocked by the need to replace the roof after only 19 years. However thanks to an excellent team performances not only the roof, but also the ceiling and lighting scored. The "Meths" needed to raise the £20,000 to get the loan of roofing, ceiling and electrical contractors and thanks to some brilliant individual and team efforts and support from the league they got there. It was only in extra time when the team with a number of injured players playing really showed its resolve to win and the dust left was hoovered and dusted to destruction leaving the "Meths" clear winners.

As they start the second half of the season with a splendid new stadium there are some problems looming for the "Meths". One major problem is to replace the manager who is moving to another team just outside Manchester and the "Meths" have no replacement lined up yet. Just as significantly some of the "Meths" senior players need a rest and are carrying injuries but from the small squad of 30 something there are no reserves available. There are also concerns that some of the star players may be recruited by a higher level league in the future.

That leaves the "Meths" looking strong but with some hard games to come and without replacements and reserves for the key positions of goalkeeper, grounds man and stadium manager this could quickly affect the team .

From their high position with a few more injuries the "Meths" could drop down the league and by the end of the season could be fighting to survive in this league.

The current team manager is doing her best to bring in new faces to supplement the team but needs help from the existing players to play out of position if necessary and fill gaps in the team as they happen. New players will always be welcomed.

From the Treasurer Norman E. Brittain.

At the time of writing our New Roof is on and paid for, the New Ceiling and Lights have been installed and when we receive the promised grant of £9,750 from the Circuit Advance Fund we will be able to pay for everything. We have reached our Target of £20,000 (which includes the promised grant) and I want to say 'Thank you' to everyone for the kind and generous donations that have made this project possible. Once the Decorators have finished our premises will be in prime condition for when we celebrate our 20th. Anniversary next May.

However our General Account Funds are not quite as healthy. As of today we have £1,489 for General Expenditure (i.e., Circuit Assessment, Gas, Electricity, Water, Insurance and Administration costs. Utility Costs (Gas & Electricity etc) are more or less covered by the Income we get from letting the premises to other organisations.

Our biggest expense is the Circuit Assessment, which, at the moment, is £7,200 per year and is paid in quarterly installments. We have just paid £1,800 and have to find another £1,800 for the 1st. August. Our main income is the Sunday Collections, and over the last 5 months they have averaged £125 per week, which if this continues for the next 13 weeks we will have £1,625 towards the next assessment. So we need another £14 per week to stand still. We do sometimes get donations that help us to pay our way, but, of course, we cannot budget for voluntary gifts.

Since our new Church was built we have always been able to pay all accounts on time and at times have been able to put money on one side for expected future repairs. This procedure has certainly helped us to obtain our target for the New Roof etc.

So, once again, I say 'Thank you' to you all for your generosity in the past, and I am sure our future finances will always be on target.

Editors note: The Building Enhancement Project Team of Mr N Brittain, Mr D Mickleburgh, Rev M Crawshaw , Mr Trevor Gilman- Consultant Engineer of Fairfield and myself would also like to acknowledge the professional help of the contractors who have kept disruption in the church to a minimum. They are:

EVENTS

Tuesday Club is on 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm

Midweek Fellowship for All. Wednesday each week at 2;30pm

Our Church Rally - 2.30.p.m. April 11th Speaker: Rev David Philo.

Pilgrim Group 1st Thursday of the month Starts Thursday 7th April Speaker to be announced

Easter Offering Service, May 18th 7.30.p.m. at Hollinsclough Chapel.

Church Anniversary 2005 (20th Year in this church) May 8th 2005. Preachers- Rev R Davies 10:30am am & Rev M Crawshaw 6:00pm. Anniversary Tea at 4:45pm

With Valentine's Day Just Gone and romance in mind… A group of children were asked about marriage.

Question "What is the right age to get married" .
Answer from Freddie Aged 6. "No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married"

Question "How can a stranger tell if two people are married" Answer from Derrick aged 8
"You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids"

Question "What do you think your mum and dad have in common?"
Answer Lori aged 8 "Both don't want any more kids"

Question " How would you make a marriage work?"
Answer Ricky aged 10 "Tell your wife she looks pretty, even if she looks like a lorry"

Word from the Editor.

Thank you to all who have contributed to this magazine especially "new" contributors.

The last quarter has seen many changes in our Church including a new roof, new ceiling and new lighting system. Amazingly the £20,000 needed to pay for the scheme has been raised thanks to individuals, organisations and the Circuit helping. Our Treasurer Norman Brittain talks about finance later in this magazine.

We have a new Item in this quarter's magazine by our Sports Correspondent who gives an opinion on the season so far for the Fairfield Meths team.

As we get toward the end of the building project - I have included a couple of photographs that were taken during the intensive week when the ceiling and lights were replaced and improved. They may explain why I was worried the Church would never come clean again.

Thanks are due to the many people who at the end of that week cleaned our church to ensure we did not miss any Sunday Services.

I would especially thank Trevor Gilman our Professional Consultant for his help, resolve and patience during the last year to make sure we have a 21st century solution to our 20th Century problem.

Well thanks to the excellent work of Damar Ceilings of Macclesfield and our lighting experts Marc 1 Electrics of Poynton we have a new ceiling and a new lighting system and all within the time span promised. After a good clean by members last weekend we had our normal Sunday services. This week our painter & decorator Paul Dye of Buxton has been working in the Church and it already looks well. Fingers crossed that everything continues as well.

Building Enhancement

The new roof is on and next week the ceiling and lighting is due to be installed. That then leaves the decoration to do.

Some of our enthusiastic guests enjoying Christmas Day.

The Mayor of the High Peak who visited us on Christmas Day.

Letter from the minister

Dear friends

By the time this appears, we will be in (or very near) the season of Advent, a time when we prepare ourselves to celebrate once more the coming of Christ into this world. When Bishop Jeyapaul David preached at our united evening service on 7th November, he drew attention to the different understandings of 'incarnation' in the various faiths. Christians believe that, in Jesus, God became truly human - so vulnerably human that he actually suffered and died. Many other faiths have trouble with that, since their understanding of God is of a powerful, victorious being who could not possibly be put to death. In Hinduism, for instance, God may assume different forms, but remain ultimately untouched and invincible. Only God as Christians understand him can truly understand and empathise with our human sufferings, since he has gone through them too.

But what has this to do with Christmas? Well, if this is the God we believe in, the God revealed in Jesus' way of living and loving, perhaps our celebration of Christmas ought to include those who need someone to show them this love, to get alongside them in their suffering, to share what we have with them. I notice that several charities this year are offering the option of buying someone you love a goat or a pack of tree seedlings for Christmas - with the actual gift going to someone in a developing country, and a voucher explaining it going to your friend. This is one way of showing God's love to those who desperately need it in so many distant parts of our world. Another way nearer to home is by sharing our celebrations with folk who might otherwise have a lonely time of it - and I am delighted that we are once again going to open our church on Christmas Day to do just that.

Sharing what we have in such abundance, getting alongside folk, showing God's love to them - this is what Christmas is about. The words of an Iona Community song sum up the Incarnation like this:

May we follow Jesus' example and 'incarnate' his love this Christmas.

A very happy Christmas to you all, Margaret

FROM THE VICAR of ST.PETER'S - D. Jonathan Cooper

Anna in "The King and I" sings "Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you, Hoping I like you, Hoping that you will like me"; and that's how it feels moving to a new post in a new place. Many thanks for your welcome to Fairfield. It is good to feel that my arrival here is as important to you as the local Methodist presence as it is to the people of St. Peter's.

The process of getting to know each other is a slow one and will take time, but it is only by doing so that trust can be built up and with trust I hope a time when we are able to build on what has gone before and find new ways of being Church in this community.

The links between Methodists and Anglicanism go right back to John and Charles Wesley. We share a common heritage so it is good that after two centuries of separation and mistrust our two communities of faith are beginning the process of coming together. I was pleased when a few years ago John and Charles were included in our Calendar of Saints. I have also appreciated the inclusion of elements of your Annual Covenant Service in our Epiphany Celebrations. We can all learn from each other and I know that this will continue.

By our sharing in each others worship I trust that we will not only offer a common worship to the God and Father of us all, but that we will also get to know and trust each other and that we will be able to go forward in faith to where our Saviour wishes to lead us. I look forward to our bi-monthly Services here at St.Peter's and at the Chapel and also hope we can find other occasions when we can come together either in worship or in action or just socially, so that Anna's song may become our anthem for the future.

Kiev Concert Players

Our church was full on an autumn evening for a second welcome visit by the Kiev Singers, now called ''The Kiev Concert Players.

Our thanks are due to Margaret C for arranging the concert and meeting the group off the bus at Chesterfield and to Eirawen and Margaret C for accommodating and providing hospitality to the group. Incidentally, Alexei's luggage containing his national costume and all his clothing was taken by mistake from the coach at Chesterfield, so he was not dressed in his national costume like Larisa and Natalia. Fortunately the case was retrieved at Chesterfield on their return journey.

Larisa introduced the group and sang Ukrainian folk songs accompanied by her "Bandura" seen for only the second time by most of us and clearly a complicated and unusual (to Buxton) string instrument.

Natalia performed great Ukrainian classical music on our piano in a way we have not heard before and we were spellbound by the music and the strength and dexterity of her fingers.

Alexei played his "Bayan" (a sophisticated version of our accordion). It was fascinating to see his fingers dancing around 200 keys whilst drawing in the air to produce lively folk music and Strauss waltzes.

The concert was greatly enjoyed by all and especially by Ukrainian and Polish people who now live locally who were reminded of their homeland. We wish the group good fortune in their remaining nineteen concerts and hope to see them again in the future. It was also lovely to see former members and friends who joined us for this tremendous occasion.

MORE GOOD INFLUENCES. Edith Stanton

During my years of "Seeking the Kingdom of God" I experienced many setbacks. At one time we had several fundamentalists in our church, whilst I was finding difficulty in reconciling the seeming contradictions in the Bible and from the pulpit. One lovely committed Christian told me I could not, must not, pick out what to accept and what to reject. I must accept the whole of the Bible as it stood, as the Word of God. (Perhaps she had not read ALL of the Old Testament?)

Then along came George and Dorothy Kay. Something George said encouraged me to voice my concerns to him, whereupon he lent me his "Christian Agnostic" by Leslie Weatherhead. It seemed to have been written especially for me, and I read and re-read it with great relief and joy. The book was out of print, but I was able to obtain a copy through a second-hand book-tracing agency. It has since been reprinted in paperback.

Dr. Weatherhead is able to explain more accurately the meaning of the words used by Jesus, the Gospel writers and the writers of the Epistles in their day - words which have changed their meaning over the years, making more difficult, translation into language in current use. Dr.J.B.Phillips in his "Ring of Truth" confirms this. He tells of his excitement in translating the New Testament, finding that the colloquial language brought the facts to life, increasing his already certain belief in the historical authenticity of the Gospels and Epistles. (He says that as a classical Greek scholar, he had previously been snobbish about the colloquial language).

Dr Weatherhead reminds us that non-punctuation was used in the original texts; meaning can vary according to where the commas and full stops are placed. Several telling examples were given.

Leslie Weatherhead advises that we put a blue pencil through those passages in the Old Testament, (e.g. bashing babies against the wall, stoning children for misbehaviors, immoral battles, etc.) which represent a God directly opposed to the God revealed in Jesus Christ. The Bible is to be judged by Jesus, and not the other way round. Weatherhead also advises that we put our as yet unanswered questions in a drawer marked "for future enlightenment" as he has done.

At a later date Bob Davies said something from the pulpit that reinforced my growing perception that I need not "sign on the dotted line" as Leslie Weatherhead put it, in order to be a Christian.

I had been fully convinced by the example and teaching of Jesus for many years, and now Bob lent me Leslie Weatherhead's other books, in particular "In Quest of a Kingdom". C.S. Lewis' "Surprised by Joy" and books by Archbishop William Temple and J B. Phillips were very helpful. But it is Leslie Weatherhead who has brought me completely into the faith.

Perhaps I may meet him in the hereafter and be able to thank him for his consistent, wise, and loving way of dealing with my difficulties?

Note from the Editor. Dr Leslie Weatherhead C.B.E, MA 1893-1976 had a long and fruitful ministry first in Leeds and Manchester followed by many years preaching to large congregations at the City Temple in London, he was also the author of many books.

Greetings from Truro Who are they?

I very recently received a letter from Mrs Alice Crookes who now lives in Truro but worshipped here at Fairfield Methodist Church from when she was four until she moved to Cornwall in 1989. Alice sends her best wishes to old friends and after reading the last church magazine with the photos of the Summer Holiday Club she has sent the photograph from about 1928.

Alice says " the Sunday School Teacher at that time was Mrs Edward Morten Grandmother of John. Each summer the Sunday school pupils were invited to a garden party at her home on Lansdowne Road and this was the highlight of our Sunday school days.

For many years around this period Mrs Street who kept the paper shop at the bottom of Fairfield Road awarded prizes for good attendance (Morning & Afternoon). I still have an illustrated Alice in Wonderland awarded to me in 1929 for best attendance (104 attendances!!!)."

Editor: It was lovely to hear from Alice and I have wonderful memories of the Crookes family. Alice wrote for the magazine and I hope you will as well. You can write on any subject you wish but to continue with this magazine I do need contributions.

Wrong flowers

A small business had just moved into cosy new premises and one of the owner's friends wanted to send her flowers for the occasion. The local florist delivered them to the new business site. The owner opened the card and read: "Rest in Peace".

The owner called the florist to complain at the obvious mistake.. The florist replied, "Madam, I am really sorry, but rather than getting angry you should imagine this. Somewhere there is a funeral taking place today and they have flowers with a note saying: 'Congratulations on your new, warm location'."

CHATTERBOX ON WHEELS by Edith Stanton

"…………….. So I told her, "When YOU get married it'll be a picnic on't'common with jam butties!"

This intriguing comment, overheard in the bus, made me wonder what had gone before. Had the girl cost her mum so dearly that a wedding would be the last straw? Or had a sister's wedding just bankrupt the family budget?

Our local bus climbed the hill to Fairfield, and other voices rose and fell with meaning equally mysterious to the eavesdropper: "And I thought well, if I've got to have one, I may as well have a big one!" Big what? A f ridge? A hat for a wedding? A dog perhaps?

At the next stop a lone passenger boarded. spotted a friend on the front seat and said:

"'ave you 'eard, then?" "Ay, I've 'eard". Heard what? Do tel1, I long to ask.

A woman' s voice behind was now saying: "I always 'ave tater-ash of a Wednesday; I put it in the oven before going to work and it's ready when I get 'ome." "Oh I always do mine of a Monday, with Sunday's leftovers you know." Here followed a step-by-step account of the best way to make tater-ash, until one could fairly smell the stuff. "But I'd rather 'ave egg and chips really" she added.

A cultured male voice next became audible: "They need long slow cooking. It's all wrong to think of them as a quick meal." The item in question turned out to be sausages, the merits of which were discussed in some detail, and as the two gentlemen left the bus later, one said to the other: "Nice to have met you; very interesting conversation!"

Meanwhile the tater-ash lady has embarked on another story: "So I sent for the gas man. It only took him five minutes to fiddle with the grill", and then he said "Do you want to try it?" And I said "only if you'll eat the toast". So he sat and ate it with a cup of tea and I got a bill for £11 just for him turning a screw and eating my toast!"

Funny how everyone's talking about food to day. Conversation usually starts with "How are you, alright?" and ailments and remedies are tossed to and fro across the aisle, the whole bus feeling free to join in with their advice.

Did somebody say that community life was dead, that since the advent of Telly, people had forgotten how to communicate? Just let them travel on our Fairfield bus! Those of you who ride around in motorcars don't know what you're missing!

Looking Back by Margaret Ford

Where have all the Girl Guides gone, people say you shouldn't look back but I have some lovely memories of when Mrs Stanton helped to run the Girls Life Brigade. We did things like marching, club swinging to music and we even played the drums. Then we did cookery to get a badge. We went to a Mrs Binghams' house on Windsor Road and I was so proud when I was asked to carry the flag on Remembrance Day standing on the slopes with the Army and Navy to see the men with their medals. I sometimes wonder where all the other girls who were in the brigade are.

Final advice

The 98-year-old Mother Superior from Ireland was dying. The nuns gathered around her bed, trying to make her last moments on earth more comfortable.

They gave her some warm milk to drink but she refused, so one of the nuns took the glass back to the kitchen. Then, remembering a bottle of Irish whiskey received as a gift the previous Christmas, she opened and poured a generous amount into the warm milk.

Back at Mother Superiors bed, she held the glass to her lips. Mother drank a little, then a little more and before they knew it, she had drunk the whole glass down to the last drop.

"Mother," the nuns asked earnestly, "please give us some final wisdom before you die."

The Mother Superior raised herself slowly up in bed and with a pious look on her face said, "Don't sell that cow."

WHAT IS ART? by Edith Stanton

In recent years we have been asked to accept as "Art" many outrageous paintings and sculptures, e.g. grouped bicycle parts, a pile of rubber tyres, an unmade bed in an untidy bedroom, etc. A well-known broadcaster whose name I forget once tested the theory by getting his dog to scamper over a large piece of paper after dipping his paws in paint. He sent it to an exhibition and it was accepted and displayed.

Now, we have a REAL artist in our midst. Our treasurer has been hiding his light under a bushel all these years.

We were asked to bring to Wednesday Fellowship ''something we had made earlier and Norman's contribution was breath taking in its beauty and authenticity: a scale model of his and Mary's home. I could scarcely believe what I saw: every tiny part so true; modern window panes and door panels, window ledges and skirting boards, tiny hinges on the door, a slender pillar supporting the porch. Curtains were gracefully tied and appeared behind each window; every brick and tile and slate immaculate. I'm lost for words- a rare condition!

We also admired Norman's lovely picture in marquetry, Eirawen's quilting, Mary's crocheting, Joyce's cross-stitch, all things of beauty and usefulness.

I do hope that the model house will not be hidden away; it would give so much pleasure were it to be put on display.

Christmas Day Event- Eirawen, Crawshaw Family & Baker Family

We are delighted to announce that again this year our church will be hosting a Christmas Day Event for the lonely and isolated in the community. Thanks to the generous donations made last year and the additional support given to us this year by "the Billarettes" we have the funds available to be able to do it. The event of course relies on the volunteers from this church and their families who will cook, organise, arrange transport and provide entertainment amongst other things.

We are limited to numbers (about forty) guests and if you would otherwise be on your own this Christmas ring either 01298-25635 or 23424. If you could help by providing transport for our guests and especially if you have access to a "people carrier" please speak to Russell (23424). Further details of Christmas Events are at the back of the magazine.

Johnny had been misbehaving and was sent to his room. After a while he emerged and informed his mother that he had thought it over and then said a prayer. "Fine", said the pleased mother. "If you ask God to help you not misbehave, He will help you." "Oh, I didn't ask Him to help me not misbehave," said Johnny. "I asked Him to help you put up with me."

Autumn Fair Thanks to all who helped in any way with this event and confirmation if we needed it that our church has some of the finest cake and pastry makers in Buxton. The fair raised £370 for Church Funds.

Pilgrim Group The program finishes in December and we are already looking out for speakers for the next season starting in April. We had some exceptional speakers this time and we would appreciate your help in identifying suitable people for next season. Contact Eirawen, David M or Russell.

Church Improvement Scheme-Update-Russell Baker As we go to print we have just received authority from the Borough of the High Peak which will allow us to place the order for the roof. When it will be done is down to the contractors workload and the weather. The further phases of the scheme which include lighting and ceiling improvement will be carried out when we are sure the roof is fully installed and watertight. Thanks to recent contributions from the Bingham Trust , the money raised by Alison Bletcher from her concert and the support from the Circuit we are on target to raise the £19,500 we need.

Christmas Services

Sunday 19th 10:30am -Community Carol Service

Friday 24th 6pm Christmas Eve Holy Communion

Saturday 25th 11am Short Informal Christmas Day Service

Preacher in all Rev M Crawshaw

Saturday 25th Traditional Christmas Day with a full Christmas Lunch for the lonely and isolated in the community, transport can be arranged. For details contact Ann or Russell Baker 01298 23424 or Margaret Crawshaw 01298 25635. Booking essential.

Provisional - to be approved by Feb 2005 Church Council Minutes of Church Council Meeting Thursday 14th October 2004

Present Rev. M. Crawshaw (MC) (in the chair), Mrs. J. Lawton (JL), Mrs. T. Bainbridge (TB), Mrs. A. Baker (PAB), Mrs. A. Evans (AE), Mrs J Bletcher(JB),Mrs A Getliffe(AG), Miss M Ford (MF), Mrs Pat Evans (PE) ,Mrs E Wilmot (EW), Mrs M Brittain (MB),Mr N E Brittain (NEB), Mr R. Baker (RSB),

Opening The meeting opened with prayer.

Apologies. Mrs P O'Gara

Minutes of previous meeting. Were agreed without amendment

Matters arising.

a Safeguarding update- A key holders list has been obtained and all church based key holders have signed the appropriate circuit form. Still outstanding are the forms for Wesley House and Queens Court, which will be processed in due course. The completed forms will be held in the Church safe.

b. Risk Assessment as separate item later.

c. Ministerial requirements 2005 -An update was given by Mrs J Lawton confirming the process was going according to plan. d. Kiev Concert Players- Friday 29th October 7;30pm- Arrangements were finalised and Church Council members agreed to donate biscuits for the event.

e. Harvest Festival Sunday September 25th 2005- it was confirmed that Mr Botham (am) and Mrs Philo (pm) will lead worship. Tea at 4;45pm.

f. Holiday Club 2004 update-A final report was given by AG of a very successful event.

g. Organ work - has been completed and the cost some £80+ has been met by the organists. Thanks were expressed to them for this.

h. Tape recorder & loop system- It was reported that to replace the existing unit with a CD player included would cost £265 and that because of the high cost this has not been purchased. Mr Michael Bryant has confirmed he will examine our loop system to see if it is practical to enhance its amplification and he will also be asked if there is other equipment, which could also provide a cd and tape system at a more economic cost.

Finance The comprehensive year-end accounts and report- attached, were presented and accepted together with Schedule B Financial Schedules.

It was also seen that for people who contribute through Gift Aid that where they attend church in the morning and evening that the total collection will be placed in a gift aid envelope in the morning meaning the church will benefit by an extra 28p for each pound donated. The evening service collection would be a "retiring collection" with a plate at the back of the church for visitors, friends and anyone who did not use the gift aid system.

The huge amount of work by the Treasurer Mr Brittain was acknowledged with thanks by all present. It was also pointed out that Mr Brittain performs several key roles but the role of the Treasurer is one that in our church no one else has the skills or experience needed to fulfil this task.

Property The property schedule A was accepted by the meeting. There are a number of areas needing attention especially the meeting room lights that hopefully will be repaired shortly. After the roof enhancement scheme is completed the outstanding items will be considered.

NEB suggested we explore the possibility of fully flooring the upstairs storage area and providing a lift to obtain access. RSB offered to obtain costings for this and bring to a future meeting -Action RSB.

An update of the Roof Enhancement scheme was given by RSB. At the present time we cannot order the roof as we await authority from the Planning Dept of the High Peak Borough Council. Hopefully this will be authorised shortly and subject to the HPBC not making unexpected demands on us the external work can be ordered and put in hand. Completion of the outside work cannot be established until we are able to place the order with Hertalan and its contractor Othick Roofing. Jonnie Johnson Trust have also requested to be made aware of the Health & Safety Aspects of this project although they have declined to contribute to its cost although undoubtedly some of the damage to the roof has been caused by contractors working on behalf of the trust.

A detailed sketch and specification of the project has been on the notice board for some weeks for members to note. RSB acknowledged the professional assistance of Mr Trevor Gilman.

Pastoral

MC reported that our membership at the end of the Church year was 35. The last year had seen 5 deaths, 1 transfer and 3 new members, there had been 2 baptisms. MC suggested that members might wish to accompany her when the Holy Communion is taken to people who cannot attend church. This was supported.

Network MB reported that in year 2003-4 £188.82 had been raised comprising Mid Week Fellowship £34, Donations £36.50, Boxes £15.32, Tuesday Club £22 and Easter Offerings £81

Tuesday Club AE reported that since meetings had started again on Sept 7th there had been an average attendance of 9 with some interesting speakers. The coffee evening held on Sept 21st on behalf of Peak School Hydrotherapy Unit was well supported by members and friends and raised the excellent sum of £85. Thanks were expressed to all who supported this.

Midweek Fellowship JL reported tat the talk by Neville Johnson was excellent and that the recent meeting demonstrating the gifts and talents of our members was amazing.

Tuesday Luncheon Club JL reported that there were sixteen people in the register everything was going generally satisfactorily.

Churches Together JL reported that there was a comprehensive list of events, which could be seen on our notice board.

Thursday Club AG reported that the main concern was that James and Sarah finished at Christmas and may not be able to support the club after then. AG acknowledged the importance of the role of both James and Sarah. The club currently has twenty children on its role.

MC thanked all who contributed to the life of the church. It was agreed that thanks be expressed to Betty Peppard for her work on behalf of JMA- Action RSB.

Autumn Fair 2pm 13th November was discussed and as many members and friends who are able to help will be welcome. EW agreed to do the advert for the Advertiser.

An Autumn Evening of Music by Alison Bletcher on Saturday 20th November at 7pm will be held here with the retiring collection to be shared between The Peak School Hydrotherapy Unit and Fairfield Methodist Church Roof Improvement Fund. Refreshments will be provided. Thanks were expressed to Alison.

Christmas Services- Sunday 19th 10:30am Community Carol Service with Community Organisations invited to take part- Preacher MC. Mince pies to be served after the service.

Friday 24th at 6pm Holy Communion, Preacher MC

Saturday 25th Time to be confirmed an Informal Christmas Day Service-Preacher MC

It was enthusiastically agreed that we would again prepare and host a traditional Christmas Day Dinner for the lonely and isolated in the community. A meeting of people who are available to help will be held here at 11am on Wednesday 20th October.

Church Rally 2005 AE reported will be held here on Monday April 11th 05 with a speaker to be announced. Members present agreed to help with refreshments.

Appointments Mr Brittain - Treasurer Mr Baker- Secretary Mrs Wilmot, Miss Ford and Mrs Evans agreed to continue as Stewards. Mrs O'Gara absent to be invited to continue. Representatives to Circuit Meetings to continue giving new Stewards experience of Circuit Meetings when possible.

Risk Assessment - It was agreed that after the church improvement work is completed a group of volunteers will be invited to bring the church back to its original standard and consider risks with a workshop where all present can learn about heating controls and other emergency issues. RSB reiterated the need to consider the key roles in the church and how the church would continue in the event of illness to key people.

It was agreed that a Christmas Card as last year showing events be sent to members- Action MC & RSB

Mrs Getliffe proposed the meeting consider supporting a "Praise and Play " weekly event for parents and carers of children to attend. A similar style of worship at St Anne's Bath Road has proved successful. It was agreed that members consider this issue and it is discussed fully at February's meeting. It was also confirmed by AG that cards are sent to all children on the baptismal roll up to about 10 years of age.

Fair Trade- Trade justice card was distributed by MC and delegates asked to support its proposals.

Date of next meeting Thursday 3rd February 2005 7:30pm Meeting closed with the Grace.

From our Minister Rev M Crawshaw
Dear friends

As I write, we are nearing the end of an exhausting, fun-filled, chaotic, rewarding week of Holiday Club. We have welcomed thirty children onto our premises for 3 hours a day, to take part in the All-impic Games (no prizes for guessing where the title comes from!) The schoolroom became the All-impic Village, where teams from Italy, South Africa, Colombia and Japan met with their coaches for team-building activities and to watch a video of Paul's adventures as God's messenger. The worship area was transformed into a stadium, complete with All-impic flame and all manner of sports equipment (different each day). The theme Go for Gold was reinforced by activity sheets, Bible verses and a daily episode of the drama 'Who Dunnit at the Games?' At the daily award ceremony, gold medals were presented not only to the winning team, but to individual children who had tried hard, been kind or helpful, or behaved especially well (none were badly behaved). Our hope is that the children who came (many from the After-School Club) will have learned a little more about God's love and what following Jesus might mean, as well as having a great time and making new friends.

None of this would have been possible without an amazing team of leaders and helpers of all kinds - from sports coordinator to security desk, from coaches to musicians, from catering staff to drama team to prayer back-up, they have all been stars and deserve gold medals of their own. A special thank you must go to our friends from Buxton Methodist, St Peter's and Buxton Parish who helped us out so brilliantly (ace marathon running and weight lifting, Jonathan!) I seem to remember that in one of his letters Paul has an analogy of Christ as a body where every member plays their distinct but vital part, each one contributing to the whole. This was our experience at Holiday Club.

In the video we saw Paul change from being a persecutor of Christians to an amazing evangelist. We saw him suffer for his faith but press on towards his goal, to win, not a fading garland, but an everlasting crown. We were all reminded that being a Christian will involve us in setbacks and difficulties too (though hopefully not stoning or imprisonment!), but that God will be with us through them all and we can draw on his strength at all times. May this be our experience as we press on towards our goal, spreading the news of God's love in Christ by word and deed.

Yours in Christ,

Our Chairman of District for the last 9 years David Willie retired at the end of August and is living in Dore, Nr Sheffield. His retirement followed a celebration held in Manchester Cathedral in July

I wrote to David on behalf of Fairfield Methodist Church wishing him and his wife a long and happy retirement.

David has recently responded wishing all his friends at Fairfield best wishes for the future on behalf of his wife Daphne and himself.

I have no doubt that David he will be very interested in who replaces Rev Bob Davies and Rev Margaret Crawshaw here next summer.

Russell asked if there was anyone I could write about, perhaps in the Salvation Army, who had influenced my life.

On reflection there have been so many saints both alive and dead who have influenced me for good and encouraged me along the Christian path. At first just picking out one seemed impossible but on deeper reflection it has to be my Dad.

Dad was an old style Methodist. Property steward duties meant him walking down to the church on a Saturday evening and then again early on a Sunday morning to get the heating on. Then there was the infestation of pigeons nesting under the church roof with all the accompanying 'bird lime'. Dad cleared buckets full of the stuff!

For a while Dad was a poor steward, now called a communion steward, carefully cutting up cubes of freshly baked white bread. Best of all he took it upon himself to visit the sick and always prayed with them.

Dad thought nothing of money and told his work colleague he was a millionaire. Questioned on this he said he had five healthy grandchildren. Always infinitely patient Dad was to be found in the back shed chopping sticks when steam had to be let off!

Dad was a man of prayer and loved his bible. He would bring us up a cup of tea in bed and then have his daily quiet time at the kitchen table with his 'readings'. It is a discipline I have tried many times to follow but have failed.

There was a time when I didn't take communion, having difficulty with the 'put me to suffering' bit. When I questioned Dad if he could honestly repeat this he said yes. This was put to the test when he contracted cancer. Dad bore it cheerfully and in his final two weeks of life at the hospital he sang hymns to the grandchildren.

I don't go for calling God 'Mother', but maybe that has a lot to do with the fact that I was very fortunate to have a wonderful Father, who was indeed Godlike.

Queens Court Day Centre have for a few years now used your facilities for our Weekly Outreach meetings. In the first instance it was for one group, but recently this has increased to two and the comments from our Clients is one of complete satisfaction and how much they enjoy the very pleasant surroundings. Thank you for allowing us to use Fairfield Methodist Church.

When Eirawen asked if we could write a piece for your magazine, I was delegated so I apologise in advance if this sounds boring.

The very first Outreach group was started in 1991 and was held at St. Nicholas Hall, Fairfield. These groups grew to 4 to cover the whole of the Buxton area. Gradually the groups have reduced to 2 - this was possible with amalgamating two groups and because of the age of our clients and the health issues associated with this. Also some of the clients have now moved into Queens Court where their needs are more fully met.

Our Outreach groups meet on Thursdays and Fridays and are run by staff of Queens Court. The clients who attend these groups are senior citizens who are more able bodied and would be able to make their own way to the group, should a crisis arise, e.g. no driver for our minibus. The groups are run on similar lines to Queens Court but they are able to arrange an occasional lunch out, which they and I might add the staff as well thoroughly enjoy these outings.

The groups have always been supported by volunteers, both helping at the groups and driving our minibus. Unfortunately due to changing times, we are not finding it very easy to get drivers, but we have now been able to recruit Gloria who drives the Social Service bus the rest of the week, she now drives Thursdays and sometimes on Fridays, if either of our staff members who drive the bus are not available. We are very fortunate to have two very good volunteers on Friday, Freda and Doreen who are worth their weight in gold - these ladies have been connected with the Outreach groups for many years.

This I hope will give you an insight into the Outreach groups, but you would be very welcome to pop in and see us - you might like to join in a game of bingo.

It seems a long time ago since the Church Anniversary in May and even my feet have recovered from the "Preachers Walk" which Martin Holmes and myself undertook. Martin as you will be aware is the son of Mavis (our inspirational preacher for the day) and the late Rev Ralph Holmes who many of us remember fondly.

Our walk of about 22 miles started from Peak Dale at 7:45am and ended at our church in time for a proper "Fairfield Tea". Of course in the meantime while the ladies were preparing for tea Martin and myself were being challenged by the hills and dales of the High Peak, Derbyshire Dales and Staffordshire Moorland. The route was to take in all our circuit churches the first stop being Flagg. Well we got there all right having met a couple of my friends going in the opposite direction and saying "hello" to a number of runners who were involved in a 20 Mile run. It was an extremely hot day and to those of us who are folically challenged a hat is a lifesaver.

From Flagg to Monyash and that's where I became aware of my companion Martin's eating problem-he had to eat every 15 minutes or so but he had been aided in this by Eirawen who had provide a pack up with enough food in it for six people (if Martin was not one of them). From Monyash we followed a track up to the Ashbourne Road passing a busy dog show. We passed the "Bull i Thorn" Public House (without stopping) crossing the road and the old rail track into Hurdlow.

From Hurdlow leaving the motorised parachutes behind we left the road cutting across eventually arriving at Earl Sterndale. This was good news for Martin as not only were there people still in Earl Sterndale Chapel to lend Martin scissors to help repair his open blisters but he was also able to top up on his food supply in "the Quiet Woman" Public House. No beer you understand just mars bars and pork pies!! From Earl Sterndale we headed uphill and across the river into Staffordshire and eventually to Hollinsclough. Martin was delighted as we had time to stop and have tea and cakes etc in the Church Hall.

Then on again in the extreme heat of the day uphill again toward Booth Farm and the banger track which we heard before we could see it. As we climbed up again toward the Mines Research we even had time to rescue a lamb which had got its head stuck in a fence, so that was our good deed for the day. Then it was time to lose height and down into Harpur Hill passing Margaret Askey - gardener supreme and down to the Buxton Church and up to Fairfield still having time to get Martin an ice cream on route.

Well it was a really good day with excellent company wonderfully finished off with a super church tea and an inspirational evening service shared with friends from St Peter's and it raised over £500 for the "Roof Fund".

What about doing it again next year-any walking volunteers.

It is our custom to have the hymn numbers in advance of the service in the case of preachers whose choice we are not familiar with. On a recent occasion, number 414 was given as the third hymn. Inspiring words by a modern writer: "What does the Lord require ……. Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God."

However, I found the set tune so strange that an alternative tune must be found. (This often happens, usually with success.) Unfortunately, of the 800 tunes in our hymnbook, (not to mention those in the old Methodist Hymnal!) none had a suitable metre. Relieved that I was not to be at the organ next morning, I passed the list to John, confident that he would know what to do. Even when the metre is the same, the tune itself may not suit the words, and often much research is needed.

John too was dismayed by the strange tune and set about searching for another. Humming different tunes to himself and to Mary, they eventually found one which would just 'do', in spite of the different emphases of the notes, if we all knew how long to hold on to some of the words -"Ah-ah-ah" or "Oh-Oh-Oh." He'd got the tune in his head, but not its number in the hymn book, nor the first line. After much tra-la-ing it made itself known: "Thou God of truth and love."

Having settled on this tune the day before, John sang his suggestion to the stewards in the vestry on Sunday morning, and the five choir members present agreed to do their best with it. We all felt rather apprehensive, however, being an unusually small congregation of 12 including choir and organist.

Two hymns, readings and sermon passed,and the third hymn was announced. John played the agreed tune and we opened our mouths ready for all the "Ah's" and "Oh's, and we never got to sing it! The preacher had announced the fourth hymn, "Number 699, Lord of Creation". A brief confusion followed, after which we sang "Lord of Creation" in good heart. We still don't know whether the omission was an oversight or providential design, but we were spared the trial.

A very big thank you to all who helped in any way with Christian Aid this year. The collectors did a valiant job and Fairfield excelled in raising the highest amount to date which was £775.

Door to door collecting is quite an education and gives an insight into the human psyche not glimpsed anywhere else. Here are some of the reasons for not giving:-

This is after you have fought your way through rusting gates and done yourself in trying to lift some of them. Then there's the letter box when you can find one, sometimes six inches off the floor. Do some people envisage cyclones! The draught excluders are enough to have your fingers part company with your palms.

Door knockers are favourite to alarm the householder, as bells often don't work and ring through a series of Fort Knox doors so you can never hear if they work or not. Thus you end up knocking on doors as you do many others who have neither bell nor knocker.

By the end of the evening of collecting you have skinless knuckles and arms stretched to 20 feet long carrying all the copper and a strained back into the bargain. Having said all that you do meet some lovely people in between and very generous ones too.

The counting of the money which took Edith Stanton and myself a whole day, was not without humour either. In amongst the 3,459 pennies, 2,208 2 penny pieces, 645 5p pieces and a quantity of valueless foreign currency there was a conker, a piece of Indian rubber and 2 Smilie green grocer receipts.

All good fun.

When I was nearing my 5th birthday our family moved house. For three years we had been living in the lodge by the big gates, which were at the drive that led up to the big house at Orient Lodge Farm, Green Fairfield. The reason for the move was because I was due to start school at Fairfield Endowed Infants. My big sister Thelma had already been going to school and every weekday morning she had to cycle on her little two-wheeler, and my mother cycled with her taking me sitting in a seat my Dad made which fitted on to the front of her ladies bicycle. In the afternoon mum and I had to cycle to school again to meet Thelma and we all returned home together. No cars for the school run in those days. My parents decided it was too much for my mum to keep cycling daily with two children, each on a bicycle, and sometimes in very inclement weather. Hence the reason to move nearer to the school.

The house we moved to was No.95, Queen's Road and our neighbours at No 93 were The Wiltons, Margaret and her mother. I remember Margaret was a very pretty young lady with beautiful brown eyes that sparkled. She asked my mum if she would like her to take us to Queen's Road Methodist Sunday School as she attended the church. From then on Margaret took Thelma and me each week to Sunday School and Mr. Matthew Verrill was Superintendent. At the Church we met up with so many people who had an influence on our lives through the 'Tin Chapel' activities. If it had not been for Margaret doing her bit for Jesus Christ, Thelma and I might never have become Methodists or learnt about our Saviour.

Negative influences by Edith Stanton.

When our editor invited us to write about a person who had influenced us, we took it for granted that he meant, "Influenced for good." However, I think it might be useful for me to relate an influence, which was not "for good."

When I was 12, the history teacher at school airily pronounced: "Of course the origin of all religion is man's fear of extinction." My reaction, and perhaps that of others, was "Oh so that's all it is" and as our teacher did not follow it up, I left the matter there. Unfortunately, during my time at school, (I left at 14) no follow up was offered, either in class or morning assembly.

Thereafter, with the arrogance of youth, I nourished my unbelief, and it was many years later before I met up with positive Christian influence. There followed shame at my own behaviour, which could have influenced others negatively.

I feel compulsion to 'own up' to this now, because it is so important that we in our turn do not say anything, albeit unwittingly, which will hinder another's spiritual progress. Incidentally, that is why I have always included, in my prayer in the vestry, the words: "May we never say or do anything which will put a stumbling block in the way of others." I am so conscious that we all influence each other, for good or ill, and it seems to me a daunting responsibility.