Items filtered by date: December 2015

On Mondays through Lent, +Libby and +Malcolm are hosting online forums to reflect together on the gospel readings set for the principal service of the previous Sunday.

Lent 3 Reflection - Monday, 4 March 2024

It continues to be a privilege to gather on Monday mornings and evenings with colleagues, lay and ordained, from across the diocese to study and reflect on the gospel readings set for the previous Sunday.

We moved from Mark’s gospel to John for the 3^rd Sunday of Lent. In John’s gospel we recognised that the entirety of Jesus’ ministry is an integrated whole. Even this early teaching, his public ministry and first ‘signs’ directly connect to his passion, crucifixion and resurrection to come. What’s more, all of Jesus ministry arises from Passover as the fulfilment of God’s saving work for all humanity.

We realised in this passage the challenge that we exercise tyranny as well as suffer tyranny. That means the presence of God is not always easy or reassuring to us.

We noticed in the gospel passage, that the disciples remember inherited teaching to understand Jesus better in the aftermath of this occasion. The perspective of a long view enabled them to make better sense of current events. We recognised that again in the commentary that after the resurrection they remember this teaching to understand Jesus better then too. We were encouraged in our own stumbling and evolving understandings of Jesus in reading that it was only after his death and resurrection the disciples, even though they were with him in the moment, began to understand, in retrospect, with hindsight what Jesus meant by ‘this temple’.

We spoke of wanting to connect the disciples experience to our own experience of coming to scripture. We considered how we might encounter Jesus’ life and teaching as if for the first time to discover how to proclaim afresh in this generation the good news of the Kingdom.

We wondered where is ‘gentle Jesus, meek and mild’ in this passage? We recalled the John Bell song, with the words:

Jesus Christ is raging, raging in the streets, where injustice spirals and real hope retreats. Listen, Lord Jesus, I am angry too. In the Kingdom's causes let me rage with you. 
John L. Bell and Graham Maule © 1988 Wild Goose Resource Group, The Iona Community, Glasgow G51 3UU

We found hope in the word’ overturned’ as it suggests that is nothing beyond Jesus’ intervention and transformation. We asked ourselves, therefore, what are the injustices that Jesus would ‘overturn’ today?

We further wondered what is the ‘clutter’, the accumulation of stuff or practice (even that with good intention) that separates us and others from God, that requires Jesus to clear out? It seemed that all the readings (not only this set gospel) of the 3rd Sunday of Lent came together around a theme of not being distracted from God and the need to keep God at the centre. We saw that in the 10 commandments offering framework to keep God’s people’s attention on God and in in Paul’s writing about both the foolishness of world and the trappings of religion distracting us from God.

If Jesus overturned the currency of the temple, it was to replace it with the currency of Kingdom, which is love. We were struck by the evocative language of this passage. In the graphic description we can almost hear the coins scattering, clinking, rolling across the floor. Jesus was pouring away the currency of coins that belong to a regime that took people away from God to replace with the currency of God’s Kingdom values.

John 2.13-25

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’

His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body.

After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.

More than 60 people working to reduce carbon emissions across the Church of England gathered in Gloucester for the first time to share ideas and learnings.

A two-day Net Zero Carbon Connect Conference, sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance, part of the Benefact Group, was held to gather and connect colleagues from 35 dioceses plus other denominations to share expertise on the Net Zero Carbon Programme.

Gareth Greenwood, Church Buildings Support Officer from The Diocese of Derby attended the event. He said: “There was a lot of energy and expertise at the conference, also a good deal of appreciation of the size of the task of reaching Net Zero by 2030.  The Church Commissioners have committed funding to resource net zero projects across all the (CofE) Diocese. This is not a time for scepticism, but a time to work together for the good of the planet.”

The Church of England’s ambitious Net Zero Carbon by 2030 programme aims to equip, resource, and support all parts of the Church to reduce carbon emissions from the energy used in its buildings, schools and through work-related transport by 2030.

Find out more:

>> Diocese of Derby website

>> Church of England website

28 March 2024

The Revd Aron Donaldson, previously Assistant Curate of The Corby Glen Parishes, Diocese of Lincon, will be licensed as Hospital Chaplain at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, within the Diocese of Derby, on Tuesday, 9 April 2024 at 5pm in the Bishop’s Chapel Duffield by the Bishop of Derby.

The Revd Margaret Slyfield’s licensing as Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) in the parishes of Chelmorton, Earl Sterndale and Taddington, within the benefice of The White Peak Group, Diocese of Derby, was postponed from Sunday, 14 January 2024. Margaret was licensed on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 at Repton House by the Bishop of Repton.

21 March 2024

The Revd Richard (Dick) Dove, Assistant Curate (Deanery Interim Minister-SSM) of the former deanery of Chesterfield (now part of North East Derbyshire), Diocese of Derby, has announced his retirement. Dick’s last day in post will be Monday, 1 April 2024, with his retirement taking effect from Tuesday, 2 April 2024.

The Revd John (Howard) Robson will be licensed as Priest-in-Charge of Fairfield, Peak Forest and Dove Holes, Diocese of Derby, on Friday, 24 May 2024 at 7.00 pm at St Peter’s Fairfield by the Bishop of Derby assisted by the Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales.

The Revd Alan Winfield, Assistant Curate (SSM) of Melbourne, Smisby, Stanton-by-Bridge and Ticknall, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of the same benefice.

14 March 2024

The Revd Michael (Mike) Gilbert, Rector of Baslow and Eyam and Area Dean of Peak, Diocese of Derby, will resign as Area Dean of Peak on Sunday, 31 March 2024.

The Revd Dr David Mundy, Priest-in-Charge of Glossop, Diocese of Derby, has also been appointed Acting Area Dean of Peak. David will take up this appointment from Monday, 1 April 2024.

The Revd Emma Mallord, Assistant Curate in Littleover and Blagreaves, Diocese of Derby, has also been appointed Assistant Curate of Findern in the same diocese. Emma will start in her new post on Saturday, 29 June 2024, the day of her priesting at Derby Cathedral.

The Revd Frank Startin, Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-SSM) of Stapenhill Immanuel, Diocese of Derby, has announced his retirement. Frank’s last day in post will be Sunday, 31 March 2024 with his first day of retirement being Monday, 1 April 2024.

7 March 2024

The Revd Adele Barker, interim Priest-in-Charge of the White Peak Group and interim Priest-in-Charge of Youlgreave, Middleton, Stanton-in-Peak and Birchover, Diocese of Derby, has been appointed Chaplain to the Bishop of Derby in the same diocese. Adele will start in post on Wednesday, 1 May 2024, being licensed on Thursday, 9 May 2024 by the Bishop of Derby.

The Revd Sam Mackie, Assistant Curate of Swadlincote and Hartshorne, of Newhall and of Gresley (known as Swadlincote Minster), Diocese of Derby, will transfer their curacy and become Assistant Curate in the East Scarsdale Team Ministry in the same diocese. Sam will be licensed on Tuesday 26th March at 6.30 pm at Repton House by the Bishop of Repton. 

The Diocese of Derby has increased its capacity to support PCCs in maintaining and developing their church buildings.

The diocese has secured national funding for a full-time Church Buildings Support Officer, as well as a minor repairs and improvement grant fund totalling around £144,000, over a two-year period.

The funding will be available to parishes to carry out ‘stitch-in-time’ repairs and improvements.

Additionally, all parishes will be given direct access to ChurchGrant funding search software, via a dedicated microsite.

This will allow parishes to identify sources of funding and each parish can attend training webinars regarding fundraising and grant funds. 

There will also be access to specialist advice via a number of free consultations.

Gareth Greenwood has been appointed to the Church Buildings Support Officer role having previously held the part time role of Community Projects Development Officer.

Gareth will work alongside a tranche of parishes with particular needs, identified by the archdeacons.

Will Hagger, Diocesan Secretary, said: “The Derby Diocesan Board of Finance recognises the financial challenge to our parishes of maintaining church buildings.

This new capacity and grant fund will be hugely welcome allowing us to support parishes with their immediate church repair projects.

“In responding to applications for the new fund, among other things, the financial strength, maintenance planning and degree of deprivation of the building’s community, will be taken into account.”

A Buildings for Mission team is being established within the Parish Support Office, which Gareth Greenwood will lead.

This team will include a number of other new nationally-funded roles with a focus on supporting parishes, bringing together the sustainability of church buildings, care of the environment, and Net Zero Carbon projects, alongside faculty advice and administration and pastoral reorganisation.

Information about the criteria and application process will appear on the diocesan website in due course.

The arsenal of diocesan funding now available to support churches with building projects also includes:

• The Raymond Ross Large Grants Fund, offering parishes the opportunity to develop their local church or church hall. The maximum grant is £25k, with match funding required;
• The Raymond Ross Small Grants Scheme - £5k to enhance welcome, improve accessibility or to make small but much needed changes to internal areas. No match funding is required;
• The Bishop of Derby’s St Peter’s Churchyard Fund, a scheme offering interest-free loans.

Details of these schemes can be found at https://derby.anglican.org/funding.

 Gareth Greenwood has been appointed Church Buildings Support Officer

All services begin at 7.30pm. The doors will be open from 6.45pm for signing of the register. 

Dates and venues for the Visitation Services 2024 are:

Derby City Deanery (Derby City and South Derbyshire Archdeaconry)
Monday, 10 June 2024
Sinfin Moor Church

Hardwick Deanery (East Derbyshire Archdeaconry)
Wednesday, 12 June 2024
St Barnabas, Danesmoor

Dove and Derwent Deanery (Derbyshire Peak and Dales Archdeaconry)
Tuesday, 18 June 2024
St Alkmunds, Duffield

Mercia Deanery (Derby City and South Derbyshire Archdeaconry)
Tuesday, 18 June 2024
St Wystans, Repton

Peak Deanery (Derbyshire Peak and Dales Archdeaconry)
Monday, 24 June 2024
St Peter, Fairfield

Carsington Deanery (Derbyshire Peak and Dales Archdeaconry)
Tuesday, 25 June 2024
All Saints, Brailsford

North East Deanery (East Derbyshire Archdeaconry)
Wednesday, 26 June 2024
St Thomas, Brampton

South East Derbyshire Deanery (East Derbyshire Archdeaconry)
Wednesday, 3 July 2024
St Andrew, Langley Mill

During the service the wardens will be corporately admitted, and the archdeacon will deliver his/her charge.

PLEASE NOTE: To be admitted as a church warden, the relevant paperwork (see 2. below) should be completed and signed AND a Visitation service must be attended. Both are essential elements.

1. Attendance by all elected Churchwardens at a Visitation

There are eight visitation services across the diocese, and it should be possible for a warden to find one which is convenient. Remember, it is possible to attend a service outside the warden’s area but this must be indicated on the form. It is always preferred that they attend in their own deanery, or at least, archdeaconry if that is not possible. 

Any warden who does not attend a visitation service will not be admitted as a churchwarden unless special arrangements are made with the relevant Archdeacon’s PA.

Any such special arrangements will need to have been processed by Friday, 30 August 2024. Please note that if special arrangements are needed, this adds significantly to the DBF costs so please make every effort to attend a visitation service.

The Archdeacons will be available after the service and will be very happy to speak with any wardens (especially those who are taking on the responsibility for the first time). 

>> Download the citation [PDF]

2. Certificate of Election

>> Certificate of Election 2024 [Word]

>> Certificate of Election 2024 [PDF]

>> Visitations 2024: notes for Clergy, PCC secretaries and churchwardens [PDF]

Please print this off and churchwardens should complete this form after the Annual Meeting of Parishioners. Those churches where more than two wardens are elected (e.g. a team parish) should print off and complete additional forms for all their wardens.

The completed form(s) should be returned by email to: Visitations@derby.anglican.org OR by post to: Archdeacons’ Office, Derby Church House, Full Street, Derby, DE1 3DR.

NB: if a Lay Chair is also to be sworn in as churchwarden, it is important that the election of churchwardens is chaired by someone else (e.g. Area Dean, PCC Treasurer or member of the clergy) and that person should complete and sign the section of the certificate directed at the incumbent.

Important - Data Forms

We are aware there are some gaps (and old information) on our CMS system relating to church wardens

This is because the data form has not been completed by every warden, and without this, we cannot include their details on the contact management system.

To ensure we have all warden information up to date on CMS,  we would be extremely grateful if every warden this year could complete and return the data form included in this email, along with their certificate of election. In forthcoming years, this will be applicable to new wardens only’.

>> Diocese of Derby Data Form [PDF]

>> Diocese of Derby Data Form [Word]

See also

» All about APCMs

» Resources for churchwardens

On Mondays through Lent, +Libby and +Malcolm are hosting online forums to reflect together on the gospel readings set for the principal service of the previous Sunday.

Mark 8.31-38
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’

Reflections on the reading from Mark
‘said this all quite openly’, ‘took him aside and began to rebuke him’, ‘called the crows with his disciples and said to them’ - different approaches for different conversations and encounters.
Notice that Peter able to express how he feels clearly – Jesus has created a safe space for questioning and listening, for disagreement as healthy aspect of community.

nb relationship with Peter not undermined (a few days later accompany Jesus at Transfiguration).

Jesus spoke robustly into articulation of misinformation; he broke down tendency towards ‘group think’ and broke open disruptive or damaging discourse in silos or factions = model of Pastoral Principles.

Sometimes see in own circumstances an echo of Peter’s difficulty in accepting situations that don’t match our expectations.

Perhaps Jesus was able to resist temptation to avoid the path to Jerusalem in the context of the community of disciples – so looked to his community to find strength to speak his ‘no’ to Satan.

‘take up your cross’...

Anything that is difficult in life, Anything that I’m disagreed with about
- ‘martyr complex.

But needs to fit with ‘fullness of life’.

Navalny conversion from atheism to Christianity.

Risk of thinking that what we struggle with or that our burdens are doing the work of the cross ie conferring salvation – only Jesus’ death and resurrection has won that.

Nothing we can give to ‘pay for’ our salvation. Jesus making clear, pointing in direction, of what will give life (in all its fullness for eternity) ie his own suffering, death and resurrection.

February 2024 was the lead up to National Self Injury Day on 1st March.  A short definition of self injury - "Self-injury is a coping mechanism. An individual harms their physical self to deal with emotional pain, or to break feelings of numbness by arousing sensation".  Being aware of the signs of self injury, and that it may affect anyone of any age, gender or cultural background is important.  The charity Lifesigns has a web site with lots of information about self injury and support for both those who self injure (sometime referred to as self harm, cutting or deliberate self harm / injury). It can be found here -  www.lifesigns.org.uk  Specifically for those aged 10 - 17 is Alumina (previously selfharmUK), who provide free online support .  Thier website is www.selfharm.co.uk

The 13th March is National Young Carers Day.  This year the theme is for fair futures for all young and young adult carers, as they  struggle to balance caring with education, the cost of living, travelling to a job or to study.  This can have a big impact on whether they can get on at school, go to university, or get a job or an apprenticeship.  The Carers Trust provides support and information to young carers and thier families.  For more information visit their website here: carers.org and for more on the 2024 young carers day see here.

National Stop Child Exploitation Day is on the 18th March.  The National Child Exploitation Awareness Day aims to highlight the issues surrounding Child Exploitation (CE); encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero-tolerance to adults developing inappropriate relationships with children or children exploiting and abusing their peers.  The NWG Charity, who lead this day, and work across the public sector and police forces anfd families to deliver the best outcomes for those affected.  More information on their work and the National Day of Awareness can be found here stop-ce.org

Bishop Libby and Archdeadon Matthew will each spend a night sleeping rough in support of the YMCA's Sleep Easy campaign.

They are among those who aim to raise awareness of the plight of those who have no home to go to, and to raise funds to support efforts that will enable the YMCA to continue its vital services to those who are facing homelessness in Derby City and Derbyshire.

This year, the local event will take place at the home of Derbyshire Cricket Club on Friday, 8 March, and both Bishop Libby and Archdeacon Matthew will be given a cardboard box to use as shelter for the night.

Bishop Libby, who has taken part in previous Sleep Easy events, said: "I am pleased again to be among those supporting this local charity in raising awareness and much needed funds to tackle homelessness and its long-term impacts.

"We may have an uncomfortable night in many ways, but that in itself gives opportunity to reflect on why we are participating, and experience – just for one night – something of what it is like to be sleeping rough.

"Please do participate in Sleep Easy if you can, either by registering to join the event at the Cricket Ground or safely in your local context as Neil is in Wirksworth (see below).

"And please support the work of Derby YMCA and its partners like the Padley Centre by donating through my JustGiving page and raising awareness.

"Together we can support this vital work being done locally, combat the scourge of homelessness, and offer hope to those who find themselves suffering its impacts and consequences”.

Archdeacon Matthew, taking part in his first Sleep Easy, said: "I actually have very little appetite for sleeping under the stars in this way - but that's the whole point, really!

"For me, it's one night and doing it through choice, whereas every night in Derby and Derbyshire, more than 200 hundred individuals who have temporarily found themselves without a place to live, have no choice but to either turn to the YMCA and the Padley Centre, or sleep rough under cardboard."

Archdeacon Matthew will also be posting on Facebook from the cricket ground during the event.

Sleeping in the churchyard

The Revd Neil Griffiths, vicar for the Wirksworth Team Ministry, has also chosen to sleep out for the Sleep Easy campaign.

Before becoming a vicar Neil worked with housing organisations and YMCAs, and longs for a time when no one is homeless or poorly housed.

Neil said: "I will be bedding down in the churchyard at St Mary’s Church in Wirksworth and I hope the weather is as kind as the people who have already donated money."

On Mondays through Lent, +Malcolm and I are hosting online forums to reflect together on the gospel readings set for the principal service of the previous Sunday.

Yesterday we gathered for the first time to study and explore Mark 1. 9-15

We considered the wider context of the passage which is set between a concise introduction to ‘the good news about Jesus the Messiah, Son of God’ that condenses all of God’s work in salvation history into a few verses describing the vocation and ministry of John the Baptiser and a simple narrative of the calling of the first disciples.

We noted that, like all Mark’s gospel, this narrative is distilled into few words but replete with both a driving momentum and profound meaning.

We reflected on Jesus’ growing understanding of his own relationship with the One who calls him ‘Son’ as it is set so explicitly between the prophets and the disciples. And we reflected on his emerging vocation being shaped by that relationship.

We thought about how our individual relationships with God, and our subsequent vocations are transformed, or more fully understood and received, when set in context of relationship with God’s people, those who have gone before us and those who travel with us.

We thought about this passage being read during Lent and what we might learn from it to aid self-examination and penitence.

How does this passage help us to be honest with ourselves and with God?

What can this passage teach us about the times when we are in difficult, ‘wilderness’ places?

We read here that Jesus is called ‘beloved’ but then driven into wilderness. It was not failure or fault that led to wilderness; he was not being punished.

Maybe we are not to interpret such experiences with guilt expect them, and pray that when we do experience then that somehow ‘angels will be with us’ too.

We took comfort from this passage that we need not pretend before God when we find ourselves in places we might not choose to be.

We considered how Jesus met the grace of God in both the highs of the affirmation of his baptism and in the lows of temptation in the wilderness.

We recognised that in both our struggles and our successes the Kingdom of God may come near.

There were some specific phrases we wondered about: what does that mean that the ‘heavens were torn apart’?

What would it feel like to experience such a thing? Why are we told that Jesus was ‘with the wild beasts’?

Are they part of the threat of being tempted by Satan or part of succour of the angels who ‘waited on him’?

We concluded, as the passage itself does, with a yearning to discover and participate in the life of the Kingdom of God.

We returned to where we began our reflections, thankful for the opportunity again through Lent to re-examine the invitation to repent and believe and so share more fully in ‘the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God’.“

First Sunday in Lent: Mark 1.9-15

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.

And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’