Photograph taken from Powlson’s lounge on 11th October 2021. Can you pick out Middleton Top Engine House Chimney?

Our next Wednesday Get Together will be held online via zoom at 7.30pm on Wednesday 20th October and will be led by Brian Heeley.
The theme is “How do you see Jesus?”
We shall be thinking about what that question can mean and looking at
Paul’s letter to the Colossians, chapter 1, verses 15-20.
We don’t think Paul ever saw Jesus in the flesh, so what is he saying to
us? What do you think? Do come and join in the conversation.

Our Weekly Prayer Meeting is now held on Monday mornings at 9.30am online via zoom. This is a short time of prayer when we think of the church and other items of concern to us. All are welcome to join at this very special time.

“Show and Tell” was our Wednesday night Get Together (6th October). It was a pleasant evening when members shared various items saying a few words as to why particular items were special to them. They were all equally fascinating, and it was a joy to hear and share why the items had been chosen and meant so much to them. Our next Wednesday Get Together will be on Wednesday 20th 7.30pm when the Bible Study will be led by Brian Heeley. We look forward to being together again on a Wednesday evening.

This event will take place in The Maltings, St Mary’s Gate, Wirksworth on the morning of Saturday. It is a great opportunity for Wirksworth churches and other groups to offer ideas, information and practical measures as to ways in which we as individuals and a community can help to counter the desperate climate crisis situation. You are invited to come along and suport the Eco Fayre.

Our Harvest Thanksgiving and Communion Service will be held on Sunday 3rd October at 10am and will be led by our Minister. This year the charity our donations will be sent to “Open Doors” which supports persecuted people who wish to follow the Christian faith.

URC at 50 : Worship Resources Competition
To celebrate the URC’s 50th Anniversary, choirs, bands, individuals, songwriters, composers and poets are invited to submit an entry into the URC at 50 :Worship Resources Competition.
There are four categories in which you can enter:
traditional hymn/song poem contemporary hymn/song rap
Judges will select a winner from each category. Winning entreis will be included in a digital version of the URC at 50 resource pack for local churches for them to use in jubilee celebrations and/or Sunday services.

Judging schedule
The closing date for entries is 8th April 2022 Judges will access each entry in May 2022
Winners will be informed in June 2022.
Winners will be publicly announced at General Assembly in July 2022, at which the songs, or recordings, will be performed/played/sung.
The winnning entries will be recorded and/or filme in July 2022 for sharing online.

Criteria
To enter, you must be a member or active adherent of a URC or a URC local ecumenical partnership, or URC Youth.
Entries can be new lyrics submitted to existing music within the public domain.
Entries must have a jubilee/URC at 50 anniversary theme and be suitable for use in collective worship.
Musical entries to new tunes must include lyrics plus musical score (PDF or JPG) and/or an audio recording (MP3 orMP4). The competition is open to people of any age.
One entry per person/group. Submit entries to: mission@urc.org.uk

Prizes – Winning entries will be played/performed at General Assembly in the Jubilee year. Winners will be awarded a commemeorative trophy. Winning entries willbe included in a URC at 50 resources pack for local churches for them to use in local jubilee celebrations and/or Sunday services.

Our Service on the 19th September at 10am will be a “Songs of Praise” when favourite hymns chosen by the congregation will be sung. Ian Wright, our Church Secretary, will be leading the service and a warm welcome is given to all to join us in worship and fellowship.

The renovation work to our organ has now been completed by T W Fearn, Organ Builders, and we are pleased that this coming Sunday it will be played to accompany the service which will be led by Mr John New (22nd August 2021). Social distancing, wearing masks etc will still be in place.

2021 August 15th Terry Lemon