Events History (9)




	Thursday Fellowship: On the first Thursday of the month a group of members and friends meet for a social programme which covers a wide variety of interests from indoor games or visiting speakers to mystery trips and meals out.

BONFIRE PARTY

The weather started out with a shower but within a short time of everyone assembling at Melanie and Andy’s for our second annual bonfire party the rain disappeared and everyone, the young and the not so young, enjoyed the bonfire the food and the fireworks.

After the the very large bonfire was lit everyone tucked into mulled wine, hot potatoes, hot dogs, mushy peas, parkin and bonfire toffee. Appetites filled the fireworks started and everyone “oohed” and “ahhed” at the fabulous show of colour and noise.

All to soon the fireworks were over, the bonfire was just a show of red embers and the food was all gone and we all made our seperate ways home to wait for Bonfire Night 2005.

Thanks again to the Piersons for sharing their home and organising another fabulous bonfire party.








	HARVEST CELEBRATIONS The 2004 harvest was celebrated at the Methodist Church with two memorable services and a harvest supper. Reverend Tony de Bolz led our traditional harvest thanksgiving service on the Sunday morning. The service was supported by some excellent multi media presentations. Our junior church members JIGS & SIGS having brought their harvest gifts were then presented with their annual prizes. Reverend Tony gave thanks to all those working with our young people. A number of our worship leaders and congregation took part with readings, prayers and discussions on items they had brought along which illustrated the harvest of their own lives The Sunday night’s praise service based on “Celebration of Creation”. saw our covenanted churches members joining us for a memorable act of lively worship. Our many musicians, from the not so young to the young, provided a moving musical support to the wonderful hymns sung by the enthusiastic congregation. Thanks to Leslie and Ian Tooley for their hard work in transposing, training and leading the music, to Leslie for her lovely solo and to all the musicians for their skill and hard work. The service ended with everyone committing to do it again and soon. On Tuesday morning all our harvest produce and gifts were collected by the Derby Padley Centre for use for the homeless in that area. Tuesday evening saw the church family harvest supper take place in the church hall. As always, our faith supper brought the supply of lots of mouth watering food, savoury and sweet, and everyone was able to tuck in and fill up. Sheila, Chris and Joyce provided us with drinks. After supper our own Festival Singers provided the entertainment with six musical items ranging from ”What a Wonderful World” to “The Mull of Kyntire”. Their new mascot was introduced with a surprise solo (Watch this space for more surprise appearances). Thanks to Melanie Pierson the singer’s conductor and musical director. Reverend Tony closed our special evening with thanks to all those who had been involved followed by closing prayers. Our harvest at West Hallam was not only a time of thanks for receiving God’s gifts but also a time of giving as well.

Welcome to the New Methodist Superintendent

Minister and his Family

We welcome Rev Tony de Boltz, and his wife Fiona and daughter Samantha to the Erewash Valley Methodist Circuit and in particular to West Hallam. They will be living in the new manse on High Lane West. I know they will be made to feel very welcome and we look forward to their Ministry.

When Tony’s appointment was made it was to head up the team of four ministers in his Superintendency covering the twelve churches of the Erewash Valley Circuit and to have pastoral charge of the local churches, West Hallam, Stanley and the United Church at Stanley Common. However in the mean time the shortage of Methodist Ministers has meant that the Rev Mike Redshaw who was stationed in the Heanor Section has been withdrawn to serve as Superintendent Minister of the Ripley Circuit. This now means that for his first year at least Rev Tony will have the overall care of both West Hallam and Heanor sections (six churches). The Circuit has appointed Fiona as a Pastoral Lay Worker for 20 hours a week and will be providing further lay support to work in the churches, help with worship, administration etc. .


	Look out for Tony, Fiona and Samantha around the village and make them welcome – and particularly remember them in your prayers