October 2003
Littleborough Methodist Circuit “The Lit-borough” Come and grow with us	From the Minister’s Study Moving on by removing self-set limits: Prayer of Jabez “God of Israel…Oh that you would bless me indeed And enlarge my territory…1 Chr.4:10 In his book The Prayer of Jabez, Bruce Wilkinson tells a fable about Mr. Jones who dies and goes to heaven. He finds Peter waiting at the gates to give him a tour. Amid the splendour of golden streets, beautiful mansions, and choirs of angels that Peter shows him, Mr. Jones notices an old looking building, looking like an enormous warehouse, having no windows and only one door. Mr Jones asks to see inside, Peter hesitates, “you really don’t want to see what’s in there”. After the tour Mr Jones insists and Peter relents. On entry Mr Jones finds out that the enormous building is filled with row after row of shelves, floor to ceiling each stacked neatly with boxes tied in red ribbons. Mr Jones finds a white box with his name on of all the blessings that God wanted to give to him while he was on earth but Mr Jones never asked. The moral lesson of this fable is to emphasise two texts in the Bible “ask promised Jesus, and it will be given to you” Mat 7:7 and “you do not have because you do not ask” James 4:2 The Prayer of Jabez has four requests in it for: Lord’s Blessings, extension of his territory, hand and guidance. It is the second request I am highlighting: Extension of territory. This was a bold request for someone who was a nobody in the eyes of most people, this is a request of an ordinary person for bigger vision in their life, a prayer to do and be more than the ordinary. It is a prayer for one to exert and push oneself a little more. This is a request for an ordinary person to achieve extra ordinary things for God. Such a prayer distils God’s power because it is God’s desire always to give us much more than we ever think to ask. Only we limit God’s bounty, not by His resources, power or willingness to give. In this request lies recognition that we are capable of more. Bruce suggests that in contemporary Stock Market language it is a request for the Lord to increase the value of our investment portfolio. A request for God to expand our opportunities and impact in such a way that we touch more lives for his glory, a request to be more and do more for God. In answer to the question: why we do not ask for more? Bruce says “our reluctance comes from getting our numbers right, but our arithmetic completely wrong, where by: my abilities plus experience plus training plus my personality and appearance plus my past plus the experience of others equals my assigned territory”. The correct arithmetic, however, should be “my willingness and weakness plus God’s will and supernatural power equals my expanding territory”. As far as God is concerned, He wants us to be moving out our boundary lines and taking new territory for Him and for his glory. His great commission for 2000 years has not changed, it is always, Go and I will be with you till the end of the mission. What does this mean for us as a circuit? First though the least in connexional terms, it is a challenge for us to move in faith and be more in spite of our size. Secondly, it is a call for us to attempt great things for God. Thirdly it is the realisation that with God nothing is impossible. Fourthly it is quest for not what is but what could be. Fifthly, it is the realisation we are no ordinary people, with God we are extra ordinary. Sixthly it is the recognition that we move in God’s power not our own, for “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” Zechariah 4:6. Seventhly and finally, this is a call to move on from the familiar to the unfamiliar. So in this new Methodist fiscal year 2003/2004 may I urge, exhort and encourage each one of us to make Jabez prayer our personal and corporate prayer: to do and seek to be more for God. Daniel. JMA Last month we finished our JMA year on a cliff-hanger, not knowing who would win the Circuit Shield. All the results are now in and the contribution for the year are as follows:- This means that Dearnley will be presented with the Circuit Shield for collecting the most money in 2003. Well done, our congratulations go to your collectors, we have doubled their total to £573.91 compared with £278.33 last year. Well done also to Smithy Bridge who are runners up, and a special thank you to Greenhill, who continue to support JMA even though they have no children collecting. I mentioned last month that our highest annual total to date is £1933. This years total is £1241.35, itself an increase of £300 on last year. I would like to see us reach £2000. Is it do-able? Are we up to the Challenge? What this space!!!! Win Rawstron A Bedfordshire Dream Suddenly you are walking on a well-made path towards a huge and splendid city gate. As you enter, crowds of people; some you know, some are strangers, cheer you entering. An angel ushers you to a massive open-air throne, and the Lord Jesus welcomes you with open arms. He stands embracing you, giving great comfort and peace. Eventually, you turn to see a long straight and narrow road, stretching into the distance. The Lord looks at it with you, with meticulous care; it is the picture of your life. At the distance beginning there are no monuments or buildings. Through the early years there are few records of kindness and good actions. It suddenly strikes you: there are no accounts of sins….! The true moment of your conversion has a great monument, much more important an event that you ever recognised—there is a carving inside the arch, showing the wonderful angelic celebrations which accompanied that day. Slowly, the Lord goes over later incidents. Together you talk about the omissions the actions and words which should have been there, had you obeyed the Holy Spirit, and there is time for you to repent before they disappear. There are faint notes of times of failure: also to be acknowledged, before they are gone, forever. He lets you see the many events which were successful, and safe, because He angels were protecting you—some, the moments when Satan tried to harm you. Times when you did not know what secret plans God was carrying out, and your walking in the Spirit contributed a priceless piece of the design. As you review your life together there is gratitude, worship, tears and laughter– you had never realized how happy God really is, and how full of laughter. The rewards are given. When the review is over, and all the sad times have faded out of sight, a wonderful anticipation—too wonderful for… Continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before him… 1 John 2:15– 17 DB Wilkinson, Smithy Bridge Chapel
Unity in prayer Please take a minute to relax your mind and humble your heart to focus on Christ. Allow God, to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we take the time read long jokes, stories, etc, we should give the same respect to this prayer. Friends that pray together stay together. Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank you for being able to see and hear this prayer. I am blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day everything I have done, said, or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness, please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. And when this world closes in on me, Let me remember Jesus’ example– to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It’s best response when I’m pushed beyond my limit. I know that when I can’t pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I be a blessing to others. Amen! The Lake Bank Services Many thanks to all who attended the Lake Bank Services this year. We had good weather for which we thank God for, and also we thank all the preachers, music groups that made the services a marvellous occasion. And also, we thank all who prayed for the services, for without prayer, nothing will have succeeded. The last of the Lake Bank Service was led by a group of musician and singers from the Vineyard in Manchester. The service was challenging. At the start of the worship the group leader looked up at grey and sombre clouds and said, “ It looks as though we are to be showered with God’s gift of rain this evening”. The rain never come but as we drove away from the lake the clouds had broken and we beheld the most glorious sunset. On arriving at Hurstead and looking back to the hills behind the lake we saw them batched in a rich red colour. Could it be that God was saying, “There are my own dear children with whom I am pleased?” By give us such a wonderful display of the beauty of the world which He created? Folk News and news around Mrs Annie Greenwood of Hurstead Nursing Home and who worshipped at Dearnley Chapel, will celebrate her 100th Birthday on 20th October 2003, what an achievement! Mrs Greenwood is looking forward to receiving a telegram from the Queen. Dearnley’s oldest member worshipped regularly when she lived at Crawther Court following the death of her beloved husband, Joe who was usually known as “Little borough's Clogger”. She has been a resident at Hurstead Nursing Home for some years and a celebration with her family and friends is planned there. The church family, and the whole Circuit offer sincere congratulations, love and prayers fro a memorable day. Kathleen Hill Pastoral Secretary Circuit News… Paul Monk The Circuit express special thanks to as he joins the Anglican church. We are all very grateful for the work you did in our circuit since you joined the Methodist church. We shall be praying for you and the whole circuit wish you God’s blessings, to you Jo and Mary. Sylvia Wild of Greenhill is one of the three lay people from the Bolton & Rochdale District Elected to attend the Methodist Conference at Loughborough in June 2004. John Carson has been appointed from the Circuit to the District Leadership Team. We congratulate them on these appointments and thank them for their commitment to take on this additional work. Please pray for them regularly that God may sustain and guide them. Margaret Mwailu is now leading worship at churches in the circuit. Her services are well structured and meaningful. Make sure you attend when she visits your church. For those who sometimes have difficulty in following Daniel when he gets excited and his speech becomes more rapid we can confirm that you will have no problem listening to Margaret. She is now talking “Lanky” EE By Gum and Ecky Thump. Who’d a thought it? Please come and support Margaret on her recognition service. Greenhill Our sponsored walk on Saturday 20th September was greatly enjoyed by the eight walkers completing the five miles walk, even the drizzle didn’t dampen our spirits. We returned to a splendid tea prepared by the ladies, which was a time of shared friendship and fellowship a fitting end to a perfect day. Many thanks to all our sponsors and the Sheila, Joan, Jean and Madge for preparing the tea. Children craft Please do continue to pray for our children’s club. We are not giving in. We are re-commencing on Wednesday 15th October, 3:45—5:30 pm Methodist Homes for the Aged (MHA) At total of £229.24 was raised for MHA. Mrs Rene Clarke’s afternoon tea and bring buy sale, a total of £160 was made and through the collection boxes, we managed to collect £69.24. On behalf of the circuit, thank you very much Mrs R Clarke for your hard work you put into the afternoon, also, many thanks for every one who contributed through the collections boxes. Our next big event is on the 1st November. I trust there will be an equally good response. There will be a Circuit coffee morning at Dearnley Chapel. Instead of having the usual bring and buy sale, we will have homemade cakes and preserves stall. This is an early appeal to all the ladies to let me know how you can help. We will need buns, tarts, fruit loaves, scones and anything else, which you would normally bake. For the jam and marmalade makers and even Lemon curd, you will maybe have to start collecting jars now. Please let your church representative be aware of how you are going to help. Ladies & Gentlemen it is up to us to make this coffee morning a success, so let’s show the district what the smallest circuit can do! Finally, on 2nd November, all offering given during the United Circuit will go towards the work if MHA With thanks Sheila Hawkwood Book Aid There is a desperate plea for help from churches and Christian booksellers in book famine areas. These are mainly in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. New and used books, bibles and hymn books without music are needed. These are shipped out, sold at affordable prices and the income used to further literature initiatives. Since Book Aid was founded in 1985- “dedicated to making Christian Literature available to the poor a reality” - seventeen million books have been sent. If you have any books you would care to donate please see Kathleen Hill of Dearnley Chapel. Notice board 1^st October, Wardle Church Council 2^nd October, “Children and Spirituality”:- Kathryn Copsey, a leading Children’s worker, will be visiting the North Lancashire & Bolton & Rochdale District. 6th October, Local Preacher’s Meeting at 5 Greenbank Drive, 7:30 pm 8^th October, Greenhill Church Council@ 7:30 pm 10th October, recognition service for Margaret Mwailu, at Dearnley Chapel, 7:30 pm, the speaker will be Rev Dr Stuart Burgess, chairman of York and Hull District, also, former President of the Methodist Conference, 1999—2000 15th October, Network afternoon meeting at Smithy Bridge, at 2:30 pm. The speaker will be Mr Graham Womersley from Sheffield. Graham and his wife are the Regional Representatives of Open Doors (serving persecuted Christians World Wide) The meeting will be followed by afternoon tea. Please support if you can, more details from Pearl Goodwin 15^th October Dearnley Church Council @7:30 pm 29^thOctober, Smithy Bridge Church Council @7:30 pm 30^th October, Smallbridge Church Council @ 7:30 pm Advance Notices Methodist Homes for the Aged (MHA) 1st November coffee morning at Dearnley. Please contact Sheila Hawkwood for more details 7th November, Local Preachers’ 25 Years, Recognition service for Carole Forsyth at Dearnley Chapel, at 7:30 pm. The preacher will be Rev Keith Garner, Chairman of Bolton and Rochdale District.
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