Each year people from all over Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire gather for The Two Counties’ Service.
Open to all, this is our opportunity to worship God together, to celebrate and renew the covenants we have with each other, and to learn something about projects that are running between our churches.
Held on a spring Sunday evening we have held this in various churches, though we try to find one that is easily accessible to most people. The service is mostly organised by a local “Churches Together” group and highlights the sort of work they are sharing together as well as areas of concern and interest to us all. Local Christians also have an opportunity to contribute to the worship.
The leaders of our various denominations make this Service a priority and in the course of it publicly reaffirm their own commitment to their personal covenant with each other.
In 2009 year we met on April 26th in the Central Methodist Church in Chesterfield and welcomed the President of the Methodist conference, Revd Stephen Poxon, as our preacher.
In 2010 we are planning a service in Nottingham for Sunday April 18th, 6.30pm. This will be held at Mansfield Road Baptist Church.
Make it a date!
Central Methodist, Chesterfield, venue for the 2009
Two Counties’ Service
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See also
for information about all sorts of events involving Derbyshire Churches throughout the year.
Many thanks to Revd Gordon Webb and the Methodists of Chesterfield who with other local Christians organised the 2009 Two Counties’ service.
Those in Central Methodist church, which was as packed as the programme, heard an address by the Revd Stephen Poxon, current president of the Methodist conference, witnessed drama by young people, heard choir items, and learned about a developing partnership between local churches following on from “Hope 08” activities, and also about the work of Pathways, a local day centre for those who are either homeless or rootless.
(Pathways provides support, advice and refuge for homeless and rootless people and those with no fixed abode in Chesterfield and the surrounding area. It works in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors and supports those who are disadvantaged or suffering from a variety of physical, social and emotional needs.)
There was as always also a chance to witness the regional Church Leaders
renew their Covenant and for all present to follow their example by putting their names to our covenant for all churches and Christians in the two counties.
An offering taken on the night amounted to £703.35 and was divided between Pathways and Ashgate Hospice.
The Derby Diocese would like to invite you and members of your church to be actively involved with the “Faith & Football” event taking place on the 28th November at Derby County Football Club. Come and watch Derby take on Reading and then join us in the Pedigree Suite for a light food and drinks reception and hear a short, interesting and engaging talk, from Steve Miles, on why we should be considering God, especially as the Christmas season approaches. Steve has worked with professional footballers for many years on behalf of Christians in Sport and has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share in a light-hearted, engaging manner. For those who book early, there is the exciting opportunity to have a tour of the stadium which will include walking down the tunnel to the pitch and seeing the changing rooms before the big match.
This event will be a fantastic chance to build stronger links within our local church communities as well as be a lovely day out for all people of all ages. We would like to encourage you and your church family to be thinking and praying about who you could invite along to this wonderful opportunity to hear the Gospel and watch a top football match. Perhaps there is someone you know who wouldn’t normally step foot into a church but would be interested in this? Or maybe this event will serve as an excellent pre-runner to inviting a non-Christian to one of your Christmas Services? Or perhaps there are people you would like to get to know better in your church and the football match would be helpful in building up relationships in Christ? We want to encourage you to use this once in a lifetime event to bring your non-Christian friends to, not to use it as a day out for the church family. Please be carefully praying about who you could be asking.
Tickets for the event are being sold at £35 for two tickets. If after your initial purchase of two tickets you need a single ticket, this is available at £17.50. As well as this, there are concessions for under 21s and over 60s and reduced prices for those who are season ticket holders. To book your tickets or for further information on the prices please contact Tony Lamour on 01332 667598 .
We really look forward to meeting you on the 28th!
Faith& Football
28th Nov 2009