In addition to all the alarming business going on at church this week (servicing the burglar alarm and fitting a new fire alarm), other things are going on behind the scenes.
Plans for the Dearne Community Arts’ Festival are moving with a swiftness I’ve not often encountered in planning events! This event will take place on Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd September from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Dearne Playhouse (by the doctor’s surgery in Goldthorpe on Washington Road.) It’s hoped that this festival will combine exhibitions of local artistic talent (in any creative form such as painting, drawing, photography, crafts, knitting, sewing, crocheting, embroidery, woodwork, metalwork, flower-arranging, cake-decorating etc.) with performing arts running on stage (Thurnscoe Male Voice Choir will be taking part, and Julie Medlam from Dearne Playhouse is working on dance, drama and singing slots, as well as running a workshop for under-18s in the performing arts on Thursday 24th August) and workshops and demonstrations taking place in the building throughout the event. Examples so far of things being suggested are the use of arts through technology (using 3D printers, for example) as well as having a display of model aircraft flying outside!
We are keen for local residents and groups to be involved in the festival. You can choose to exhibit one item or more, or offer your skills in whatever area of creativity you are gifted in! However, we do need to know what is on offer by 24th March so that we can plan where everything will go and organise a programme of events on stage. Please do let us know what you would like to do. The festival will only be a success if local people get involved and demonstrate to the wider world that the Dearne area is a place where we want to champion creativity and celebrate community.
Other news involves dedication services on 19th February at 10.30 a.m. (for Oliver Burgin) and on 19th March at 6 p.m. (for Esther Turner). Please pray for both these services and ask God to bless these children and their families. Because of the dedication service on 19th February, there will be no communion service that morning. There will also be a funeral service on Friday 24th February at 1.45 p.m.
Don’t forget also the Christian Institute meeting at Doncaster Evangelical Church on Beckett Road, Wheatley, in Doncaster on Wednesday 1st March at 7.30 p.m. The Christian Institute looks at how we can bring a Christian influence to an increasingly secular society and campaigns on behalf of Christians in the workplace, schools, the judiciary and government.
Finally, the Women’s World Day of Prayer will be on Friday 3rd March at the parish church in Goldthorpe on Lockwood Road. Time to be confirmed, but it is likely to be in the afternoon. In the evening, those going on the India mission trip will be meeting together to pray and plan, so do pray for this as well – it’s not that long now until the eight of us go to India and we are very excited!