St Peter's Parish, Belper, Derbyshire

Jesus at the centre transforming our community

Home Groups paused for now but read below for a new 'Zoom' Home Group.

St Mark’s Home Group

A ‘Zoom’ Home Group starts Wednesday 15th July.  This will be for the three St Mark’s Home Groups combining during Covid restrictions, but new members are welcome.  It will start at 7.30 pm amd its duration is yet to be decided.

Details will follow but you can get more information from Charles Beresford (01773 826519 or 07722 855960)



The Three Churches in the parish of St Peter's Belper         (St Peter's, St Swithun's and St Mark's) 

would like to introduce you to their fellowship groups.

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        St Mark’s Afternoon Home Group                                         Leader: Brenda Bocock  

Monday afternoons 2.00 pm, fortnightly.

Our small but dynamic Monday home group meets fortnightly at St Mark’s on Mondays at 2:00 pm.

Our leader Brenda Bocock, firstly invited us into her home, then later after our Church was modified, we decided it would be good to hold our Bible meetings in St Mark’s Church.

We are a very informal group and sometimes become side-tracked from our study, but we all enjoy our Bible discussions and would welcome anyone wishing to join us, so if you are interested let us know or phone me, Richard on 07572 025098.

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 Sue's Home Group - Leader:  Sue Brice

Monday evenings 7.30 pm, fortnightly

Our home group meets fortnightly on Monday evenings at 7.30 at the home of Angela Bennett.

What is lacking in quantity, we hope is more than made up for in quality! Most of the leading and preparation has been done by Sue, but not exclusively. The main theme has been followed each week and generally the format has been a presentation of the subject, some readings - not only from the Bible but from other sources as well, a discussion (often quite lively) followed by a period of reflection. Prayers and then the Grace is shared to conclude the meeting.

New members would be very welcome. 

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 'Tuesdays@10' Group - Shared Leadership contact Kate Gough 

2nd, 3rd and 4th Tuesdays in the month 10.00 am in St Peter's west end

Our Tuesday morning group has continued in the same pattern, starting at approximately 10.00 am and finishing by 11.30 am at St Peter’s. We begin with tea or coffee and chat, and then get down to study and discussion, usually following a Christian topic or theme from a Scripture Union source book.

A few of us generally take turns to lead the study but everyone usually contributes and we all try to encourage and support each other, and respect each other’s opinions and different views. Although our themes are generally quite serious, discussion is always tempered with light-heartedness and humour, concluding with prayer and the occasional hymn.

Our numbers fell slightly last autumn due mainly to health reasons, but since Christmas we have gained several new members who have added to the vitality and strength of our present group.

Do come along and join us – you will be very welcome!

Una Hawksworth

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                   St Mark's Tuesday Home Group -                        Leader: Yvonne Sewter

Wednesday evenings 7.00 pm, weekly.

We meet at the home of Wilf and Dorothy Hunt on a Wednesday night at 7 pm. We now have tea and biscuits served after our studying thanks to Dorothy. We finish around 8.30 pm.

We are again growing in numbers as well as fellowship. We have a very happy time whilst studying God’s word.

New members are always welcome.

 Yvonne Sewter

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Creative Bible Study - Leader: Dinah Dawson

Wednesday mornings 9.30 am, 4th Wednesday monthly,                at St Swithun's

What is Creative Bible Study? What do we do?Creative Bible Study

We read one or two linked passages from the Bible, and discuss how the passage can be visualised or imagined through sound, symbol, colour, and interpreted in word, music, picture or sculpture. Before Christmas we held a ‘Creative Christmas’ morning, and there are plans to have a ‘Creative Easter’. Information has been given out to Churches Together in Belper, but at the moment it is attended mainly by our parish people. Examples of what we create are often featured in 'Three In One' magazine. We meet once a month at St Swithun's Church. Fliers are available in all our three churches.

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Pond Road Group - Shared leadership 

 Wednesday evenings fortnightly at 6.30 pm   

Our home group meets fortnightly on a Wednesday evening at 6.30 pm and is successfully hosted by Janet McGinty.

 We often get side-tracked and there is lots of laughter but above all we aim to provide support and comfort for one another. We always end with worship songs and prayers; furthermore, we are fortunate in that one new member brings along her guitar to accompany our singing. 

 We would very much welcome any new members who wish to come along. 

Ann Evans

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Older Young People’s Home Group... Meet & Eat! We do exactly what it says on the tin.

Leaders:  Steve & Jo Richardson

 Wednesday evenings 7.00 pm, fortnightly. 

After being challenged at Lee Abbey in the summer of 2015 to 'create community' we decided to change the way we ran the home group for the older members (and ex-members) of YPF (Young People's Fellowship). Since that time we have been hosting a fortnightly 'meet and eat' group which does exactly what it says on the tin ... we meet, catch up, share stories, eat food, and have fun. These times are based on the simple principle that sharing food and offering hospitality is the best way of creating community. There are numerous examples in the Gospels of Jesus himself taking the time to eat with others ... from disciples to tax collectors and we are trying in some small way to reflect His practice and learn from His example.

 We have also been inspired by the promises made by the members of the Scargill Community in Yorkshire who say:

"I shall do my very best to strengthen my community through kindness and love, welcome visitors and strangers as I would welcome Jesus, give and receive lots of treats - and laugh often".

We pray that with God's help this group will continue to share, eat and laugh together.

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                          Hardys' Home Group -                              Leaders:  Anne & Andrew Hardy 

Wednesday evenings 7.30 pm, weekly.    

A typical meeting of this group includes Bible study, worship and prayer.  The Bible study uses material from a wide range of sources and is designed to be suitable for both new and mature Christians.

We feel that meeting together has achieved:

 ·         a closeness of fellowship that could never occur in the wider circle. 

·         a place where things can be shared, help offered and relationships               developed.

·         seeing prayers answered.

·         considering concerns and current issues in a Christian context.

·         learning what the Bible has to teach us.

We meet at our home every Wednesday except for weeks that include a Bank Holiday and the whole group would be delighted to welcome new members.  If you would like to know more, please do not hesitate to ask.

Mission interests include Open Doors, Care for the Family and the Church of South India

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Glen View Group - Shared Leadership - contact Philip Thomas  824149

Thursday afternoons

We meet for Bible study and fellowship, usually on Thursday afternoons, though we are willing to change days to suit our members’ diaries. Normally we catch up with our news over refreshments first, then we study together and close with prayer. We are continually amazed and thankful for the ideas, inspiration and enlightenments we feel we receive together, even from Bible passages we think we know very well!    

If you would like to join us, you will be truly welcome.


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                      St Mark’s Evening Home Group                         - Leader: Rev. Charles Beresford  

Wednesday evenings 7.30 pm, fortnightly.

The Evening Home Group meets on Wednesdays fortnightly at 7.30 pm (to about 9 pm).  It’s a lovely group of people who study, discuss and socialize together with a smile! 

We always have an eye on what we need to learn and rejoice in as we seek to help God’s Church to grow in Openwoodgate and the wider St Peter’s Parish. 

The Group normally meets at Geoff and Kay’s home where we enjoy great hospitality and encourage one another.  We can always squeeze in new members – please ask and join us!                                                    

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 Dovedale Group 

Thursday evenings 7.30 pm: Alternate weeks (weekly in Lent)

We are a Group of nine who usually meet fortnightly at 7.30 pm on Thursday evening, except during Lent and when we take part in the Parish Lent course, when we meet weekly.

We have a varied programme which we plan at informal meetings at the beginning of January and July. We have drinks and eats, whilst we plan a programme for the next six months.  Bible Study or listening to and discussing the topic on the CD UCB Word for Today are mixed with evenings of poetry, a quiz, visiting speaker, a visit to another church, games evening, talks and film shows on a holiday to Iona and one to Greenbelt. We weren’t able to fit in a craft evening last year.  We have been rounding off the year by attending the Carol Service held at St Swithun's on a Thursday evening in December.

Drinks and biscuits after the meeting accompanied by lots of talk putting the world to rights.  We then quieten down to finish the evening with Compline.

                                                                                                                         

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Post Confirmation Home Group

This group met fortnightly on Thursday evenings on a termly basis during 2018 and looked at some of the parables of Jesus, and at some of His “I am” sayings in John’s Gospel. Just before Christmas 2018 they spent a wonderfully self-indulgent evening looking at some of the fabulous passages in Isaiah which look forward to the birth of the Messiah.

They are a very varied bunch – some quite new to the faith, others less so - but enjoy their times together and have usually found something to challenge or encourage us – sometimes both!

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  Home groups are often places where faith is           deepened and where real issues can be                discussed in a safe and accepting way.

If you would like more information or would like to join a group or help in any way please contact the Parish Office 

Tel: 01773 828772