Space with the family

What a fantastic place northumberland is, we all ended up in a caravan in berrick.
we met joshua's school mate, visited a roman site, hadrians wall and spent a whole day where the sun came out at Holy island. we purposeley spent the time on the island when the tide came up so we were stranded on the island for 5 hours.

this was all last minute, we booked it thursday before we went.

Festivals Galore

Its festival time in Langsett....

23rd June - ruskin festival - Have joint site with st mary's ans St Stephen's in a chill out tent, with prayer stations and a tent to create a sculpture from recycled waste...

13-15th july LOOKING FOR ALL BUDING ARTISTS to show your work at the srts and flower festival at St Bart's. Full praise event on the satuday. Links with local schol, shops and community.

22nd August Langsetty fun day - full on family festival......

The BIG 40!!!!!!! on Sat

Where do the years go( the Pint was for effect),the big 40 on Sat, i would like to thank the Lord for all the blessing he has given in my life

• A brilliant Wife - Gina


• 2 gorgeous Children( well i would say that)


• Brilliant family who support me in London- both sides


• A fantastic supporting church in London - St Johns


• Church Army - who have trained me to what i love doing - chating and making friends


• St Bart's church who put up with me and give me the freedom to explore new ways of being church.


• A house and thim to spend with my Family


• Brilliant friends and family


• A vocation i cant believe i get paid to do.

Pray for Jack aged 11

Jack, one of the Boys in the school i work in, was involved in a car accident and is in intensive care. He is still critical. Please could you send up a few prayers for his family and the school.

Good friday - Walk of witness

Our 2nd walk of witness , this year was led by Bishop Cyril. We had some 90 people there. We started at St Bart's, where the salvation army led us in our first song. We then walked to the Salvation Army, had a short time of prayer and another song. We then walked to the healthy living centre and did the same. We finished at St Stephen's with a short address by the bish and hot cross bunbs and drinks. It was a lovely day. It was good to remember the journy of Christ with others and try to understand what Jesus did for us.

Living Water flows in a Langsett pub in the run-up to Easter

For many people Easter is all about Easter eggs and treats, but over the Easter period, We made Easter relevant to the community with a special Holy Week event at the local pub. Opening with a pie and pea supper, the event centred around one simple discussion: Do we need the church?, raised questions about the relevance of Christianity in the 21st century. The Bishop of Doncaster, the Rt Revd Cyril Ashton was a special guest at the event which took place at the Hillsborough Hotel and saw some 30 or so locals (both churched and un-churched) turn up to voice their opinion, take part in the engaging discussion and have a sip of the 'Living Water' beer specially brewed by the hotel landlord for the occasion.

Sheffield Today - Bishop gives his blessing to Living Water

Sheffield Today - Bishop gives his blessing to Living Water

The Bishop is with us .....

During holyweek we have Cyril, the Bishop of Doncaster with us.
the programme
Monday 2nd April 7pm - reflection
Tuesday 3rd April 7pm - The turin Shroud - a viewpoint of a scientific christian
Wednesday 4th April 7pm - Debate in Hillsborogh hotel with Bishop and 2 local councillors on
"DO WE NEED THE CHURCH" with a pea and pie supper.
The hotel has prepared a special beer for the evening -
"LIVING WATER"
Thursday 5th April 7pm - Passover Meal
Friday 6th APril 10am - Walk of witness from St Bart's to St Stephens.
Sunday 8th April 6AM - sunrise service and cooked breckfast

1st Family Movie night - the Incredibles

We converted the church into a cinema and showed the Incredibles. The church folk turned up, but the families that we were expecting were waltching the new series of "Dr Who". At least they told us they would not be there. . Its a monthly thing so wewill see how it goes. The ones that were there all enjoyed the film and the home made popcorn.

What has" Star Wars" got to do with Easter?

This Lent we have decided to have a lent course with a difference. we will be watching star wars and discussing the followig subjects:
5th March Why are we here?
12th March Relationships
19th MArch Community
26th March Out of this World?

The church is going to be set up as a cinema, people on the night with be greeted with a drink. Hopefully the people will have a relaxed evening enjoing film and other people discussions.

building Snowmen ..being a kid again

Wow i cant rememberthe last time i had so much fun in the snow. We all as a family spent the afternoon at Rivlin Valley. We went for a walk and the built snow men. Genesia and Josh were in their element, well so was i. Being a kid again was great. What was extra special was that Gina's mum was able to come with us. To top it off we went to the pudding ladies for lunch.

24 hours with the Bishops

Spending 24 hours with all the ministers in the deaners with the Bishops was an experience and a half.

Time was spent discussion how mission can be done around the parish and deanery. It was good working out ways to work on building the kingdom. Bishop Jack finished the session with a space to work out our Vision for our voccation. This helped me work out what i find fires me up and what drains me. The key thing that fires me up is people, spending time with people talking about life. I am definatly a person who works with the ordinary peopson on the street.

How are we as ministers fed........

It hit me hard that if we as ministers of the Gospel are to keep worship and disipleship alive we need to ensure that we are also fed. The only problem i found was that all the services round here are on Sunday Morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So when our neighboring parish changed its service to 4pm as a one off, we all went along as a family , and as i thought, i worship Jesus and got fed.

This brought up 2 issues

Is Church for Christians only!!! as if services were at a different time would all churches be full of the same people?

Would more churches be full if they were at a different time as we would promote them as they would not be in competition!!

i now seek another place to be fed.

The bread of life......

Martin was struck down with a bug and i was asked to lead the service. It was communion, and i cannot do that.........
I must have phoned loads of people to help me do agape without breaking the rules, with no avail.
It was Rob my vicar from down south that i got hold of who gave me a framework that i could use.
The service was fantastic, as we in the congregation all took part. As i read John 6 to remember Jesus as the bread of life. Debbie broke bread and we all took bread from the bowl, handed out by the children , held it up and said "bread of life"

"I am the bread of life," Jesus told them. "Those who come to me will never be hungry; those who believe in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

St Bart's the next step for Martin

What a fantastic evening, Martin our Baptist pastor, is now an Anglican Deacon. Bishop Cyril made it a special evening. It was also his 7 year anniversary of becoming a Bishop. The sermon was spot on. At one point Martin was asked to lay prostate on the floor - i was thinking "come on this is the 21st centruary" but WOW it came alive as Cyril talked about vunerability, as MArtin lay there.
Seeing Matin in a dog collar for the first time was unusual but he definatly looked the part.

We see now how the community react with Martin in a collar and where it takes the church.

We pray for Martin , during this he had mild pneumonia, that he comes back to full health.

The fight is on ...its me against Gina

The reason has finally arrived to get fit. Beat the wife in weight loss.

i had a fantastic 2 weeks , then it went pairshaped. WHere as gina has had a steady loss. I tried to get extra boost by getting a chlosterol, diabetes and blood pressure check. Blow me down with a feather but the doctor told me that they are spot on.. i secretly hoped the docor would scare me to get fit. So now it definatly down to will power and beating the wife as my motivation.

so far i have lost 3 kg , 32 kg to go!!!!

Networking its worth it...

Joshua back in October recieved an ethnic minority award for recieving high grades in his Sats. It was during this meeting that i met the head, and deputy head of His school. i never thought i could work there as it totally out of my parish. But looking at selling the CHILL valentine party to the school, led to a link with the deputy head. She is now looking at building links with us in regards to extended eduction and the peer mentor schem we offer through CHILL - our youth drop in.
We wait in anticipation......................

Newcastle Deanery Synod - What is Church? Fresh Expression

I Drove up to Newcastle on Friday night and stayed with Church Army friends, Stephen and Lydia. Saturday morning was spent with Stephen and steve( anothe CA officer) sharing with the Deanery the History of the well at St Barts. It was good to reflect and see where community is being formed in Langsett, in relation with the church and its profile.
We started to debate "What is church" that was fantastic watching the deanery debate whats really important, and there were many differences as we asked them to put in order and what would they take out?.
Eucharist - Baptism - Fellowship - Outreach - Priest Led - Church Building - Worship - Bible study -Sermon - Prayer.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

We then looked at 2 examples of Fresh expression.

It was a fantastic morning - more of this should be done in our churches to see what church should look like in todays culture.

Proud of Josh and Genesia

Josh and Genesia suprize me all the time, i am so proud.

Josh came home last week to tell me he wants to be confirmed. His actual words was " i can now take bread and wine, isnt that great".

Genesia spent last week in kingswood with the school, she has grown in confindence -she even did the leap of faith. She had to let go of the rope and jump and grab the trapize bar.

While mum has been away they have just got on with stuff. Love them loads.

Movie Nights during Lent.

We are now looking at setting up lent course using movies. Hopefully this will help me invite the people throught the community links I made, through posada and the Good news campagne during Christmas.

This will move naturally move into Evening Family Movie nights a once a month.

Failure - How do we deal with it in Ministry.

WHen we start new ventures in Ministry / fresh expressions, how do we measure its success, how long do we run it, when do we realise its time to stop. This is where we are with CAFE CHURCH. our new sunday evening service that we started last May.
When i am asked about Cafe Church, one of the first Question i am asked is " HOW MANY PEOPLE COME", and when i tell them the low numbers each week, sometimes nil i see the dissapointment in their eyes.
Is it a FAILURE? No i tell people that ask me about stories of all the number of people i have spoken through Cafe and its promoton - i would say its a SUCCESS. Its highlighted to the community that St Bart's is back in business trying to be at the centre of society and sharing the love of Jesus in all that we do 24/7.
So now that only 2 people come , speradically turn up to Cafe do we change time or day of the service? change the venue? re promote or stop it altogether?

I ask for prayer on making the right decision, and remember all things have a season. a time to help us learn and move on to the next part of the journey.

Relating to single parents

While Gina has been in London, i have had to balance ministry and family. It has made me see a small glimpse of how life as a single parent must be. Wow what a life, its made me appriachiate the way me and Gina share issues in our life, bringing up the kids together, and give each other space. Now is a good time to say i have a fantasyic wife and 2 gorgeous kids.

Spiritual Directors - Brilliant idea.

I went to see my spiritual drector, once again i was reminded that having space in all that i do, is a good time to see what God is saying to me during this time of waiting.

Christmas gone....now what

Its been very difficult for me to have to slow down , and sometimes stop with the current situations. My life runs at 100miles an hour or nil as i have found, i struggle just to move at a constant pace. i have had to stop and think things through. I have used this time to consoladate christmas activities and all the links made at christmas.
I HAVE ACTUALLY ENJOYED THIS... and i was very suprised. I now rely more on God than i have ever done. I have a fantastic Wife, and 2 gorgeous Kids( but i am biased) which also helps.

Early practice to be the Vicar's Wife!!

I thought i had 3 years once gina had started her job as a curate to be the parner of a vicar. looking after the home, cooking and sorting out the kids as Gina is given as much freedom as possible. ITS ABOUT TO COME EARIER....HELP!

Gina may have to go down to London to look after Her mum while she recovers from a big operation for 6 weeks. I need loads of prayers to get me through with dates already in my diary and meetings to come. Help in finding regular local baby sitters and just making josh and genesia my priorty with my ministry at St Barts at an early stage and with loads to do to build the kingdom in Langsett.

I remember the words at my commissioning, and licencing " With the thelp of God i will" with His help anything is possible.

YES A REVOLUTION.....2007

i was inspired by Mark Russells Blog about 2007

http://russellmark.blogspot.com/

Definatly need to make a huge impact this year and be like Jesus in all that we do.

So much support its amazing.....

The last 2 weeks has seen amazing support from loads of people.
Martin my pastor at St Bart's picked up the christmas and New year services,
Prayer support from St Bart's , church army collegues , family, friends and our old church St Johns in Hillingdon.
Friends in London that took us in for News year eve- to give us some sence of normality.

All the helpers that rallied round Gina's mum in hospital.

A BIG THANKS FROM KINDER, GINA , JOSHUA AND GENESIA FOR ALL THE SUPPORT.