Cafe Church- Stories

Its the 5th sunday of the month and its cafe time.
Today we spent the morning sharing stories about our faith over drinks, danish pastries and brioche. It was great to hear where Jesus has worked in peoples lives and how we share some of them with others. We finished with 5 prayer stations giving people oppertunity to reflect. The one that had the most impact was the one where people could write a thank you card to someone who has influenced them to becoming better christians and a stamp to make life easier for their cards.

WWF - Earth Day

Today between 8.30pm - 9.30pm the world was asked to turn of all power for 1 hour. over 50 million people took part.

we spent 2 hours with all the power off and we sat with candles all around. few friends came round to join us. it was a magical moment. Hope it sent the right message.

HOT DATE - reccomend this to all married people.

We have now been married for 17 years and late last year we did a marraige course. ( well i took gina kicking and screeming) 2 hours per session, 6 sessions over 10 weeks. The videa we watched was a bit irritating( very middle classed) but the book and space to discuss issues was fab. 2 hours being pampered with the misses.
The course reccomends continuing this 2 hours after the course has finished. They call it marraige time- WE RENAMED THIS TO A HOT DATE
Me and Gina now spend 2 hours every week to go somewhere, do something, shopping and ita a space where we discuss our relationship not work. ITS BEEN THE BEST THING EVER.

So why not book the next 4 hot dates with your partner and dont let anything cancell it, thats the trick you need to seek the permission of the other person to cancell it or change it.

Our last hot date was a great drive to Hudderfield, visit a free musuem and a drink and cake.

If you are in a relation ship i would reccomed this ,also spend some time on getting to know your partner and get in the habit.

FAB.
for more info see http://www.themarriagecourse.org/

Easter asssembly - in church - work in partnership with God to fix this broken world.

Had over 250 kids in church for the easter assembly. It was great to remind the kids and adults what easter is all about. Good for the personal soul also.
We look at pictures of a broken world, and then discussed ways of fixing it. Without Jesus this is impossible.

Life as a governor.....

As a governor, i did not realise how vital the role is to a school. You are what they call a critical friend. One year on i finally have some understanding od the school processes, finances an recruiting policies. I take my hat of to teacher and the hard Job they have to tick all the boxes with a massive disparity in the kids levels and thats just in one class.

Just spent a whole day recruiting a new deputy head. WOW what a load of pressure that was.
I think more parents should get involved in school life, it would help the school and help bring up their kids with their learning.

Decorating is back on the agenda.

While Gina's been away we decorted her room, Decorated the bathroom and then Porch. I think this is easier when gina is away as i can make more of a mess and do 6 things at once.

Doncaster prison - is this Church to the unchurched.

What an experience I had today. Went in, to find a load of people just standig around. i looked around, lost and someone pointed out for me to fill out a form. I did this, waited in a que to hand it in. Got to the window to be told, " you need to put in through that door" How was i to know!!!
i looked for signs and there was nothing. We waited 2 hours and when we thought we were going in, we looked at the lockers and it said. NO MOBILES< NO MONEY NO KEYS NO NOTHING can go in. the lockers needed a padlock of which i did not have one.
Finally we could not wait any longer andwhen i spoke to the lady , she said " you know should not come in on wednesdays its our busiest day. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I look at our church service the next sunday with the same eyes:
walk in - nice welcome asked to go in and sit down.
I wonder how long the service is : no idea no sign or anything.
what does gospel reading mean!
How do these song go! not heard this one!
Good preach - learnt something.
Someone has shook my hand - WHY!
Have bread and wine - Can I?
finished
Coffee time.

Lots of Questions!!
What is church for!
Traditional or modern does it make a differnce!

Little Gems -Toddler group at Walkley Primary school.

Ive been helping at the todler group in school since last year. Its great way for me to help the school and get to know some of the local familes.

Church Centre Accounts

ITs that time of year again, spent last 4 weeks looking at detail the centre accounts for 08. What a minefield. Waiting to see what the end of year looks like.

Bollywood night - for the lord mayor's charities.

We have just had a great evening raising £500 with the help of a chinese auction for the lord mayor's charities. The cavendish centre( cancer) and the childrens hospital. It was a joint partnership with ZEST a local community group. It was great to see everyone getting involved with the Bhangra dancing and getting dressed up.

it could not have been done with out the teams help.

G2K - getting to Know?

the new afternoon christian club G2K has now been going for 5 months and we are having regulars coming. What's the best bit is all 5 churches in the area are part of it.
Each week we pick a theme on teachings of Jesus and Christian values and put in a short prayer.
We thank the local school for allowing us to go in.

Oasis - Tobogonning

Tonight we took 40 kids toboggoning at the local ski village from the two local youth clubs. Good time was had by all. VERY COLD,

Great School reports.....

The kids school reports were fab, its amazing, josh has now chosen his GCS's and genesia is in secondary school.