net news

In this issue:
  1. Tim's re-ramblings 
  2. Hope '08 UNITED BLACKCOUNTRY launch event reminder
  3. Black Country Urban Park UPDATE
  4. loaves 'n fishes (fantastic initiative)
  5. Fresh Expressions news
  6. Dudley Church Forum news/DOSTI
  7. message from ucb/book of hope 
  8. Paul & Barny's place--Oldbury
  9. JOBS (UCB/Vine Trust)
 
Dearest Black Countryites,
 
We wish you a wonderful Christmas and a New Year filled with hope. HOPE!
 
We want to invite you along to "Open Hope", the opening event for us as The Church in The Black Country, on Friday 18th January at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, as below (2).
 
A few thoughts about the way He chose to reveal Himself at Christmas.......
 
Our God sent John to the wilderness to announce His coming;
Jesus was born in Bethlehem........a small village-town with no major attractions;
He chose to be revealed in a cattle shed without any thrones;
The Father chose some shepherds to be manger-side before His priests;
The angels may have been surpised to have despatched to the Judean Hills.
 
So, as we head into HOPE '08, I wonder where He may be sending us for the first time, birthing new initiatives and revealing fresh aspects of His nature?
 
Have a wonderful Christmas Black Country Church....He came for us.
 
Much love,
 
Tim
 
Your NETwork of Black Country Christians.
 
hope

HOPE '08 KEY OPENING EVENT DATE  "OPEN HOPE"

FRIDAY 18TH JANUARY AT  WOLVERHAMPTON CIVIC HALL   WITH ANDY HAWTHORNE (Hope National Team) The idea of this is to gather as many people as possible from the four boroughs of The Black Country to catch the vision, get inspired and stand / celebrate together.

Black Country Urban Park UPDATE
 
Dear Colleagues
 
As you will probably know by now, sadly the Black Country came second to Sustrans in the BIG Lottery vote. At the BC Consortium Board last night, grateful thanks were expressed to everyone who worked hard to promote this and to encourage people to vote - so I pass these on to you.
 
At the same time, it was agreed that this had been very positive in terms of the journey which is seeing the four boroughs working ever more closely together - which can only be positive for the Black Country. There is also a strong commitment to ensuring that the project continues albeit at a slower pace. I also pleaded that there should be much more connection with local groups such as friends of parks who where the green agenda. This was accepted so watch this space.
 
With warm seasonal greetings to you and yours,
 
Mike Mason.
 
ED.....Mike is our Church's representative on "The Black Country Consortium"....please pray for him in this responsibility and opportunity.
                                ------------------------------------------

Urban Park update

The Black Country Urban Park project is set to continue, despite losing its bid for £50million from the Big Lottery Fund. Your support helped secure 29 per cent of the vote, but the winner was Sustrans' national cycle network with 42 per cent.

Project leaders have vowed that the £100million environmental 'revolution' will still go ahead - just not as quickly. "It is a major disappointment, but not a killer blow," said Black Country Consortium chief executive Sarah Middleton.

Loaves 'n' Fishes, we gather together the leftovers, stuff people no longer want or need and distribute them to those who do, settee's, beds, cookers, toys etc.
 Everything is free!!!

We have a big luton van which advertises 'Christ's compassion in action' on the side of it cus it is HIS compassion, we'me opeless but he is great so with HIS help we get to help others who need to know he's great too.
 
We need another van, one that can do smaller pick ups and deliveries and one the women can drive,no offence to any woman out there that can drive a big motor like a luton, infact if your ever free and fancy a go in one, gis a bell!
We need a transit sort of size van ,where you can fit in a fridge-freezer standing up, or a three pc suite maybe.
 
We dont receive any funding and everyone here works voluntarily so if anyone could help, in any way, we truly do thankyou.

Anna from Loaves 'n' fishes   5

first

Berkswich Methodist Church, Stafford

Saturday 9th February 2008         9:45am to 4pm

Across the country hundreds of fresh expressions of church are springing up as Christians catch a vision for reaching their communities for Christ.

Thousands of Christians across the country have shared in Fresh Expressions Vision days. The feedback has been very positive:-

‘Today I learnt that “Fresh Expressions of Church” is not just the latest ‘buzz word’. I see its impact’.

Whether you are involved with a fresh expression, thinking about developing one or merely curious, you are warmly invited to the Fresh Expressions Vision Day to learn about, engage with and experience new ways of being church.

The day will be a rich mix of worship, stories, teaching, conversation and reflection. The vision and values of fresh expressions will be explored and guidance will be given on further training resources.

Admission is free (but places must be booked in advance). Please bring a packed lunch (drinks supplied). To book, or for further information, please contact Andrew Roberts amroberts@ukonline.co.uk 01384 279065. to learn more about fresh expressions please visit www.freshexpressions.org.uk

Dudley Church Forum news/DOSTI

The Stronger Communities Steering Group (part of Dudley Community Partnership) has £80,000 to commission on activities to build stronger communities in the Borough of Dudley. They are looking for exceptional ideas for activities which help to build stronger communities, ideas which are a bit different, or perhaps things not tried before in your community
 
For more information click the 'read more' button under the newslflash on Dosti's homepage: www.dosti.org.uk
 
Please pass this e-mail on to others who may be interested.
 
Regards
Lorma
 
Lorna Prescott Senior Development Officer Dosti Direct Tel: 01384 265363 Fax: 01384 484587 Website: www.dosti.org.uk Dosti, c/o Dudley CVS, 7 Albion Street, Brierley Hill, West Midlands, DY5 3EE This e-mail (and any attachments) may contain privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient please do not disclose, copy, distribute, disseminate or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this message in error please reply and tell us and then delete all copies on your system. Any opinion on or advice or information contained in this email is not necessarily that of the organisation. Should you wish to communicate with us by e-mail, we cannot guarantee the security of any data outside our own computer system.

message from ucb/book of hope

This is a request for your Carol Service and outreach December.

We have a great quantity of W4U2Day and a number of WFT left for this quarter which still have 2 months on them and wish to make them available to you Free of Charge with Free delivery as give-a-ways at your Christmas and December meetings.

All I would require from you to receive this is: -

  1. How Many, in boxes of 125 can have as many as you can use!!
  2. A full postal address to send them to,
  3. A contact name and number for us to have on hand for Posting!!

Please let me know ASAP so I can get them to you in Good Time!   bookofhope.carl@blueyonder.co.uk  

Bless you in Him and may you have a wonderful Christmas!!!!

Carl ucb

Carl Finnan

Ministry Field Coordinator

United Christian Broadcasters Ltd
Westport Road
Burslem
Stoke-on-Trent
ST6 4JF
UK

Switchboard: +44 (0) 845 60 40 401 Ext: 3352 
Email: cfinnan@ucb.co.uk
Web: http://www.ucb.co.uk | http://www.UCB2GO.co.uk | http://www.LookingforGod.com

LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

Understanding, listening and communicating well in the context of learning disabilities

- includes input from Options for Life

                Wednesday 16th January 7.30pm to 9.30pm

Cost £4.00/£2.00 Concessions

Book in advance to receive a confirmation

-  the only way to be sure of a place

 MENTAL HEALTH & ILLNESS

Understanding, listening and communicating well in the context of mental illness

- with a team from MIND

Saturday 26th January 9.30am to approx 3.45pm

Cost £6.00/£3.50 Concessions

Book in advance to receive a confirmation

-  the only way to be sure of a place

Please see the attached .pdf for a joint flyers with more details.

In February and March we will be offering sessions on:

• Caring for the Carers

• Domestic Violence

• Addiction

• Bereavement

• Coping with Isolation - Caring for the isolated

• Fulfilling ministry for everyperson - 50 ideas for the over 60’s

• Faith Journeys of older people

fcbc

We are grateful for support from the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund for support

To enable these training sessions at a high quality and low cost.

Colin Darling

Training Networker for Paul and Barny's Place - part of St Paul and St. Barnabas Church, Oldbury.

barney

Paul and Barny’s Place,151 Castle Road West, Oldbury.

0121 686 1983   0785 907 4343  colindarling@freenet.co.

 

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