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In this issue:
- HOPE '08 UPDATE
- March of Hope in Wolves next week
- The Passion on the BBC
- Tim's ramblings (V. wee!)
- UCB Church leaders' survey
- GEN Net news
- A glimpse into national/global prayer
- Trumpet Call
- New Word For Today available via UCB
- Pro-life?
- Abortion petition
- Wolverhampton Street Pastors
- Lawyer's Christian Association news
- The West Bromwich Junior Church Football League
- Jobs
HOPE '08 update
Please see www.thenet.org.uk for more HOPE information relating to The Black Country, and feel free to advertize your HOPE '08 events and activities on netnews too.
REMEMBER---please also register your activities for HOPE throughout the year so that we can compile a huge report at the end of '08 which will prove to be very effective when we show the collective and joined-up efforts of THE BODY OF CHRIST in our area to each-other, the media, local goverment and whoever else wants or needs to know.
You can access this via our web-site OR via www.faithsurvey.info
NEXT BLACK COUNTRY CHAPTER--- "DAY OFF HOPE"
hope & pray
Hi Black Country Pray-ers,
This is just a quick note to remind you that we will be joining in the Global Day of Prayer by gathering in our four boroughs across the Black Country to pray together on the 11th of May between 5pm and 8pm. Yes at last! We are joining with the rest of the nation and our world on the Global Day of Prayer to pray for our villages, towns, cities , region, nation and nations of the world.
We will meet in four locations, Dudley will meet at Holy Trinity Wordsley an Anglican church that seats 800, in Walsall at the Central Methodist Hall seating over 500, in Wolverhampton at the Civic seating over 700 and the West Bromwich Town hall that seats over 600. We could gather over 2600 to pray on this day!
Exciting or what!
So if you can make it that would great and can I also ask you to promote it in your church and with your friends. Promotional material will be available soon.
Thanks for all your prayer support,
Kind Regards and May the Lord bless you,
Adrian
On behalf of the Net Core Team
March of HOPE
Easter March of HOPE, Wolverhampton
Saturday 22nd March
Churches across Wolverhampton will be holding an historic March of HOPE on Easter Saturday, the 22nd March.
But why let this remain just a Wolverhampton opportunity? Everyone is invited to join in, swell the crowd and make this a day to be remembered. If you are not already busy on Easter Saturday, come over to West Park, Wolverhampton and celebrate with believers from across the Black Country’s only city.
Details are as follows:
Gather between 10.30am and 10.45am at the Bath Road gate at West Park.
The march leaves promptly at 11.00am and makes its way to St Peter’s Square in the city Centre.
Once at St Peter’s Square there will be a united celebration featuring contributions from many different churches and denominations.
UCB radio station will be transmitting music especially for the march! So bring a portable DAB radio and assist in helping everyone join in.
THE PASSION
A major new series 'The Passion' starts Palm Sunday (16th March) on BBC1. The 4 episodes run until Easter day and prime time audiences could be in excess of 10 million people!Resources & info: www.churchesmediacouncil.org.uk/passion
Dear Black Countryites,
Here we are again! Lots of information that YOU have asked us to communicate around the area. Will be in touch VERY SOON with some more news on stuff we can ALL get involved with TOGETHER.
Much love,
Tim
For your NETwork of Black Country Christians
UCB Church leaders' survey
Dear All,
UCB is conducting an informal survey of church Leaders, to try and discover what they think are the 'essential ingredients' to maintaining a healthy spiritual life. We would be very grateful if you could take five minutes to look at the below survey and provide some responses. The results will
be used to raise awareness of UCB's mail-order service,
www.UCB2GO.co.uk<http://www.UCB2GO.co.uk>
The survey can be found here;
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dgoJ8Ucwl9BbeJyiIa0BDA_3d_3d
Many thanks for your time,
Every Blessing
David.
David L'Herroux
UCB Executive Director
Hi Guys,
Just a quick e-mail to start with to keep you informed of some really important dates, but don’t worry there are more to follow.
WEEKENDS AWAY –
Sorry for the short notice on the first weekend away but we as a team really sensed that it is right to still go for two weekends away this year.
The first one is on May 23rd – 25th at the Frontier Centre, Northampton. As you can see this is not to far away so please can I ask you that if you are interested in this weekend you send me your deposit or a firm commitment and the promise of money before 20th March!!! (only 20 places left).
The second weekend away will be November 14th – 16th at Kings Park, Northampton.
The cost I think will be similar to last year £75 ish for adults and discounted prices for teenagers and children. More details to follow ASAP!!
To book in please reply to this e-mail or phone me on 07977 235854 or better still please send your deposit of £25 a person to –
GENnet, C/O The Brierley Hill Project, South Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 2RR
YOUNG HOPE –
As most of you hopefully know the Net decided to do 5 events together for Hope. We as the GENnet team took up the responsibility of Young Hope along side Saltmine.
We are doing two things the first is a play that Saltmine Theatre Company are performing (More details to follow)
The second is a youth “mini” social action/relationship building mission, this is going to take place on July 19th and 20th so please put the dates in your diary and more info will be out shortly!!
Hope this all makes sense, if not please let me know and if you have any questions please get in touch.
Love Cookie
On Behalf of the GENnet Team
Prayer News Update – March 2008For leaders in prayer across British Isles and Ireland
Prayer Forum website: This new website will be launched on 21.6.08 at Trumpet Call VII Our aim is to help all of us to connect, be informed and pray more effectively. We will have regular newsletters and a calendar for events. More news soon!
Prayer Forum Conference dates: For England Together (16-19th July 2008) invitations have been sent already. His Isles 2 (4-6th Feb 2009) invitations will go out May/June 08
Regional prayer across England is increasing: Prayer networks across Cumbria, N Pennines, East Anglia, Heartlands (Midlands E and W) and South East England have been going for a number of years. The Thames Gateway Prayernet has recently been launched. The first regional Trumpet Call was held in November 07 with representatives from Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and Lincoln meeting to pray for their cities, towns and counties.Maintaining the prayer momentum behind Hope08:
Fresh Hope - Prayer, participation and action is now taking place in many communities as registrations continue to rise – 1299 locations as at 31.1.08. Reports of churches pledging to work together as never before are reaching the Hope08 office as are stories of people finding faith in Jesus. Interest from both secular and Christian media continues. We now have 3 websites - helping those who are searching for faith, linking up the youth movement and one for sharing stories. Check out www.hope08.com.
Prayer Triplets are now launched encouraging Christians to take time to pray and care for their friends, neighbours, etc (order free Prayer Triplet cards from Hope08 office).
Friday Focus continues throughout 2008 providing a unifying point to gather each Friday to pray for many to find hope in Jesus Christ in 2008. Hardcopies available or download from www.worldprayer.org.uk
Trumpet Call VII at the NEC Birmingham: 21st June, 11am-6pm - an invitation to come to a national day of prayer and proclamation on the longest day to declare the Lordship of Christ and the release of His Gospel over every area of our nations as we move into the second half of Hope08. www.worldprayer.org.uk
The Big Hope – Easter 2008 – The Passion:
The BBC has announced that it has produced a major series ‘The Passion’ to be run on BBC1 from Palm Sunday to Easter day. The prime time audience could be in excess of 10 million people. The BBC has published an outline of the four episodes, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/thepassion/ . Resources and information: www.churchesmediacouncil.org.uk/passion. Let’s pray that many people will watch and that every Christian will build bridges of friendship out of the discussions that follow.
New initiatives:
· Beijing to London Silk Roads Challenge (2008 - 2012). On 26th of April, in Westminster London, a day to receive equipping, pray and to partner together in mobilisation. The challenge: to go and serve China in 2008. The call to join in the Silk Roads journey back to London. www.beijing2london.net
· Cry out – calling believers from all corners of the earth to pray and fast for people and cities in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq. New website: www.cryoutnow.org
· Mother’s Cry – Saturday 29th March, 11am - 2pm ‘Rachel weeping for her children ‘Over the past few months I have been particularly provoked by the desperate state of the majority of young people in our nation, the binge drinking and drug taking culture, the lack of any moral compass, stability or family life, the spirit of fatherlessness, rejection and depression. Shall we gather and raise a lament to the God of heaven, who alone can pour out His Spirit and save our children?’ Grapevine,· 9 High St, Hillmorton, Rugby, CV21 4EG (also 14th June 08). Sally Ann Dyer E:sallyann@openheaven.org
· National Canopy of Prayer www.gdoplondon.com. London is continuing to pray 24-7 through 2008 and is now inviting any individual, church or organisation to link in as it prays through this year. All information can be found on their website. Check it out and see if you can link up!
· Seven Years of Prayer to see a Spiritual Awakening in the Healthcare Field of the British Isles and Ireland was launched in the autumn of 2007 by Healthcare Christian Fellowship. Check out the website to link in. www.hcfbii.givengain.orgNews from Call2all: The First Call2all congress was held in Orlando USA, 29 Jan-1 Feb attended by 600 delegates representing field missions, church planting, evangelism, discipleship, prayer movements, business and media. The Global Prayer Network confirmed the use of Operation World’s list of 220 nations for its strategy to saturate the world in prayer. The Call2all strategy is to break down the unreached people groups into 4,000 zones working towards a 24-7 prayer watch in every one of the 220 nations by 2010 and to facilitate 24-7 prayer watches within each of the 4,000 zones by 2020. www.call2all.org. (Ian and Pauline Cole attended from UK).
Looking Ahead:
Global Day of Prayer – 11th May. 10 days of prayer ahead of Global Day: 1-10th May - A prayer guide for use across the UK is being produced by organisers of the London GDOP event available April. The new UK website is now in use and events can now be registered online. Currently we have 15 towns/cities/cathedrals taking part, in addition to London’s event at Millwall stadium www.gdoplondon.com. Globally there are already 139 nations registered. For more info, check out newsletters from UK and South Africa. www.globaldayofprayer.co.uk; www.transformations-ireland.orgMay 2008 – a month of prayer & action:
Hope on the Streets – Hope08 organisers have challenged the UK church to give a million hours of kindness to their communities www.hope08.com; National Day of Prayer for the Police Service, 1st www.cpauk.net; Prayer Week, 4-11th continues to mobilise thousands of churches to pray across the nation linking with GDOP www.prayerweek.com; Week of Prayer - Parliament & Whitehall, 6-11th www.christiansinparliament.org.uk; Deborah Company, 7th www.deborahcompany.org.uk; Pentecostal Festival, 9-11th – a cross generational, multi-cultural, national weekend festival in Central London www.pentecostfestival.co.ukJune –August 2008:
Journey of the Christian Faith in June and July 2008 is taking the 10 Commandments to 40 cities/towns in the UK. ‘The first location is in the Centre of Stornoway on 1 June and ending in London on July 11. We would love to hear from you about this event as to visiting your area.’ www.journeyofthechristianfaith.org.uk
Manchester organised by Redeeming our Communities - 3rd June. This inter-church prayer event will be focussing on praying for police, causes of crime and about the rise in ‘gang crime’ www.redeemingourcommunities.org.uk
Fire from the Isles in Jersey, 17-23 August www.ruachministries.org/firefromtheisles.Thanks for reading! Next Prayer News Update out in April 2008 – and soon after that we can share news via the new website!
Jane Holloway – National Prayer Director
World Prayer Centre, 5 Ethel Street, Birmingham B2 4BG Tel 0120 633 7393
E:prayer@worldprayer.org.uk W: www.worldprayer.org.uk
TRUMPET CALL VIIDear Black Country,
It is good to be able to be in touch again as we begin to plan ahead for Trumpet Call VII.
Trumpet Call on 21st June will be the seventh stage of an amazing journey that God is leading us on based on Numbers 10:9 “When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies”. From blowing a trumpet to lift the oppression and awaken the sleeping giant in the nation, to releasing the message of grace, praying for the church to arise, launching Redeeming our Communities, then launching the year of prayer for Hope08 and praying for the release of the Gospel and the vision of WPC, God continues to lead us.
As you will have seen from the brochures (available from many sources, including The Net office-Ed), we are looking for the largest prayer journey on the longest day to give a massive prayer push in the middle of Hope08. Leaders from the rest of this family of nations will be welcomed as we formally launch the new Prayer Forum website (Prayer Forum of British Isles and Ireland).
We would be blessed and honoured to have you standing with us on the day as we seek God’s heart for our nation and ask for His kingdom to come and for His will to be done.
We look forward to standing with you for our nations.
Yours in Christ Jesus
Ian Cole
World Prayer Centre, Cornerstone House5 Ethel Street, Birmingham, B2 4BG, UK
Office: 0121 633 7393
Web: www.worldprayer.org.uk
**WE WILL HAVE IAN WITH US AT OUR SECTOR/BUSINESS NET BREAKFAST IN MAY 2008....
New "Word For Today" available via UCBDear Friends
As you are aware Easter is approaching fast and we at UCB/BoH want to encourage and bless the work you are doing in your community !
You may or may not be aware that we have re launched a brand new W4U2D (youth version of Word for Today) a cutting edge and very youth centric in both presentation and content; added to this is that it is free of charge to Bless You in any amount you can use for your ministry!
We are happy also to introduce our new look Hope Xtreme for youth aged 12-16yrs again another cutting edge and youth centric. This new look and size Book of hope is one of 5 Books of hope for children and youth from ages 3-18yrs.
We are happy to encourage the good work you are doing and wish to bless you with as many of these recourses you can use both now and for the rest of 2008 www.bookofhope.co.uk
It may also interest you that we also have a great evangelistic tool which could also prove very powerful at your Easter presentations called the GodMan which is available through www.ucb2go.co.uk This movie is the animated Book of Hope and is the life, death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus in a beautiful 52 minute presentation suitable for students aged 8-14yrs.
No order is too small or too large, just call UCB on 0845 60 40 401 or email UCB at ucb@ucb.co.uk. or please reply directly to me ASAP and I will process your order in any amounts!
Bless you
Carl
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
PRO-LIFE??Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
Before you pass on to the next article this just may apply to you? So please read on. Some one once said “Bad Laws are created because Good Men do nothing.” Where do you stand?
I hope by now you are challenged?
A number of issues this Bill seeks to do
Allow the creation of “saviour siblings”
Create “fatherless” children
Allow human and animal fertilisation
Brief overview of The Bill
Embryo selection for ‘saviour sibling’
This practice involves destroying healthy embryos because they do not match the tissue type of an existing sick child in the family, and implanting a matching embryo (if there is one) in order to create a child who can provide healthy spare part tissue for the existing child.
Remove the ‘need for a father’ in IVF treatment
The Bill drops any reference to the ‘need for a father’. It also gives the legal status of ‘parent’ to the partner of the mother. If the couple were in a civil partnership, then the birth certificate would record the second woman as the other supportive partner.
In such a case the state would be denying the child knowledge of his or her biological father.
Children have a right to know about their biological parents. This gives a further reason why the law should not permit or require false statements to be put on birth certificates.
The creation of animal-human hybrid embryos
If the Bill is not amended in the Commons it will become law that embryonic stem cell researchers will be allowed to mix animal sperm with human eggs or human sperm with animal eggs, in order to create a hybrid embryo. The UK is alone amongst Western democracies in allowing such research to take place.
A call for action
Two things you can do
· Speak to your MP and ask him/her to vote against The Bill. If they are already voting against it, get them to enter the debate and rally others to do the same.
Also the government is at present not allowing a free vote. This should be a free vote not drawn on political lines. Go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/embryovote/ place your vote for a free vote. It will take less than a minute.
The Daily Telegraph said: “Catholic Labour MPs opposed to the Government's controversial embryo Bill will be able to break with convention and withdraw their backing for the legislation.” An abstention vote is allowing “Bad Laws” to be made
Please continue to pray for your MP that they will follow the right road and tell your friends about this Bill
To find our more go to www.passionforlife.org.uk and follow the different links
Thanks for reading – God’s heart needs to be heard
Sign Abortion Petition - 2000 signatures in 2 daysIf you have not signed the Petition please take a moment to do so and pass on the details to others. We are aiming for over 10,000 signatures by the end of the week and 100,000 signatures in total as soon as possible.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, now in the House of Commons, provides the first opportunity for 18 years for changing the law on abortion.
Please sign the new petition at http://www.aliveandkickingcampaign.org/petition/ calling on Parliament to support amendments to reduce the number of abortions in the UK from 200,000 a year and to oppose amendments that would further liberalise the abortion law.
Many thanks,
Andrea Minichiello Williams
Public Policy Director
0207 407 6157
Lawyers' Christian Fellowship/Christian Concern for our Nation
http://www.ccfon.org
http://www.lawcf.org
Wolverhampton Street PastorsWe are writing to tell you that a number of Christian churches in Wolverhampton have come together to introduce Street Pastors to Wolverhampton and that the Street Pastors training course commences on Saturday 19 April at St Johns-in-the-Square, Wolverhampton.
The scheme, which has Home Office backing, is based on a model pioneered in London that is operating in Birmingham, Manchester and a number of other cities.
It has already have received support from the city council and police.All Street Pastors who will be out on the streets have to take part in a 12 week training course which is being run over the summer on Saturday mornings.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Street Pastors and its training programme please contact:
Revd Richard Moy,
Wolverhampton Pioneer Ministries,
21 St Judes Rd,
Wolverhampton, WV6 0EB
Tel: 01902 653942 Mob: 07894 230304
Email: notintheratrace@yahoo.co.ukThese are exciting, Hope filled times for Wolverhampton and we believe that the Street Pastors project will show the practical support that Christians can bring to the streets of Wolverhampton.
Updates about the progress of the project will be posted on the Pioneer website www.wonderers.co.uk until a dedicated Wolverhampton section of the streetpastors.org website can be set up.
Many thanks then,
Revd Richard Moy
As above,and/or
J Peter Wilson
Vice-Chair Wolverhampton Street Pastors & Member of Bushbury St Mary's PCC
Shalom, 10 Primrose Lane, Old Fallings, Wolverhampton WV10 8RS
Tel: 01902 653942 Tel: 01902 544157
Mobile: 07894 230304
Mobile: 07941 035903
Email: notintheratrace@yahoo.co.uk
Email: home@peter-maddy.net
News from the Lawyers' Christian AssociationCameron backs lowering time limit for abortion
David Cameron has announced that he would vote for reducing the upper time limit for abortion if the matter is raised in the upcoming debate on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
Mr Cameron told the Daily Mail: "I would like to see a reduction in the current limit, as it is clear that, due to medical advancement, many babies are surviving at 24 weeks. If there is an opportunity in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, I will be voting to bring this limit down from 24 weeks.”
Mr Cameron stressed that votes on abortion should be free votes as it is an issue of conscience.
In contrast, Gordon Brown has refused to join Mr Cameron in taking this stand for the unborn; his official spokesman has stated that the Government has no plans to change the law on abortion, arguing that “At the moment, the key organisations in the medical profession are not pressing for a review in this area.”
In contrast, many are talking about the growing evidence that premature babies can survive earlier and below 24 weeks, and that foetuses can feel pain at an earlier stage than previously thought. Public opinion has also been affected by the high quality scans of foetuses showing unborn babies apparently smiling, frowning, ‘dancing’, sucking their thumb etc while in the womb.
Please email, fax or write to the Prime Minister to state your support for the stance Mr Cameron has taken, and urge Mr Brown to also commit to lowering the time limit for abortion in the UK.Send an email to the PM via the following web-page:
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page821.aspFax the PM on 020 7925 0918
Write to the PM at: 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA
Andrea Minichiello Williams Director of Public Policy 0771 2591164
http://www.ccfon.org
The West Bromwich Junior Church Football League, (www.wbjcfl.co.uk) affiliated to the Birmingham County F.A. are now accepting new teams at the following age groups for the forthcoming season 2008/2009.
Under 10 (School years 4&5 from Sept 2008) 7-a-side
Under 12 (School years 6&7 from Sept 2008) 7-a-side
Under 14 (School years 8&9 from Sept 2008) 11-a-side
Under 16 (School years 10&11 from Sept 2008) 11-a-sideAll matches are played on Saturday mornings at the Holly Lodge School, Holly Lane Smethwick, B67 7JG, located 5mins from Junction 1 M5.
This is an ideal project to do with other churches in your area forming new and developing existing inter church relationships.
It is a great opportunity for the children in your church to invite friends along to participate in a well organised sports activity.For further information please contact the League Secretary, Derek Jones on Tel: 01384 560456 / Mob: 07973 617844 / Email: derek@wbjcfl.co.uk
