Bristol PrayerWall - May Newsletter 2003
St Pauls Youth Bus Lockleaze Noise Outreach - GLORY BRISTOL 2003 - May 3rd - get your ticket now. tel: 9429819
BCAN
Whenever people involved in evangelism and community action in Bristol discover that they are being supported by a continuous chain of prayer, they invariably respond enthusiastically. Some say that they can see the difference it is making to what they are doing. This is an awesome responsibility. Please use these notes to uphold those on the front-line . "First of all, I ask that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be offered for all men; pray for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quite and peaceful life, with all godliness and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and come to know the truth". 1 Timothy 2 On Patrol in St Pauls So far the Prayer Patrols in St Pauls have been welcomed by the residents and supported by the media. Something as bold and up-front as this does seem to appeal to the people living in St Pauls. Certainly the Praise Party in the old Black and White Cafe demonstrated that St Pauls will accept a direct witness. The cafe is not very large and the company, who were mostly locals, made a very loud noise to the Lord. This did not deter people from coming inside, and even joining in. Please pray for stamina for those involved, to continue both the patrols and the praise parties. Pray for safety on the streets for the patrollers in their conspicuous yellow jackets, and for opportunities to talk to people . New bus There's a shiny red double-decker bus about to hit the streets of Bristol. It's an answer to pray and will, in the years to come, be a vehicle of prayer for young people in the city. Run by the Bristol Youth Project it has been equipped with every possible feature for Youth work, and this month will receive a thorough checkout by the youngsters of the Dings, Bishopsworth and Whitchurch. Pray for them. Please pray for the crews and that any teething troubles can be quickly resolved. Also pray for new opportunities, that more churches will catch the vision of taking to the streets. The official launch is on Sunday May 11th at 2:30 at Pip n Jay The Noise goes to Lockleaze An event held over the May Bank Holiday weekend to clean up Lockleaze, plus events both for the children and the elderly. Pray for the continuing effect of this initiative by the churches and that it will enhance relationships with the community. ( Just as happened in Barton Hill in 2000 where the Noise is still remembered. ) Thank God for those people from Lockleaze who have already had the courage to ask for help with gardening, rubbish clearing etc during the Noise weekend. Pray that they will be open to experience something of God’s love for them as we serve them.
NEEDS FOR AND PRAYER POINTS FOR GLORY BRISTOL – May 3rd at the Memorial Stadium, Filton Avenue.
Community Action Many of the contributions to this Prayer letter come from Christians working within their communities, and in particular Bedminster. We used to make a distinction between what was regarded as the work of the church and the work of the kingdom, and indeed between what was thought of as "spiritual" on the one hand and "social" on the other. In some ways such distinctions are real, but the edges have become very blurred over the years and the concept of the church being set in a community with responsibility under God to engage with that community is now a paramount one. To reach into local culture so that the gospel might be seen in the lives and activities of those who profess Christ is an imperative for the 21st century church. If we are to make an impact on our secular society that will show the power of the kingdom of God then new and innovative thinking is required – plus action to put into effect the ideas produced. Les Potter Bristol Community Action Network BCAN has had a busy year helping churches interested in serving their local community to find common ground. It also tries to bring together people interested in helping others with organisations that need assistance. Please pray for the following points: 1. The creation of paid posts. BCAN Steering Group will be asking church leaders their opinion about a possible post or posts to be created for one full-time or 2 part-time BCAN workers, to develop the work among the churches in the Greater Bristol area. Please pray for clear guidance. If the plan seems right, please pray for the money to be available for salary and expenses. Church leaders have been invited to a lunch at which a Report on the past year's activities will be presented. Please pray that the right leaders do attend. 2. The Homeless Forum - Representatives from all Christian agencies working with the homeless in Bristol meeting next on May 15, and for Paul Hazelden, from the Crisis Centre who needs help with the admin. 3. The Steering Group of BCAN, that they may have wisdom and vision in prayerfully seeking God's will for the future development of the project. They are:- Steve Abbott, Paul Hazelden, Ali Hender, Andrew Kellett, David Maggs, Julian Marsh, Andy Paget, Julian Perkins and Keith Town (Chair). 4. Special training events: - Morning seminar on Rehabilitation of Offenders : 22 May - Lunch meeting on the Church's work with the Elderly : 10 July Focus on Bedminster South Bristol Child Contact Centre One project that would seem to fulfil the kingdom dynamic is the South Bristol Child Contact Centre. This project operates from within the South Bristol Christian Centre in Churchlands Road each Saturday afternoon. Originally initiated by JAB, the Centre is the second such project to be set up in Bristol, the other one operating from the Henleaze United Reformed Church. Throughout the country however there are over 100 such Contact Centres. The Centre, which has been in operation now for 8 years, simply provides a venue and facilitates contact between parents and children. Referrals are made by solicitors or court welfare officers who have been commissioned to arrange such contact because one or other of the parents is not allowed "free" access. This requires four volunteers to be "on duty" each Saturday afternoon. Because the Centre has two small buildings it is possible to accommodate the parent bringing the child(ren) separately to the one who is "visiting". A number of tasks are allotted to each volunteer and the contact takes place in the main hall of the Centre. Up to a dozen families can be accommodated each Saturday and often there are that number booked in. Invariably however there are absentees – one or other parent doesn't turn up, someone is sick, travel arrangements break down (some parents travel from other parts of the country to visit a child who lives in the Bristol area), and so on. Difficulties can arise which in exceptional cases may be of a verbally or physically violent nature - and police involvement is not unknown. However the work is very rewarding in that although its Christian witness is not overt – and staff have to be impartial at all times – the families are aware of the venue having a Christian ethos. Some parents have actually called in other than on a Saturday to express their appreciation, and in a limited number of cases there has been the experience of couples "getting back together again" after a number of weeks attendance (some parents are happy to see each other at the time of attendance, others are not). At present the project has around thirty volunteers which means that any one person has a Saturday duty about once in six or eight weeks. Most volunteers are associated with one or other of the JAB churches. However the "comfortable" number of volunteers is around forty so there is a need for a few more hands. The project needs constant prayer and prayer partners – so the input from those on the prayer wall is greatly appreciated. Joint Action Bedminster JAB is a loose association of local churches in the Bedminster area of South Bristol which exists to express the unity of the body of Christ and to work together in work and witness. Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, RC, URC and Free churches are represented in its 12-strong membership. The JAB committee meets quarterly to plan activities which normally centres around the major events in the church calendar e.g. an advent carol service, a special meeting during unity week, a March of Witness on Good Friday and an Easter Sunday praise service. A Summer worship event and a meeting during One World week is also normally planned. In addition JAB was the agency responsible for the initiating of the South Bristol Child Contact Centre. Malago Out Of School Experience Eight new spaces have been made available at the popular MOOSE after-school club held at St Michael and All Angels Church on Vivien Street, Windmill Hill, since a new member of staff had just been appointed. For some time it had been running on full capacity with 16 members. The club is for children aged four to eleven and runs between 4 and 5.30pm on weekdays. In addition, money for a teenage play scheme in the summer has just been secured. Development of the former DRG Sports Ground Please pray about this development and how maybe churches can work together with the community with youth and sports activities. The site was derelict for five years and there are split opinions on what is the best balance between new housing and retaining sports facilities. 96 apartments and 39 houses will make up the scheme. The two football pitches which form part of the Marksbury Rd playing fields will be retained and a new sports field and pavilion will be provide for community use. Southville Community Centre The centre has recently been refurbished with an up-to-date reception area and a new café, the Oasis Café. Provides a range of opportunities for local people to meet in a safe, friendly environment. The Centre provides an extensive range of events and courses, employment for people in the provision of its services and a range of childcare services. Bedminster Churches Victoria Park Baptist - Brendan Bassett Pray for possible youth prayer initiative and link with outreach to youth in area. St. Michael & All Angels, Vivian St, Windmill Hill. Pray for MOOSE and the Bus project on the Marksbury Road Estate. Finding regular crews can be a problem, even with a new bus. Pray that more will be done with the Bus and other initiatives on the Estate. Salem Chapel, Trafalgar Terrace. Pray for Emily Kiff -. "I am working for Salem Chapel and I am going into Ashton Park school to run C.U., help with assemblies etc... Run youth groups etc... in the church. Loads of stuff basically. I am totally in need of working with other people cos life is pretty lonely here on my own! Like I say I have a music degree but I also teach choreography and music performance as part of the SWYM diploma (South West Youth Ministries!)" Emily is also involved with Withywood Community Prayer Lunch. (2nd Tuesday 12.30 at Withywood Church Centre). Health All the Health Trusts are still struggling with massive overspends from last year. This leaves little time or energy to consider futures services. Rumours abound about threatened closures ( mostly untrue). Pray that this burden might be lifted form those trying to move the service forward. Local Government By the time you receive this letter the elections will have been won and lost. but please don't stop praying that's God's voice will be heard in the Council Houses. Prayer Agenda
Supporting the Intercessors from difficult situations:Abigail James is a Zimbabwean intercessor who is coming to Bristol. She is looking for opportunities to speak on Intercession and the situation of persecution and food shortages in Zimbabwe. "We have had to understand the meaning of reconciliation among different races, as well as live out unity within the Church. This takes us into schools, to the poor, and to the destitute. Latterly this has embraced the starving, as we all look famine in the face in the wake of the country's economic collapse. We live as families in our own homes around a communal centre which was once a hotel, and aim to live as simple a lifestyle as possible. We are able to grow most of what we need, and share a common purse and resources (doctor, teacher, dress-maker), but all this is being stretched as never before" abigailjames@hotmail.com; mob. 07717014196 tel: phone(1223) 693294 ________________ Bristol Prayer Wall ______________________________ 0117 924 6856 www.BristolPrayerWall.org.uk. We hope this letter will give you more reasons to pray for Bristol. However if you don't want to continue to receive it please send us an email. Many thanks for your continuing prayers. Contributions for the next letter to info@bristolprayerwall.org.uk. Financial support to Paul Thompson, 48 Arnall Drive, BS10 7AP. To unsubscribe from the List: On the Web http://www.bcisgnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/bristol_pwmbrsor email to: bristol_pwmbrs-request@mail.bcisgnet.co.uk with the subject line "unsubscribe" |