1-0
Could have been worse!
FAFF - Trip to Wells (a month late sorry!)
Last month FAFF went to Wells market and had a great time, unfortunately yours truly was a little slow getting the pictures on the blog.
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Chris Hunter - All are welcome!
Chris Hunter has a new new study group. Meetings are on Wednesday's at 7.30, and is at 15 Somerset Road, his new pad! So all attending if you could take some cleaning or cooking supplies along it would be appreciated. (just kiddding)
The Sessions planned so far:
2-7-08 Who is the Holy Spirit?
9-7-08 What is the Trinity?
16-7-08 What is the mission of the church?
23-7-08 What does it mean to be holy?
"As you can tell, we're asking some big questions! "
Food Fight
An abridged history of American-centric warfare, from WWII to present day, told through the foods of the countries in conflict. For a breakdown of the actual battles portrayed in the film, visit: the cheat sheet
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Psalm 27:1 - Fear
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
Psalm 27:1
In Deep - That Stinks!
BERLIN (Reuters) A woman trying to make "manure bombs" using stockings, slipped into a slurry tank and fled the scene naked, German police said Friday.
Two women entered a farm in the northern village of Eberholzen Wednesday evening and started to fill the stockings with manure.
"One of them slipped into the manure tank, right into the cow muck," said a spokesman for local police. "The other one helped her out. We found their clothes in a field. One seems to have run off completely naked, the other in her underwear."
Police said it was unclear what the women had intended to do with the "manure bombs," but added the incident could be linked to victory celebrations surrounding the Euro 2008 semi-finals on Wednesday evening, when Germany beat Turkey 3-2.
"The women can get their clothes back from the local police station -- unwashed," the spokesman added.
Two women entered a farm in the northern village of Eberholzen Wednesday evening and started to fill the stockings with manure.
"One of them slipped into the manure tank, right into the cow muck," said a spokesman for local police. "The other one helped her out. We found their clothes in a field. One seems to have run off completely naked, the other in her underwear."
Police said it was unclear what the women had intended to do with the "manure bombs," but added the incident could be linked to victory celebrations surrounding the Euro 2008 semi-finals on Wednesday evening, when Germany beat Turkey 3-2.
"The women can get their clothes back from the local police station -- unwashed," the spokesman added.
GWR Radio - One Sentence!
There was a lead in yesterday mornings show that said "If you could start a whole new civilization and there whole being would be based on one sentence, what would that be?" I thought that was easy:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven,
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.]
If a civilization could live by these words I think you would have a pretty strong community!
Website to make Jesus more famous?!?!
Rejesus.co.uk, a leading home on the internet for all things about Jesus and related faith issues, announced Wednesday that Church Army is to become a major strategic and managerial partner in the future development of the site.
Rob Freeman, Archdeacon of Halifax and Chair of the rejesus board, said, " I am delighted with this news. Rejesus.co.uk was established to enable people who are not connected with church to be able to explore issues around who Jesus is and how he impacts on issues of life and spirituality.
"The partnership with Church Army will help bring fresh impetus and additional resources to the development of the site and help build on our success in establishing rejesus.co.uk as the number one place on the web to go to find out about Jesus."
Rejesus.co.uk is one of the most successful current UK evangelism initiatives. It attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the site each year, many of whom are not in contact with church and are exploring issues of faith and spirituality.
Recent modules launched by rejesus include specially produced content for the BBC's The Passion series and for the movie Evan Almighty, a Jesus on-line pub quiz and guidance on prayer.
Church Army's Chief Executive Mark Russell adds, " Rejesus is a fantastically creative and entertaining resource for those who want to discover more about Jesus and the Christian faith.
"Our passion at Church Army is to do all we can to make Jesus more well known and we are excited at the prospect of working with the creative team at rejesus to do just that and help make this great resource even better.
"We want everyone to be talking about it and all the churches to help support what we do and join us in helping to make Jesus famous."
On the web: http://www.rejesus.co.uk/, http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/
Rob Freeman, Archdeacon of Halifax and Chair of the rejesus board, said, " I am delighted with this news. Rejesus.co.uk was established to enable people who are not connected with church to be able to explore issues around who Jesus is and how he impacts on issues of life and spirituality.
"The partnership with Church Army will help bring fresh impetus and additional resources to the development of the site and help build on our success in establishing rejesus.co.uk as the number one place on the web to go to find out about Jesus."
Rejesus.co.uk is one of the most successful current UK evangelism initiatives. It attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the site each year, many of whom are not in contact with church and are exploring issues of faith and spirituality.
Recent modules launched by rejesus include specially produced content for the BBC's The Passion series and for the movie Evan Almighty, a Jesus on-line pub quiz and guidance on prayer.
Church Army's Chief Executive Mark Russell adds, " Rejesus is a fantastically creative and entertaining resource for those who want to discover more about Jesus and the Christian faith.
"Our passion at Church Army is to do all we can to make Jesus more well known and we are excited at the prospect of working with the creative team at rejesus to do just that and help make this great resource even better.
"We want everyone to be talking about it and all the churches to help support what we do and join us in helping to make Jesus famous."
On the web: http://www.rejesus.co.uk/, http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/
10 things we may not have known before last week....
1. The only DVD rejected by the British Board of Film Classification last year was a boxset of Weeds (broadcast in the UK on Sky One), for promoting drug use - despite more than 1,000 pornographic films being passed.
2. A bespoke garment does not necessarily need to be handmade.
2. A bespoke garment does not necessarily need to be handmade.
3. There are 14 towns called Springfield in the US.4. The England rugby team always includes a lawyer in the tour party.
5. John Lewis sold a Wii Fit game every five minutes in May.
6. Schools influence the smoking habits of young people.
7. Eating a big breakfast helps weight loss.
5. John Lewis sold a Wii Fit game every five minutes in May.
6. Schools influence the smoking habits of young people.
7. Eating a big breakfast helps weight loss.
8. Bill Gates has not one, not two, but three computer screens at his office desk.
9. The British eat potatoes about 10 billion times a year and pasta 1.4 billion times.
10. Infants that use dummies are more likely to get ear infections.
9. The British eat potatoes about 10 billion times a year and pasta 1.4 billion times.
10. Infants that use dummies are more likely to get ear infections.
FAFF - Weston Walk on the Beach
June 28th – 3.00 Walk at Weston-Super-Mare & fish ‘n’ chip supper. Meet at church & sign list if you need a lift. aka Weston-Super-Mud but not when the tide's in. The weather is supposed to be glorious this weekend so no excuses, although, saying that, it is Wimbledon and Glastonbury this weekend!
Don't follow me I'm lost too?
BASEL (Reuters) - Switzerland's national railway has told its workers to stop using their normal orange reflective vests after confused Dutch soccer fans started following them on to the tracks.
A railway spokesman said the changed strip had been prompted by an incident in the Swiss capital Berne when a group of Netherlands supporters followed a worker on to the lines after mistaking his uniform for their traditional orange dress.
"We have now given out yellow vests to all our staff who have to work on or cross the tracks in Basel, where the Dutch fans are now based," Oliver Tamas said Friday. It has raised a few eyebrows but we think it's a necessary measure to ensure the safety of our guests."
Tamas said that 1,500 railway staff involved in fan coordination work had already been given yellow vests to help them stand out from the Dutch supporters. Police in Berne also ditched their orange vests after Netherlands were drawn to play all three of their group stage matches in the city. A Basel police spokesman said Friday that the yellow vests used by Berne police had now been sent to Basel in time for Saturday's quarter-final between Netherlands and Russia.
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A railway spokesman said the changed strip had been prompted by an incident in the Swiss capital Berne when a group of Netherlands supporters followed a worker on to the lines after mistaking his uniform for their traditional orange dress.
"We have now given out yellow vests to all our staff who have to work on or cross the tracks in Basel, where the Dutch fans are now based," Oliver Tamas said Friday. It has raised a few eyebrows but we think it's a necessary measure to ensure the safety of our guests."
Tamas said that 1,500 railway staff involved in fan coordination work had already been given yellow vests to help them stand out from the Dutch supporters. Police in Berne also ditched their orange vests after Netherlands were drawn to play all three of their group stage matches in the city. A Basel police spokesman said Friday that the yellow vests used by Berne police had now been sent to Basel in time for Saturday's quarter-final between Netherlands and Russia.
church of the nazarene broad walk knowle park bristol bs4 2rd
John Arrowsmith - Where is God?
A heathen philosopher once asked: "Where is God?" The Christian answered: "Let me first ask you, where is He not?"
John Arrowsmith
John Arrowsmith
Karaoke - Maybe they will have hymns too!
TOKYO (Reuters) - Love to sing? A Japanese toy maker will soon sell a portable, personal karaoke machine so you can belt out your favorite tunes anywhere, and without having to wait for the microphone.
The "Hi-kara" karaoke machine, by Takara Tomy, is a 7-cm (nearly 3-inch) cube which weighs less than a pound and works like a real machine.
Once the singer selects a song, which can be downloaded off the Internet or from special music cartridges, the lyrics come up on a 2.4-inch display. The machine also has headphones and speakers attached.
"Hi-kara" will go on sale in October for about $100, with song cartridges costing about $40 each.
Shigekazu Mihashi, marketing director at Takara Tomy, told Reuters the machine was aimed at youngsters who could not go into karaoke booths or parlors, which often serve alcohol.
According to Japanese law, youngsters under 16 must leave karaoke parlors by 6 p.m. while those aged under 18 can stay only until 11 p.m.
"Girls who are middle-school age and under can't go to karaoke parlors by themselves even if they wanted to sing, but now they can try it at home with this new karaoke machine," Mihashi said.
Japan is the birthplace of the first karaoke machine and the word is derived from the Japanese for "empty orchestra." Karaoke singing is popular all over the world, and especially in Asia where many families own personal karaoke machines and "KTV" lounges abound.
The "Hi-kara" karaoke machine, by Takara Tomy, is a 7-cm (nearly 3-inch) cube which weighs less than a pound and works like a real machine.
Once the singer selects a song, which can be downloaded off the Internet or from special music cartridges, the lyrics come up on a 2.4-inch display. The machine also has headphones and speakers attached.
"Hi-kara" will go on sale in October for about $100, with song cartridges costing about $40 each.
Shigekazu Mihashi, marketing director at Takara Tomy, told Reuters the machine was aimed at youngsters who could not go into karaoke booths or parlors, which often serve alcohol.
According to Japanese law, youngsters under 16 must leave karaoke parlors by 6 p.m. while those aged under 18 can stay only until 11 p.m.
"Girls who are middle-school age and under can't go to karaoke parlors by themselves even if they wanted to sing, but now they can try it at home with this new karaoke machine," Mihashi said.
Japan is the birthplace of the first karaoke machine and the word is derived from the Japanese for "empty orchestra." Karaoke singing is popular all over the world, and especially in Asia where many families own personal karaoke machines and "KTV" lounges abound.
Psalm 37:8-11 - Meek
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret — it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.
Psalm 37:8-11
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Snack Attack - June 2008
Snack Attack - Everyone had a great time, the pictures tell the story. Breakfast (buttered toast if Sophie had her way lol), games (go blues), crafts (making frogs) and a wonderful story told by Janet. Everything went well and no one got hurt except the ladies with the hot glue!
F.R.O.G. - Fully Rely On God
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Hebrews 13:5 - Covetousness
Hebrews 13:5
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Golf Ball Stuck in the Rough!
Off the seventh tee, Joe sliced his shot deep into a wooded ravine. He took his eight iron and clambered down the embankment in search of his lost ball.
After many long minutes of hacking at the underbrush, he spotted something glistening in the leaves. As he drew nearer, he discovered that it was an eight iron in hands of a skeleton!
Joe immediately called out to his friend, "Jack, I've got trouble down here!"
"What's the matter?" Jack asked from the edge of the ravine.
"Bring me my wedge," Joe shouted. "You can't get out of here with an eight iron!"
After many long minutes of hacking at the underbrush, he spotted something glistening in the leaves. As he drew nearer, he discovered that it was an eight iron in hands of a skeleton!
Joe immediately called out to his friend, "Jack, I've got trouble down here!"
"What's the matter?" Jack asked from the edge of the ravine.
"Bring me my wedge," Joe shouted. "You can't get out of here with an eight iron!"
Nazarene Disaster Response - Floods
Over the past few weeks, heavy rains and flooding have made several counties across the U.S. Midwest disaster areas. In 
Indiana, more than 42 counties were reporting damage at the height of the flooding. According to Nazarene Disaster Response (NDR), the Southwest Indiana District, under the leadership of District Superintendent Garrett Mills, and the Indianapolis District, under the leadership of District Superintendent Ted Lee, have both reported several communities in their respective districts were affected by the massive flooding. NDR is currently responding to the needs in Indiana, and have been affected by the floods themselves. NDR National Director Steve Creech reports volunteers Lynn Mussleman and Mr. and Mrs. James Bickerstaff were pulling a new NDR Rapid Response Trailer from Mississippi to Grace Point Church of the Nazarene in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, on Interstate 65 when it closed due to the floods. They were able to safely find refuge at a local Nazarene church until the interstate was reopened.In working with these districts, NDR is finding a large amount of volunteers are needed to help in the massive recovery efforts. NDR is asking for volunteers over the next eight weeks to help in these projects. Volunteers are needed to help mud out houses and help victims return to their homes.According to Creech, this appears to be a very extensive recovery effort that will require teams and resources. Interested teams and volunteers should contact Steve Creech at screech@ncmi.org.
(We may not be able to volunteer in England but they are in our prayers!)
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It's officially official - no more "Husband and Wife Lung Slice" - yum yum!
BEIJING (Reuters) - It's official. Hungry foreign hordes craving a fix of diced chicken fried with chili and peanuts during the Beijing Olympics will be able to shout "kung pao chicken!" and have 
some hope of getting just that. As it readies for an influx of visitors for the August Games, the Chinese capital has offered restaurants an official English translation of local dishes whose exotic names and alarming translations can leave foreign visitors frustrated and famished.
If officials have their way, local newspapers reported on Wednesday, English-speaking visitors will be able to order "beef and ox tripe in chili sauce," an appetizer, rather than "husband and wife's lung slice." Other favorites have also received a linguistic makeover. "Bean curd made by a pock-marked woman," as the Beijing Youth Daily rendered the spicy Sichuanese dish, is now "Mapo tofu." And "chicken without sexual life" becomes mere "steamed pullet."
According to one widely repeated story, the Chinese name of "kung pao chicken" comes from the name of an imperial official who was fed the dish during an inspection tour. With the Beijing Olympics 51 days away, a notice on the city tourism bureau website ( http://www.bjta.gov.cn/ ) told restaurants to come and pick up a book with the suggested translations.
some hope of getting just that. As it readies for an influx of visitors for the August Games, the Chinese capital has offered restaurants an official English translation of local dishes whose exotic names and alarming translations can leave foreign visitors frustrated and famished.If officials have their way, local newspapers reported on Wednesday, English-speaking visitors will be able to order "beef and ox tripe in chili sauce," an appetizer, rather than "husband and wife's lung slice." Other favorites have also received a linguistic makeover. "Bean curd made by a pock-marked woman," as the Beijing Youth Daily rendered the spicy Sichuanese dish, is now "Mapo tofu." And "chicken without sexual life" becomes mere "steamed pullet."
According to one widely repeated story, the Chinese name of "kung pao chicken" comes from the name of an imperial official who was fed the dish during an inspection tour. With the Beijing Olympics 51 days away, a notice on the city tourism bureau website ( http://www.bjta.gov.cn/ ) told restaurants to come and pick up a book with the suggested translations.
(makes you wonder what other chinese food names for food we eat every day are called?!)
Malcolm Muggeridge - Experience
The Christian religion finds expression thus, in the love of those who love Christ, more comprehensibly and accessibly than in metaphysical or ethical statements. It is an experience rather than a conclusion, a way of life rather than an ideology; [it is] grasped through the imagination rather than understood through the mind, belonging to the realm of spiritual rather than intellectual perception; reaching quite beyond the dimension of words and ideas.
Malcolm Muggeridge
Snack Attack - 21st June - 10am - 12am - FREE!!
A great morning packed full of fun things for local kids from 5 to 10 years old and held in the church hall from 10:00am to 12:00 starting with a great breakfast and then crafts, games and stories. Parents and kids have a break, see you there!
Pictures from the last event!
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Village elects dead mayor!
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - The residents of a Romanian village knowingly voted in a dead man as their mayor in Sunday's municipal election, preferring him to his living opponent.
Neculai Ivascu, 57, who ran the village for almost two decades, died from liver disease just after voting began -- but still won the election by a margin of 23 votes.
A local official said the authorities decided to keep the poll open in case Ivascu's opponent, Gheorghe Dobrescu, won, avoiding the need for a re-run.
"I know he died, but I don't want change," a pro-Ivascu villager told Romanian television.
In the end, election authorities gave the post to the runner-up, but some villagers and Ivascu's party, the powerful opposition Social Democrat Party (PSD), have called for a new vote.
www.cotn.co.uk
World's Oldest Church in Rihab
Archaeologists in Rihab, Jordan, say they have discovered a cave that could be the world's oldest Christian church. Dating to the period AD33-70, the underground chapel would have served as both a place of worship and a home. It is claimed that it was originally used by a group of 70 persecuted Christians who fled from Jerusalem. These early Christians lived and practised their faith in secrecy until the Romans embraced Christianity several hundred years later.
'Beautiful things'
Rihab is in Northern Jordan. The cave is beneath the ancient church of St Georgeous, itself one of the oldest known places of worship in the world.
According to Dr Abdul Qader Al-Hassan, the director of the Rihab Centre for Archaeological studies, the cave site shows clear evidence of early Christian rituals that predate the church. Dr Al-Hassan says that steps lead down into the chapel which is approximately 12m long and seven metres wide. There is a circular area of worship with stone seats separated from living quarters. This circular element, called an apse, is important says Dr Al-Hassan because there is only one other example of a cave with a similar feature, which was also used for Christian worship.
Dr Al-Hassan said: "We found beautiful things. I found the cemetery of this church; we found pottery shards and lamps with the inscription 'Georgeous'".
In the cave there is also a tunnel that leads to a cistern which supplied water to the dwellers. An inscription in the floor of the church above refers to the "70 beloved by God and the divine" whom the archaeologist believes were refugees from religious persecution in Jerusalem.
Dr Al-Hassan says that excavation of the tunnel and the cistern may yield yet more evidence about the lives of these early Christians.
"From the tunnel to the cistern is very important. We want to clean it and make an excavation inside it. We found a very old inscription beside it and coins also, and crosses made from iron."
Other experts say they are cautious about the claim. They want to examine the artefacts and see clear dating evidence. The earliest confirmed examples of churches date from the third century, they say.
'Beautiful things'
Rihab is in Northern Jordan. The cave is beneath the ancient church of St Georgeous, itself one of the oldest known places of worship in the world.
According to Dr Abdul Qader Al-Hassan, the director of the Rihab Centre for Archaeological studies, the cave site shows clear evidence of early Christian rituals that predate the church. Dr Al-Hassan says that steps lead down into the chapel which is approximately 12m long and seven metres wide. There is a circular area of worship with stone seats separated from living quarters. This circular element, called an apse, is important says Dr Al-Hassan because there is only one other example of a cave with a similar feature, which was also used for Christian worship.
Dr Al-Hassan said: "We found beautiful things. I found the cemetery of this church; we found pottery shards and lamps with the inscription 'Georgeous'".
In the cave there is also a tunnel that leads to a cistern which supplied water to the dwellers. An inscription in the floor of the church above refers to the "70 beloved by God and the divine" whom the archaeologist believes were refugees from religious persecution in Jerusalem.
Dr Al-Hassan says that excavation of the tunnel and the cistern may yield yet more evidence about the lives of these early Christians.
"From the tunnel to the cistern is very important. We want to clean it and make an excavation inside it. We found a very old inscription beside it and coins also, and crosses made from iron."
Other experts say they are cautious about the claim. They want to examine the artefacts and see clear dating evidence. The earliest confirmed examples of churches date from the third century, they say.
Where will it end?
Church bells which have rung out for hundreds of years may be silenced after complaints they are a "nuisance".
Environmental health officers are investigating the noise from the bells in St Peter and Paul's Church, Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
Rev Nigel Hartley said about 20 people had complained about the ringing on Sunday afternoons.
He said that if officials uphold complaints, churches across the UK may have to consider the implications.
Mr Hartley said the bells had been used to call people to worship and for at least 500 years.
Suffolk Coastal District Council said a complaint had been received and officers were duty-bound to investigate.
Environmental health officers are investigating the noise from the bells in St Peter and Paul's Church, Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
Rev Nigel Hartley said about 20 people had complained about the ringing on Sunday afternoons.
He said that if officials uphold complaints, churches across the UK may have to consider the implications.
Mr Hartley said the bells had been used to call people to worship and for at least 500 years.
Suffolk Coastal District Council said a complaint had been received and officers were duty-bound to investigate.
2 Corinthians 4:17 - Small Troubles
We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles.
The English Patient - Oldy but a goody!
An old chap was very ill and his son went to visit him in the hospital. Suddenly, the father began to breathe heavily and grabbed the pen and pad by the bed. With his last ounce of strength he wrote a note, dropped it, and died. The son was so overcome with grief that he didn't remember slipping the note into his pocket. At the funeral, he reached into the pocket of his coat and immediately felt the note. He excitedly read it thinking it might be something he could recite during the service.
It said: YOU FOOL -- GET OFF MY OXYGEN PIPE!!!
1 John 2:17 - Live Forever - Momento Mori
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:17
1 John 2:17
"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work..." Woody Allen said, "I want to achieve it through not dying."
C.S. Lewis - The Universe
The very strength and facility of the pessimists' case at once poses us a problem. If the universe is so bad, or even half so bad, how on earth did human beings ever come to attribute it to the activity of a wise and good Creator? Men are fools, perhaps; but hardly so foolish as that. The direct inference from black to white, from evil flower to virtuous root, from senseless work to a workman infinitely wise, staggers belief. The spectacle of the universe as revealed by experience can never have been the ground of religion: it must have always been something in spite of which religion, acquired from a different source, was held.
Thousands pray over gang violence
More than 6,000 Christians have met for an evening of prayer focusing on gang crime in Greater Manchester.Police chiefs, community leaders and politicians attended the event at Manchester Velodrome, organised by church group City Links. 
They were asked to pray for police forces and the reduction of gang crime. Organisers hope to promote partnerships between the police, local authorities and churches to address the causes of crime and bring hope to communities.
Christians from all denominations attended the event at the velodrome on Stuart Street, which recently hosted the World Cycling Championships.
Debra Green, director of City Links, said: "Persistent prayer, over many years, has opened the way for a huge number of effective initiatives delivering benefits to people and communities far and wide."
The Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch and Chief Superintendent Neil Wain, Stockport Divisional Commander, were among those attending.
Mr Wain said: "There are significant benefits from initiatives which involve faith communities working with the police and local agencies, including improving community confidence and trust, increased understanding and not least reduced crime. By working and praying together to reduce crime and disorder we not only change the physical circumstances that affect people's everyday lives but we change the spiritual circumstances. As a police officer and a Christian I know that this work can and will impact on our communities."
They were asked to pray for police forces and the reduction of gang crime. Organisers hope to promote partnerships between the police, local authorities and churches to address the causes of crime and bring hope to communities.Christians from all denominations attended the event at the velodrome on Stuart Street, which recently hosted the World Cycling Championships.
Debra Green, director of City Links, said: "Persistent prayer, over many years, has opened the way for a huge number of effective initiatives delivering benefits to people and communities far and wide."
The Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch and Chief Superintendent Neil Wain, Stockport Divisional Commander, were among those attending.
Mr Wain said: "There are significant benefits from initiatives which involve faith communities working with the police and local agencies, including improving community confidence and trust, increased understanding and not least reduced crime. By working and praying together to reduce crime and disorder we not only change the physical circumstances that affect people's everyday lives but we change the spiritual circumstances. As a police officer and a Christian I know that this work can and will impact on our communities."
Gordon Brown praises christian relief efforts!
THE CHURCHES are successfully teaching the parable of the Good Samaritan to the nation, the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, suggested this week.
Mr Brown was speaking in an interview to mark the tenth anniversary of the chain-of-debt campaign for the relief of debt in the developing world.
“I do applaud the way churches have made this a test of being a good neighbour,” said Mr Brown. “People are helping people they will never know or meet. These people ought to recognise they have helped to transform opportunities for people all around the world.”
Mr Brown, when asked whether he went to church, replied: “I try to, I try to.” He said that campaigning against poverty in the developing world was “about the text, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ It is about a world in which people recognise that a neighbour is not simply [the person] who is geographically next door, but people who are in every part of the world. . . We are not moral strangers to each other; the more we can find a common ground — people sharing the same moral sense around the world — the more we will be able to achieve a future in making the world a safer place.”
The Prime Minister listed some of the measurable benefits of debt relief. “It has achieved an enormous amount, but obviously there is more to do — there is always more to do.” He said: “Without the work of churches and faith communities, we would not have been able to achieve so much.”
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James 2:8 - Neighbour
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right.
James 2:8
http://www.cotn.co.uk/
Brings a whole new meaning to "LightHouse"
Imagine a fairy cake with a perfect tiny white-iced church on top and you have a picture of St Cwyfan's.
The 'church in the sea' is perched on top of an island, shored up with stone walls, off the coast of Aberffraw on the west coast of Anglesey. It was originally built on a peninsula, but the sea has nibbled away at the surrounding land over the centuries.
The building of the sea wall 130 years ago has preserved the current building.
St Cwyfan's appears to be different things to different people.
John Hughes, the local historian known locally as John Bess, shares his knowledge of the building and its history with boundless enthusiasm. He's currently planting a garden on the "mainland" overlooking the church, in preparation for the siting of a bench where the structure can be appreciated. St Cwyfan's is cut off by the tide, and when the land was originally eaten away locals were distressed to find skeletons washed onto the shores as graves tumbled into the waves. Later an extension to the church fell into the water during a storm. Parishioners did try to use it regularly, however, by building a stone causeway to get to the church at low tide, but eventually that was lost to the sea too. Megan Harris, who cleans the church, gets tongue-tied while explaining that her family's links go back several generations: the place is simply "special," she says. Church warden Roy Mearns sees it as a symbol of how Christianity developed, and indeed prospered, after St Cwyfan's came over from Ireland, in the 6th Century, and built a straw roofed house of worship on the same site.
'Sunday best'
The donation of the electric organ, by John Hughes, is seen as exciting by all those involved. A petrol-powered generator is set up outside and then Elizabeth Roberts becomes the first person ever to play an electric organ within St Cwyfan's walls.
It is a "privilege, I'm so glad I got the chance to do this", she said.
Both Mrs Roberts and John Hughes remember attending services at the church, and once they arrived before the tide had gone out.
"We had to stay on the beach in our Sunday best until we could cross," she said.
John Hughes sang along to Love Divine, filling the simple space which houses an altar and wooden chairs. It was a hair-standing-up-on-the-back-of-the-neck moment. Only three services are held at St Cwyfan's each year, with the first this Sunday afternoon. It is also opened for weddings, which would be wildly romantic, and for christening local children, linking the visitors to this pretty, sturdy little church, to all those who have done the same over the centuries.
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