Archive for March, 2010

Posted on March 31, 2010 - by Tim L

Street Pastors

We are quite desperate for base supporters, especially on Saturday nights.  Currently we have no cover for Saturday nights at all.  Could you possibly help?.  What this involves is being in the Salvation Army base whilst the street pastors are out, providing them with tea / coffee when they come back for a break, and sometimes at the end.  If any police officers drop in, giving them tea / coffee and talking to them.  And of course, praying for the street pastors whilst they are out.

Any one who is interested can contact Jane Neale 01455 617185 or 07747 188708 for details.

Posted on March 29, 2010 - by Tim L

Good Friday Walk

GOOD FRIDAY  WITNESS (Hinckley)

Meet at 11 am, St. Peter’s Catholic Car Park and walk to Market Place for 11.30 start

An interview with Pilate followed by a mime of The Passion by the Sunshine Club

The Salvation Army to play for Easter hymns.

All are welcome at 12 noon for Refreshments at the URC in the Borough

At 12 Noon Reflective Vigil St. Mary’s (come and go at will) till 3p.m.

Posted on March 26, 2010 - by Tim L

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday Passover Meal at Burbage Methodist.

During Holy Week, the week before Easter Sunday, Christians meet together to remember the events of the last week of Jesus’ life.  Burbage Methodists will host the Maundy Thursday evening event inviting others from Burbage to join them.

The event takes the form of a meal with readings and songs/hymns. The event begins at begins at 7pm and includes a meal (a hot chicken dish).  Donations welcome but there will be no charge.

Why is it a Passover meal I hear you ask?

Well, it is a way of remembering the events of the week before Jesus’ death. The Passover, or Seder meal, has a rich Jewish history (see Exodus 12 ) and is recorded in the Gospels (e.g. Matthew 26;17-19)

Posted on March 25, 2010 - by Tim L

Passion of the Christ

The Pentecostal Church in Burbage will be showing Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ on Good Friday starting at 12 noon.

All are welcome and there is no charge.

Posted on March 23, 2010 - by Tim L

New resources

Mission shaped congregations is an interactive DVD-ROM to help you plan a mission-shaped Sunday worship service. It is not designed for leading worship in a fresh expression, but rather to introduce the key ideas and concepts of fresh expressions and mission-shaped thinking to a congregation that is taking its first steps into incarnational mission. It has different streams tailored to different types of church and you can mix and match resources to plan out your service. There’s also followup materials for midweek meetings or house groups - The Fresh Expressions Team think it will be a really useful resource for those wanting to start a fresh expressions journey with their congregation.

For more information please go to

Posted on March 23, 2010 - by Tim L

Vine fm

VINE FM…..TUNE INTO 87.7FM
SATURDAY 29TH MARCH - SUNDAY 4TH APRIL
Broadcasting from 7am- 10pm
Thought for the Day, Desert Island Discs, More Tea Vicar, Artist Profiles, Breakfast & Drive -Time Listening
Focus on Youth, Easter Services, School Broadcasts

Posted on March 18, 2010 - by Tim L

Changing the Landscape Conference

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, was the keynote speaker at a national event in Lincoln focusing on the long-term development of fresh expressions of church. Dr Williams was joined by Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Britain. If you would to hear/view the talks please go to or to see two practitioners go to Elaine Lindridge and  Chris Russell

I went along for the day. It was good to catch up with fellow practitioners and hear some great stories of what God is up to.

There were some great quotes;

“Fresh Expressions are not about a new market product….they are not about signing people up for membership” Rowan Williams

“For all we know we might still be in the early church” Rowan Williams

“The word ”’church’ was a verb before it was a noun”

“Methodist ecclesiology is missional” Martyn Atkins.

“My hope and dream for fresh expressions is that the exotic will become indigenous”  Martyn Atkins

“….the rainy days are here…” Martyn Atkins

“The Holy Spirit always has an address - a post code.”

In the end I personally found it to be a frustrating day.  We have been asking some questions around being church for a while now at the Bridge.  Today served as reminder that we have some of the big pictures, but we lack a lot of the detail.

A time for for patience and quiet waiting?

Posted on March 15, 2010 - by Tim L

Fresh Expressions news letter (March)

The latest edition of the Fresh Expressions news letter is now available. It has some good stuff in it. Go and have a look.

Posted on March 14, 2010 - by Tim L

Lent 4 - Security

We’re continuing our theme of being on a journey and what are the things that count as travel essentials?  Many of us would say that in life we are on a journey, we’re not always sure where it is heading but the optimistic amongst us usually hope it’s the right direction.

Here at the Bridge we try to think through being equipped for that journey - what are the things that we need?

This week we’re focussing on Security

Watch a clip from Herbie Fully Loaded - 1;06;54 - 1;09;54

Where do you feel safe?

So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep.  All those others are up to no good-sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them.  I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for-will freely go in and out, and find pasture.  A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy.

I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.  “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary.  A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him.

He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf.

He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.  “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me.

In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd.    This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again.

John 10:7-17 (the Message)

Everyone will need to come and pick up a piece of wool. Take it back to your seat and tie it to yourself.

How does it make you feel?

Some of you will feel that it inhibits you and makes you feel tied to something. There will be a whole load of emotions about how it makes you feel because what will have happened to you in the past.

Some of you will be reminded of friendship bracelets and it will be a positive thing because it will remind you of good friends.

It is a bit like security, or mum having eyes in the back of here head, or not being able to drive the race car.  We can take them either way.  A mum who has eyes in the back of her means it is so difficult to get away with things without them seeing.  OR it can mean that mum is always keeping an eye on us so we can be safe.

How many of you have asked to do something and been told that you are not allowed to?

Is that been because you don’t understand why it is that you want to do whatever it is or is it because you will not be safe doing what you are hoping to do.

Maggie (from Herbie Fully Loaded) wanted to drive in the race. She wanted to win.  But her father, every time he looked at her saw their mum, his wife and he already lost her once and he did not want to loose her again.

Security is of vital importance for us as human beings.  It adds no end to our sense of well being.  If you don’t feel secure or safe you can really struggle in life.  Struggle with relationships, struggle to be who you really are, struggle over taking appropriate risks, etc.  Someone called Maslow came up with pyramid of our basic needs and safety/security comes one up from the bottom. It is one of the foundations in our needs of being human.

In the passage we read earlier Jesus said he was the Gate.  Now for some that is about being kept in against their will whilst for others it represents safety and security for life without having to change or risk anything.

Jesus also says he is the shepherd who knows is sheep.  ‘Knowing’ is the crucial word here.  Jesus knows those he looks after.

This is about safety balanced with freedom - Maggie did drive the car and win the race with her dad at her side.

This is about security with independence - a mum who loves a child but wants them to discover the world out there safely.

Sanctuary with true liberty - a safe place to come back to when things have gone pear shaped.  A safe place with no judgement but arms of welcome home.  A sense of home without us being locked in.

We all have a lot to learn about security, mums, sons, daughters.  I think a good place to start is with the shepherd who knows his sheep and who is known by the sheep.

Tie your wool to yourself - it might help remind you this week at 11am of the Shepherd who can provide security for you if you get to know him.

Posted on March 10, 2010 - by Joy Hatfield

Mingle Snap Shot Challenge (take 2!)