Pub and Happy Christmas

Tonight the pub carol service will go ahead, hopefully most people will know about it, then after that we're going to chill out and enjoy our family Christmas, we hope you have a great family time and thanks for following and praying for us this year.

rich

snowed off

Hi all, saddly our Pub carol service was snowed off last night, but we're back on, on wednesday, so please pray it takes place and that it's a great time.

What a great (and tiring week)

So must churches have a busy week and at 123 we're the same.
Today Alison is putting up two interactive Christmas boards in 2 childrens centres.
Tomorrow I'm taking the funeral of a lovely man, doing an assembly at the secondary school and doing the last session on dads course. Wednesday for our team meeting we're going around to some families we know to do carol singing. Thursday am Alison and steve are leading last delight ( self esteem) on thursday night we' re having our church gathering for families, really excited about this. Fri- prep for sat which is the pub carol service. Again what an opportunity. Sun steve and I are both preaching at different church Monday we collapse !!

( and we've got 20 plants to take around to families of funerals I've taken over the year!!)

Please pray because these are all exciting opportunities to love people and to communicate Jesus!

R.

Community survey results.

These are the result from the community survey, sadly the only why i could upload them was to save each page as a picture, i hope you are able to open them.

r.

Feed back from our first event about what our friends think about church.

These questions were asked by Steve and Alison on the 4^th Nov 2010 at our first gathering, time was short, but people spoke freely and it was a good time.

What type of community do you want to be a part of?

Doing stuff for the Homeless, elderly, foster care Etc

Care for others

Outings

Parent and Toddler groups

Sunday school

Celebrating time in year which bring people together ( Christmas, Easter)

CRB’s- a community in which kids are safe.

Meeting people where they are

A range of generations (Adopt a granny)

Mixture of time with and with Kids.

What does ‘church’ look like? (the answers given where based either on peoples hopes of what church could be like and on negative experience people have had)

A community Cold Families

Warmth Kids groups Like it to be fun instead of boring

Friendly Sunday School Boy bridage

Group of people Lecturing Is belonging just about believing in God

Doing stuff

When would like church gatherings to be ?

Saturday

Thursday or Friday evening

Let it snow let sn...... Actually let it stop

Ok So I like a snow ball fight as much as the next man who still thinks he's a kid!! But honestly kids of school for three and a half days most of my meetings and times to hook up with people put of enough!! However the snow has meant I've had to move around a little slower!! Which means you notice more about the houses and people around you, as I dash around at high speed normally slowing down has helped me see more.

R.

That's not in the Christmas story!!

Today Caleb's school had a Christmas Fancy dress day!! (we didn't have such things in my day) anyway Caleb wanted to go as a wise man, he said king first but we had a brief theological chat about it and agreed wise man wearing a crown was a good way forward. Well Alison and the boy set to making a camel for the wise king to ride, they did and excellent job and off to school Caleb and I went, we saw all the normal things kids dressed as trees, fairies, elfs and father Christmas, a couple of angels some kids wrapped up in boxes as presents and some sheep tenders.
As we approached one of Caleb's friends, who was dressed as a box!! His friend said looking at Caleb that's nothing to do with Christmas!

I was not surprised and to start with a little sad.

This encounter made me think that obviously we've got a job to do in telling the wondrous story of God come to dwell among those he made, loves and who He wants to tell of this love and their need to enter a kingdom focused on receiving and living his love.

But..... It made me think a second thought!!
The church and churches children have been told this story, dressed up as characters from this story, sung the carols of this story, they know this story , but on the whole live waiting for people to come to their church services and activities, good job God the father didn't wait. He came and dwelt with us. Immanuel.

So maybe it's not just my son's friend who doesn't know the story!!

(ps Caleb won the class prize! )

Time is running out for mission!!

I've found my first grey hair today!!!

why living in a community is so important.......

Most people will know that as a team we've spent large amount of time just being on Harold Hill.

So would ask is this a good use of time?

Yesterday at the funeral i was greeted by a man who said..... You have breakfast in the cafe don't you?

Also at the funeral were...........grandparents of one of Caleb's school friends, the parents of one of Calebs school friends, someone who i did the funeral for his brother in law as well as all those i know from the pub.

bit by bit people will realise and come to know that we are Christians who are committed to being part of and being on Harold Hill and slowly will trust us a people who are different but the same;

It's also a real challenging because you never know how you're going to meet and that you need to be a follower of Jesus everywhere, because people will know if you are not!!

The Funeral

Yesterday i took Terry's funeral. Thank you for all who prayed for this.

It was a very moving experience and such a privilege to be a part of it.

Obviously as Terry was only 56 there was a great Saddness for the around 350 mourners who came.

The service went well, here is some of what I said in my tribute.

""Now I don’t fully understand why people who are so clearly loved by so many are taken early, I question God about it myself. Brooke in child like faith has asked God to look after her Grandad. I can’t speak for God, but I would say to Brooke and to all of us, that as a follower of Jesus, the Jesus I read about in the bible and know would be found in pubs like the pomps and Jesus as a hard working carpenter would have many stories to share with a hard working and faithful man like Terry.

The reading Steve read talks about the hope that we can have that because Jesus Died and rose again for us a time is coming when God will take all pain and suffering and will look after those who want looking after.

And for those of us who do have tears and pain now God offers his comfort, support and looking after as we who are left mourn Terrys Passing.""

I have never seen so many flower tributes ( all in the Spurs colours)

Please continue to pray for what comes next, many people were encouraging afterwards.

R.

Shoe weekend

Hi all just back from running youth sessions at shoe weekend away. Shoebury have such a great youth group and it was great spend time thinking about the lords prayer and mission.

(for all our friends at shoe, we're really sorry but it didn't feel like we got much Time to see you all and find out your news. Sorry about that)

This is Jess swimming in the sea in nov!

Last week!

Last week two things happened. Which are going to provide us with an opportunity to serve Jesus and his kingdom in our local community.

First on Wednesday Terry the partner of the pub land lord died of cancer. I'm doing the funeral on monday and would really value you prayers.

Secondly we had a gathering for people we knew on Thursday night. We invited only people we knew personally and those we felt could do with being part of a community. (for example we did not invite people from the pun as at is already a community and our desire is to see the gospel in the pub community, not to take people out of pub community. )

The night included food, family activities, a kind of Kids club and a discussion with the adults about ' what do they think church should be like. And loads of fire works.

The night was amazing and we are now starting a weekly community meal at our house on a thursday night.

As a team we still have so much to work through , but it is amazing what is happening. Thank you for your support.

R.

Please pray

Please pray for
My friend t he has cancer and is very very Ill. Please pray that if it right I get to see him before he dies and that I do I'm able to say, be the right thing.

Fire station trip

On Wednesday we went to the new fire station on Harold Hill with 5 other families it was a great time of water and fun. The fire men were really good with the little kids. Alison arranged the trip and it was yet another great time of hanging out with some of the families.

Can you believe it's been a year

It's been a year since steve and lauren joined us. And what a year. To celebrate this we had a special evening together to express our thanks to them and to God for the last year.
We spent some time with the kids and then went out for dinner. At dinner we reviewed the last year and were amazed to see it all on paper. We are all so grateful to Jesus for all that we have learnt, been and done in the last year. We also looked at what we'd be looking to build on.

Thanking you so much for praying for us.

At the end of the meal we shared communion together and reminded each other that the first Passover was shared at the start of a journey. We are still only at the start of this journey but we've been very encouraged with our first few steps.



Our team communion. (some left overs of our time together).

I love you but.........

This is from http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/

And it sums up how I feel about established church.
(check the site it very good.)

Is it fair?

Is it me or are the government redefining the word fair?

Thankfully our gospel is not carry what is fair, but carry your cross.

Whatever political colour you are, I hope your prayer is 'lord your kingdom come for the poor.'

The need to hear others story.

In the last month we've been really blessed to have a few visitors to out team meetings , these visitors have had different experiences of church planting and been really helpful at helping us reflect on our story and as we' ve listento their story it's helped inspire and challenge us.

Now I not saying we're going to copy what they have done. ( there is far too much blind coping of what others do in the vain hope it will bring a more successful church to the copier if you ask me) but it can be so helpful in understanding what god is up to and what the potenatal highs and Lows are. And to help you see the weaknesses of what we' re doing.

So who from outside you context are you allowing to speak and share.

What someone made with my marrow!

Calories 4 Jesus

This week in the name of mission I've consumed the following.

1 pint of Guinness in the pub on Sunday night
1 team meal with team and Juliet k and simon jones from urban expression who can to support and encourage us.

1 team meal with team and someone who is prayfully considering join the team. Please pray for them.

1 full English with dad who's life is a little crazy at the moment.



10 grapes with kids while doing crèche 4 self esteem group. ( alison had a Huge choc biscuit, while doing the first session.

Coffee with the local head of the family support team.

Dinner with the dads from the dads group which we eat in the middle of the session.
( we also ate the left overs afterwards while watching the second half of the football. )

Coffee and some amazing biscuits with the head of the local voluntary agency support group who was so help in helping me think about what to do about the way we should proceed with our legal status.

It's amazing what a little food and drink can achieve.

Peace I give you

Ok so most people who know me know I don't usually bring peace, I usually bring noise ( amazing sense of humour & very wise insights) however in the last year I've started to see what being a person of peace in the mist of hurting and chaos can mean and I now long to share the peace of Jesus at communion ( or any other meal or setting). To be honest I've always found that moment at communion a little awkward. You talk to your mates , and people who don't really know or like you look at the ground or up to the heavens to avoid eye contact. However imagine that sharing the peace was a blessing that in the mist of hurt , pain, rejection and sadness & loneliness. You could prayer over someone and bless someone hoping the the peace of Jesus helps and comforts them in their place of pain. Now I know loads of Christians and not yets that need that prayer and need people of peace at more than just communion.

The peace of Jesus be with you.

R.

Last harvest!

The last harvest of the year! I know sad,

Change of plan!

Things aren't always as good as they first seemed,so were going to change our first gathering to be a meal at which we invite those we know to come and influence what type of church we have and what they think would work locally.

We're going to have this on the 4th nov, as a team we feel this is more caring to local community rather than importing a church model. After this we seek to honour what people suggest.
R

Please pray for these new things

After a year of getting to know Harold hill and it's people we are in place where we are making some responses to what is emerging in our new friendships.

So please pray for these:

• The self esteem gathering called 'delight'. The main aim of this is to is to give mums an opportunity to look at what is coursing them low self esteem and the Christian response to these issues.

• We will be holding our first gathering on Thursday 14th of October. It will be a family meal/worship/craft/ being thankful to God. Were inviting all the people/ families we know.

• Community meal: on Thursdays we are now going to have a drop in community meal, starting at ours, the aim to help build community for these how don't have any. and about once a month we will do a 'church' type gathering

• Steve has started college, and Alison has now been trained in the same parenting course I have.

• I have started another parenting course for dads only, as ever there are some great dads with amazing stories, real wisdom needed.

Of course none of this may work. But our prayer is 'Lord your kingdom come & build your church'


Many thanks for you prayers.

How are you doing!!

Last week and went to do some pastoral visiting, while i was doing that i popped into to another local church minister, i then spent 45 mins listening to their problems before being ushered out of the door, i then drove back to Harold hill to see another family, this family have major stress and some real issues which we talk about ( i can't tell you how much i enjoy these visits)

The main difference between these two visits was at the church leaders house i was never asked how i was or how the work was going, it was strange ( i didn't go around to talk about me, but still!!), while at the Harold Hill house they are asking about the kids, work etc.

Phil 2v4, this week i found more of this in a house where people don't yet know jesus than i did in a study which was used to prepare sermons.

"jesus forgive me when i've been so rapped up in rich shorter not to notice the human being(s) and their need in the room with me."

john and wendy

are we now using this enough?

rich

last week and friday

Hi all, last week we went on the Armed forces Christian summer house party ( say that fast after having real communion wine!) any way it was a very refreshing week and the time with other and the teaching input was very good. We'll tell you more in the future.

we continue to be in the edge of not knowing what the next year will hold but we're sure we're close to something!! time to keep trusting in God.

On friday ( tomorrow) we've got a pamper lunch for the mums from the parenting course. some of the mums are still keen to do the self esteem sessions which is great as they are great ladies and have some much potential.

please pray for the pamper lunch that people enjoy, feel valued and relax an that it continue to witness to the God who loves.

(we're off for a week on our own next week thats to my mum's fiends generosity, please pray for a great time)

love and Prayers

R.

Why Our Team Name

Our team name As a team we’ve not really had a name to go by, we’ve just told people that we’re starting a new church on Harold Hill. To be honest we were keen to hold off giving ourselves a name for a while, however it has become clear for many different reasons we needed to give ourselves a name.

So after spending time thinking, praying and talking about what we’d want our name to communicate about us. We have come up with:

Church 123:Working title for a new church on Harold Hill

123 comes from Matthew 1v23

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

123 therefore hints at the bible verse, but also that we are starting something simple, easy, down to earth.

The virgin- Mary was an unexpected humble and potentiality despised woman and yet God did something amazing with her. Harold Hill is a humble and often despised, it would be an unexpected area for God to do something amazing with, but we believe that God has been and is doing something amazing on Harold Hill.

The virgin will be with child . God does the amazing, miraculous and wonderful and as a church we want to see God doing the amazing, miraculous and wonderful and bring new life among those on Harold Hill.

Working title:One of our most important values it that local people have influence over the church, it’s name and structure. We are not here to impose but to work with, we not importing a style of church which was conceived in a different culture, we are growing a church in this culture. Whilst we have felt the need to name ourselves we are very keen that people understand that the name can be changed, in fact we hope that new local believers will change it.

Church

The word church is a loaded word in English culture, but we went for it for these reasons:

We want to be a church and are not far off being one.

We want to be part of something which redeems the word

People on Harold Hill seem very suspicious of new and fancy things, the word church we felt would give some reassurance that we were not some thing to be suspicious or afraid of.

Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

The whole value of us living among people and the reality that Jesus mission style started by being among people is so important to us as a team, we believe that God is with those on Harold Hill, but we also want to demonstrate that by the way we are locally incarnated.

So it is not a usually name, but what we’ve found is that straight away it gets people talking and asking questions. On the last parenting course I told people what our name was and then spent 20mins in conversation about what it meant. It is a little strange but we hope that like all we do it will be a tool in sharing the good news and in speaking about what we are about.

team video

If you go to

http://vimeo.com/13733855

the password is church123

Steve did this for the Eastern Baptist ass. day. enjoy!!

Holidays and Parenting courses

HI all, I always think the summer is going to be a relaxing time!!! and then it gets really busy.

The last couple of weeks have been about cementing the new friendships and relationships with local people.

The Pub has been running a parent and kids group over the summer, which is great of them and means yet another good opportunity for us to hang out with people ad support the pub as they run it.

During the summer we will have the opportunity to go on Holiday. The first will be with the armed forces Christian union ( it was through them i become a follower of Jesus) it's a small family house party with excellent teaching and the best part is the kids have groups once in the morning and once in the afternoon while the adults have free time which will be very refreshing for Alison and I.

Some friends of my mum and dads are also letting us rent a cottage near exmoor at mates rates, we can't wait to be away just as a family.

please pray for these continuing opportunities for friendship, please pray that our hols are relaxing and that the kids sleep! and please pray the veggie patch and house are ok while were away.

Love and Prayers

R.

Sorry it been so long

well what can i tell you:

we've given ourselves a working title 'church 123' i'll example more in our next prayer letter out in the next couple of weeks.

the summer is going to be an amazing opportunity to hang out with people we've met and got to know as well as a chance to have our batteries recharged.

please pray for the follow:

plans for next term, a good summer holiday, time with our new friends.

we what can i tell you that we've been up to.

On Saturday we hosted the graduation BBq for the latest parenting program, it was a really good day. The local MP came and all in all it was a great example of what we're about.

fun family and coming together to support each other. the Parents are asking loads about church so it's all very promising.

rich

Parenting course

I’ve been able to be involved in the parenting course this time round and have been helping with the crèche. It’s been great to get to know the kids of those on the course and has helped me begin to connect with the parents too. We’ve enjoyed a picnic in the park with some of the families and I often see them around in Harold Hill. I guess knowing that I know their kids, the fact that the kids will say hi all helps with building trust in new relationships. Here’s hoping this will continue to develop over the summer.

A

what you did for my dad that was.....

I did a friends funeral from Harold hill, i saw him in the pub the following week, he was very grateful for what i done and said

"What you did for my dad that was the bollocks!"

I love being in such a real part of the world.

r.

my sister's wedding this weekend

hi all, hope you're well, my little sister is getting married this weekend, i'm preaching which is a real privilege.

please pray, kids are being a nightmare at the mo when it comes to sleeping!! the joys of having three!

Are we like social services?

I’ve said it and I’ve heard others say it. “The danger is in serving our local community that we can land up being social services to our local community and not talking enough about Jesus. “

Social services and others in similar rolls on the whole do a great job and I have considered it a privilege to work with these professionals. Below is not an attempt to knock their vital work, it is however an attempt to reflect on how like social services the church isn’t.

We’re not like social services because………………….

We live and share the same community.

We are in it for the long term.

We don’t call people ‘our clients’ or ‘service users’.

We don’t have two mobile phones one for work and one for friends.

We don’t have a high turn over of staff.

We call those we serve our friends.

Most of us don’t get paid to do it.

We don’t judge people even if we’ve seen similar sets of circumstances in other people’s lives.

We are open after 5:30pm

We don’t make, coerce or threaten people to engage with us.

Those we serve have met our children.

We don’t count people, results or outcomes.

I guess if the church is being the church I can’t see why people would think we were like social services.

I guess if the church was like the above it should scream Jesus without saying it.

I guess if we think like we’re being like social services it not that we not talking about Jesus enough, rather we not serving enough like Him.

As I’ve reflected on this I’ve realised I was wrong to say could we could be seen as an extension to social services.

I’m sure we’ll continue to work along side socials services, but not as an extension, as the church of Jesus Christ.

Look what i'm growing

The picture will amaze some people as they can see I’ve got a veggie patch, as I’ve reflected on peoples annual attempt to grow fruit, I’ve seen some similarities between growing fruit and veg and growing a church.

I’ve cleaned the ground

But not eaten from it yet

I’ve exposed the earth

I’m still hungry

I’ve added manure,

But still nothing grows

I’ve worked to get ground ready to plant

I’ve Planted and chitted,

But still no fruit

I’ve planted seedlings and read about how they should grow!

Some have grown others haven’t

Some I really thought would take and others have surprised me.

I’ve passionately weeded and weeded anything that harm my crop,

(sometimes not sure if what I’m pulling up is what I’m meant to be growing!)

I’ve watered and tended,

(Can anyone tell me why my tomatoes have yellow on the leaves?)

I’ve panicked about late frosts; torrential rain and baking hot sun,

Still no fruit?! Still no harvest?! Still no church?!

Am I failing or doing it right?

I'm crying!

only because i've been cutting onions for the dad's parenting course graduation BBQ which is at our house tomorrow.

We are so humble at the number of community contacts we have already. PLease be praying that they move into real friendships.

We don't just want to be seen as profession people, but we desire to have close two way friendships with local people, we are slowly starting to see this, pray we have the wisdom to not get too busy and maintain the personal touch with those God have called us to serve.

Finding God truth in unexpected places

That other day I was reading a stars book with Caleb and we came a story in which one of the main characters said "great love has no-one than this: to lay do his life for his friend". He wasn't quoting from the bible, but he words were from the bible. (John 15v13)

As we move around Harold Hill we find that we are seeing and hearing God even if those speaking don't know it!

Please continue to pray for us, exciting things are happening.

I hope you hear God Speak to you in unexpected ways this week.

rich.

Caleb also wanted to post a video!!

sorry it's been a while

Sorry it’s been so long since we blogged! The last few weeks have been a bit of a blur with chicken pox ahoy among the kids and sickness bugs, oh the fun. We can hardly believe that Easter is nearly here, time has flown. We’re organising an Easter event at the pub which we’re hoping will be lots of fun. A bit more challenging to share the Easter story but praying that people will learn something new. We certainly are and thinking hard about how to explain the Easter story. In the last month or so we’ve had the opportunity to meet up with other Urban Expression teams which has been great. We’ve really enjoyed spending time with others in similar situations and learning from them about urban mission. We’ll do our best to update this more often over the next few weeks.

A

Alison writes

Life on Harold Hill is treating us well and we’re starting to build relationships with those we’ve met. Jess, Anya and myself enjoy going to a parent and child play session at the children’s centre each week. It’s great to mix with the parents there and also getting to know the staff. Jess particularly has fun with the paint and glitter! Caleb has just got over chicken pox so we’ve all been stuck inside and await the girls getting it. It’s been good to help out a family this week who have just had twins with some meals. Another great thing has been getting to know Steve and Lauren better and enjoying the fact they are closer now and on the hill. I guess for me at the moment it’s a case of being patient as I adapt to life with 3 kids whilst trying to meet new people and see how God develops things here. Life with 3 is manic but fun! In the craziness of it all I’ll keep trying to listen out for God and hope I’ve got the energy for whatever he has in store.
A

Please Pray

Hi all, we've had a good week, over the next couple of weeks we making some changes tot he church to enable it to be a more rentable space which will help us interact with the community.
Please pray for these changes.

With my youth work Jobs i've got to keen time coming up, we're trying to get referals for a parenting course which has been slow, please pray this picks up and i've meeting about the other role on Harold hill which could mean some changes, please pray for wisdom and guildance in both situations.

Love and Prayers

R.

They are here!

It's been an interesting couple of weeks, loads of snow, Sickness, Caleb's now FIVE and we've been helping Steve and Lauren into their new home, having them on the hill has been great.

I;'ve started leading a parenting course for Dad's only on the hill, an amazing programme called strengthening families strengthening communities, we have 13 dad's doing it and it is a really privilege to journey with these men as we learn from each other. Please pray that i will be able to make some good friends.

Working for the local authority has been interesting! please pray as i continue to settle into the two jobs.

As i continue to reflect on the Hill and work and type of church that is needed, I'm so sure that a church needs to be very family oriented. There are some great families that we are meeting who are strong and would gain more strength from a church with helped them function even better together, but obviously there are families who are struggling and a families based church could really offer support in helping them work through the issues. How we do this is mystery still, but please pray as we consider and pray about these issues.

Much Love

R

Christmas and SNOW!!

We had a great christmas, not as much sleep as i'd have like too!! (babys Hey) but the family time was great, we had two weddings, a funeral, a carol service in the pub, gave out 5 christmas hampers to families on estate and took some sweets and buiscuit into local sure start centres to say thank you for all they do for local families.

We also had some good fmaily time with the Kids and Alison's fmaily and then my family.

The Carol service was great and a think really helped our firendship with the pub ( it was amazing to be drinking beer inbetween singing carols, not very spirtual i know but still very cool)

On monday night i start co leading a parenting course for Dads on the hill, please pray that this goes well,

Steve and Lauren are moving next week so it's all go.

And i had a snow ball fight with ALison and the kids.
I just took Caleb to school he's one of 4!!! in his class today.

Love and Prayers

R.