First Call

First Call is taking a break. It may begin again, or may change into something new

This page contains a glimpse of what went on.

A chance for informal worship, discussion, music, food and wine. First Call is open to all, whether you go to church regularly, rarely or not at all. It's held on the first Wednesday of every month at 8.00 at St Aldhelm's on Chessel Street. Come and find out what God is doing in Bedminster.

---

December 2006 and January 2007

As so many people and leaders are tied up with other things, we've decided to give First Call a rest until the New Year. Keep your eyes on the calendar and weekly sheets for the next session.

Merry Christmas and God's richest blessings to you all.

4 October and 1 November 2006

After the summer break we gathered together for two sessions exploring 'spirituality'.

The first, led by Richard Heading, saw a small number gathering for a time of quiet contemplation about what it means to be spiritual. And how we understand the term. As we were a small number it was easy to share our own personal experiences. Our sense of our own personal spiritual journeys and to reflect on how we can seek to grow spiritually.

The second session led by Michael Jeffery was similarly cosy and low key, with a couple of new faces who had been meaning to come along since First Call started a year ago. This time we gathered on the comfy sofas. The low lighting, candles and sense of intimacy again made it easy to share. This time we focussed on our own personal spiritual experiences. Particular times in our lives when we have felt especially close and connected to God. How these times can sustain us in subsequent periods of spiritual dryness. How each of our spiritual journeys are unique. How our journeys and experiences change over time as we grow and change ourselves. How we can seek to enter into a deeper closer relationship with God. About opening the door of our lives to Him, a crack at a time.

The close atmosphere of fellowship at these meetings has been a delight. We began and ended the sessions with simple reflective worship.

There is a possibility of a guest speaker at December's First Call, which might make for a very different, but no less vital and inspiring mid-week spiritual top up!

3 July 2006

This month's First Call was moved to a Monday because of the tantalising possibility of an England World Cup semi (sob!).

This month we looked forward to the Summer Worship programme, as Canon Neville Boundy gave a thorough, insightful and inspiring introduction to John 6, and John's gospel as a whole.

A bumper pack of background notes was handed out and it was clear that Neville had spent a great deal of time and effort in order to give everyone as he said, 'At least one thing which helps you in your preparations'.

We were encouraged to prepare for Summer Worship by reading the whole of John's gospel, if possible in one sitting. Apparently the early church would have read what was described as 'great chunks of the Bible', rather than the preaching with a minute focus on just one or two phrases as is often the case today. Reading longer passages helps keep things in their proper context.

If you are preparing to take part in Summer worship in some way, here are a few of Neville's top tips 'if you get stuck':

• the nearer you are to the top of the mountain, the steeper the climb
• try re-reading John's prologue (1:1-18) or if really stuck, have another pray of John 17
• pray again and begin, "Lord why on earth did I volunteer/allow myself to be persuaded?"
• go & do something else, but take a pad and pencil with you...

3 May 2006

This month we looked back over the lent programme considering 'Growth'. Split into four groups each considered one of the areas below before coming together at the end to share our thoughts and crucially, what quantifiable actions can be taken NOW.

Growing in Commitment
Loving God more
Loving each other more
Personal development
Getting our of our comfort zones, both personally and corporately

Growing in Influence
Thinking incarnationally
Engaging with culture
Speaking prophetically
Promoting kingdom values in our world
Living with integrity
Standing up and being counted; giving an example and making a difference

Growing in Partnership
Working with others when and where we can both within the Church and beyond the Church
With those who share our aspirations
In and through our boards and councils
Less church organisations, more Christians in organisations

Growing in Numbers
Bringing others onto relationship with Christ and His people
Connecting with the un-churched
Re-connecting with the de-churched
Turning contacts into disciples
Creating a mixed economy church
Growing existing communities and creating new ones

Some things that struck me during the evening were

• That growth in (our own) commitment is crucial to the other areas
• The need to step out in faith
• The need for prayer. Corporately and individually. Prayer triplets and prayer groups in cafes were suggested
• The need to support each other, discover and use our gifts, push ourselves further, put ourselves forward
• The opportunity of the DCC/PCC using alternate meetings to focus on these issues alongside those of fabric, finance and so on
• The potential of engaging in parish-wide (and wider community) events, schemes and initiatives. The churches should be more visibly represented in our community (Arts Trail, outdoor Summer Worship etc)
• The potential benefits of a 'press officer' to raise the profile of our activities in the community (eg the success of the Prayer Labyrinths)
• Our responsibility to care pastorally for each other and those in our community

Once again, the opportunity to meet and think and talk like this was very useful. The worship heartfelt. The experience uplifting. I was not alone, however, in having found it very difficult to get there. I spoke to someone else afterwards who had felt, before coming out, that she could really have "Done without it tonight", but like me was very glad she came.

1 April 2006

Taking the theme of 'Salt', based on Matthew 5:13-16

[13] "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
[14] "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

After a short period of worship we were treated to a powerful and moving big-screen presentation based on the verses.
We then gathered round tables in small groups helped ourselves to a glass of something, and began to talk about what it means to be 'salt' in 2006, and how we can retain our 'saltiness'.

It was lovely to hear the direction other groups' discussions had taken as we shared at the end.

At the close of the session we also caught up on the plans put into motion following February's First Call. Specifically the opportunity to employ a Youth Worker for the parish. Research has offered up some viable alternatives which are ready to be put before the PCC for approval.

1st Feb 2006

After the obligatory (just kidding, purely optional) glass of wine and nibbles we joined our fantastic music group in some wonderful praise songs. Then Colin set the theme for the evening 'dream your dreams' as large as you like for God's Church!

If you can imagine a shape like a fried egg, the white area would represent our area of concern and the yolk area would represent our area of influence.

An awful lot of energy is put into the area of concern, as we are concerned over a great deal of things but nothing often gets done, we can go around and around in circles. If on the other hand we were to concentrate on our area of influence (the smaller yolk part of our egg) our yolk would increase gradually to fill the larger area of the egg. Thus eliminating or reducing our area of concern.

So we all got thinking and came up with some wonderful ideas:

• Social interaction - sustainable things that we can do in the community. E.g. Mending gates, decorating, and gardening. Being visible Christians in the community
• Changing the pews at St Paul's into chairs.
• A breakfast once a month at St Aldhelm's on the baptism Sunday, So we can welcome the Baptismal Party to come and eat with and meet the worshiping community properly.
• Attractive, up to date notice boards! Jesus is alive and so are we. We need to show it!
• Sofas in St Aldhelms with Coffee tables, news papers on a Sunday, a place for our young people to sit and welcome their friends, or a place for prayer ministry. Or just to sit and chat.
• Follow up cards for Baptism anniversaries or a phone call. Keeping the lines of communication open.
• Knock down the three churches and build one big one that actually works!
• Transport for Sundays, a mini van driving around collecting those unable to come. Plenty were volunteering for a rota already!
• Take the service outside. Asda car park, Aldi car park. Taking Jesus to the people instead of expecting them to come to us.
• A Youth Leader for our young people, before we loose them. Getting a 17 or 18 year old on a gap year. The idea is they board with a Church Member and help to build up our young people. In a cost effective manageable way.
• Support group for divorced and separated people.
• Marriage preparation sessions.

So are these thoughts just dreams or can we implement them. Well no not if we all broadly think they are a good idea. It needs someone committed to the idea to take it forward. So Colin grabbed the bull by the horns and asked for volunteers to pick one idea and see if it was feasible.

Well suddenly one idea wasn't enough and several ideas were decided on to take forward.

• Catherine is going to research the youth worker idea, with support from Melody and Amy. But crucially prayer support from all of us.
• Michael is going to have Chairs at St Paul's by the Carol service next year.
• Although this wasn't decided the young people were really excited about and could see no reason why the monthly breakfast At St Aldhelm's couldn't start soon.

Keep your eye on the website to see how we are going with these exciting plans, I will endeavour to keep you up to date. But don�t forget to continue to pray for these ventures we cannot do this without the Lord. Please keep the three Churches continually lifted to Him.

7 December 2005

Triple whammy

December's First Call was a real treat...

What had been billed as a 'simple meal' turned out to be a gourmet feast with no less than four delicious main courses and a choice of puddings. Many many thanks to Pat and the team for all their fabulous hard work.

As the final crumbs of mince pie were shared, we settled back with a glass of something for a talk on the theme of 'Cracking Christmas' with a speaker from Trinity College exploring the 'wonder' of Christmas. A time both full of wonder and wonderful. The talk itself a combination of laugh-out-loud funny and deeply thought provoking.

With another brief time of worship, including a rousing and upbeat 'Joy to the World' those who had gathered were invited to be the first to experience the Advent Prayer Labyrinth. A wonderful, quiet, reflective opportunity to think about the journey of the wise men in a whole new light. For those who missed it over the following few days there's now an online version.

2 November 2005

Why do you come to church?

Before the evenings question �Why do you come to Church� was posed we opened a couple of bottles of wine enjoyed some nibbles and shared in a few worship songs.

The Question prompted some diverse answers that we shared together in groups around the tables and then fed back to Colin at the end. Some of the responses follow.

• I come to Church to meet with God and worship Him with His people as a community
• Spiritual top up
• Coaching session
• Fellowship received at Church goes out with you into the working week.
• Good to meet and talk about God.
• The Church exists for those beyond its membership. By meeting we are witnessing for Jesus.
• Cultural - Baptisms and weddings provide opportunities to introduce people to Jesus.
• 'Church is boring but I come because I have received so much from God I want to give.' Praise God! (This comment from one of our teenagers brought tears to my eyes.)

We discovered that our children are our best evangelists always bringing their friends along to join the choir and various activities throughout the year.

We talked about the impact of personal testimony, and it was surprising that many people felt they had no testimony to give, as they had been Christians all their lives. One lady said she had never wavered in her belief. All her life she had felt that God was with her. WOW what a testimony. We really need to hear that, it is so encouraging when we are struggling.

We also talked about how hard it is to stand up and tell people about Jesus even reading the lesson in front of our own congregations is daunting. But by saying "yes" to God and allowing Him to use us He will give us the strength needed. It is when we try in our own strength that we fall down. If we are willing to work with God he will provide.

We also discovered that people had many preconceived ideas of exactly what Church is. It�s not merely coming to Church on a Sunday. What we had at First Call on Wednesday evening was in fact 'Church'. A fresh Expression of the traditional meeting maybe, but totally God centred.

Why not come along next month and join in. A real opportunity in a safe environment to talk, relax and worship.