Other churches in the area

The churches on these pages, along with the three Anglican churches in the parish make up the Joint Action Bedminster initiative.

Joint Action Bedminster seeks to bring together different churches and fellowships worshipping in the area. Working together to support each other, spread the Good News and build God's Kingdom in this place.

Click on the names of the churches on the left for more information about them, what they offer and how to get in touch. For information about JAB services and events, please see the calendar pages.

JAB Update - 26 May 2009

The Joint Actrion Bedminster committee met again on 6 May 2009 with 19 in attendance and a good spirit of fellowship and vision was shared. Clive Jones, of "Linkage" presented the need of a bereavement group for elderly and this is likely to start at South Bristol Christian Centre.

A Christian band will have a slot (12noon – 1pm, 21 June) at the Totterdown music festival (by the Shakespeare pub) and it is hoped that the 'pub church' concept will continue in some form in the future.

St Michael's & All Angels are performing Handel's Messiah on 4 October. Singers are invited to Sunday afternoon practices (3 – 5pm) through September.

The Street Pastors initiative may be coming to South Bristol (watch this space!).

The Child Contact Centre has a new co-ordinator from September – Gaenor Hannaford (attends Counterslip Baptist Church) – a real answer to prayer.

A JAB nomination may be made to join the co-ordinating committee of Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Partnership.

JAB may be able to participate in the special celebrations at Dame Emily Smyth Park on 6 September.

Mission England reunion events are to be held at Ashton Vale Church  - 4 & 5 July.

Our united Pentecost service is at St Francis, 31 May, 6.30pm.

The JAB committee also discussed issues of sharing and furthering fellowship between our churches.

JAB Update - 21st Jan 2009

At our 21st January meeting we had 19 reps from churches/agencies and a real sense of unity and purpose was expressed amongst us. Plans for united events at Easter and Pentecost are under way and other activities are proving a blessing – the recent "pub church" sessions, the Neighbourhood Partnership involvement and the work of the Child Contact Centre are examples.

Can you help?
We are desperately needing an assistant co-ordinator for the Child Contact Centre (2 – 3 hours work on Tuesday mornings), Please contact me if you would like to know more about this.

Prayer for South Bristol
Please try to be with us at South Bristol Christian Centre on Tuesday mornings (1st and 3rd in the month) at 10am for prayer. This gathering is for all with a heart for prayer for South Bristol  -  you will be most welcome.

Les Potter.

A New Era for JAB 2008

Busy church leaders in the Bedminster area have always found a little time to devote to, and to promote, JAB – Joint Action Bedminster – our loose association of local churches which over many years has sought to bring denominations together in united action and witness especially at seasons like Easter, Pentecost and Christmas. A problem however has always been the amount of time that could be afforded JAB when so many calls upon time are rightly to do with the primary responsibilities leaders have within their own churches and congregations. In addition the inevitable fact of "comings and goings" present another difficulty. In the past year or so, for example, we have lost Richard Heading (retired), Colin Pearce (to Canada), George Turner (retired), Raymond Clee (to Australia) and Polis and Maria Pantelidis (to Greece). All of these were active in JAB and not all of them have been replaced. So – a low point? – well yes in many ways, and indeed some were feeling that the JAB committee held in June 2008 was maybe to be the last. But that meeting was to take a turn for the good – a moment of inspiration as the Holy Spirit brought a sense of unity and a rise to a new commitment to JAB in the light of the spiritual needs of Bedminster and beyond.

In practical terms we decided to "lengthen the ropes" – to go for a wider geographical area that will hopefully draw in more churches and leaders to work together within JAB – and to "strengthen the stakes" – particularly in prayer as we meet on Tuesday mornings (10am on the first and third Tuesday in each month at South Bristol Christian Centre). These meetings are for all who "have a heart to pray for South Bristol" and JAB issues are included in its scope. Les Potter (Salem) is now JAB chairman and Bernard Stevenson (Salvation Army) is secretary.

We were delighted that 15 reps attended the further committee meeting on 2 October 2008 and it was good to welcome Victoria Park Baptist Church and Church of Christ, St John’s Lane, as members. Also the South Bristol Christian Centre, South Bristol Child Contact Centre and Monica Wills Bedminster Chaplaincy are full members. We trust to have 2 reps per church or agency in the future.

JAB is also now a member of the Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Partnership.