Joint Action Bedminster Update Archive

This page lists previous updates and news from the Joint Action Bedminster (JAB) initiative.

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JAB Update - October 2011

The latest JAB forum was held at South Bristol Christian Centre on 20 September. We reflected together on some interesting and profitable events, made further progress in our attempt to put a constitution together, and looked forward with anticipation to the future.

Please especially note the following:

1. Prayer morning. Saturday 8 October 10.30 to 12.30 at Ashton Vale church. All welcome – bring some lunch if you can stay.
2. JAB Celebration united service. St Aldhelms church on Saturday 29 October 7.30 pm. Please come – put it in the diary – Graham Loader is our speaker. Watch out for leaflets.
3. A real attempt at establishing some form of integrated youth work is in progress. Please pray about this possibility.
4. We trust to have united Lent groups again next year – and a Palm Sunday celebration – and something at Pentecost!

JAB News - August 2011

Welcome to the 4th JAB News! This time we are highlighting the South Bristol Child Contact Centre  but also reflecting on some recent events and issues of interest – not forgetting some important dates coming up!

The Child Contact Centre has been operating at the Christian Centre on almost every Saturday afternoon since 1996! It is a member of the National Association of Child Contact Centres and the idea is that parents (usually Dads) can come to spend time with their children who otherwise they would probably not be able to see. Courts (usually) have decreed that such contact must take place at an established Centre and solicitors then make referrals. We have a Co-ordinator – Gaenor Hannaford – who attends to all the admin. and generally directs the work, a management committee, trustees, and (most importantly) a good number of volunteers. The volunteers are divided into teams of 4 and currently (with 24) each person is “on duty” about once every six weeks. The project is firmly Christian based and has always recruited its officers and volunteers from local churches in addition to welcoming applicants with a heart for the work who may not be committed in this way.

Each Saturday we see from one or two to perhaps eight or more families coming to the Centre for their time of contact. Each of the 4 staff have different duties but the overall work is not so much “supervision” (we are a “support” Contact Centre not a “supervisory” one) as simply facilitating the project and providing a stress-free venue for parent – child relationships to be sustained, and perhaps grow.

We are grateful to God for the way in which this work has developed and has proved a real service to the community over the years. Some will remember its launch some 15 years ago -  the wonderful lady from the North (Henleaze) Bristol Centre coming to a JAB meeting at St Aldhelm's Church and informing us of the possibilities that lay ahead if a South Bristol Centre could be formed! Well... it was... and we can reflect now on the help given to so many families and pray that it will continue. However... finally... we do need some more volunteers.

Recently the following advert has been penned and we reproduce it here:

Reflections
Good to see the Salvation Army Hall packed for our meeting on 6 June with Simon Bale speaking about neighbourhood partnerships and although the groups in our local NP were not represented it was good that Ben Barker (local NP secretary) was able to come and contribute.

Another fruitful JAB prayer session was held at Monica Wills House on 9 July – prayer must be the centre of all we do and this was a good session.

JAB reps (forum) meeting on 19 July was well attended and it was good to share and begin planning ahead. A draft constitution was produced and this is now remitted to fellowships for discussion and comment. We would hope to get it finalised and ready for acceptance at our AGM next March. Discussion about united Lent groups for next year was also a hot topic – so watch this space!

Commissioning meeting for Lt. Christine Baker at the Salvation Army was on 31 July and Malcolm and Linda were present to bring JAB greetings and welcome. We look forward to fellowship with Chris in the coming days.

Coming up soon...

Malcolm attended a meeting of local schools regarding youth work and means of connecting with young people. JAB can have an important input to this – taking school assemblies etc... a matter for prayer... and action! (especially as Council services for young people is cut back).

Ron Matthews at Ashton Vale is leading an initial meeting for church leaders and youth workers on 18 August at 7.30pm. This is to discuss the possibility of integrated youth work across JAB churches. It is an exciting prospect... if it is for you... be there!

1.Next “Leaders chat” is at Tobacco Factory café on 7 September… 6 to 8pm (and any time between!).
2.Next JAB reps forum - 22 September SBCC 7 for 7.30pm
3.Next JAB prayer session is at Ashton Vale Church 8 October 10.30 – 12.30pm (bring and share lunch also). Put in your diary!!

God Bless You All !

JAB News - June 2011

Welcome to the 3rd JAB News! Welcome too, into office, our new chair Malcolm Jones and our new secretary Linda Wilson. We believe they are God’s choice for carrying the work of our united churches forward - and we look forward to all that He has for us in the coming days.

Very soon we hold our united service – 5 June at 6pm – at the Salvation Army, Dean Lane. Simon Bale will be with us to speak on “Christian involvement in Neighbourhood Partnerships” and the programme will be of great interest. All groups belonging to the Greater Bedminster Community Partnership have been invited and we are trusting that some (at least) will come. Secretary Ben Barker has agreed to say a few words as well.

PLEASE COME    PLEASE SUPPORT IT    PLEASE PRAY!

Our united service on Palm Sunday at St Aldhelms was a great blessing. Thank you for attending and special thanks to Ron Matthews for “putting it together”. We shall remember those “2-minute prayers” for each of our fellowships for a long time! It was also good to interact in the Lent housegroups and some thought is being given to sustaining this into the future.

The JAB prayer session on 9 April, held once again at Monica Wills House, was a fruitful time. Malcolm and Linda led us with some timely scriptures and as we prayed together there was a growing confidence that this should be a regular feature of JAB life. So...the next one is to be 9 July at the same venue, and then, further ahead, 8 October at Ashton Vale church. We meet 10.30 to 12.30 but... come when you can... go when you must. Stay for bring and share lunch also!

Our reps meeting on 19 May considered the pros and cons of a constitution for JAB. The overall feeling was that we should press ahead in considering this and so a small group was appointed to “set the ball rolling”. There will be plenty of consultation and we are not necessarily going to adopt one. So….watch this space!

Leaving us soon….is Lt. Bernard Stevenson, our Salvation Army officer and JAB secretary for the last three years. Bernard has been commissioned to take up the S. A. work in Penzance and so he leaves Bristol in July. His farewell Sunday here will be on 10 July. All in JAB have appreciated Bernard so much and we pray God’s blessing on him and Bev as they move on. The new officer will be Lt. Christine Baker and her welcome service is 10.30am on 31 July.

Finally, remember to take a look at the website… Bedminsterchurches.net and join us for prayer when you can at SBCC 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month 10 – 11am.

Monica Wills House is looking for a volunteer to assist in looking after the residents’ roof top garden – a few hours each week – email Wendy Hodson for details.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

JAB News - February 2011

This is the second “JAB NEWS” – we hope you enjoyed the first one and will find that this edition keeps you up with what God is doing through local churches and through united action. Inevitably there is some overlap with number 1... but let’s start with...

PRAYER
Our Saturday morning gathering in January at Ashton Vale Church was a real blessing. Ron Matthews and Jason Snethen led us into two one hour sessions of prayer for JAB's role, for Bedminster and for guidance regarding a new chairperson (Les Potter finishes his 3 year period in March) and a new secretary (Bernard Stevenson lays down this responsibility at the end of June).

Our next Saturday session is to be on 9 April at Monica Wills house (10.30 to 12.30 – and bring and share lunch). All are welcome…do come. We will pray especially for the Palm Sunday united service and the "Community Partnership" united service (see below). Also for the possibility of a constitution for JAB for the future. Oh... by the way... Salem now has a prayer rota in which they remember each of the other JAB members in turn. Maybe this idea can catch on amongst us all!

Next... Let us turn to 3 events coming up soon:

"Spectrum" at the Cathedral on 5 March
(2.30 to 5.30 exhibition, 5.30 on worship time). JAB is to have a stand – Malcolm Jones is working on this (with some help - email Malcolm if that can be you!). It promises to be a great day of showing all the Christian projects across the city.

United Palm Sunday Service (17 April)
This will be at 7pm at St Aldhelm's Church, Chessel Street. Ron M, together with some help is organising this. Watch out for leaflets. Last year we had a most inspiring time at Victoria Park Baptist Church and so hope that all churches will support it again and make it count for God! There may also be a Good Friday walk from Victoria Park to Asda, Bedminster.

JAB United Service
On 5 June (6pm at Salvation Army, Dean Lane).
Simon Bale will be speaking on "Christian involvement in Neighbourhood Partnerships". Again we plead for all fellowships to commit to this and see it as a great opportunity. Bernard, Les and Simon are organising.

What about the Lent groups?
Well, we are looking to churches to interact over this and to form some united "Biblefresh" (see their website) study activities. Already there is an invitation to join with…St Michael’s and All Angels (Tuesdays 7pm), Salem (Wednesdays 1.30pm & Thursdays 7.30pm) and Salvation Army (Tuesdays 7.30pm). So - climb on board!

And finally...
Have you noticed that bit of SBCC ground at the corner of West Street and Churchlands Road – how it is being transformed!? The local residents are making a flower bed of this and SBCC together with East Street Baptist Church have struck up a good rapport with them!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

JAB News - November 2010

Did you know? – that there are 15 churches and 4 Christian agencies in JAB. JAB NEWS will come out about every 2 months, following the JAB reps meetings – with which we are greatly encouraged! Contact your JAB representative, or look out in your church for a copy.

We were planning a Palm Sunday (17 April) 2011 open air event but have had to forego this for a variety of reasons. However there will be a united service in the evening of that date. Let's pray that it will be as good as the one we had this year! Details to follow later.

Another united service is to be held on the Sunday evening of 5th June 2011 – a celebration of the fact that JAB is  a member of the Greater Bedminster Community Partnership – we have a "voice in the local community"! A special speaker, an inspirational time, and an opportunity to invite the secular groups in the Partnership to a Christian event. Please put the date in your diary. Details and venue will follow later.

Fancy joining a united Lent study programme (2 or more churches combining housegroups)?  We are looking to run some of these next year using the Biblefresh resource by Bishop Tom Wright ("The Big Read"). Let us learn and share together.

Spectrum is an event to be held in Bristol Cathedral on 5 March. It will feature an exhibition and presentation of the diversity of Christian work and activities across the city. We expect JAB to be involved. Music and refreshments as well! Choirs, instrumental groups and talented individual musicians who would like to join in that day and represent their particular church background are asked to fill in the brief response form online at http://www.cross-spectrum.co.uk/  or print and send it to Jonathan James, the music coordinator for the day, at 5 Lake Road, Bristol BS10 5HG.  For any queries please do call Jonathan on 0117 908 2690. It will be a fantastic opportunity to connect with other musicians and worship leaders across the city.

Finally – a JAB prayer morning is to be held on Saturday 22nd January at Ashton Vale Church (Risdale Rd), 10.30 to 12.30 and a bring and share lunch to follow. All are welcome – please come!- for all or part of the time. We shall be especially praying about JAB's future, its purpose and role in Bedminster, and for Bedminster itself!

Meanwhile - a very happy and blessed Christmas to everyone!

JAB Update - September 2010

Another good JAB reps meeting was held at South Bristol Christian Centre on 9 September 2010. We reflected on our prayer day in July and decided we need to pray together more often! So - the next gathering will be on 6 November, 10.30 - 12.30 followed by a bring and share lunch. This will again be at Monica Wills House conference room. We will be particularly remembering the planning for the Palm Sunday effort next year. Sub-group members are now linking with reps from all JAB churches to push on with this.

We are also considering the possibility of a united service next year (maybe 5 June) with a "Songs of Praise" format and an inspirational message on Christian involvement in Neighbourhood Partnerships (JAB is a member of Greater Bedminster N P). In preparation for this Simon Bale of ISR will be speaking about this subject at a meeting arranged for 10 am at South Bristol Christian Centre (Churchlands Rd, off  West St) on Tuesday 12 October 2010 - we hope all churches will be represented - all are welcome.

Mike Shaw, student pastor at East St Baptist has now moved into Bedminster - he is also involved in discussions with Bristol City Council regarding churches' involvement with green spaces and a possible allotment project.

We considered an application from "Bristol Christian Fellowship, South" to join JAB, and since the meeting, and after discussion, we have now welcomed them on-board. So we are now 15 churches and 4 Christian agencies.

JAB Update - June 2010

Another really well-attended Joint Action Bedminster reps meeting was held on 10 June and a packed agenda meant lively debate and good fellowship! In fact there are so many issues concerning unity and 'action together' that as we talked it became clear that also need to pray! – together!

Pray together
So... Saturday 3 July, 9am – 3pm, at Monica Wills House (off West Street) conference room is the date and venue. All are welcome – come for as long or as short a time as you are able – to pray for your church, to pray for JAB, to pray for “action together”. Bring your own lunch, drinks will be provided. No parking on site.

Palm Sunday 2011
Our sub-group is working hard at the arrangements for the Palm Sunday 2011 big event. They will be in touch with all the churches soon! Also under consideration is the opportunity that that JAB's membership of the Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Partnership gives for community involvement and witness, a possible united service with a Christian community activist as speaker, and an assessment and planning for more united social relief work and outreach.

JAB Update - Jan 2010

There is an undoubted strengthening of unity and fellowship among JAB reps and leaders – witnessed again by the 17 of us who met together on 28 January. Issues, arrangements and policies for discussion and finalization there may have been but the overriding outcome was a conviction that that yes we are seeing some real progress in our vision of God's kingdom work and its accomplishment in our area.

There is of course also the recognition that the reaching out to greater fellowship and unity must percolate throughout local congregations and not be restricted to local leaders. The body of Christ praying, planning and serving together is the ultimate goal.
The Greater Bedminster Neighbourhood Partnership has "community vision" as its theme for 2010 (JAB is a member of this body) and though this may indeed be a mainly secular group the theme is a compelling one that JAB can identify with. We are looking for two or three Christian people from the churches who would be willing to represent JAB from time to time by attending Neighbourhood Partnership meetings. Any volunteers? – please let me know (email me or call 964 2506).

We are grateful to the subgroup of the JAB reps who are working hard at planning for future events.

31 May (Monday) Salem are having a picnic near the lake at Portishead 12noon. Anyone like to join - welcome!

Meanwhile I look forward to our JAB reps  meeting on June 10. 7 for 7.30pm at SBCC. It's going to be an interesting agenda! - make sure you have the date in your diary and if unable to come be sure to have someone (or two!) from your church attend.

JAB Update - Nov 2009

JAB's latest reps meeting on 26 November confirmed Maisie Green (Salem Chapel) as vice-chairperson and recognised that there are now 18 churches and Christian agencies in membership.

A positive review of recent events was followed by discussion regarding Christmas arrangements including 3 venues for "pub/cafe" type carol (and other music!) sessions, Monica Wills House toy service at 3pm on 12 December, and particularly the Carols-in-East Street (with Salvation Army band) at 10am on 19 December. We want to encourage all churches to support the latter - and help give out some mince pies !

Looking ahead
Plans are afoot for a major effort on Palm Sunday (28 March) 2010. A walk from North Street Green to Greville Smyth Park will be followed by stage performances and many different stalls. Further details and publicity will follow soon.

JAB continues to be a uniting force for our local ministries and congregations and we trust God for further blessing in the New Year.

JAB Update - July 2009

JAB reps met on 21 July and it was good to experience the sustained interest and fellowship again. Ben Barker and Kelly Bray talked to us about "Wildlife in Bedminster" before we moved into our packed agenda.

We heard reports about the Pentecost service, prayer for the nation, a concert at URC, the Mission England reunion, the Christian band at Totterdown music festival, and the Community Partnership meetings. Next up is a JAB stall and further music at Dame Emily Smyth Park celebrations on 6 September.

Answers to prayer
Including the appointment of a new Co-ordinator at the Child Contact Centre (still needed are an assistant – and more volunteers!) and the start of the Bereavement Care sessions at SBCC – run by Linkage in cooperation with Cruse. The Salvation Army Charity shop opens at 135 East Street on 8 August.

Dates and events
Handel's Messiah is to be performed at St Michael and All Angels', Windmill Hill at 6.30 on 4 October (singers still needed). A farewell gathering for Trevor (Pastor at Church of Christ) and Pauline Williams is to be held at their church at 3pm on 5 September. All are welcome. JAB have been signally blessed by their fellowship over several years.

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.