Easter

Miracle on the Estate
For Good Friday, the residents of Harpurhey in North Manchester - once described as the worst place to live in Britain - join forces with a poet, a composer and a director to see if they can produce their very own mediaeval mystery play, based on the story of the Flood. In so doing they uncover a deep-rooted sense of community, untapped talent and breathe 21st century life into an ancient story of sacrifice and salvation. (BBC.co.uk)

This was the best thing I watched on TV over Easter. It was brilliant and encouraging. Based on the story of Noah, the people of Harpurhey showed just how powerful God's word is. Most of the people were non-Christians but yet seemed to reflect God's heart for community! By the end of the showing of the film they had made they were embracing each other, some near to tears of what they have achieved and others had been changed by the whole experience.

It struck me as I watched, that God can do amazing things if only people let Him. Sound obvious yet we want to make it difficult. We can use the latest fashionable evangelistic tools but at the end of the day there is nothing quite like the gospel being lived out through the ones that read it.

Matt

Visit to Aspley!

went to Nottingham Aspley last week to visit our new church. The one that I am to be responsible for!!! It was great, met some of the staff who seemed really nice, had a look around the build, had a look around our house which we will be moving into in July 08.

We also me with one of the senior leaders, David. We had a really long and exciting chat about what is going on, what there vision was, what the expectation was etc. I remarked that for Lizzy and I our heart was for the non-church! His reply will stay with me for a very long time....... he said "what other reason is there?"

It really hit me that we can't muck about when it comes to to being effective witness! This has challeneged me to really consider how effective I am and whether I really do love unconditionally all people espically who do not have an experience of Jesus.



Matt

Sunday......Holy?

This week in class we were asked the question whether "Sunday was Holy?" Specifically we were asked to think about whether we would encourage our worshipping community to play football on a Sunday instead of going to church?
Should Sunday be a day where everything stops, where all we do is go to church and spend time with our families? No games, no TV etc...
Or has it become a day that is now part of a seven day week with no distinction between week days and weekends?
Either way Sport on Sundays is big business as well as a past time for local people to be involved with.
For me the question is not about whether its on a Sunday or not the question that sprung to my mind is "what is church?" Surely a football to is as good an expression of a christian community as you could hope for. Common goal, team work, focused on others, commitment, hope, expectation and using your talents. There is no reason why a football team can't be "Church." In my experience, A football team with Jesus at the heart can change people, maybe not over night but season after season, He can break in to people's lives and make them feel part of a kingdom and not just a team.
Would I play football on a Sunday? Oh Yes! If as a leader I say one thing and do another, I am not much of a leader!
Matt