Pantomime Season hits Tamworth

One of the many special things that happen around Christmas is the traditional pantomime. This wonderful example of amazing costume, awful puns and sometimes just past the knuckle humour, when combined with love interests, villains to boo and heroes and heroines to cheer - this is one of the greatest introductions to theatre that young children can ever encounter. Truly it is fun for all the family.

This year, Tamworth's amazingly able and energetic pantomime company have taken up the challenge that is Aladdin with great sets and song those around me knew and sang along to (just quietly enough not to be heard further than a couple of seats away). Children waved their fibre optic flashing lights things and the time whizzed by at a rate of knots that theological lectures rarely did!

So a heartfelt plea to all who read this: If you're near enough to Tamworth to get to see the show, get yourself a ticket. Mind you, the night I went there wasn't an empty seat in the house, so you'll probably need to be quick - to book seats, click on HERE

Tamworth 'Sings Christmas'

Last night Tamworth's Snowdome hosted 'Sing Christmas'. 

An event hosted by Tamworth Snowdome, to whom thanks are due for such great hospitality and amazingly efficient event hosting - and they did it all for free!

No need for any further words from me: Click on this link to see it on Vimeo or watch the (reduced quality) clip below:

One of the greatest joys we can have as Christians is to celebrate unity with members of other churches and groupings: This is one of the hallmarks of true Christianity and something I have always treasured.

Happy Advent - be of Good Cheer, Christmas is almost here.

The Holocaust: An amazing opportunity to learn

For those of you who read my blog, here's an offer you most certainly cannot afford to let pass you by as FUTURELEARN offers a two-part course on the subject of the holocaust; that awful blot on our modern history which saw some six-million die in the Nazi death camps.

Part one lasts for three weeks and is, in my book, essential study matter for everyone, but especially those engaged in education and for those who consider themselves to be 'Church', because many of the attitudes and thought structures we have today.

Where I find myself living (Tamworth) we have two distinct groups forming: One stating that refugees are not welcome in the town and the other opening their arms to those fleeing the awfulness that causes some to risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean to seek safety elsewhere.

This course is a provocative, and compelling, opportunity to examine our own attitudes and to learn - and it is in the learning that we remove the most fertile ground for bigotry and wrong actions; ignorance.

Please take the time to sign up for this course and help set the conditions for an more intelligent and informed world where you are.

Pax

Do you know where to stick your church?

No, not something rude - I'd like to offer a little challenge this morning:

Take a look at these two images and think about what your can see, and perhaps what you know and perhaps what you assume about the two buildings, the people in them and the people around them - what are the differences (and similarities) between them? 

A recent conversation I overheard (and keep back from) was heading towards, 'Burn the cathedrals and put those in sector ministry in the diocese to the sword'. A foolish misunderstanding of many of the realities of church and yet a realistic observation when some are considered as well!

So Take a look and have think about them:

Here are some of the possible responses:

One has a black border around it - but it isn't dying (intact it's pretty stable and showing gentle signs of growth - of all sorts).

One has blue skies around its domed splendour - but I'd hazard to suggest that it's not all sunshine and roses being there!

One has only one room whereas the other has many rooms - one can accommodate about sixty people whilst the crypt in the other holds about two hundred more than that!

One is pretty and the other is merely something utilitarian and considered by some to be anything but pretty (which is why weddings and baptisms go elsewhere perhaps?).

One is in the centre of an Estate Church: An Urban priority area. The other is situated within one of the most prosperous centres of commerce and law in the world.

One has around fifteen percent of those who come in full-time work - I was told by someone in the other that that's probably the other way round there!

Some might think about the difference between the two locations in terms of IMD numbers (Index of Multiple Deprivation - the higher the number the better the area) one is around 8,500 and the other around 28,000.

One of them charges people to come in (£18 for an adult and £8 for a child) and the other doesn't charge admission (perhaps there's nothing to see?).

One of them has to pay parish share whist the other appears to be exempt (and in fact receives money from the Church Commissioners) from that charge. I'm told that's because they struggle to pay the bills - but then again that's a common area for both I would think.

Some might think that the worship styles differ, after all one has a robed choir and p

Perhaps you've thought of a different difference? If so, plonk it in the comments area and we can see what others have come up with and perhaps grasp some insights which would have otherwise been passed by and ignored.

Here are a few of my own observations to add so grit to the machinery (or hopefully, grist to the mill!):

The differences?

Physical:  Size - Age of the buildings - Location - one is an icon, the other an eyesore (a quote!)

Spiritual: None at all - both seek to witness to the saving power of the cross and the servanthood of Jesus, the Christ. It's all about scale and audience and opportunity. One has a massive footfall and a great tourist trade whilst the other has none of the above!

But when it comes to knowing where to stick a church building, the smaller of the two does something very important for it ministers God's love in a place where hardship, adversity and struggle are quite often to be found (yes, I know that happens in the City of London too, but it's a matter of scale). 

Reputation: The majority of people are in awe of those who work in the larger of the two buildings. How often to you hear an estate church or urban priority minister doing 'Thought for the Day' or being quoted in one of the national papers? The answer is that generally you don't unless there's been something juicy in terms of news. The truth is that the smaller, dare I say more community engaged (now there's an invite to a punch up if I ever heard one), little churches are largely only of import to the people and the communities that they serve.

Extend this to include rural churches and you'll find yourself struggling just as much for although they are a lifeline to many and the remain community cohesion for many in a place, they just aren't counted as equal to the big and splendid places of worship (where sadly admission is charged and egos can be as polished as their floors). I must just tip my hat to the congregation of St Ethelbert - East Wretham, Norfolk to the community that it is and for the wonderful service they had recently to celebrate 150 years since the building's was rebuilt; and a thumbs up to the bishop of Norwich for a great bit of history, Bible and pastoral gathered into his sermon on that day. 

Rural churches are a treasure and focus for many a community

Sustaining the witness: And it is here that perhaps the real difference is to be found for should any conversation of closing an iconic building such as the larger featured here there would be uproar. How could we countenance closing a 'national treasure' and a place of such importance to the tourist industry? I can envisage the letter to the Times now. But when it comes to the smaller, those where 'can't pay - can't have' means the end is nigh, what of the people we serve and where and how do we do are evangelism (of course as a missioner I'll point to pubs and homes and mention 'fresh expressions' but the public understanding is that, as we close building we are no longer voice or influence for good (and God).

BUT

Close the smaller of the two pictured here and it wouldn't attract a column inch in the national - I know that because the others who have closed their doors and been merged and reorganised haven't!

Church buildings need to be where the need is and this means that some, where communities have moved away or been incorporated into larger gatherings of people, do need to be closed to make them relevant and among the people they seek to serve. The problem is that we are not just about the 'cure of souls' but we also have the role of being 'curators of a place's memories' too and this means we have more listed building than we need and spend more on upkeep than perhaps we do on evangelising our communities - a situation that cannot continue. So there is the question of ownership and the issue of making Christ known - two areas of friction which leave nasty chafes in embarrassing places (i.e.. in the public domain).

Our challenge: Where I am there are many who treasure the large, imposing and quite ancient building in the centre of town; but few actually come into it as part of the normal congregation. This changes a little when there is a baptism or wedding and more so when there is a funeral, for then it is the old or the pretty church that attracts them all. The smaller churches, unless they are picturesque places, only tend to do baptisms for those with whom they have a relationship and weddings (done one here in the past ten years) are even more difficult (because people want nice photos in a pretty setting) are always done elsewhere.

Answers? These are the hardest bit in all this. As we close treasured, yet almost empty church buildings, and remove clergy: Or better still create multi-beneficed monstrosities: the winner of the ghastliest being eleven church buildings and almost as many communities in a diocese I will not name.

A friend of mine (well they were before I started writing this) who works in a cathedral was telling me how tight the purse strings were in their magnificent pile of stone. The problem was that as they told me about their challenges all I could see was how well off and extremely comfortable they, and their place, were when held up against some in parish ministry I know.

Now I am aware that we can always find those better, and worse, off that ourselves and that balance is they key. ALL of the expressions of Church: Cathedral, Parish, District and freshly expressed are valid and worthwhile; the minute we start thinking otherwise is the day when the Church, standing against itself, begins the final phase of decline and heads towards extinction.

The problem is that whilst I admire the wonderful buildings (as long as I can decide whether and what to give as I enter or leave) and marvel at the history and architecture and the music on offer, this in itself will not get the baby saved, bathed and given the bread of life. 

The same is true of the wonderful examples of parish church which are self-contained, self-satisfied and self-serving: If they don't serve the community around them and don't proclaim the Gospel to those inside and outside their wall, then what are they good for?

And again, look at some of the 'missional' churches out there. Those places who claim to be effective for the Lord and excelling in promoting the Gospel: If they are then we need to sustain them if they cannot because of an inability to pay on the part of the people they serve. We are heading to a time when those who can afford to have a church building will have them and those who cannot, will not. Basic economics: if you can't pay for it then you can't have it (even with non-stipendiary and ordained local minister [AKA licensed lay ministers).

This is an important debate - one that needs to be open-handed and big-hearted and yet, like many things Anglican, there is a danger that the divide between haves' and 'have nots' will see but one side win rather than some from both sides. 

So read, look and think and develop some reasoned thinking before you need it, because as it stands, need it you will. Do you know where to stick your church building*?

Pax

* Polite answers only please - and remember, there are many sharp bits to a church building so be charitable too!

Mission Shaped Introduction

For the next six weeks, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday 23rd September), Tamworth will be hosting  a Mission Shaped Introduction course. This has to be one of the most impressively effective courses I have attended or delivered as we look at what 'mission' really means for those who call themselves Christian and for those who pass by the church buildings without a clue about what really goes on in them or the message they long to tell. 

This is a course which seeks to get us to think of the ways in which we can bring the Gospel into the lives of people where they are and when they are able to receive, and hopefully, live it for themselves.  

It is about thinking of new ways of being, and doing, Church: Often referred to as a 'Fresh Expression'. Which, for those who aren't sure about what a fresh expression is, here's my definition:

Christians coming together to live the Christian message in ways that those outside of the traditional (or inherited) church can understand and embrace. 

Basically it is: Christians 'doing church' for those who are not church.

Many people, when they hear the words 'fresh expression', if they have heard the term before, jump to the conclusion that this is 'Messy Church*' but in many cases they would be wrong because there are many more forms of fresh expression than that.

What we are actually talking about is planting new communities of Christians, these are what we usually refer to as 'church' and that can cause some real difficulties in the minds of some and the realities of others.

What the Church needs today is a combination of the older and 'established' expressions of church working together with newer 'fresh' expressions to build a Christian community across our villages, towns and cities. We call this a 'mixed economy' model. What we are doing is creating new churches to work with the old: The problem is that some think that we are merely creating something to bring people into the church that the new church came out of - here's an example:

St Blogspots, residing in it's wonderful Norman building, offers Messy Church' to the people around them. The project goes well and by its first anniversary there are eighteen families coming to the services and it is beginning to develop its own identity and character. Just after the first birthday celebrations one of the PCC members asks when those who come to Messy Church will be seen in the 'proper' services and is more than a little disgruntled to be told that they quite like will never come. "What's the point of us paying for it if they're not going to come in to our (declining) services," they ask - And they ask that because what they thought the PCC had agreed to sponsor was 'Messy Evangelism', something that would bring people into their services! 

Whilst some of those who come to the fresh expression might indeed come to services in the sponsoring church (or one of the sponsoring churches if sponsored by a Churches Together group) the reality is that what you are hoping for is, like any parent; for the child to mature and become an independent adult with a good relationship with them.

There are many views regarding the venue of these fresh expressions and all of them are right and yet many of them are also perhaps just a little wrong too. Here's are some attitudes I have encountered to reflect upon:

i  If we 'do' the fresh expression in our church building that makes it ours.
Our service, our people, OUrs, do you hear me, OURS! (you can add a maniacal wahahaha if you wish!)

ii. If you 'do' the fresh expression in a different building (venue) then we just have to wait until they are led into the church that gave them the money to do it!
After all, we paid for it and so it is ours.

iii. If we do a 'fresh expression' then we might lose some of the members of our own church to it (and the subtext here is that they are already losing member) so surely it's better to keep those we have rather than send them off to start their own thing. The should be committed to ours.

iv.  if we do a fresh expression and it is successful it could become more popular than our church and they'd soon forget that we are the parent and they are the 'daughter*' church - they might take the place in the hearts of the community that is by virtue of the time we've been here, ours!

v. If we did a fresh expression and it took off and worked and attracted young people and those who have never come to church that would be great. What a privilege to have been part of birthing a new Christian community here. We long for the day when we can have like-minded partners working together for the Gospel in fellowship together.

We find thinking like this because we are all human and struggle when the places we cherish are also struggling. Our desire to see Christ proclaimed can sometimes be tempered and even chilled by our desire for stability and maintenance of the familiar - and with the right mindset and actions both of those can be achieved without being limited as Church or as a person. This course is a remedy and a spur to achieve great things for God (and be blessed as well).

This is what the Mission Shaped Introduction (and the fuller course which may follow on) is all about. So here are detail of our MSI course:

And if you can't attend ours, then ask your Vicar / Pastor / Minister about running one in your church, deanery, Churches Together group

or contact Fresh Expression by clicking HERE

* Messy Church is a fantastic coming together of people as a church in its own right. It is attractive to families, accessible for all ages and fun - and there's often a meal and a chance for real engagement and encounter: Just like the early Church. It is about creating a new structure, not a tunnel into the church that might have started it off as a means of bringing people into their building (that's Messy Evangelism).

* 'Daughter church' - a term far too often used to point to a church that is inferior or subservient and under the control of, or at least looked down upon by, the 'Mother Church'. We should have partners and flat structures in church (and that works both ways for those in churches founded by an older parish church).

Visit of Paul Blakey to Tamworth Street Angels

Paul (and Jean I hope) Blakey will be visiting Tamworth on:
Tuesday 21st July 2015 @ 7:30pm

The venue for  the evening will be:
St Francis’ Church, Masefield Drive, Tamworth B79 8JB

 

Paul will be coming to touch base and update on the work of CNI generally and we will hopefully be joined by members of other groups and hopefully some representation for the council and the local policing unit too. 

We have much to share and much to celebrate so please make a note in your diary about the evening and bring others along so they can get a feel for who we are and what we do and perhaps sign up and join us to. Look forward to seeing you there.

THIS IS AN OPEN MEETING: ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

Taizé @ St Francis' Returns

This Sunday (12th July 2105) sees a welcome return to the 6:00pm evening services at St Francis', Leyfields.

The service will be a gentle and contemplative communion services using Taizé songs and reflection upon the Word.

All are welcome

St Francis' Church, Masefield Drive, Tamworth  B79 8JB

Honouring those who died in Tunisia

This morning the town of Tamworth came to a standstill as people crowded into St Editha's church and the town centre to pay their respects to those from our town, and nation, those who died on a sunny beach just a week ago.

We prayed for all those who had been injured and for those who were distressed and troubled by the events that cost, and changed, so many lives - praying especially for:

Allison Heathcote                         Cheryl Mellor      Tony and Christine Callaghan

Tom Richards Mathew James and Saera Wilsson

Ross Thompson and Rebecca Smith

And we remembered, and commended to God:

Christopher and Sharon Bell

Patrick Evans, Adrian Evans and Joel Richards

John and Janet Stocker

John Stollery

William and Lisa Graham

Carly Lovett

John Welch and Eileen Swannack

David Thompson

Bruce Wilkinson

Lisa Burbidge

Claire Windass

Jim and Ann McQuire

Trudy Jones

Stuart Cullen

Stephen Mellor

Denis and Elaine Thwaites

Philip Heathcote

Chris Dyer

Angie and Ray Fisher

Sue Davey and Scott Chalkley

May they rest in peace: and rise again in glory

To hear the short service: CLICK HERE

ComictopiaTamworth's Newest Shop

Tamworth now has three of my favourite shops in one place - Lower Gungate!

There's the 'King's Ditch' micropub (No. 51) 

and now there is (next door to the King's Ditch) at No. 49 'Comictopia' 









and, don't forget, the Milk Bar that's just behind it at 4 Mitchell's Court):

So here we are, Comictopia, a shop I reckon we needed - take a quick look and have pop in (having a pint or a milkshake as seems right) and support these local shops.

Tamworth Hustings Today's the Day!

In case you haven't noticed, there is a Hustings event taking place at St Editha's Church, Tamworth a7 7:30pm

Here's the poster (for one last time - honest):

And here's the equipment that will make it all heard:

Just like the old days - the car is full of PA kit

(Now where's the Gaffer Tape?)

And here's the venue all set up and waiting for you (you are coming, aren't you?):

See you tonight - bring your questions and make a difference to Tamworth by voting, 

and voting intelligently!

CHURCH MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Tamworth Hustings - 9 Days to go

And, according to the pundits, the battle is hotting up and the latest polls see it like this:

Conservatives 34%

Labour             33%

UKIP                13%

Lib Dems          9%

Green Party      5%

It's so close that people I've spoken for today were telling me that they didn't know who to vote for. The answer is simple:

Then candidate who answers the questions and says what you think is right!

Bt if you don't ask, you won't get to find out, so make sure you are in St Editha's, Tamworth on Thursday 30th @ 7.30pm and perhaps you'll hear an answer that convinces you (or turns you off).

And on a lighter note:

An MP dies and finds himself at the pearly gates before St Peter who tells him that the has two choices: Heaven or Hell (please note this is not a theologically accurate joke). 

To aid those who come to the gates unsure of where they ought to be, the powers that be have decided that the deceased can have five minutes viewing time in each of the two venues.

So our parliamentarian jumps in a lift and descends to take a look at hell. When the doors open he sees many of those he knows from Westminster and they are waving, cheering and in between sips of champagne and obviously enjoying the experience.

The the doors shut and he presses button for 'Heaven'. The doors open and before him is heaven and it's full of people singing Graham Kendrick songs, eating soggy biscuits and drinking weak tea (just like after the service on Sunday)! 

Before he has fully recovered from such awfulness the doors close and he's back in the foyer with St Peter who asks him, 'Which is it to be, heaven or Hell?'

Without a moments hesitation he chooses Hell and no sooner than the words leave his mouth he is taken back to the life and the button is again pressed. As the doors open he is met by something awful. The people there are screaming in pain as the flames lick their bodies and there's such an awful sound that it makes his blood run cold.

Then, seeing satan, the politician rushes over and asks him, "What's going on, it wasn't like this when I looked around earlier?'

'Ah yes,' says satan, 'But that was before you voted wasn't it?'

The Tamworth Hustings - 2015

The evening will have two sessions:

Session One
Will consist of questions sent in by members of the public. These will be given to the candidates before the evening so that we can have proper answers rather than leave them to give their party manifestos.

Session Two
Will feature questions taken from those who are present on the evening.

It is anticipated that the evening will end at around 9:30pm

To submit a question beforehand:

email: tamworth2015-hustings@yahoo.co.uk


Don't miss this opportunity to quiz the candidates in this vital piece of democracy in action.

Restart Parties - more steps forward

Yesterday (Sunday 1st February) found me chatting to the lovely Michelle Dawes of BBC Radio WM on her Sunday Breakfast programme. The topic under discussion was Tamworth's soon to be appearing 'Restart Party' (http://therestartproject.org).

The reason it came to people's notice was this article in the Tamworth Herald:

Get electrical items repaired free of charge thanks to Tamworth vicar's unique idea*

By Tamworth Herald  |  Posted: January 10, 2015   By Helen Machin

Rev Vic Van Den Bergh is to launch 'Restart' in Tamworth, repairing electrical items for free. Vic is pictured with his oscilloscope.

A TAMWORTH vicar is to launch a project which will see a team of experts repairing electrical items completely free of charge. Rev Vic Van Den Bergh, vicar of St Francis Church, Leyfields and acting vicar of Tamworth, plans to hold the first 'Restart Party' at Easter.

He has recruited a host of engineers to help with fixing broken televisions, phones, laptops and other similar appliances which members of the public will be invited to take along.

Vic, who is a qualified electronics engineer with a keen interest in the subject, hopes that the scheme will help people save cash and will be good for the environment.

He said: "Restart parties are held in other areas and I thought it would be good to start the scheme in Tamworth.

"Basically, if you have an electrical item which is broken, bring it along and we will fix it. It will be completely free of charge.

"People will throw away a two-year-old TV which is broken and buy a new one, when the old one could be repaired with just a capacitor costing a few pence. People will throw away their broken phones and get into debt buying new ones – they can be repaired.

"This scheme will save people money and, of course, it's green, it will mean people are throwing fewer things away."

Vic, also the driving force behind Tamworth's hugely successful Street Angels project, is hoping to set up several Restart groups across the town if the project proves successful, and is also hoping to repair larger items such as tumble dryers and washing machines.

Anyone who has the skills to repair electrical items and who would be willing to offer their services free of charge can contact Vic at tamworthrestart@btinternet.com

This article let to the BBC contacting me and here's the broadcast:

Hopefully more people will get passionate about being the difference in our town and volunteer their skills (and others to learn to fix stuff too) - You don't need to be a Christian to get onboard, you just need to care (and the rest, we can hopefully add)

Pax

*Read more: http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/Bright-spark-s-idea-answer-prayers/story-25823023-detail/story.html#ixzz3Qbx3NJQW

Follow us: @tamworthherald on Twitter | tamworth.herald on Facebook

+ Should have added that whilst we provide the tools and the skills - the cost of the parts will need to be met (but hopefully we can find some source of funding for that as we progress too!)

Better Together - Praying together

One of the strengths of Church is its the collegial nature - meaning that we do what we can together and only do the stuff we cannot share on our own rather than the opposite. This, if taken to heart is something that leads into relationship and a solid, professional, engagement with people outside the Church family.

One of the ways in which this is manifesting in Tamworth (Staffs) can be seen in the four weeks of 24/7 prayer running during June and July:

w/c 22nd June: Holy Trinity, Wilnecote

w/c 29th June: St Catherine's, Two Gates

w/c 6th July: St Andrew's, Leyfields

w/c 13th July: Glascote Methodist Church

So what are we waiting for Tamworth?

Organ Recital - October 2014

For those of you who are into organ music - this is well worth supporting if you are able to make it:

Hello - Can you tell me what the job's like?

The beginning of a rather interesting telephone call as one of those considering applying for a job engaged with me. Of course they didn't ask the one important question (are you going for it). Of course, even if I had been I'd have answered exactly the same way because I'd like to think that vacancies are all about having the right person in the post - after all, it's not like we're in the world now, is it?

What made it interesting was my ability to see the parish as a complete entity with four separate buildings whilst the person on the other end of the line see one!  Still, it was fun to talk about a place where the churches work together so well and to dwell on a fantastic past (Capital city of Mercia you know) and an equally promising future. The web presence is A work in progress - but better than it was (I hope).

So here we are - just a few days and the applications will be in and the sifting will be done - wonder who else might pop in, for it's always fun when someone appears and says they're thinking of moving in and then starts asking about ASA, Parish Share and the like - you know, the stuff you usually ask when thinking of joining a church :-) or telephones and asks about the job (been from same college or friend of a friend so far).

Exciting times ahead :-)

David Cameron, Jesus and the Big Society

This morning I had the privilege (and pleasure) of talking to the extremely nice Michelle Dawes on BBC WM radio regarding David Cameron and his comments on Jesus and the 'Big Society'.

Here's the broadcast:

Celebrating Social Action

Tonight was a superb example of people celebrating the good things that others do to make their town a better place as Tamworth Covenanting Churches came together to celebrate and begin their Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

The Diocesan Bishop, Jonathan Gledhill, was joined by representatives from the Baptist Church (Revd Adrian Argile), Methodist Church (Revd Ian Howarth) and Fr Noel Ntungu represented the town's many Catholics - The MP, Chris Pincher and Mayor John Garner were also present to represent national and local government. There will be a full report of the evening's proceeding later but one of the highlights was the commissioning of Tamworth Street Angels (accompanied by an excellent address by Paul Blakey MBE - Founder of the Street Angels group - CNI).

Here's a quick image from the evening (more later I'm sure) to give you a quick feel for what went went on:

The Blessings of Christmas

Are to firstly be found at 08:30 on a Christmas morning celebrating the Eucharist with so many wonderfully faithful and engaged people.

Secondly to be privileged to preside at such a service with the wonderfully measured and sound piece of liturgy that is the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (BCP) service.

The cherry on the cake comes in the shape of the location this took place in - and I have to say that the chapel dedicated to St George in Tamworth's Parish church is one of the most lovely and sacred spots of all that I might have been able to do this service in.

Between Burne-Jones' 'Days of Creation - the Patriarchs and Prophets - and St Christopher (all dedicated to Sir Robert Peel) and the joy of knowing that one faithful member of the church would rejoice that the candlesticks and cross were back where they belonged - it was a splendid start to what was destined to be a wonderfully blessed and restful day.

Tamworth Street Angels - Another step further

Three years or so on and Tamworth Street Angels has a bunch of trustees in place and the various elements relating to training and linking in to the town's services are also coming together and so it is with some great pleasure that I can announce a public meeting to inform, recruit and generally enthuse those who would like to become part of Tamworth's Street Angels group.

click to enlarge

Please tell your friends (if you have friends),  acquaintances, fellow church members (if you go to church), colleagues, fellow unbelievers (if you're non-theist) and strangers you meet in the street, on the trains, buses and down the nick!

Anywhere and everywhere - spread the good news that Tamworth is moving up a gear when it comes to being a caring society.

And be warned - there's more good news to come very soon (so have a nap!).

You have the time, the date and the location - so see you very soon I hope (refreshments provided)