BOLTON CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY COHESION. Newsletter November 2014 IN THIS ISSUE WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS

Transcription

1 BOLTON CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY COHESION Newsletter November 2014 IN THIS ISSUE 1. Welcome to our new Town Centre Chaplain. 2. Passion for Bolton 3. Statement from Patrons 4. Town Centre Chaplaincy 5. Interfaith Week. 6. Dates for your diary. 7. The Sycamore Project 8. Gala Concert feedback 9. Hope 2014 Dates for your diary WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS Important date for your diary. Passion prayer Meeting. Tuesday the 25th November pm at Bolton Parish church, (The Old School House), Silverwell St, Bolton Welcome to our new Bolton Town Centre Chaplain Keith Armstrong, if you see him out and about please stop him and say hello.

2 BOLTON CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY COHESION IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT Passion For Bolton You may have received correspondence from us recently regarding Passion for Bolton Unfortunately we have to advise you that, due to circumstances beyond our control, the Passion for Bolton play has had to be postponed until 26th March The reasons for this postponement are clearly set out in the Statement from our Patrons on the next page. We realize that this is a disappointment but we are sure that you will agree that to perform the play at any place other than on Bolton Town Hall steps would simply not have such a dramatic effect. It is important that we get the Easter Story across to as many people as we possibly can and the Town Hall Steps is the perfect venue. So, if you are able, save the date, 26 th March Rehearsals and workshops will continue in 2015 but will just be a little later in the year, you will be advised of the dates in the New Year. The next Friends of Passion Meetings will continue as planned. This will be on Thursday 22nd January at 10am at Bolton Parish Church Old School building. This is for representatives of local churches and partnerships to play a part in the project s development and feed the information back to the local churches. The next prayer meeting is at Bolton Parish Church, the Old School House, Silverwell Street, Bolton at 7.00pm on Tuesday the 25th November 2014 Your continued support is appreciated and we are sure that you will agree that this little set back will not stop us from putting on the very best performance.

3 BOLTON CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY COHESION A Statement from the Patrons of Passion for Bolton 2015 You will know from the publicity materials available that, building on the success of Passion for Bolton in April 2011, we are intending to repeat that town centre production in April We have had the official launch, fundraising is underway, the artistic and musical directors are working on the script, cast selection is taking place and the various teams of volunteers are being assembled. It is therefore with great regret that we need to announce our decision, as Patrons, to postpone the next production of Passion for Bolton until 26 March We have taken this decision because, as you may know from local media coverage, there is to be a 6.5million refurbishment of the Albert Halls side of the Town Hall during Given this extensive work and the uncertainty as to what stage that work will have reached by April 2015, we have no guarantee that we will be able to use the steps of the Town Hall (and associated rooms within it) for our production. We consider that it would be too big a risk to simply go ahead as planned and hope it will all work out. Having to postpone it nearer to the time would be even more traumatic than doing so now. We have also considered alternative venues but do not think there is anything to compare with having the scenes from the Passion played out against the magnificent backdrop of the Town Hall frontage. On the positive side, Passion for Bolton 2016 can be part of a programme of events relating to the re-launch of the refurbished Town Hall building and that should give added emphasis to what we are about in putting on this production in the first place bringing the story of the Passion to the people of Bolton and enacting it at the heart of our Borough. We realise that this decision to postpone Passion for Bolton will upset and disappoint many people. We share that upset and disappointment but we hope you will understand why, with heavy hearts, we have had to make this decision. We ask for your continued prayers, support and fundraising during what will now be a longer lead in period to this event than anticipated. We thank all those who are actively involved in this preparation and we look forward to a fantastic production of Passion for Bolton God bless. Revd Richard Church, North West Moderator, United Reformed Church Rev Canon Michael Cooke, Roman Catholic Dean of Bolton Richard Cooke, Senior Leader, Bridge Church Rt Revd Christopher Edmondson, Bishop of Bolton, Church of England Revd Paul Martin, Chair of Rochdale & Bolton District, Methodist Church Patrons of Passion for Bolton 22 October 2014

4 News News Interested in learning how to be a mission focused church! Event will be held at :- Farnworth Baptist Church Trafford Street Bolton BL4 7PQ Tel CHURCH@FARNWORTHBAPTIST.ORG.UK Here is a great opportunity to learn from a local church which is very mission focused and growing numerically. The course is Saturday 22nd November. From 10am 4pm. 26 per person. Lunch and refreshments will be provided so please book your place today at farnworthbaptistchurch.eventbrite.co.uk BOLTON TOWN CENTRE CHAPLAINCY Bolton Christian Community Cohesion are pleased to announce that a New Town Centre Chaplain has at last been appointed. His name is Keith Armstrong and his picture is on the front of this Newsletter. Many of you who have been associated with Bolton CCC in the past will know Keith for his excellent organization skills in arranging stewarding at many of our events. We wish him well. If you see him in town please don't hesitate to stop and have a chat. His picture is on the front cover and he will be easily recognizable by the red fleece with Bolton Chaplaincy on the back.

5 News INTERFAITH WEEK NOVEMBER 2014 Forthcoming Projects & Events From Bolton Interfaith Council. 16th November Sunday Interfaith Walk of Friendship a wonderful opportunity to have a brief tour of 4 places of worship as well as make new friends. Meeting at 12.30pm Zakariyya Mosque, Derby Street. BL3 5LJ. 17th November Monday Open Day at the Hub 9.30am to 2.30pm an opportunity for people from our communities to drop in, share refreshments and find out more about the work of Bolton Interfaith Council, Bolton Hindu Forum, Bolton Christian Community Cohesion and Bolton Council of Mosques. 19th November Wednesday Unity in the Community Eid/ Diwali / Advent event celebrations at the 3D centre 10.30am to 5.00pm An Excellent inter-generational event (Please note this is a ticketed event and you should contact Bolton Interfaith Council to obtain a ticket). 21st November Friday Interfaith Shared Lunch at Emmanuel Church, 11.00am to 2.30pm involving schools, learn about other faiths, elders from the community and children with learning difficulties. Please contact Bolton Interfaith Council if you wish to attend. 22nd November Saturday 2nd interfaith Street 20 Cricket Tournament for year olds at Kearsley Academy Sports Hall 1.15pm to 5.00pm Teams from BIC, BHF, BCOM, Bolton Lads and Girls and other teams to take part. Organized by Grace Thomas, Youth & Children s Co-ordinator. Supported by Bolton Wanderers Trust Faith Trails & School Assemblies The Bolton Interfaith Council has a programme of arranging Faith Trails (visits to places of worship for all Faiths) for schools, Community, Voluntary & Statutory Sector and all other sectors of the Community. If your group or school are interested please fill in the simple form on Bolton Interfaith Council s website under 'Faith Trail request

6 News Dates for your Diary 22nd November 1940 s Tea Party arranged by the Salvation Army at Bolton Citadel, St Georges Road, Bolton BL1 2BZ. Tickets 6.00 under 12s s dress preferable contact Malcolm Mattison on th to 22nd November Interfaith Week More details of these events can be obtained from Chan Parmar chan@boltoninterfaithcouncil.org.uk 21st November 30th November 25th November 2014 An evening of music and song in aid of Urban Outreach Bolton. 7.30pm at Claremont Church Bolton. Tickets 5.00 featuring The Millennium Chapel Gospel Choir, Geoff Irwin, Tony McVey bringing wonderful songs from throughout the years. Hope pm Bishop David s Visit at St Peter s Church Passion for Bolton Prayer Meeting 7.00 Bolton Parish Church. Bolton. BL1 1PS 3rd December Salvation Army Carol Service Victoria Hall 7.30pm for tickets ring each concessions 6.00 for OAP and under 16 Family tickets available 2A & 2C th December 7th December 8th December 13th December 14th January th January th February 2015 Christians Together in Bolton Town Centre Carol Singing 12.30pm to 1.30pm Market Place Bolton. Salvation Army Coffee, candlelight and carols at. 5.30pm at the Citadel on St Georges Road, Bolton Carol Service at BWFC Macron. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start Hope 2014 Hope out Loud pm to 1.00pm on Bolton Town Square Passion for Bolton Prayer Meeting 7.30 The Bridge Church Bolton BL2 1JX United Service 10.30am at the Parish Church, Bolton with guest speakers to be confirmed. Lent reflections at the Parish Church Hall, Bolton 10.30am 5th March, 19th March And 26th March 2015 Lent reflections at the Parish Church Hall, Bolton10.30.am 3rd April th March 2016 Good Friday Service 11.am at Victoria Hall. Walk of Witness on Victoria Square. PASSION FOR BOLTON 2016 Passion Play at 12 noon on the steps of Bolton Town Hall.

7 BOLTON CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY COHESION THE SYCAMORE PROJECT-ZAC S YOUTH BAR: EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENTS! Some of you will already be familiar with the work of the Sycamore Project-Zac s Youth Bar, an amazing initiative working with young people, of all faiths and none, in one of the most deprived areas of Bolton. The Greater Manchester Poverty Commission Report (January 2013), named the Farnworth area as having both the highest incidences of child poverty in the Borough of Bolton as well as the largest number of people percentage-wise to the population, receiving tax credits. Zac s is an independent Christian charity which began in 2000, and aims to offer care and support to young people, and provide a meeting place free from alcohol and other harmful influences. It takes its name from Luke Chapter 19, where it was from a sycamore tree that Zaccheus first saw Jesus. The vision and prayer of Zac s-faith-based but not faith-biased- is that those young people who come into contact with the project, will see through the lives of the staff and volunteers that the message of Christianity is relevant today, and like the transformed Zaccheus be able to make healthy life-changing decisions for their futures. Based in Market Street in Farnworth, Zac s is currently in contact with around 1,500 young people, and has now extended its work to Little Lever, Kearsley, Stoneclough and Tonge Moor. They run a huge number of activities for young people aged 11 to 18, (up to 25 for those with special needs), and these include sports, work in schools, after school clubs, one to one support, personal development and so much more. The aim is that through detailed planning combined with a relationship approach to their work, every young person is welcomed and treated as an individual of value and worth. In order to sustain this life-changing work among young people, Zac s have recently (from September 1 st 2014), appointed Karen Openshaw to be Head of Development and Partnerships. Karen-who set up the Mentoring service, and has herself been a volunteer for Zac s in the past has a brief to build relationships widely with schools, churches and businesses in order to enable Zac s to not only keep going, but continue growing. Her role includes recruiting more volunteers to mentor the young people, do youth work or in any way, practical and prayerful, help deliver and enable the activities of Zac s, as well as encouraging individuals, groups and churches through all kinds of creative and maybe even crazy ways,(!) to support the work financially on a regular or one-off basis. I write as someone who has known of and personally supported the work of Zac s ever since I became Bishop of Bolton, and would encourage you to invite Karen to come and speak at your church or organisation, so that you too can be part of the next phase of the life-changing work in which Zac s is engaged. Karen can be contacted as follows: Karen.openshaw@zacsyouthbar.co.uk; Web: Rt Revd.Chris Edmondson, Bishop of Bolton.

8 GALA CONCERT Saturday 18 October 2014 On Saturday 18 October over 800 attended a concert at the Victoria Hall with musical contributions from Bolton Choral Union, Ladybridge Singers, the Brixi Singers, and Jazzicle from Bolton Symphony Orchestra. The concert was organised in response to an appeal for financial help so that essential repairs and upgrading of the Hall could be tackled. We are greatly heartened by the response and encouraged to know that so many people value the Victoria Hall for the brilliant venue it is. The Victoria Hall is not only a church but is also a resource for the community of Bolton and we are working hard to improve its facilities. The choir conducted by Musical Director Dr. Robert Aston The concert was the initiative of Barbara Melbourne of Bolton Choral Union. Barbara, along with Chris Cresswell of Bolton Methodist Mission, organised the concert which was well received by the large audience. The musical climax of the evening was Zadok the Priest (sung at every Coronation since 1727), although for some, the rendition of Grandfather s Clock just before the interval may have made a greater impression! Packed to the rafters Three conductors played a part in the concert (but not at the same time!): Robert Aston, Michael Greenhalgh, and Richard Lea. We are immensely grateful to everyone else who performed on the evening. Over 475 was taken at a retiring collection and the final figure from ticket sales has yet to be calculated. Speaking personally, I was absolutely bowled over that so many people turned out to enjoy the concert and express their support. I was privileged to welcome people at the start. When I said that, as a church, we believe a town like Bolton should have a place like this for big community events people spontaneously applauded. That speaks volumes about the degree of support we have from the people of Bolton. Paul Martin Acting Superintendent Minister and Chair of the Bolton and Rochdale District of the Methodist Church