That's got Cod Sall to do with Fresh Expressions.

Ahem!
A few great pictures here from Codsall's very special midweek service, StNics@StNics.
It meets actually not in the church building, but in the school that shares it's name; St Nicholas' First School.
Not a 'Messy Church' by name, but it looks like it by nature!
You can see a load more pictures here;
http://s289.photobucket.com/albums/ll218/LichfieldFreshExpressions/StNicsatStNics/

Boom-band-a-bang

Deton8 - a well exciting Youth Event that took place in Wonderful Wolves a couple of weeks ago. I meant to go, but I got waylaid. Apparently it was awesome.

Don't take my word for it; check out the video...



(Cool, my first video blog - next I'll be doing 3D interactive holograms)
(Or not)

Stig - coming to a church near you...

An entirely unreliable source telss me that ths Stig (yes that's right,the lanky mysterious chap on the left, has been zooming around the diocese recently trying to find a church that would make him feel welcome, with drastically differing results.



Problem is, most people now are getting used to that mysterious white helmet, so now he's joined up with our Mystery Worshipping team. That way no one needs know who he is!


Fact is, he cold be almost anyone, maybe even one of these...




If you'd like the Stig or another Mystery worshipper to visit your church, or maybe you'd like a go at being Mystery Worshipper yourself, just let Richard know...

St Editha's Prayer Trail, Church Eaton

This looks great!
loads of photos already up on flickr, so I'm not going to duplicate Peter Ashby's hard work, but do have a look at the page;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pegash/sets/72157606241110989/
It was set up to coincide with the Scarecrow Festival - what a great way of incorporating a spiritual dimension into a community event!
If you're keen, I can happily send you some details of the text that was used.

Harass you all soon!

Renew 08

Hullo Folks

A few snaps I've just posted from an exciting festival just taken place in Leigh in Staffordshire. It looked pretty awesome!
Check out their site at www.hopeforleigh.org.uk if you'd like to see more...

Who needs a service book?

Service books; who needs 'em...
Well everyone I guess, unless you're rich enough to buy a projector, techie enough to make it work right every single time, and together enough not to forget something.
And bear in mind that Murphy's Law suggests (just as the back row of any given church will feature more hearing aids than a Daniel O'Donnell gig) that those who have the most dubious eyesight in church will sit as far away from any screen as possible, and at the most acute angle possible to it. If they can move their seat to line up at least 3 pillars in the way as well, so much the better...
Anyway...
Saw these briiliant books in a lovely little church in West Brom this week, and thought they were a really nice approach;




I thought these were really nice, not going go as tatty as quickly as a normal book, flexible if you want to change service patterns, attractive thought-provoking images on the rear of all the inserted sheets, easily wipe-clean-able if a clumsy heifer like me spills coffee all over it, or replaceable at worst. Brilliant!

Can we have some?

Is your church 'full'?

When assessing the minor miracle of a full petrol tank last week, I saw this lonely B2CS pen and got me thinking. How well would we cope if 50 new people turned up on Sunday. Would it be a great opportunity , or a difficulty. Would your congregation rejoice, or chunter that they've lost their seat and have to wait longer for communion? Just a thought...