St Matthew's, Bristol » News

Would you like to try a retreat?

Rick — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:56:36 +0000

If you would be interested in going on a retreat with other St Matt’s people over two days, either for the first time or as part of your regular spiritual journey, then please speak to Joyce Caithness or Mat Ineson.

Venue, silent or otherwise to be decided dependant on interest, we’re
thinking of October/November this year

Children’s and Youth Volunteers

Rick — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:45:12 +0000

We are very thankful to God for those who give their time to work with our children and young people. As part of our commitment to pray for them in this important role we will be commissioning all of them on Sunday 12th September during the morning service.

Trinity Context Students

Rick — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:44:31 +0000

We are delighted to welcome new Trinity Students to the Context Based Training Cohort that we host in partnership with Woodlands Church. St Matthew’s and Woodlands provide a context in which the students can explore and apply the theology that they learn through the college. As part of this they will be involved in some of the church activities including the Dove Street drop in, Messy Church and some services.

Do pray for them and make them and their families welcome. We will be commissioning them on the 5th September.

Staff Changes

Mat — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:43:33 +0000

As we begin September there are a number of staff changes to report. As you know Ali Berry has stepped down as Youth Minister, we pray that God will continue to bless her and thank God for all that she has done with the young people.

I am pleased to say that Rachel Clarke has agreed to be the new part-time youth Minister alongside her part time role in the Media Centre at Knowle West. She begins on 1st September. Do pray for her.
I am also delighted that Emma Ineson is more fully joining the staff team for two days a week plus Sundays. Her main responsibility will be for teaching and preaching. Emma is reducing her hours at Trinity College in order to make time for this role. Do pray for her as she makes this change.

Stop Press

Rick — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:11:02 +0000

The new priest-in-charge appointed to St Mary’s, Cotham and St Paul’s, Clifton is to be Revd Richard Holroyd, currently Vicar of St Luke’s, Maidenhead.

This was announced at the the parishes concerned during services today.

Songs of Praise

Rick — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:40:13 +0000

Exultate Singers in St Matthew’s Church featured in last Sunday’s Songs of Praise on BBC1. It is available for viewing on iPlayer until 3:59pm on Sunday 4th July or longer if you download it first.

In Memoriam

Rick — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:34:16 +0000

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Steve Osborne, a long standing and much loved member of St Matthew’s. Worshipping at St Nathanael’s he came up the hill with his family when the parishes combined and has been a tireless worker, particularly with the building management and organisation of the church. He was often the first contact with hall users, a friendly face with the key, and will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time.

The funeral will be at 1.30pm on Monday 21^st June at St Matthew’s Church. All are welcome.

A Quarter Peal will be rung on the church bells on Wednesday at 7:45pm.

Spring Harvest

Rick — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:42:33 +0000

A group of us are going to Spring Harvest again next year, why not join in? We are going on the first week of the festival 9th-14th April 2011. Check out the springharvest.org website to download a brochure and booking form to choose accommodation and catering options.

Please send completed booking form to Tanya asap as we need to book on the 8th June.

APCM reports

Rick — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:51:27 +0000

In order to save trees PCC have decided not to give everyone a hard copy of the official report but to make it available here to download and view. We will make some hard copies available for those who need it.

These reports are all in PDF format for which you will need Adobe Reader or a compatible program.

Deanery Synod – Future Strategy

Rick — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:43:53 +0000

The Diocese of Bristol faces a number of challenges particularly in how best to use its resources, including its finances, in furthering God’s mission. These challenges will affect every Anglican Church in the Diocese, including ours.

As part of the response to the challenges the Deanery will be hosting an evening to engage in conversation about the future. If you would like to contribute to this conversation then please do contact your reps Vanessa Conte or Chris McConnell or speak to Mat.

Ark Project Update

Rick — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:34:08 +0000

Many of you will know of the exciting project planned with Bristol Christian Fellowship at the ‘Ark’ building. The current ‘working’ name for the project is ‘The Source’.

After much prayer, thought and discussion the working group has distilled a vision. ‘The Source: a place of connection and creativity’.

For the purposes of the project we have defined ourselves as a partnership seeking to witness the fullness of God by serving the community in Kingsdown and Cotham.

Our mission statement is motivated by our Christian faith and commitment to the local area. We want The Source to become a place that provides good connections for individuals and bridges across different communities. We want The Source to inspire creativity and for it to be a centre from which we can serve others. We aim to achieve this by a combination of hospitality, encouragement of the creative arts and offering therapeutic services. We want to actively promote issues of social justice through our activities at The Source.

At this stage the detail of how this vision will be realised is not defined. That task will be taken on by a new Trust consisting of members of St Matthew’s and BCF which may in time also include other local residents. If all goes to plan the new trust will be formed by Easter and will begin the work of creating a business plan and working towards making the vision a reality.

Do continue to pray for this exciting project. If you’d like to know more speak to Vicky, Mat, Simon Pugh-Jones, Max Beseke or James Rimmer.

New Children’s Communion Prayer

Rick — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:22:01 +0000

St Matthew’s has been chosen as one of the churches to trial a new Communion Prayer for use in churches where there are a significant number of children. We will use it for the first time on Sunday February 7th.

As part of the 6 month trial we are asked to feed any comments back to the Church of England. If you have any comments to pass them on to Mat.

Mystery Worshipper strikes again

Rick — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:42:56 +0000

A mystery worshipper from the Ship of Fools web site has hit St Matthew’s for the second time, the previous occasion was ten years ago. This time he/she came to the Context Commissioning service that was held for the students of Trinity College so was not exactly typical of Sunday worship at St Matthew’s and different people would have been involved. However much of the atmosphere and environment would have been the same. Read for yourself what a total outsider thought.

Cancelled; Healing Prayer Space 13th Jan — Wed 13 Jan 2010 @ 4.20pm

Mat — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:17:10 +0000

We are sorry but due to adverse weather conditions the healing prayer space on Wednesday 13th January at St Matthews has had to be cancelled. If you would like someone to pray with you then please do contact Mat Ineson or Tanya Lord and they will be able to help.

Ark Development Steering Group Update

Rick — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:58:20 +0000

It has been a busy month. Under Vicky’s leadership, 1300 community consultation questionnaires were delivered and we had an amazing response of just under 300 completed questionnaires. These have been collated and a final summary report will be published in the New Year. The results are very positive and very much in line with the thinking of the steering group. In parallel with this a team has been exploring the Vision for the project and the legal and financial implications of embarking on it.

By the end of January we hope to have put an application in to the Charity Commission to set up a Trust that will be managed by Trustees from St Matthew’s, BCF and maybe some others. This Trust will be a separate body to both churches.

Please do continue to pray for this project and if you want to know more or make a comment do contact the St Matthew’s reps on the Steering Group.