They married on Saturday 7th April in Billy’s home country of New Zealand and will move into a flat just off Cotham Brow.

Do pray for them as they settle in, introduce yourself to them and make them feel welcome. We look forward to all that God will do in them and through them during their time with us.

To the churches in Bristol, St Matthew’s and others,

Jesus loves you; powerfully and deeply. He knows what you are experiencing, He knows your struggles, He lived as you do & knows how you feel. Because He lived and died and rose, you are forgiven, accepted and saved. He is supreme, all powerful and yet yearns for your faith, you hearts and your trust.

As His church you are beautiful in His sight and He delights in your unity, in your outreach, especially to the marginalised, in your creativity, your kingdom generosity and your willingness to go to others rather than passively waiting for them to come to you. He delights in your desire for community, your prayers and you concern for the church in all the world.

In His great love He warns you to be wary of your wealth, self sufficiency and the risk of complacency. Do not fear offending others, beware of failing to stand firm for your faith. He warns you not to be so critical; do not focus on the differences but look to your common ground, in Christ.

Do not be complacent because persecution could come. God desires wholeheartedness and will use all our resources and gifts for His glory; to make Bristol a sanctuary where people can find safety in God’s love. St Matthews, you are a church on a hill; shine and stretch yourself. Make disciples, bring home the prodigals.

Adobe Reader

1. APCM Agenda
2. Annual Review 2011 (17MB)
3. APCM Minutes April 2011 (for approval at this year’s meeting)
4. 2011 Statutory Accounts (subject to audit and examination)
5. 2011 Accounts Slideshow (subject to …)
6. The report to the Charity Commissioners.

The objective of this new role is threefold. Firstly to help in the leadership of our worship especially creativity and music, secondly to grow our work with younger adults and thirdly to help us grow in our discipleship.

We look forward to welcoming this gifted couple onto our staff team. Do pray for them as they prepare to join us.

Could you spare an hour and a half once a fortnight to befriend someone like Dawit and improve life in Bristol for an isolated asylum seeker or refugee? Sam Sayer is looking for new volunteers who would like to befriend someone from another culture and show God’s love practically to those on the margins. Befriending will involve listening, helping with English and spending time enjoying Bristol together. Befriending training runs for four consecutive Thursday evenings starting on 23rd February. On-going support and supervision is also given.

For more details please contact Sam via the church office.

There will be a Church collection for the work of b.friend on Sunday 4th March

CHAIR WANTED! The management group for b.friend is currently looking for a Chair for our meetings which take place bi-monthly. If you would like to be an essential part of this exciting project please contact Sam.

If you would like to know more, become a mentor or have a mentor to talk with and pray with, please could you contact Mat either directly or through the office.

I’m very excited about this new post and pleased that I’m not going too far but also deeply sad to be leaving St Matthew’s. I’ll postpone any proper goodbyes and thank-yous ’till the appropriate time in January but wanted to take this opportunity to let you know the news and to thank those of you who I know have been praying for me during this time.

God Bless,

Vicky

Vicky has been at St Matthew’s since her appointment as part time Community Minister in 2007. This became a full time role in September 2008. She was employed to research our local community, identify what the needs are, make new connections and help us to develop a strategy for our mission and ministry in the parish. She has far exceeded expectations in this and done so much more.

Throughout her time Vicky has been a well loved and hugely influential member of the church, a respected leader on both leadership team, PCC and staff team. She has also become an integral member of the local community. She is a good pastor, gifted preacher, diligent and committed woman of prayer and a mature Christian who obviously loves the Lord. We will hugely miss her personally and professionally.

Vicky has completed the task that she came to do. Through her work we have much more information about the parish we serve, we are more involved in our parish especially Kingsdown Homegrown and Dove Street, through her amazing networking we are well known in the locality and involved in a number of partnerships, we have improved our communications and welcome and along with Cath Hubbuck we started Messy Church. In short through her work we are on the map in the locality and in a much better position to make strategic decisions about the future. I could go on but let’s save it for the goodbyes.

Vicky will be preaching her last sermon on Sunday morning 15th Jan. Her last Sunday with us will be the 22nd January. After the morning service on the 22nd there will be a ‘Bring and Share’ lunch to give our thanks and say goodbye. More details of this will follow.

Gifts of food for each festive bag include—chocolate biscuits, tin of biscuits, tin of ham, box of chocolates, chocolate spread or jam, Christmas pudding, jar of peanut butter, 40 tea bags & a jar of coffee.

Also new toys for babies & children, including cars, lego, hand held computer games, Airfix models, baby & fashion dolls, play makeup, jewellery, craft & painting sets, tea sets etc. are most welcome.

Most years they do run short of gifts for teenagers such as hand held computer games, toiletries, ‘trendy’ hair products, small radios, watches, fashion gloves, scarves etc.

In addition they are pleased to receive gifts for adults—new gloves, hats, socks, scarves & toiletries.

There will be a red box for gifts in the foyer—Sun 4th Dec is the last day for collection.

The chapel will be available in the week whilst the office is open (8.30am to 1pm each day) and at some other times. There is also always someone in church from 9.15 on a Sunday morning and from 6 on Sunday evening.

Do collect an information card from church for more information.

Would he speak my language—TAW 2011

Would he speak my language if he came to earth for me?
Would he recognise my features, and wave across the street?
Would he want to spend time with me, and arrange a place to meet?
Would he speak my language if he came to earth for me?

Would he sit at table with me, with my friends and family?
Would he want to say grace for us, before we start to eat?
Would he change the water into wine, the crumbs into a feast?
Would he sit at table with me, with my friends and family?

Would he follow me to work and sit across the desk from me?
Eat doughnuts in the staff room, and talk of what was on TV?
Would he get bored during meetings, and so slowly fall asleep?
Would he follow me to work and sit across the desk from me?

Would he join me on the school run, in the rush at half past three
Collecting kids and bags and coats, and kissing injured knees?
Would he laugh and splash in puddles as we ran beneath the trees?
Would he join me on the school run, in the rush at half past three?

Would he meet me at my lowest ebb, in the depths of tragedy
When all seems false and far-away, and pain is all I see
When I start to build the walls that separate the rest from me—
Would he meet me at my lowest ebb, in the depths of tragedy?

Jesus, would you be my friend? Would you join my family?
The God who comes to earth each day, the God who comes for me
The one who knows my thoughts, in whom I was, am and will be
This Jesus: come, and be my friend; come, and walk each step with me.

If you would like a pack (which includes instructions, a story reading plan and tags ready for you to cut out and use) please sign up on the notice board. Maybe you could pass one on to a friend? There is a small charge of £1 to cover the cost of materials.

For more information see Nicola Such.