Prayer on the Hill is an annual gathering organised by a branch of Churches Together in Weston-super-Mare called 'LOVE WESTON'.
Our aim is to encourage each of us to pray and show practical care for the communities around where we live, work, relax or study. We believe that prayer changes things and that we can all be agents for positive change in our town.
It takes place on Saturday 7th July 2018 and will include worship led by Salv Lomanto, prayers, songs and worship from Rob Parker (Wings Prayer House - Bridlington), a short talk from Rev Keith Powell and prayers of blessing over the town and district.
The 90 minute gathering will be led by Gary Hoare, the President of Churches Together in Weston and District as well as local church leaders, worship leaders and young people, who will lead us in a time of prayer.
Special guests include Rob Parker from Wings Prayer House and Rev Keith Powell, the Diocesan Renewal Advisor.
Rob Parker is a gifted preacher with a heart for prayer who runs Wings Prayer House, based in Bridlington. He is also an inspirational songwriter and musician. He recently released 'Awakening the Coastlands' a moving album that reflects the growing hope for revival across our nation. See here
Rev Keith Powell recently retired from parish ministry, but continues his work in the Diocese of Bath and Wells where he is advisor to the Bishop on Renewal. His work takes him abroad regularly on missions and ministry trips.
We will illuminate a beacon as a visual representation of our prayers and our wish to see good things, prosperity and success emanating from our streets and neighbourhoods.
We invite Christians once again from all the local churches to join us for this act of unity. (John 17:23)
We meet at the tower on Uphill Hill at 7.30pm or in St Nicholas Church, Uphill if it rains. There will be music and worship from 7pm. We will be providing free 4x4 transport from the boatyard entrance up the hill, from 6.45pm for those who are unable to walk - thanks to Wessex 4x4.
As a preparation for Prayer on the Hill, we are encouraging local people to prayer-walk their streets, local landmarks, the beach, places that need prayer - anywhere they are led to go during the week leading up to the event!
During 2019 local churches are coming together to witness on the streets of the town as part of The Turning. We see this initiative as a good opportunity to warm up the spiritual atmosphere with prayer, praise and proclamation. Resources on prayer-walking will be available on the Love Weston website.
Let us know what you are doing as part of the prayer-walking in the week before Prayer on the Hill 2018 by completing the form here
For further information please call Rev John Simons on 01934 221537.
To order more posters and fliers, please contact us using the form here
FREE RESOURCES
World renowned composer, worship leader and violinist, Ruth Fazal will be visiting St Paul's Church, Walliscote Road, Weston-super-Mare on Monday 16 July 2018 at 7.30pm.
The evening of intimate worship is entitled: 'Dry Bones Coming to Life'.
Entry is free, donations will be welcome (on the night).
For more info, call Rev Keith Powell on 01823 698221 OR St Paul's Church Office on 01934 613259.
We are delighted to invite everyone to a meeting hosted at St Pauls Church, Walliscote Road, WSM on 18 July being Chaired by Ruth Worsley, the Bishop of Taunton.
This is a chance for those affected by austerity to talk to decision makers - please let us know if you know anyone who would like to make their voice heard.
Please come to the event if you can!
Mrs Suzy Kirkham
Church Warden @ St Paul's Church, Weston-super-Mare
Walliscote Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, BS231EF
The conversion of a Weston drop-in centre to a night assessment centre for the homeless could soon be underway, as plans have been submitted this week.
An increase in homelessness in Weston in the past year has prompted 18 charities, churches and voluntary groups to work together to offer somewhere for people to stay at night.
Weston Town Council has pledged £25,000 for a night assessment centre to open at Somewhere To Go, in the Boulevard.
Project leaders have applied to North Somerset Council for permission to keep it as a daytime drop-in centre but also to provide a night assessment centre (NAC) for emergency accommodation for up to 10 homeless people.
Documents submitted with the application say: “Our guests are referred to us by the agencies which already assist in identifying those who are sleeping rough in Weston super Mare, such as YMCA. St Mungos, Weston street wardens and street pastors.
“They will carry out an initial assessment and contact the NAC co-ordinator to reserve a place.
“The team looks at any support issues as part of the assessment which includes drug and alcohol use, mental health and history of offending.
“In the case of clients with complex needs and who are confirmed street homeless, the team discuss the referral with a manager and co-ordinator at Weston NAC and decide on the best course of action together.”
The assessment centre would give people who are sleeping rough a safe place to stay overnight.
However, this will also provide an opportunity for a care plan to be developed to help them back into accommodation.
They will also be signposted to other services and shown where they can get food and clothes.
The documents say: “Some individuals will have complex needs which will take professional assistance from the on-site NHS staff and visiting Citizens Advice Bureau and mental health teams.
“In time this facility will build trust with the homeless community and hopefully they will take the assistance offered.”
If approved, doors would open at 9pm, but no-one would be allowed to leave or enter after 10pm. Volunteers will all receive training.
Central ward councilor Richard Nightingale said: “This planning application is the next positive step in consulting with residents and updating them with progress.”
He said the scheme would go a long way to offering homeless people support.
If anyone wishes to find out more, volunteer to involved practically or support the Weston Night Assessment Centre project, please contact Deacon Gary Hoare at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who will put you in touch with the appropriate person.
(With thanks to Weston Mercury for the article)
Daniel Black will be visiting Weston-super-Mare on Saturday 15th September for the 'Heart of God' Conference - 10.30am til 4.30pm. The date is mid-way through an international itinerary of events and speaking engagements for Daniel.
Daniel is the founding director of Love Fest Global, a not-for-profit compassion organization, and currently is leading their base of operations in Hong Kong, serving the needs of the poor, broken and destitute, while preaching the Gospel of Love.
He displays a unique gift mix of the five-fold ministry. Operating from all gifts as the Lord leads. He has a revelation of Love with a sharp prophetic edge for this generation to shift them into new realms for impartation and activation.
He walks out the fruits of the spirit in grace and fervor challenging all around him to step up to higher realms of Glory.
His passion is to minister the fullness of the love of God – to see people healed from a lot of the bondage of their past and enter into new freedom in the knowledge of God’s love.
The message Daniel shares is solid and his foundation is in the Word of God
More info and sign up at www.milton-baptist.org.uk
Journeymen Theatre Company are bringing a production of 'The Bundle' to Weston-super-Mare on Sunday 16 September at 2pm. All interested parties are invited to come.
The performance moves from the tradition of the folk story to that of biting satire as it charts the journey of Adilah. Abducted into a forced marriage and subjected to a life of servitude, she takes the ultimate risk in escaping to the UK. Here she finds a home but also encounters the Home Office’s ‘hostile environment’. The performers are personally acquainted with Adilah and bring her story up to date.
The production will be followed by refreshments and a discussion about the issues with the audience. With another ten refugee families coming to North Somerset, this performance will raise awareness about the reality of the situation people are in and replace knee-jerk responses with informed debate.
There is no charge for the performance or refreshments but donations will be given to organisations working with asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.
The 6 Presidents of Churches Together in England and more than 240 delegates met over the 17th -19th September at the The Hayes conference centre in Derbyshire for its Forum, with its the theme of “‘I am with you always’ - to-gether in God’s mission”. The Forum featured a series of key-note addresses, top-table conversatons among and with the Presidents, workshops, small groups, a mult-voice bible study and tme around the dinner table for fellowship. Several fea-tures of Forum 2018 build on the experience of the last Fo-rum in 2015. These include a focus on young people who were in various ways fully involved and who planned one of the worship sessions. CTE plan to produce a thirty minute vid-eo resource of the Presidents' sessions for use locally.
A new quiet space called ‘The Retreat’ was opened at West Somerset College last month and some of young people from Watchet were involved in the ofcial opening along with the School Pastors, local clergy and Bishop Ruth Worsley. You can fnd out more about it here: htp://www.bathandwells.org.uk/2018/08/new-retreat-opens/
The World Council of Churches 2021 Assembly set for Germany. The Central Com-mitee has decided to pursue plans for the WCC 11th Assem-bly in 2021 in Karlsruhe, Germany. The WCC assembly, held every eight years, is central to the life of the WCC member churches and the entre ecumenical movement. As a unique event, it provides the opportunity for WCC to contnue its journey as a living expression of the fellowship of churches seeking to fulfl together their common calling. This will be the third assembly in Eu-rope, the last one being 50 years ago in Uppsala in 1968.
The latest version of the monthly mailing of news from Churches Together in England is now available at: http://www.cte.org.uk/news .
Poet in Residence for JPIT The Revd Lucy Berry, a performance poet and United Reformed Church minister, has been named as the frst poet-in-residence for the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT). JPIT responds to current social, politcal and policy issues on behalf of the Baptst Union, the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church. Ms Berry will write and per-form poetry related to the policy areas JPIT work on poverty and the welfare system The unremu-nerated positon commenced on Monday 3 September and was marked with a poem specially writen by Ms Berry, enttled ‘An Empire and a Village’.
New name for CCPAS - Churches Child Protecton Advisory Service (CCPAS) Their name no longer adequately refected who they were, and the scope and range of services provided. The organisaton have said “We recog-nised the need for change and to beter communicate who we are and why we do what we do. We’re motvated and inspired by our biblical mandate to ‘speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vul-nerable’ as described in Proverbs 31:8 from where we get our name”. Link for more informaton: htps://www.ccpas.co.uk/thirtyoneeight
Memorial garden set to open. In honour of the 40th anniversary year since a small group of Elim missionaries laid down their lives, the Elim Pentecostal Church have opened The Vumba Memorial Garden. The garden is dedi-cated to the 9 adults and 4 children who lost their lives serving in The Vumba, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The gar-den is based at the Elim Internatonal Centre in Malvern and will be available for visitors to view and spend tme in.
FRIDAY 5 TH OCTOBER 201 8
STARTING AT 7PM
DOORS OPEN AT 6.30PM
Milton Baptist Church
Baytree Road
Weston-super-Mare
BS22 8HJ
United Kingdom
Milton Baptist Church Baytree Road are hosting an event for their 'Albania Mission Appeal' sending Christmas Shoe Boxes to the children of Albania.....
Richard Lennox (piano) supported by Rachel Hooper (double bass) & John Rackham (drums) are giving a concert at this church on Friday 5th October commencing at 7pm....
Tickets £5, 16yrs & under free,available from the church office 01934 641574 or go to www.eventbrite.com (including light refreshments).....
Music to include Gershwin, Cole Porter, Elton John & Les Dawson, Andrew Lloyd Webber & many more.
From ‘Nemo’ - one of our close supporters – reposted with permission
Last night I had a walk around town at about midnight and came across a chap who opened our conversation with "Life is sh*t init, mate?" I guess I must have looked a fellow lost soul on my own too!
What an ice breaker. We had a little conversation and I gave a NAC spiel, and discovered he'd lost everything. And I was reminded that all the misery and shame and loss of self esteem with being homeless gets dumped right on top of the pain that causes it in the first place.
This guy mentioned he had to go to Somewhere to Go, the Jobcentre and Addaction today, so at least he knew some things he could do. But there's that risk of lip service. Call me negative, but I know all to well the difference between talking the talk and walking the walk.
Which is why I posted this. With all the materialistic support which is hugely appreciated, we must remember the emotional support needed - THAT'S where the turnaround lies. How often I have listened to rants while giving someone a cup of tea! Just through listening, people feel better by someone caring what they are saying. How many times do you complain about an automated phone service? "Thank you for calling - your call IS important to us and you are being held in a queue and will be answered as soon as possible..." - And how nice it is to FINALLY speak to a REAL person about your issue. Imagine if the Samaritans did that?!
I know an official counselling session has boundaries, but every time you speak to someone homeless (or anyone else for that matter) - It can be a listening session. Deep down a lot of people know exactly what they want, they just have no idea how to say it. And after all, how can a doctor do a home visit if that person has no home?
It was quite exciting to see the Night Assessment Centre really starting to come together tonight. This group is called "Supporting Weston super Mare Homeless" and I think we've been doing what it says on the tin. Except in March, when I started to get involved, we didn't actually HAVE a NAC. So how exactly DO you support the homeless?
Well back then, the snow, Channel 4 and the Quakers certainly highlighted the issue in an emergency, but Weston didn't have a solid option for actual overnight accommodation.. Now, I think the Night Assessment Centre will do what it says on the tin, and along with Somewhere to Go and the winter soup kitchens, will be THE solid option. And over the last 7 months, the success will be from all of us learning to work together specifically for Weston. I have seen how the project has listened to people and not assumed that because - I don't know - a night shelter in Norwich works well the way it is run there, that the same approach will therefore work here. No –
This NAC will be unique for its purpose.
The NAC has never been to me so much as an assessment from us to them, but instead an assessment of themselves. That's what I see - a SAFE place to recognise options and goals, and begin self empowerment to achieve them. This may simply be making it to an appointment with the council. Only the other day, someone was explaining the reason they miss appointments is because they simply lose track of days - let alone time.
So now the support for the homeless has a base along with Somewhere to Go, and we can know where to help.
And this certainly doesn't mean the homeless will disappear from the streets at night now - Some will. Some will start to change there lives. Some will want to stay where they are and you have to respect that. But now you will be able to tell them there is an option. And their choice to try it will come from the same courage that's needed to break the whole cycle. There is no sense of achievement without a sense of effort. I am reminded of the Three Little Pigs. The smart pig builds his house of bricks. The house of straw is a lot like the slashed tent mentioned earlier today. And the house of bricks isn't the NAC - it's the solid decision to choose something deep inside to build on - to risk trying something new to change - because that little decision will give a little strength and it will gain momentum.
So thank you for all your support and best wishes to Hilary and Liona and crew, and if you have any questions please get in touch via the CTWD contact page.
Richard Lennox and Friends in Concert at St Martin’s Church Friday 23 November at 7.30pm.
Featuring Soloist Marcus Evans, Baritone.
The evening will consist of popular classics and music from films and musicals
Tickets £10, to include cheese and wine during the interlude,are available from St Martin’s Church, Worle Parish Office andSkidmores onWorle High Street.
In Aid of the maintenance of St Martin’s Church