The live BBC One programme for Good Friday 2012 will be a contemporary and dramatic re-telling of the Passion story and feature an exciting combination of live performance and innovative drama.

The programme is a modern day dramatic re-telling of the Passion story, featuring an exciting combination of live performance, music and innovative drama. The programme will be broadcast live on BBC One on 6th April from an outdoor location in the centre of Preston.

Locally recruited performers and singers will help create the live spectacle and three specially written filmed dramas – inspired by the real lives of Preston people through history and today – will depict the core themes of the Passion story.

Information on applying to perform or to sing is available on the Preston Guild web site.

If you want to follow along with Reuben’s story then the blog ‘Reuben Cross – ‘concrete boy’ is a great place to start.

Sunday was his birthday and Amanda (Reuben’s mum) wrote this:

Today is Reuben’s 2nd birthday! He has had a lovely day seeing family and friends and is enjoying playing with his new toys. He is a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine – I don’t know any boys who aren’t! And this cake was amazing! Big thank you to Auntie Anya (Eats for Treats!)

And now I am finding it difficult to know what and how to write here, I am not great with words, I’m not eloquent and can’t express things easily to say how I feel to summarise the past 2 years. 2 years ago as I sat by the incubator in hospital looking at wires and machines I thought once we were able to bring Reuben home he would be ok and everything would be ‘normal’ etc.

Since then it has been always looking to the next appointment, sometimes up to 5 in the same week, doctors, nurses, paediatricians, neurology, urology, physio, occupational therapy, portage, health visitors, midwives, hospitals clinics and appointments have ruled and dictated our diaries and our phone bills.

In a way I feel sad that we have somehow been robbed of the baby stage, we haven’t been able to do a lot of the things that babies like to do, swimming, different toddler groups etc but we know that one day it will all be worth it to see him walk straight upright and maybe even to use a knife and fork.

We could be asking why, we could be questioning why Reuben isn’t like his brother and sister but that’s where faith comes in. Before he was born God knew how he was going to be and chose us to be his parents. I never thought I would be able to cope with a child with so many different needs which change all the time but God gives us the strength and faith to entrust him to His plan. Of course we have prayed for instant complete healing at every opportunity but just because he is taking time it doesn’t mean our prayers aren’t being answered. People ask how we cope – especially when Reuben is up every hour in the night and needs care or pain relief etc, and it’s not our own strength we rely on, we simply could not do this by ourselves. We know that it is by prayer and faith in God that we can love each day whatever we are doing.

More…

In a recent blog post talking about the situation Esther Scholes (Daniel’s Mum) wrote this:

I keep saying it, but I am absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the way people are responding to what we are going through. Friends who are spreading the word, and using their time and emotional energy to intercede on our behalf; churches who are allowing our situation to be the highlight of their prayer meetings and weekly prayer slots; strangers who are joining the Facebook group to pray and fast for us just because they’ve seen links and taken time to follow them; children who have decided to give up their favourite things (including eating pizza and wearing odd socks!) to remind them to pray for Daniel; and non-believers who are putting their own doubts aside to sneak prayers up to a God they’re not even sure about.

It just BLOWS MY MIND.

Read more (and there’s plenty to read)

If you are on facebook you can also find out more by joining the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for Daniel Scholes event and join others in praying for Daniel.

Live at Peace with one another

The word peace appears over 360 times in scripture – once for every day. God is also described as the ‘God of Peace’. The Hebrew word most often translated ‘Peace’ is ‘Shalom’ which means ‘wellbeing’ and ‘completeness’. Scripture tells believers to live at peace with those around us, bringing the wellbeing, peace and reconciliation God has brought to our own hearts. This can be easier said than done. We consider some tough challenges faced by Joseph, which uncannily mirror present day issues.

Podcasts for this series are available here.

Hebrews

Seen as one of the most difficult New Testament books, Hebrews doesn’t clearly identify its author or audience. Written as a response to the needs of a struggling people, sermon like in style, it gives warnings, challenges, examples and reminders of the faithfulness of God and calls the reader to endure in following the Son even when faced with persecution. It also deals with the question which constantly faces us: How can we approach God?

Podcasts for this series are available here.

This event is ticketed, they are free. Please contact the church office for availability of tickets.

There are more details available on the Preston Guild site.

As such we will not be having a service at 6:30pm.

The answer is that I’m going to do it again, but not in the same way.

Like many people I suspect the amount of reading required to complete the whole of the Bible in a year meant that on many days I felt like I was racing through with the only aim being to finish. More specifically, I was dashing through the New Testament reading as I felt the pressure of the day.

While I was pondering what to do about this year I was just about to conclude on only reading through the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, and then to read through the Old Testament next year.

Then my son was given as a Christmas present the whole of the Bible on MP3 DVD. That got me thinking.

So this is what I’ve decided to do.

I’m going to read the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs and I’m going to listen to the Old Testament.

I’ve tried it for a few days now and it seems to work great.

Have you decided on what you are going to read in 2012?

As Andrew, Ian or anyone else says ‘amen’, or a similar word, it’s always followed by a cough.

I don’t have anything profound to say about this, it’s just an observation .

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done.

Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Proverbs 31:31

I also read the last words of the Bible:

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.

Revelation 22: 21

With those words my Bible in a Year journey for 2011 reaches 100%. It feels good to have been able to read through the whole of the Bible, it’s an achievement.

Congratulations to you too if today has also been the marking of a goal achieved.

But this isn’t the end of the journey. As I look back there were so many bit where I was conscious that I was reading, but not really understanding. There were parts where I’m sure that I didn’t understand the significance of what was being said. I’m also reasonably sure that there will be parts that I misunderstood. So it has been an achievement to read the Bible in a year, but it’s only been a part of the longer journey of faith, hope and love.

I’m still not sure what I’m going to do next year (tomorrow), but I am sure that I’m going to take another step towards understanding our saviour as he reveals himself through the words of the Bible.

To get us started we are hosting the Saltmine Theatre Company and their production The Three Musketeers.

Saturday 17th December at 2:30pm. Tickets cost £3.

Unfortunately we have already sold out of tickets for this one, but we are keeping a waiting list if you would like to contact the church office.

A favourite at Christmas is Carols by Candelight, with bible readings, carols and the the usual amount of Fulwood creativity.

Sunday 18th December with the service starting at 6:30pm.

Come early because we expect to be full, actually, come from 5:30pm for hot fruit punch.

If you want to invite your friend via Facebook the event is here.

Christmas Proms with the Fulwood Concert Youth Band is another Fulwood Christmas tradition.

Join us and enjoy wonderful music with some traditional carols and some more modern music.

Wednesday 21st December at 7:30pm.

It’s free entry and there’s free refreshments in the break too.

If you want to invite your friend via Facebook the event is here.

Christmas Day this year is a Sunday so why not join us at 10:00am for a shortened service of about 45 minutes. Come early though because we will be full.

It’s a great time to celebrate the birth of a saviour.

Why not bring along a present to show Pastor Andrew.

If you want to invite your friend via Facebook the event is here.

I set out a number of things that I intended to do and as we pass the 90% mark I’d just like to reflect on how that has gone:

Personally I’m using a new One Year Bible that was very kindly given to me as a Christmas gift. There’s something very tactile about a new book.

My new Bible has become a wonderful part of my daily reading time. I’ve loved knowing that I’ve worked through every page as I’ve progressed.

“I’m trying to set aside the same time every day so that it becomes something of a ritual”

Although I work in an office, I don’t work 9-to-5 but I have, for the most part, managed to carve out a regular consistent time. Much like many others, I attend meetings in different places and at different times, but there are also holidays and other times when I’m not getting up at my normal time it’s not always been possible to hold to a regular time. I’ve tried to hold these differences in the programme lightly and to be as consistent as I can.

So I’m also tracking my reading through YouVersion.com which has exactly the same reading plan online.

As well as using a physical Bible I’ve also been using an online reading plan. Seeing the progress online has been a great help but also writing these blog posts has meant that I’ve felt like I’ve had an accountability framework around me. When we are trying to build new habits or to strengthen existing ones it’s important that we have a framework that supports the change that we want to make. It’s a lesson I’ve learnt through Celebrate Recovery.

While I’m here, you may think that Celebrate Recovery is there for people with big problems and issues to resolve, it is, but that’s not all it’s there for. The purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to deepen our relationship with Jesus. As I’ve read through the Bible this year, time and time again, I’ve seen how God has been there for people through life’s journey.

As we pass this 90% mark let’s be thankful for the journey we’ve come on, but also let’s start looking forward to the wonderful journey that Jesus has for us ahead.