The Noise Report 28 May 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're up to.....Tags: egham noise, noise, noise project
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This report on the Noise project came in from Dave Food. Thanks to everyone who was involved in the day and in praying leading up to it.
On Saturday the 24th of May Young people and students from Royal Holloway College and Young people from Churches and youth groups in the Egham, Egham Hythe and Englefield Green completed 9 projects around the area.
Over 60 people cleared garages and sheds, cleared a number of gardens and painted anything that stood still walls, benches and fence panels.
Thanks goes to those involved in helping making it happen, team leaders, Abigail Trickey and Tim Sudworth for hosting the launch event at St Johns on Friday Night, to John Brannan who helped me co-ordinate all the resources and projects today and Anna Hope who organised a celebration of all we had done this evening.
There are many tired bodies tonight as all the workers go to their beds, there are van loads of rubbish to go to the tip, it will take days. (If any one wants to help please get back to me)
Thanks particular goes to the local Police who came and joined us again this year, John got on his knees to make a difference, Carol got covered in paint. Also thank you to all those who donated materials The Runnymede refuse team, The Egham police, Sainsbury’s, Starbucks, Homebase, Halls, but particular thanks goes to the local Churches who really made this happen, St Johns Egham, United Church of Egham, Runnymede Christian Fellowship, The Journey, Hythe Community Church and Englefield Green Methodist Church.
Final thanks again goes to the Young people themselves who made some Noise.
More details to follow pictures to be posted at the Facebook page
The Architect’s Plans prayer week 15 May 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're up to.....Tags: 24-7 Prayer, Architect's Plans, June, prayer week
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Prayer week is coming up – The Architect’s Plans. 2nd-6th June at the Caddey, St John’s Church, Egham.
Do come and join us as we explore the master Architect’s plans for our lives, our churches, our town, our world.
More details to follow…….
Record Profits… 15 May 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're thinking about...Tags: exploited, James 5, justice, profit
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In the last few days Sainsbury, Barclays and BT have all announced increased profits – that’s not that they’ve turned a profit but that they’ve made more than last year. When interviewed on radio one of the key people at BT said they would continue to maximise profits and look to increase their share of the international market. At the same time there workers are saying they are not being paid enough and there are on-going discussions with unions. I don’t know the details but it seems sad to me that the employees don’t seem to benefit from all their hard work. I’m sure the line is something like “they get a reasonable wage” or a “comparable wage” but I guess my question is, is it a fair wage?
The relationship between the employer and employee becomes less and less tight. There is no employer loyalty; less favourable pension schemes, smaller benefits, longer hours, greater pressures and worst of all temp workers who they can employ and turn away whenever they like. Profits are all that matter – maximise profits, minimise expenses.
It’s not just sweat shops where workers are exploited, it’s in our own towns and cities.
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you. James 5.1-6
The Bible isn’t quiet about these things – it is very clear.
Praying for the Noise in Egham, Englefield Green and Egham Hythe 2 May 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in Praying for....Tags: egham, noise, prayer, prayer meetings
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We are coordinating prayer for the noise. It’s an amazing opportunity to serve our community.
Below are prayer points and the meeting currently praying for the noise. Please try to make it to at least one to pray.
Prayer points:
- Praise God for the opportunity to serve him and others is a very practical way
- That God’s will would be done and that he would be preparing the way for the young people.
- Pray that God would provide the projects and the people to do them
- Pray for team leaders, that there are enough and that they lead the groups well
- THe people we are serving that this would be a blessing and that God would working in their hearts.
- That it would make an impact – living life our loud
- For long term relationships to be built
- For Safety for all those involved
- For a means to easily and safely (and cheaply) remove all the waste
|
Who |
Where |
Date |
Time |
|
Prayer Walk |
Outside St Judes Englefield Green |
Tuesday 13th May |
12 midday |
|
Bishops Gate Evangelical Church |
Kings Lane |
Thursday 15th May |
7.30-9.30pm |
|
Hythe Community Church |
The Hythe Centre |
Sunday 18th May |
12.30pm |
|
The Journey |
The Methodist Church Englefield Green |
Sunday 18th May |
2pm |
|
The Boiler Room Meal |
4 Runnymede Court |
Monday 19th May |
7pm (for food- let us know) 8pm to pray |
|
Prayer Walk |
Outside St Judes Englefield Green |
Tuesday 20th May |
12 midday |
|
Hythefields Gospel Church |
Gospel Hall, Egham Hythe |
Wednesday 21st May |
7pm |
|
Boiler Room |
4 Runnymede Court |
Thursday 22nd May |
8am |
|
Wendover Rd Methodist Church |
Egham Hythe |
Friday 23rd May |
9.30-10.15am |
*More to follow but I thought I would get these ones published now.
Praying for Noise 21 April 2008
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Or more specifically, The Noise Project in Egham, Englefield Green and Egham Hythe. The Boiler Room has been asked to head up the prayer support for the Noise Project which will happen over the weekend of May 23rd – 25th. The website www.eghamnoise.co.uk gives the details of what’s going on.
Prayer points and details of how you can join in to pray will appear here soon….
“The Little Way” 17 April 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're reading..., What we're thinking about...Tags: daily, little way, prayer
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I really like things that remind us to think of Jesus during the ‘normal day’; things like setting our alarms on our phones to midday to remind us to pray the Lord’s prayer. I also really like Mother Teresa’s saying “we can do no great thing, just small things with great love.” I know I always get stuck in this desire to do great things and forget about the day-to-day.
This week has been fairly quiet, and so a good opportunity to do some things I don’t normal have time for. One such thing was to take the opportunity to spend the morning on the Besom van. The Besom project receives furniture, appliances, clothes, games etc. which are in good condition from people who don’t want them any more, and hands them on to people who do. I was on the van for a couple of deliveries. It was a real privilege to be part of this small gesture of love towards a couple of people who really needed it.
This morning I was reading Richard Foster’s book, Prayer, and was challenged by another lady, Therese of Lisieux and her prayer-filler approach to life, the little way.
The little way… is deceptively simple. It is, in short, to seek out the menial job, to welcome unjust criticisms, to befriend those who annoy us, to help those who are ungrateful.
He goes on to say that the great thing about the little way is how accessible it is to everyone. It’s not some holy ritual, doesn’t require a special book, or special people, it’s just an attitude in everyday life, but one which changes us profoundly.
I think many people talk about a similar way of living, but it’s often as an evangelistic tool. If I love people it will lead them to Jesus, or it will allow me opportunities to talk about Jesus. Actually I think the key thing about the little way is it challenges our natural selfishness, it means that it really is about loving the other person, not that they might change, but that I might change.
Coming up… 16 April 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're up to.....Tags: besom, egham, noise, prayer week
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Coming up this term we have a prayer week at St John’s Church, the Noise Project, Prayer in Parliament, Term three of Transit, Boiler Room meals, new prayer plans….
Prayer week 2nd – 8th June, at St John’s Church Egham
Noise Project we will be involved in the Noise Project in Egham on the 23rd – 24th May. Check out the website
24-7 Prayer has it’s annual Prayer in Parliament from 6th – 11th May – we plan to connect in in different ways. See the website
Boiler Room meals on Monday Nights will continue to look at how we develop as a community, do get in touch if you’d like to come along – all welcome
We will continue to explore our connections with The Besom in Egham
and more…….
Breathing in and out 7 April 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're thinking about...add a comment
In the midst of planning, of asking who we are we’ve been reminded of the ideas of breathing in and out. Anything living needs to breath in and out, only breathing out will suffocate it, only breathing in will mean it will, well explode I guess. Boiler Room rhythms have been likened to breathing. In the life of community we need to be breathing in (through growing in relationship with eachother and God) and breathing out (through our connections with the local area; churches, groups, schools, individuals etc.) As a boiler room we are keen to explore what these things might look like. How are we doing breathing in and breathing out? Are we doing to much of one or the other?
For the last six months the Boiler Room meal has been the main focus of the community, breathing in together as we get to know eachother better and pray together. Beyond this prayer weeks have also been fairly successful drawing a wider group of people together to pray. Our daily prayer rhythms have been a little harder and it’s this I want to explore over the coming months. One of the ideas we came up with was joining with others in prayer.
I’m keen that ideas of breathing in and out are shared – so do place a comment – I will continue to share my ideas.
A Poem from Lauren….. 19 March 2008
Posted by boilerroom in What we're thinking about...2 comments
Unfinished sentences,
Recycled poetry.
