Redeveloping - autumn 2011

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  Trust you've had a great summer! At Bristo, we are redeveloping in a big way. We are seriously committed to being:
  
  Rooted in Christ
  Relational as church
  Reaching for community
  
  We really believe that the key to forming healthy community today is to be rooted in Christ, relating in the way that He enables and teaches. You'll see that at Bristo we are re-evaluating our Building and its suitability for present-day use: we're committed to either redeveloping on the present site or relocating to another one. Also, we are relocating our manse and also looking to develop a community house that will serve the needs of those recovering from addictions and looking to step back into community life in society. We really believe that Jesus is the answer. So come among us if you're looking to be made whole, to become active and nourished as a disciple of Jesus Christ, a committed and useful member of society.

We have Ceilidh Tickets!!!!

That’s right folks – just picked them up this morning! (And they look a little like this.)

Details are as follows:

Ceilidh in support of the Baptist Church in Lom, Bulgaria
with the Walzurtartan Ceilidh Band
Friday 25th February
Tickets £6 for concessions
£10 for full price
Food included in the ticket price
Drinks available on the night
Performances pieces welcomed!
Tickets available from Brian & Matt

I really hope you can make it! As many of us have commented it has been ages since we last had a Ceilidh and it is for a very good cause. Our sister church in Lom does a lot of good work amongst the poor folk of their town and in support of severely disadvantaged Children’s homes.

God bless,
Matt

Enjoy a movie for beans!

I friends and It Club warmly invite you to a night of movie-watching and popcorn munching for the price of a can of beans! Or a can of spaghetti, or of meat, or of fruit, or well anything!

This Saturday at 7pm we are having a movie night in the upstairs lounge with snacks and drinks provided, and as usual we are not charging for the event, but if you would like to come we would ask that you would bring at least one can of tinned goods for the Basics Bank run by the West Pilton Christian Centre.

The Basics Bank is an initiative which makes basic food and toiletries for those who for whatever reason find themselves in need of short term support. Perhaps someone in the family has lost the job or their benefits has not come on time, whatever the reason, once they are referred to the Basics Bank, the team will do their best to provide them with what they need. Of course they can only provide the basics if others donate them – that’s where we come in! To view a full list of items currently requested by the Basics Bank click on this link.

Breaking News!

A lot to tell this week and a lot of good news! If you've been waiting to hear about the rescheduling of the Wind Band Concert, then we have that. Been a long time since you went to a good Ceilidh? We've got you covered! Desperate for an opportunity to serve God and others in a far off land? We've got your life line!

Yes, Ceilidhs, concerts, mission trips, and more excitingly - the anticipation that God has greater things in store for us yet....

What's happening at Bristo in January?

This month at Bristo we are tracing Jesus' footsteps through the Gospel according to Mark, and asking the question, "Just what is this Good News that Jesus proclaimed?"

As we do so, we are also reflecting on the nature of the new creation that God is bringing about and our part in it. The deacons have distributed a discussion paper asking how we see ourselves to be a 'house of prayer', a 'family of believers' and as having a 'heart for outreach'.... We are realising that while we are already experiencing a foretaste of the greater peace and healing to come to this world, God is always doing something new and it is our role to keep in step with his Spirit (Galatians 6).

One thing is certain, if we keep on following where Jesus leads, then exciting things are afoot this new year at Bristo!

Matt

New Year's Eve Watch-night Service: Friday 31st December

A time to reflect on the things of the past, a time to anticipate good things to come

Dear friends and family,

This Friday evening we have an opportunity to gather together to remember and reflect on the year gone by and to look forward to all God calls us into in the New Year.

It would be great to see you there!

Warm blessings,

Matt

(Finishing shortly after midnight, Saturday 1st January 2011
Lock-in for it club members follows afterwards!)

An Invitation from our Intern

As part of our intern programme at Bristo we encourage each intern to become involved in an aspect of community life so as to broaden their horizons and live out their witness before the eyes of the wider world. In the past we have had classroom assistants and waitresses, English students and secretaries, but we've never had a Tenor on our team before!

Read on...

Richard Allison says

"Hi everyone! I'm just creating an event page for the Opera performances I announced in the church this morning - we're doing Gianni Schicchi by Pucinni and Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni - a double bill, two operas, both set in Sicily round about the same place and time.

The performances will be in the Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy on Thursday 11th and Friday 12th November at 7:15pm, and Saturday 13th at 2:15pm. Tickets are £13 adult, £11 concession and £7 child.

It Club are coming on the Friday, so that would be a great night to come! (Please read Matt's comment below for more info)"

Matt Baines says:

"Hi all,

It Club are indeed going to the Opera on Friday 12th November to enjoy a bit of culture and support our friend Richard. I'm looking into group discounts and the possibility of hiring a mini-bus, so please do come along and join us if you can!

Please can you let me know by this coming Friday (29th OCTOBER) whether or not you would like to join us.

God bless,

Matt"

P.s. The above is not a picture of Richard!