**June 2008 Update**

Local Christians serving the local community as part of the Hope 08 initiative.
Forty mainly local Christians from eight different churches worked together to put on a weekend of free events for the residents of the Brassmill Estate in Lower Weston on Brassmill Lane Open Space. Friday evening kicked off with Duggie Dug Dug's Praise Party aimed at 5-11 year olds and their families, Saturday included an All Day Cafe, a Family Fun Afternoon, and in the evening for the youth a live band called Thundershock who not only played great music but gave testimony to their faith in Jesus Christ. On Sunday 'Praise in the Tent' included worship, testimonies to the healing power of Jesus, dance, games and healing prayer all followed by a superb lunch. Everything including the food was provided free which was a witness in itself and the whole weekend was funded by donations as a result of faithful prayer in a God who supplies all our needs and in abundance. 20+ children said the prayer of commitment on Friday evening, 200+ enjoyed the Fun afternoon and 80 people including a group of teenagers who would never set foot inside a church building loved the rapper Neil and the band Thundershock on the Saturday evening, and Sunday, well surely this was church as it should be, different denominations, different giftings all coming together and being used for the Glory of God.

Sladebrook Evangelical Church, ran a Saturday Swap Shop on Saturday 14th June; they served the community with refreshments, cakes, car washing and swap unwanted items, this is the third in the Swap Shop series, giving the church an opportunity to engage with the local community.

St. Luke's Church and Beechen Cliff Methodist Church ran a family fun day on the weekend of 7th-8th June. Hundreds of people showed up to enjoy browsing stalls, 'beat the goalie' and refreshments. There was a great atmosphere with families joining in the activities or simply 'chilling out' on the grass. The success of the event as led to talk of something being run next year! This is really encouraging as we see churches working together in fresh ways under Hope 08.

Ongoing Hope 08 Bath initiatives...

Street Pastors: After some months of planning and preparation, Street Pastors Bath was launched at the Guildhall on Tuesday 3 June. A packed banqueting room heard commendations from Chief Superintendent Olivia Pinkney (District Commander, Avon & Somerset Constabulary) and Cllr Vic Pritchard (Cabinet member for Community Safety). A team of Street Pastors from Weston-Super-Mare spoke about their experiences, and Rev’d Les Isaacs (the founder of Street Pastors) outlined the vision behind the project. He said, ‘ Bath is known for its wonderful architecture – may it be known as a place of peace and safety’. In response to an appeal for volunteers, 70 names were added to the 30 already gathered, ensuring that teams will be able to hit the streets as planned at the end of September. As in many other towns, the Street Pastors will provide help and support to night-time revellers on Friday and Saturday nights in the middle of Bath.

Street Pastors Bath have begun training (as of last Saturday) with further sessions on 5 July, 6 September and 20 September. Commissioning service on 26 Sept, with first teams out that night. It’s not too late for people to get involved, either as volunteers, as prayer partners, or by giving. Contact Paul Bright for details. 07899 006103 or bath@streetpastors.org.uk

Hope in Our Schools is a Bath YFC initiative launched at the beginning of the year. The initiative, which aims to mobilise 400 people giving £5 per month so that a full-time secondary schools worker can be employed is gathering pace with nearly £10K raised so far. Bath YFC are looking to raise the funds so that the right person can be employed at the beginning of 2009 to develop mission in our secondary schools. To find out more please go to www.bathyfc.co.uk/hopeinourschools.htm. As part of this initiative we are looking to develop a prayer network. If you work in a Bath school and would like to be prayed for and recieve the prayer update for secondary schools in Bath then please reply to this email.

Upcoming events...

Summer is (in theory) upon us and the 12th July will soon be here. Bath's Biggest BBQ is an opportunity for the Church in Bath to do something together and yet in their own community. Churches have already signed up but there are plenty that have not as yet so please consider doing so and let us know as it would be great to publicise where and at what time bbqs are happening.

St. Michaels Twerton are being rather creative with their BBQ. They are working with the local pub! How brilliant is that! The pub will be running a Bath's Biggest BBQ from 2pm and Gavin Tyte, the community worker for Twerton and Rose Cottage Manager will be beatboxing! Sounds like a combination not to be missed.

Resources...

A retelling of Mark's gospel is now available. You can buy them from Bath YFC for £1 a copy. They come with the Hope 08 logo (see cover on attachment). They would make an excellent resource for Hope 08 events or any outreach that you are involved in. It would be brilliant to give them to people who come along to your BBQ as part of Bath Biggest BBQ. If you want to know more then please reply to this email and we can send you out an order form.

Hope 08 Team