Once again this year, your giving towards Home Mission enables us to bless Chew Magna BC (CMBC) and their neighbours in Chew Magna. Actually, this year your giving will make a wider impact now that CMBC have entered into a network partnership with Blagdon and Winford Baptist Churches. They are now collectively known as Chew and Yeo Baptist Network and are seeking to more effectively reach out into their individual communities while developing a deeper sense of community together.
In Chew Magna they continue their fortnightly Open the Book assemblies in Chew Magna Primary School; the Acorn toddlers group, through which they connect with local parents and children; Sparklers – a weekly group connecting with a smaller group of local families; and their recent monthly “Who let the Dads out?” Saturday morning breakfast which was a success.
In Bishop Sutton the Community Library continues to go from strength to strength – through this they provide a meeting place for people of all ages from across the Valley.
This month they are looking forward to launching their “Renew Wellbeing Café” on Thursday lunchtimes from 12-2pm. Please pray for them as they prepare to launch this new initiative, which is a time when people can meet for a coffee, chat, take part in simple activities such as doing a jigsaw, playing a board game or just read the newspaper! There is also an optional Quiet/Prayer space – giving an opportunity for those who want to, to connect and engage with God through prayer and reflection.
Blagdon BC continue to hold their monthly ‘breakfast@9’ sessions – welcoming a variety of people from around the locality. As well as bacon sandwiches and coffee, there is an opportunity to explore the Bible together. Messy Play continues to welcome new families on alternate Thursdays and they are hoping to move towards meeting weekly from March.
The Winford fellowship have a monthly luncheon club for the community when around a dozen non-church neighbours come along. The weekly Friday club for primary school children continues. The Friday Club Christmas service which had to be postponed due to illness finally took place in January! Members of Winford BC continue to be part of the team who lead weekly Open the Book Assemblies in Winford Primary School, and also help to lead a weekly lunchtime Bible Club in the school.
Rev. John Miles continues to lead collective worship at Chew Stoke, Ubley and Blagdon, once a fortnight, and is also facilitating philosophy sessions with year 2 in Winford Primary schools.
Their collective aim is to create a church family where Christ comes first, disciples are nurtured, communities are blessed, all are welcomed and lasting partnerships are forged.
Thank you once again for your faithful giving to the Chew and Yeo Baptist Network through Home Mission.
Please pray that by God’s grace they will achieve their aim and that in doing so they will see God’s kingdom come more fully, and see his will being done more completely throughout the Chew and Yeo valleys.