An Island?

Our last Leaders Lunch involved a careful self examination of where we were and where we were going. We are certainly meeting a need in terms of support and accountability for activists and fresh expressions and we can see distinct growth in many areas. A picture of BNC as an island in a sea of lost people, quite distinct from the mainland (established churches) was helpful in its context. We need to flag up what we are doing so that we may serve the wider church, and visionaries and activists may be encouraged and supported in the work of establishing fresh expressions of church. We move on......
Next meetings:
THURSDAY May 7th Ruth’s (138 New St, Blackrod, BL6 5AQ) 12.00-1.30+
THURSDAY June 4th Roger’s (505 Church Rd, Heaton, BL1 5RE) 12.00-1.30+
THURSDAY July 2nd venue tba – with guest Bishop Chris Edmondson 12.00-1.30+

A Year in Mission

Things may have appeared to be quiet in recent months - obviously the busyness of life has crept in. Some of us have been engaged in the year long "Mission Shaped Ministry Course" which has been run in conjunction with the National Fresh Expressions organisation. This following Saturday will be the final day of the course.
We are looking to move forward from this course better equipped to develop Bolton Network Church.
Leaders lunches are continuing monthly and we are hearing good news from the various expressions in progress.
The next Leaders lunch is on Thursday 2 April at 130 Green Lane, Bolton BL3 2HX.
See you there

All Refreshed and Renewed?

The peaceful and restful opportunity that is August is fading fast and if like me you're starting to run as your feet approach the ground the good news is the next leaders lunch is imminent. A time to unload - set out new visions for fresh expressions etc will happen at St Andrew's Vicarage Crescent Avenue, Over Hulton BL5 1EL on Thursday 4 September 12-1.30pm - let John know if you are going (click on link in his name)

Doesn't Time Fly?

Is it really so long since we updated the news on this site? Sadly yes, but it's not been a period of inactivity. Leaders lunches have continued to be a source of support for those of us grappling with the whole concept of creating "fresh expressions" of church. Some members are moving on to new mission fields as far apart as Spain and that equally foreign country - Yorkshire! But new members are arriving all the time. The Mission Shaped Ministry year long course is in full flow and around 5 of our linked folk are doing the course. Watch this space......
New expressions are rising up and we are encouraged.
On 8 July there will be a visit of Steve Bell the UK director of INTERSERVE and a leaders lunch at Zacs will hopefully increase support to the work we are engaged in as we share Jesus with those of other faiths in our local communities. For details contact us through the web site.
Next normal leaders lunch will be at Stefs - 130 Green Lane, BL3 2HX on Friday 11 July

The Vision continues...

Just one look at the Expressions link of our web page tells you that things are moving and growing - slowly but surely. Our next Leaders Meeting will be on THURSDAY March 6th at Judith’s (5 Fairacres, Harwood, BL2 3NT) 12.00-1.30+ possibly her last before she moves to Spain. Wine may be supplied as a symbol of this future life…..

A new year - a Fresh Expression

Welcome to another year. Things are continuing to happen and there is a feeling of excitement and anticipation. A recent addition to our expressions is a Deaf Cell - more details to follow. On the Vine is continuing to develop and grow and will hopefully move up a gear and move out into the neighbourhood.
The next Leaders meeting will be THURSDAY Feb 7th at John’s (St Andrew’s Vicarage [next to the church], Crescent Avenue, Over Hulton. BL5 1EN) 12.00-1.30+
See you there!

Up, up, and away

Some exciting stuff is starting to happen. We have 2 people signing up for the year long Fresh Expressions course up till now and hopefully more to come.
The next 2 leaders lunches are as follows:-
FRIDAY Nov 2nd Judith’s (5 Fairacres, Harwood, BL2 3NT) 12.00-1.30+
then THURSDAY Dec 6th Stuart’s (St Luke’s Vicarage, Chorley Old Road, BL1 3BE) 12.00-1.30+
Apologies via above e-mail links. Directions - put the postcode into www.multimap.com

Good start to the season

Thanks to all the folks who came along to the first meeting of the new season - we had a good time of sharing and there is some exciting new stuff starting to happen. Check out the Expressions section and the Members and Links.
Next Leaders Lunch on Thursday 11 October at Roger and Ruth Oldfields, 505 Church Rd at 12 noon. Apologies to Bob or Roger please.

Well blow me down with the Spirit

Ok so it's a long, long time since this space changed. With a new job and all the ensuing responsibilities I've taken the biblical view and stepped back for a while. So what's happening?
Despite the lack of "hot" news God's been doing stuff and things have been simmering away on the back burner. Come September our next Leaders meeting will be at on Friday 7 September at 12 noon at Five Saints Rectory, 130a Highfield Road, Farnworth BL4 0AJ (Just type the postcode into www.multimap.com for a map)
Come and hear about "On the Vine", "Mates" and other possibilities and let us know what's happening in your neck of the woods. Apologies to Bob and if you camn't make it send in some news!

Long Time No Publish

Sorry for the lack of news etc.
My recent move has meant certain jobs were put on the back boiler for a while - not least the installing of the program to update the site on my new computer. Anyway.... the next meeting is on Wednesday 15 November 12 noon at Alan Scantlebury's - 9 Hamnet Close BL1 7RZ - contact Alan or myself via the members link on the homepage with any apologies. Thanks.

Veni, Vidi, Venue..

I came, I saw, but where..... Well a couple of venue announcements and even a change.
Wednesday 5 July 12-1.30pm will be at Alan Scantlebury's at 9 Hamnet Close BL1 7RZ - contact Alan.Scantlebury@boltonchurch.net with any apologies.
The following venue is changed to the Urban Outreach Offices on Salop St on Thursday 20 July 12-1.30pm apologies to Dave.Bagley@boltonchurch.net
In October on Sunday 15 October there is going to be a Fresh Expressions Vision Day in Bolton from 2-8pm - venue t.b.a.

It's all happening...

Lots of stuff happening out there.......

Events to consider:
a. Blah! At Central Methodist Hall, Manchester. July 17th 10.00-4.00 Fresh expressions
conference with two key speakers – Ward and Bolger. Bob, Roger & Stef booked in.
£10.00 before 30th June. www.blahonline.net
b. Global Leadership Summit – St Peter’s, with Worldwide Conference Link. 6-7th Oct,
10.00-4.00. £60.00 – but discount if you are part of Willow Creek network.
c. St Thomas Crooke’s, Sheffield. Visitor’s Weeks 12-16th Jun; 13-17th Nov. Details &
Booking www.stream247.com

Next meeting: Stef’s –Wednesday 7th June, 12.00-1.30, 130 Green Lane, Great Lever, BL3
2HX.
Then Roger’s –Thursday 22nd June 12-1.30, 505 Church Road, Smithills, Bolton.
Then Wednesday 5th July, 12.00-1.30. Venue t.b.a.

Next stop Horwich anyone?

The next Leaders Lunch is at Paul Berry's on Wednesday 24 May 12-1.30pm. That is at St Elizabeths Vicarage, Cedar Avenue, Horwich BL6 6HT. Click www.multimap.com for a map. Preaching Slots needed and a fundraising helper for the Moses Gate Centre - contact moses.gate@boltonchurch.net for details. Have you any prototype "fresh expressions" in your church? Let Bob know with the details for the web site.
Apologies for the lunch to admin@boltonchurch.net

Is everyone on Holiday?

Do people ever visit this page? Do people ever read the notes of meetings? Is life just too busy? We still need to hear whether people would support a letter to Canon Slade & St James schools about attendance at Fresh Expressions counting towards the offering of school places. We could just do this but it would be good to have official recognition. Projects which have the potential to become fresh expressions should have their details posted on the web site - that's if I receive details!
Next Leaders Lunch on Wednesday 26 April at Roger and Ruth Oldfields, 505 Church Rd at 12 noon. Apologies to Bob - Bob.Horrocks@boltonchurch.net or Roger - Roger.Oldfield@boltonchurch.net please.

Good Brekky

Excellent Prayer Breakfast at Kings Centre although only about eight of us there. Please try to send apologies if you're not able to make meetings.
Next Leaders Lunch at Stef's, Karis, Stowell St on Wed 22 March then after that there is a visit to the Moses Gate Centre on 6 April. More details of that from Roger Oldfield or Stef.
Please keep looking to identify potential Fresh Expressions of church within the work of your Neighbourhood Churches and let Roger know asap at roger oldfield@boltonchurch.net
Remember the Lunchtime Prayer at Claremont at 12.15pm on Tuesday 28 March and the Network Church Prayer time at St Andrews Bromley Cross on Wednesday 5 April at 8pm.

Cruisin' Downtown

Ok folks - so you've probably never been there, but now's your chance. Leaders Lunch THURSDAY 9 March 12noon at the offices of Urban Outreach on Salop St.
Apologies to Bob or Stef. Think about activities of your church which might be potential network fresh expressions of church in their own right.

Long time no Blog

Nearly forgot to post the next lunches for Leaders.Wednesday 25 January at 28 Aintree Rd, Little Lever (John Seddons)If you can't be there please let John know john.seddon@boltonchurch.net

Most importantly all Leaders need to come to the Leaders Day Away on Wednesday 8 February at Barrow Bridge Mission 9.30am-3.30pm. Drinks will be provided - bring your own lunch. Let Bob know if you can or can't be there admin@boltonchurch.net

Lunch anyone?

Nearly forgot to post the next lunches for Leaders.
Wednesday 21 September at 28 Aintree Rd, Little Lever (John Seddons)
If you can't be there please let John know john.seddon@boltonchurch.net
There's no meeting on 5 October because of the Lifeshapes Conference.
Then we meet on Wednesday 19 October at The Vicarage, Edward St, Bolton (Bob Horrocks) apologies to bob.horrocks@boltonchurch.net

Blogs and other life experiences...

If Roger Oldfield is reading this he now knows what a blog is.... he's reading one!
Network Leaders are being asked to identify possible missionary cell opportunities or individuals who might be encouraged to set up a missionary cell. Responses to Bob.
It seems that quite a few of the leaders are going on the "Lifeshapes" training event in Sheffield on 4-5 October details at www.stream247.com .
Our next leaders meeting is on:-
Wednesday 10th August at Tony Butterworth’s House 12-00pm to 1-30pm and then Wednesday 24th August at Roger Oldfield’s House 12-00pm to 1-30pm
Don't forget to send apologies if you can't make it.

One more night...

Just one more night until our Training Evening. Keep up the prayers that many come along and we start to establish some solid based Missionary Cells. There is a new course on discipling congregations which has been developed by St Thomas Crookes in Sheffield and is used as an integral part of their ongoing cell training. It has just been launched and is called "Lifeshapes". There is a training event in Sheffield on 4-5 October and 7-8 October details at www.stream247.com .
Our next leaders meeting is at Paul Ellis’s House 12-00pm to 1-30pm
St. Andrew’s Vicarage, Crescent Avenue, Over Hulton, Bolton and then they are as follows:-
Wednesday 10th August at Tony Butterworth’s House 12-00pm to 1-30pm
Wednesday 24th August at Roger Oldfield’s House 12-00pm to 1-30pm

Training and Lunch

I hope many have read and reflected on the challenge of George Lings as to whether we are just going to tweak church at the edges or really enter into some radical new stuff! Keep promoting the Training Evening on 19 July and promoting more responses to the challenge of starting Missionary Cells. Further discussion is taking place about a possible S. Asian Culture Cell and the development of a Homeless/Street Person Cell.
There is an exciting new training course just arrived on the scene which Mike Breen the former minister at Crookes in Sheffield has been instrumental in. There is a Training Day in Sheffield to promote this and develop "Lifeshapes" Training in our churches on 4-5 October. See Bob or James if you might be interested.
The next Leaders Lunch will be at Roger & Ruth Oldfield's - 505 Church Road on 13 July 12-1.30pm. Apologies to roger.oldfield@3strands.net

Words/Visions into Action?

Apologies to those of you who came to pray specifically for Network Church at the Bolton Prayer Network meeting the other week, it was squeezed out by some of the other input. We are hoping to have a time at the next Prayer Network Meeting on 15 September. The Training evening draws ever closer and it would be good to encourage as many of our mission minded folk as possible to be there. It's important that we now start to plant some of these Missionary Cells etc - to see our words and visions put into action. The next Leaders Lunch is at James Barnetts house - 26 Northfield St, Deane on 29th June at 12noon. If you can't be there please send apologies to James.Barnett@boltonchurch.net

'ere we go, 'ere we go....

Having launched we now face the serious stuff. First a reminder to PRAY and the next corporate opportunity will be on Thursday 9 June at Claremont Church at 8pm. We are partnering with Bolton Prayer Network as part of this regular town wide prayer. We are also going to be introducing a weekly prayer time for everyone.. watch this space. Next Leaders meeting at Sue Forrest-Redferns on 15 June at 12 noon. Please use the information booklets and response forms around your churches in the next few weeks and advertise the Training Evening on Missionary Cells on Tuesday 19 July at St Lukes, Halliwell at 8pm.

3...2...1...LAUNCH

The launch is almost upon us. Continue to pray that God will draw many people along to the launch and that the Spirit will be preparing hearts and minds, enabling dreams to be dreamt and visions seen as we partner with God in mission across Bolton.
The next Leaders "Lunch and Pray" will be on Wednesday 18 May 12-1.30pm at the Kings Centre, Market St, Little Lever.

Next Exciting Instalment

For those of you who missed the meeting at Rogers - you missed an excellent lunch!
We mainly prayed and chatted. Various Church Councils etc are now formally looking at supporting the Network. The Web site is gradually being updated. The important event to get all your folk along to is the Celebration on May 15 at Victoria Hall at 6.30pm. The worship group is coming together well for that event.
The next meetings are:-
Wed 20 April at Tony Butterworths house - St Chads Vicarage 8 Tonge Fold Ave
Wed 4 May at Paul Ellis' , St Andrews Vicarage, Over Hulton.
Both begin at 12noon with lunch and finish at 1.30pm.
Please send apologies to the hosts if you can't be there.

Next Leaders Meeting

Next Leaders Lunch and Prayer on Wednesday 6th April 12-00pm to 1-30pm at Roger Oldfield's 505 Church Road (We are missing a week because of Easter) . Remember to send apologies if you can't make it to roger.oldfield@3strands.net .

Next Leaders Meeting

Next Leaders Lunch and Prayer on Wednesday 9th March 12-00pm to 1-30pm at Sarah Foster-Clark’s - 101 Cloister St, BL1 3HA. Remember to send apologies if you can't make it to
sfc@xalt.co.uk

Network News

The next leaders lunch/prayer meeting is at the home of Stef Dnistrianskyj - Charis, Stowell St on Wednesday 23 February 12-1.30. We had 39 at our first presentation evening and are looking for even more at St Peter's Halliwell on 21st February at 8pm. New on the "members page" is Alan Scantlebury and Claremont Church.

Next Meeting

The next Leaders Meeting is on Wednesday 9 Feb at the home of Sue Forest-Redfern. Remember that the PCC days are coming up (10th & 21st Feb). Please encourage as many as possible to come to those events.

New Dates

Please check the dates in the event calendar and put them in your diaries. The next Leaders Lunch will be at Roger & Ruth Oldfield's - 505 Church Road on 15 December 12-1.30pm. We will be discussing plans for the launch next year and setting up the Leaders Team.

Network Barrow Bridge Day

I am about to send out notes from the Barrow Bridge day. If you haven't received any by 20th October, please email me. Tony Butterworth