Extracts from September 07

Love on the Street

We hear much about gangs from the media but three of the biggest gangs in any city centre are the Church, local government, and the police. They all have the power, influence and to some extent the resources to make a difference. This is what’s known as the ‘Urban Trinity’ by Ascension Trust, the organisation behind Street Pastors. They hit the streets on Friday nights to get to know people and build relationships, to discover needs and ways of helping. Jane Wyles goes out on the town to find out more.

It’s  9.30pm on a balmy Friday night in Nottingham, but it seems much later. There appear to be more bouncers on the streets than members of the public. They add to the sense of anticipation that something could just ‘kick off’ at any time. Loud music and laughter pulse out through open doorways. Between the hours of 8pm and 3am an average of 70-80,000 people patronise the city centre. Mostly under the age of 35, they are susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse, violence or sexual crime…

Coming back to Church

Later this month on Sunday 30th September, thousands of people across the country will be invited ‘back to church.’ For some it may mark a new start in their lives, for others a chance to be part of a welcoming community. Three people across the county decided to come back to church recently - they shared their story with Rachel Farmer.

Mark Clark (46) is a self-employed carpet fitter from Clipstone in Nottinghamshire. He didn’t go to church as a child, but said he had always believed in Jesus. “When I was very young and reading books, I just had a feeling for it, but nobody to take me to church. I even wanted to become a vicar for a while…”

Interview with…Canon Dr Christina Baxter - A Woman of Substance

When you’re standing in the queue at the Post Office during the festive season take a moment to remember the woman who campaigned to keep Christ in our Christmas stamps.

At the July 2004 General Synod in York, the Principal of St John’s Theological College, Canon Dr Christina Baxter proposed a motion asking Royal Mail to use Christian themes for their Christmas stamps every year. It was passed unanimously, and  the Royal Mail conceded to issue them henceforth on alternate years. She was awarded the CBE last year, and in 1995 was the first woman to be elected Lay Chair of the Church of England’s General Synod.

This woman of substance, who joined the staff at St John’s in 1979 and became Principal in 1997, was powerfully influenced by her Headmistress, Emeline Blackburn, at Walthamstow Hall (founded for the daughters of missionaries) in Sevenoaks, Kent…

Life Changing L’Arche

Do we need balance in our lives? If balance means stability, certainly. But if we think of balance as unchallenging equilibrium, we may be better off having a more eccentric orbit for our lives.... Such is the ethos of L’Arche (The Ark) Communities – an international federation of communities for people with learning disabilities and assistants. The communities strive for both balance and for the challenges that might disturb that balance in society. Many people – its founder, Jean Vanier, included – view L’Arche as a means of confronting the self-centred balance of the world.

Spirituality, Living in Community, and Professional Care. These are the three key elements of L’ Arche, carefully maintained in nine residential communites in England, Scotland and Wales, and welcoming men and women with learning diabilities aged 18 and over. C Magazine joined a ‘Seed’ group of ecumenical Christians in Nottingham, who are working towards developing a much needed tenth community here in the Midlands...

Must it be Monastic?

Setting yourself apart and pursuing a life of holiness is at the heart of the Consecrated Life, but it doesn’t necessarily mean closeting yourself away in a monastery. Here Jo Foster looks at three alternatives for drawing near to God.

What is your idea of an Oblate? A what? you may ask. Well, an Oblate is someone who has made a total offering of their life to God, but they do it in the context of their normal lifestyle, re-dedicating themselves on an annual basis. They are affiliated to, or instructed by a religious order – perhaps Benedictine, or Fransciscan, and are expected to make an annual retreat as well as making a regular daily offering of prayer, reading and bible study, but they do not take vows, as such…

A New Life Sentence

A programme of demolition and rebuilding starting next Spring means that the large chapel at HMP Nottingham has to go. However, Anglican Chaplain, the Revd Michael Phillips, who has been there since 1999, is positive about the future for the prison’s faith community.

 “The old half of the prison is coming down, which includes the chapel, but we don’t rely on buildings; we’re person-centred: the Holy Spirit, Jesus - and of course the men," he said. “We will continue to strengthen links with the outside through Community Chaplaincy (see opposite) and the newly rebuilt prison will be designated as a Community Prison and used as the main hub of prison facilities in this area - and I’ll still call it the chapel...”

Read these stories and much more - get a copy of C Magazine from your local church or contact Nicola Marsh 01636 817219, email nicola@southwell.anglican.org