Alpha Course

We have run Alpha Courses at church for some years and they have proved to be successful for new and existing Christians and for people just curious about what Christians believe and why.  Some of the house groups that are associated with our church first formed when Alpha courses finished and people who had become good friends over the weeks wanted to carry on meeting and talking!

The current course is a slight departure for us because we are meeting at Coppice School instead.  The school is near to church.  Follow the link for the school's website and visit their contact page for a map and directions. 

If you would like to talk to someone about Alpha or book a place on the next course do please call the office as normal and we can arrange for someone to give you a call.  Or why not send us an email to our new Alpha email address.  

The course started with an introductory evening on Tuesday 6 September at 7.30 pm and after that we have been meeting every Tuesday from then on (except for half term) with the course due to finish on 6 December.  Each week we share a light meal, watch a DVD about the week's topic and chat in small groups.  Although there is often a lot to talk about, we try hard to make sure the evening finishes on time at 9.15 pm each week. 

Alpha discussions are relaxed and friendly, and the topics covered each week ask questions about the essence of what Christians believe.  The Alpha Course is designed for people who are not churchgoers, although some guests come along who do have a connection with church but want to look again at the basics of their faith.

You can find out more about Alpha by clicking their logo on the side of the page. 

The Four Oaks Assembly Team

The Four Oaks Assembly team are a group of ladies from here at Four Oaks and also from St John's Church Walmley, who visit schools in the area providing a Christian Assembly resource. The team was originally set up over 15 years ago and the current members of the group continue the work. The group set out their aims in their own words:

"Our aim is to present bible stories and truths to children in a fun and interactive way. The 20 minute assembly starts with a game linked to the theme of the bible story. We then perform a short sketch from either the Old or New Testament, followed by a one or two sentence summary. The assembly ends with a prayer and a new song, which we teach using hands signs and live piano or guitar music.

We currently visit 35 schools and knowledge of our work has passed from school to school as teachers and Head Teachers have taken up new positions. We are delighted to visit each school once a term and find the welcome of the children and staff heart warming."

Messy Church - a fresh expression of Church

Messy Church is a time when families come together to enjoy being together, making things together, eating together and celebrating God together through his word, through music and through prayer.  It’s different from a children’s activity day because it’s an event for children and their carers or parents together.  Have a look at the Messy Church website for more information on the different ways that the messy church idea has been put into practice around the UK - click here: http://www.messychurch.org.uk/

With Messy Church we are trying to be a worshiping community of all ages, centred on Christ, showing Christian hospitality – giving people a chance to express their creativity, to sit down together to eat a meal and have fun within a church context.  There is no charge for Messy Church, though there is an opportunity to make a donation if you can.  A typical Messy Church afternoon will involve sharing a meal, some music and some craft activities that the whole family can join in.  Everyone is welcome, but children should have an adult with them.

The next Messy Church is on Saturday 26 November from 4.00 to 6.00 pm and will be a celebration of Christmas.  We'll publish more dates and times for 2012!

If you would like to see other fresh expressions of church visit their website by clicking the logo.

The Ten Ten Challenge - time to give life back

Malaria claims more than a million lives each year, most of those African children under five years old.  Cholera is a still greater scourge.  Our response to this for 2010 was to challenge ourselves to raise enough money by the tenth month of the year 2010 (Ten Ten) to buy all of these things.

So to buy all of those things £1,520 was the target, and in the midst of a fierce recession it seemed a very big challenge when we started in January.

Members of the church family came up with any number of clever ways to raise money.  All those sponsored events, sales, social evenings and coffee mornings culminated in the spectacular Ten Ten Gang Show on 16 October.  There were some superstars on the bill, members of the church who sang like angels, who amazed us with their musicianship, their elegant dancing and their humour.  And then of course there was the finale which saw Graham, our minister, together with all our church stewards performing the flipper dance from Mama Mia!  "Memorable" is one description.  "Innovative" is another.  "Hysterical" was the one most used on the night.

And we surpassed not only the ambitious target we set ourselves, but our wildest expectations.  Thanks to the indefatigable efforts of Giles and Nikki, the ingenuity of our fundraisers and the fantastic generosity of so many friends we topped £7,000.   We spent that money immediately and it bought not 1 water pump, but two; not 10 latrines, but 20; not 100 nets, but 1,000; and not rehydration salts for 1,000 children but for 4,300.

We had a lovely letter and certificates from UNICEF and OXFAM confirming they had made good use of the money we sent them.

Click here to have a look!

Anne Houghton

Anne is a member of our church, who went out to Africa as a mission partner in Autumn 1988 and in February 2010 we welcomed her back amongst us with great pleasure. Anne worked for many years as a member of the Africa Inland Mission (now AIM International), stationed in Uganda at St Paul's Regional Study Centre which is now part of the Christian University of Uganda.  Anne had to learn the Lugbara language in order to train the wives of pastors attending the Centre so that they can help their husbands in future ministry.  We are delighted to have Anne in our own community again and we pray for Anne's colleagues with AIM and for everyone at St Paul's Regional Study Centre. 

Anne is a Local Preacher and now that she is back in the UK permanently she has put herself forward for preaching appointments again.  Keep an eye on the Worship page for dates when you may have the opportunity to hear Anne preach at our church.