News
Some of the news from Forefront.
One Life - what's it all about?
posted on Sat 21/01/2012
FF is going to be running a Christianity Explored course at the beginning of February, but what is it and how does it work?
A similar concept to the Alpha Course, Christianity Explored gives time and space to think about the big questions of life as well as providing a chance to explore the life of the person at the heart of the Christian faith – Jesus Christ.
The course runs over 7 evenings with plenty of time to ask any questions and for group discussion. The introductory evening is on Wed 8 Feb and includes a buffet meal. Places for the introductory evening can be booked by phoning Forefront Centre 01460 66080 or e-mailing the church office on office@forefront.org.uk. If you attend the introductory evening there is no obligation to attend the full 7 week course.
Happy New Year
posted on Sun 01/01/2012
Welcome to 2012 - we have lots of exciting things already lined up for the new year. We have our first church prayer meeting of the year on the 12th; our Back to Church service on 29th; a Christianity Explored course starting in February and the church weekend away later the same month; then in March we have a ceilidh planned - Strictly Come Barn Dancing! There's heaps to be supporting and getting involved with. We're looking forward to it!
Chard Street Pastors
posted on Sat 12/11/2011
Chard Street Pastors recently held a public meeting reviewing the work they've done over the last year. We asked Wendy Green to fill us in on what was covered:
The Street Pastor initiative is an inter-denominational project run by the Ascension Trust and initiated as a response to urban problems such as knife and gun crime. It aims to take Christians out onto our streets to demonstrate God’s love in very practical ways.
Chard Street Pastors was launched in March 2011. It is organised by representatives from 7 churches in and around Chard and we currently have 15 trained Street Pastors.
The facts:
• Street Pastors patrol Chard town centre every Saturday night from 10pm until 2 am.
• Each team consists of 4 trained Street Pastors
• 2 or 3 Prayer Pastors who remain at the base and pray throughout the shift for the town, the community and the Street Pastors
The figures:
Since March, the Street Pastors
• have provided more than 30 patrols
• provided 82 pairs of flip flops (to those who have lost or abandoned the shoes they came out in)
• handed out 35 bottles of water and 1 foil blanket
• have called an ambulance 2 times and in each case have been able to offer reassurance to the casualty and/or their concerned friends
• removed 109 drinks glasses and 404 glass bottles left on the street
• disposed of 115 occasions of broken bottles or glass
During this period we have also developed wider community links. Both the local police and Chard Town Council are very supportive of and grateful for the work we do. In fact the Town Council recently awarded a most generous grant to allow us to purchase a lap top and projector to use during training sessions and promotional activities. We have also been able to offer our support to other local groups, such as the SK8 competition held in Henson Park and Chard Carnival Committee. Most recently we have had the opportunity to support Taunton Street Pastors in their organisation of a community vigil one week on from the tragic M5 motorway crash.
We are now seeking to recruit additional Street Pastors as our future plans include a desire to introduce additional patrols (eg on a Friday night) and/or extend each patrol to 3 or 4am. To do this we will also need additional Prayer Pastor volunteers.
To find out more about the Chard Street Pastor project or to join our emailing list please email chard@streetpastors.org.uk
Lord's Larder
posted on Sun 23/10/2011
Organisers of the Lord's Larder want to say thank you to all for their on going support but in particular for their:
"recent bounteous gift of Harvest produce – it was a truly magnificent effort, and a wonderful way to demonstrate God's love in a very practical manner by helping the distressed and vulnerable people in our area."
For those who give more regularly to Lord's Larder please note that they are no longer accepting long life milk to put in the bags.
Christmas Unwrapped
posted on Sun 23/10/2011
The Bible Society are running a great project to help us communicate the real story of Christmas. Their website has a great video on it and you can order FREE stickers for your Christmas card envelopes. Visit their website, order some stickers, share on Facebook.
Click here for more info
Operation Christmas Child
posted on Sun 23/10/2011
Help bring hope and a smile to some of the world's poorest children by sending them a Christmas gift. Fill a shoebox with little presents - or donate individual items for a box. Forefront Community Centre is an official drop-off point again this year.
Christmas Choir
posted on Sat 24/09/2011
We're setting up a choir for Christmas. No experience or music-reading skills required. Come and join in the fun.
Chard Carnival
posted on Sat 24/09/2011
It's carnival time again.
Forefront Community Centre will be opening their doors for teas, coffees, cakes, puppet shows - and toilet breaks! Carnival night presents us with a great opportunity to let our community know who we are and what we do.
Paralympics 2012
posted on Fri 16/09/2011
Cross the sacred-secular divide and invite your friends on a trip to the Paralympics. Tickets btw £10-£30. Register your interest ASAP so that tickets can be bid for.
Summer Camps
posted on Mon 05/09/2011
Many use summer months to go to Christian camps. Several families and individuals from our church went to New Wine and Keswick, worshipping, praying and learning more about God. Bliss Camp was a new Partnership venture attended by our church and 5 others from Somerset and Devon. Over the Bank Holiday weekend, at Blackpool Sands, it was a great chance to spend time with our families, our church family and to get to know people from other churches. One of the aims of the camp was that we would enjoy being part of a wider Christian community and we certainly had plenty of opportunities to do that. Thanks to all those who put time and effort into organising at fabulous weekend.
Wanted
posted on Sat 13/08/2011
Chard Street Pastors are looking to recruit a new coordinator. Help serve the people of Chard by working with this exciting, challenging inter-church group. Email: chard@streetpastors.org.uk
The Great Divide
posted on Wed 27/07/2011
Everybody's talking about...The Great Divide. We are giving everyone at Forefront Community Church the opportunity to read this fabulous booklet about the sacred-secular divide (SSD). Copies are circulating now!
Our desire is that, as a church, we can try and combat SSD-thinking and recognise our role as God's ambassadors - at home, at work, and at play.
church weekend away
posted on Wed 13/07/2011
We are having our biannual church weekend away at Hill House 24-26 Feb 2012. Book now to save your place.
the church weekend @ Brunel Manor
posted on Fri 07/05/2010
