on behalf of nick a:

Thought you might be interested in this blog (and this post in particular)
by a bloke who is 'being church' in Birmingham and has good thoughts about
the whole in-church/outside-church thing of emerging groups. The rest of the
blog is worth checking out too for intellient not-too-biased ideas. http://sudslaw.typepad.com/imagine/2005/01/falling_off_the.html

Nick

It's my birthday (and I'll cry if I want to...)

Well, it's that time again- next Thurs (24th) I shall be 21! (I wish....)
And in order to celebrate this auspicious occassion I had been thinking of going to the cinema, but then I realised that that is what I always do and I always come home feeling a bit grumpy that I didn't get to talk to people. So this year, I shall mainly be going out to a restaurant for a meal instead.

I know we're all skint (and my birthday being at the end of the month doesn't help) but what I thought was that I'd like to go to Antibo's (because it's good for wheelchair access so Dan can come and the food is nice). But I'm aware it's not cheap like Burger King or 'owt like that (you can check the menu here- prices seem to be £7 to £8 for pizza and pasta), soI thought if you can't/don't want to come for the meal then you could always join us for a drink afterwards? (perhaps the Wig&Pen?)

If you would like to join me in eating yummy food to celebrate my birth, please comment or text me or email me so I can book a table (for about 7pm?) Muchos gracias amigos. Abigail

MakePovertyHistory

Just had an email from people&planet about the following:

"The official Sheffield launch of Make Poverty History is taking place on Wednesday 16th February at 7.30pm in Arts Tower Lecture Theatre 9. Please come and find out how YOU can help Make Poverty History in 2005.

There will be speakers from Oxfam, Christian Aid, CAFORD, World Development Movement and People&Planet and an opportunity for you to sign up for the campaign and get a white band which is the symbol of Make Poverty History. Fairtrade refreshments will also be available. The event is open to students staff and Sheffield residents."

I appreciate it's short notice, but thought some people might be interested in going?

ArtTherapyWailingWallTypeThingy

I don't know about you, but I for one have decided that I am emotionally illiterate. I find it extremely difficult to deal with and express my emotions (even though I do seem to cry a lot). It's a strange thing about our culture, that it gets so uncomfortable at the thought of people letting out grief, anger, frustration, hurt, etc.

So, Kate H and I were having a conversation about art and creativity and how powerful it is in terms of self-expression. And then we decided we would get off our arses and do something about it. Hence, the chapel has been booked on Sunday 20th February from 5.30 to 8pm. Please feel free to come along and help us create a safe space where we can use art (and plate smashing, if you want Hugh!) to help process some of the emotional stuff we've all been going through recently. If you happen to have any art materials spare, please feel free to bring them along.

One final note- it's not about creating art or pretty pictures. The stuff we'll make isn't really the point: it's more the process of making it and using that to access what's going on in our subconsious, supporting each other in that process, that's important. So please don't feel you have to be 'arty' to come along- you just have to feel.

Any questions, feel free to call/email me or Kate or comment below!

I was spending money like the way it likes to rain...

Poker this wednesday. 7.30 at ours.

Goodbye

Greetings,

Primarily to stop bothering you with insignificant rants, I have started a weblog of my own self-obsession. For further self-important smugness, see: http://setfiretothepreacherpromisingushell.blogspot.com/

hello...

i really enjoyed last night - it felt 'real' which was so good. i do feel totally out of control at the moment what with the van and car situation, the state of the house and how wobbly my mental health seems to be. some days i can be fine and then it just goes crazy. please pray for me and if anyone can do a bit of robin sitting that would be awesome cos then i could crack on with the house.

sonia, cool to meet you last night. feel welcome to pop round anytime. (same goes for you too, fizz)

by the way, me and marshall would love people just to pop on by and hang out with us. it's really weird working out what our social life looks like now we have robin and no vehicle. andy will be working regular hours from 14th feb so tea will be at a much more sensible time.

i don't always feel like i have people i could ring up and invite myself round for tea (cos of fear) but i want to be the kind of person you could ring up for the same thing.

one last thing, if you come round, you don't need to knock. if the door is unlocked just come on in and shout for us!