Catalyst Arts, the organisation that is seeking to encourage a renaissance in the creative arts from a biblical viewpoint, is hosting its first Summer School this year in Eastbourne. The dates are 17-22 August, and workshops will take place at St Andrew's URC, Blackwater Road, Bonners Music Superstore, the Revival Media Radio Station and other venues yet to be confirmed.

Catalyst Arts is unusual - with the stated objective of encouraging a renaissance in the creative arts. Its shared belief is that the creation, far from being a meaningless accident on the cosmic front, provides both wonder and purpose, and that these can be explored through all the senses and expressed powerfully through the arts. Ben Ecclestone, co-founder of Catalyst Arts, says that this is completely opposite to the view held by the late artist Francis Bacon, who stated: 'I think that man now realises that he is an accident, that he is a completely futile being, that he has to play out the game without reason.'

To book your place at this year's Summer School, visit www.catalyst-arts.org or contact Helen McCabe by emailing her on info@catalyst-arts.org or by telephoning 01323 649005/09754 043819. Book before 31st July 2009 for discounts!

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The Librarians' Christian Fellowship (LCF) have arranged a Service of Thanksgiving for Tuesday 14 July 2009 to take place in Room N208 at the de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, from 5.30. p.m.

This short time of worship and reflection has been arranged as the Fellowship's contribution to Umbrella 2009, a two day conference arranged by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) which is expected to bring several hundred librarians and information professionals to the University of Hertfordshire.

The guest speaker at the LCF Service is Hertfordshire-based Baptist minister the Rev. David Ronco, who will be speaking on the theme "Ears to Hear", based on Luke 4: 8-21. Other participants will include CILIP's Chief Executive, Dr. Bob McKee.

LCF has been organising services of thanksgiving for delegates attending major librarianship conferences since 1980 and these have generally been well attended by delegates and guests from a wide variety of church (and possibly non-church) backgrounds. Many of the librarians who attend the services are non-members of the LCF but they seem to appreciate the opportunity for a brief time of worship and contemplation during a busy conference programme.

Graham Hedges, Secretary of the LCF, says "We are looking forward to welcoming a good number of delegates and others to this year's Service. As always we are grateful for this opportunity to make a positive Christian contribution to one of the library world's major professional gatherings".

Further details of the Service, and the work of the Librarians' Christian Fellowship, can be obtained from The Secretary, Graham Hedges, 34 Thurlestone Avenue, Ilford, Essex, IG3 9DU. Home tel. 020 8599 1310, Work tel. 020 8871 7467. E mail secretary@librarianscf.org.uk Web site www.librarianscf.org.uk

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Winner Announced - Michael Ramsey Prize for Theological Writing, 2009

28th May 2009: The 2009 Michael Ramsey prize has been awarded to Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham. The announcement was made at the Guardian Hay Festival by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. More at www.michaelramseyprize.org.uk

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ChurchBrand UK is set to release The Christian Times, a UK based Christian Newspaper on the 26th June 2009 in London. It will bring a different angle to news: ChurchBrand UK believe that good news can actually be news and the cycle of negativity in our communities can be broken through unbiased reporting of the good that is among us.

The Christian Times will be a monthly up-to-date source of Christian-related news in the United Kingdom and around the world. It will provide the latest in Christian news nationwide and worldwide from a wide range of areas including Church, Ministries, Missions, Education, Entertainment, Health, UK News, World News, Editorial Feature, Business, Columns, Evangelism and more. It will be a pan-denominational Christian media source, and will not promote or demote any Christian denomination and/or congregation.

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Resourcing the church across the UK.

• Heart of England National CRE 2010
  Sandown Park, Esher Tues 11 - Fri 14 May 2010;
  
• CRE 2010, TIC Telford
  Thurs 21 - Sat 23 October 2010.
  

The Evangelical Alliance have announced that Steve Clifford, who chaired the Hope08 mission initiative, will succeed Joel Edwards as Director of the Evangelical Alliance. More at www.eauk.org/articles/new-general-director-announced.cfm

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As from 1st January 2009, ICC Media Group and Spring Harvest will merge to form Memralife Group.

Contact details from 2nd January: 14 Horsted Square, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 1QG. General Enquires: 01825 769111
Due to equipment moves, email will be received from 5th January.

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Part of the Internt Evangelism Day website, and a useful and engaging way to assess your own church's web presence. Fill in the online questionnaire, see what you score, and get a report back. It makes some relevant points in an attention-grabbing way, which is unusual for US-based advice on this subject.

More at www.InternetEvangelismDay.com/church-site-design.php.

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For informationm about the Librarians' Christian Fellowship, please contact The Secretary, Graham Hedges: email: secretary@librarianscf.org.uk  Website: www.librarianscf.org.uk

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Cops and Robbers is the website of a project which shares the stories of how Jesus has changed the lives of individual police and criminals. Stories are produced and distributed in comic book format, and can also be seen on the website, along with related and useful information.

See it for yourself at www.copsandrobbers.org.uk.

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GoodChurchWebsites.org.uk is a new website providing comprehensive but digestible advice on creating... good church websites.

It's for all UK churches, but particularly aims to encourage smaller local churches with limited resources. It includes examples of existing church websites (and promises to award special mugs to the web managers of any churches featured).

More at www.goodchurchwebsites.org.uk.

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