News & Information



Fresh Expressions on Youtube

Fresh Expressions have a new video on YouTube to introduce their work. The following link takes you to it as part of a List of Fresh Expressions Videos on Youtube

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The Big Read 2012

This year (Year B in the Revised Common Lectionary) The Big Read is using Tom Wright's book Lent for Everyone (Mark) as a study guide to Mark's Gospel. Find out more at bigbible.org.uk

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One Voice Global Poverty Prayer Movement 2012

Sunday 26 February - Sunday 4 March

The Global Poverty Prayer Movement is a call for us to unite as Christians to pray for our world. Find out more at www.tearfund.org

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More than Gold: 'Get set' training dates; CTE Press Release

More than Gold are offering training dates around the country for groups of Christians from local churches to see how they can engage with the opportunities of the 2012 Games - including festivals, hospitality, torch relay etc. See www.morethangold.org.uk

The four presidents of CTE have issued a press release in support of More Than Gold - more details on the CTE website

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Michael Ramsey Prize - nominations invited

Members of the public are invited to nominate books for the Michael Ramsey Prize in 2013. Until now the long list has been suggested by bishops and heads of theological colleges. Nominated titles must have been published in English between January 2010 and December 2011, besides making a contribution to the life of the Church, and/or advancing theology. Find out more at www.michaelramseyprize.org.uk

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Holy Monastery Icons

The Karakallou Monastery of Mount Athos has compiled a lavishly illustrated and produced book of its icons, featuring 152 items selected from their collection. The book has 552 large (23x32cm) pages, 241 colour illustrations, and whilst written primarily in Greek, the icon titles are in English and there is a special summary chapter in English as well. ISBN:978-96-0999140-7

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Christian bookshop - take a virtual tour

Melanie Carroll, owner of Unicorn Tree Books, has demonstrated how quick and easy it is to use a smartphone to provide a virtual tour of your shop on your website. Take a look at unicorntreebooks.blogspot.com

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Baptist Times goes online

The Baptist Times, the weekly newspaper reporting on the Baptist church in Britain, is to cease publication of its print and digital editions at the end of the year. In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the newspaper, Bill Johnston says the paper edition will cease publication at the end of 2011. A special edition in January 2012 will celebrate its history and the contribution which the Paper has made to the life of the Baptist denomination, and the wider Christian world, for over 150 years.

The Baptist Times name will live on as a new online resource to be launched in the spring of 2012

More information (original announcement) >>

More information (new online edition) >>

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CRE Awards 2011 Winners

TITLE AUTHOR PUBLISHER ISBN
       
BOOK OF THE YEAR      
The Radical Disciple John Stott IVP 9781844744213
       
REFERENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR      
Collins Bible Companion Martin Manser  ED HarperCollins 9780007339808
       
FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR      
Her Mother's Hope Francine Rivers Tyndale House 9781414336794
       
CHILDRENS BOOK OF THE YEAR (Under 12)      
Activity Bible 4-7's Box & Round CWR 9781853455162
       
CHILDRENS BOOK OF THE YEAR (Over 12)      
Cherished Rachel Gardner IVP 9781844743896
       
ALBUM OF THE YEAR – PRAISE AND WORSHIP      
Matt Redman Ultimate Collection Matt Redman Survivor SURCD5184
       
ALBUM OF THE YEAR – CONTEMPORARY      
Farewell Delirious? Survivor SURCD5174
       
MEDIA (Adult)      
C H Spurgeon People's Preacher Crawford Tefler CWR & CTA 9781853454974

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10th Anniversaries for The Good BookStall and for the UK Christian Bookshops Directory

Both these sites began in 2001. Phil Groom has written a piece reviewing the past 10 years - celebrating 10 years online - on his blog at christianbookshopsblog.org.uk and Mary Bartholomew's Editorial Page also looks back to when we started.

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Internet Evangelism Day

Internet Evangelism Day is a strategic resource to help the worldwide church understand these issues and use the Web to share the good news. It is both a year-round online guide and an annual focus day. Churches are encouraged to use Internet Evangelism Day resources to create a presentation for their members on that Sunday (or any time in May). The IE Day site offers free downloads: PowerPoint, video clips, handouts, drama scripts, music and posters. Website: www.InternetEvangelismDay.com

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Relaunch of www.christianity.org.uk

www.christianity.org.uk has been re-launched as a public facing website for anyone intersted in the Christian faith. Hosted by the Christian Enquiry Agency as a service for all churches, and designed for all ages of enquirer, it provides a host of information and the opportunity for people new to Christianity to enquire.
www.christianity.org.uk

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Your Church Wedding (new section)

The Church of England has launched a new section of their Weddings website, to help people plan their wedding, whether they go to church or not: www.yourchurchwedding.org/project

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Back to Church Sunday 2012

Information at www.backtochurch.co.uk.

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Speaking Volumes

Have you ever been into a public library and wondered where the Christian books were? So often they are tucked away, hidden among other titles or not there at all.

Now you have an opportunity to make a change. There is a search on for the best new book that all public libraries should have. The search is being organised by Speaking Volumes which is a charity that promotes reading, through placing Christian books into libraries.

Often a book is the first thing someone will look at to find information about the Christian faith, so they need to be in libraries in the community where they are accessible to many people. Speaking Volumes allows this to happen by inviting individuals or groups to buy a selection of books, at a reduced cost, to put in libraries, schools and other places where borrowing a Christian book could be a life changing experience.

If you think you could use the Speaking Volumes scheme to make a difference to people in your community, please check out the website www.christianbookpromotions.org.uk

Also look at the website www.christianbookawards.org where members of the public can vote for what they think is the best new Christian book that should be in every public library. Visit the website to see the shortlist from which to choose and vote. Every entrant will get a free ticket to the Christian Resource Exhibition in May where the winners will be announced.

Vote for the Ultimate Christian Library Book 2012

Visit www.christianbookawards.org to vote.

Voting is possible until 31st March. Every person voting receives a free ticket to the National CRE.

This year The Ultimate Christian Library Book Awards ill be presented by David Winter and will take place at the National CRE at Sandown Racecourse on 9th May.

Everyone is welcome to see the awards ceremony, starting at 11.30 hrs in the Park View Suite and will receive a packed 'goody bag' with vouchers and freebies worth up to £50.

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Christian Resources Exhibitions

Christian Resources Exhibitions Resourcing the church across the UK.
  • National CRE 2012
    Sandown Park, Esher
    Tues 8th - Fri 11th May 2012.

  • CRE North 2012
    Event City, Manchester
    Wed 10th & Thu 11th October 2012.

Visit their website: www.creonline.co.uk

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Assess your church website

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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Good Church Websites

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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Jesus in my Language

Short passages from the Gospels in many languages, part of a project aiming to have made a start on a Bible translation for every language in the world by 2025. More at www.jesusinmylanguage.org.

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