Big Church Festival - is it any good?

Wow. Wow. Wow. 40,000 delegates, multiple stages, fun for the children, a quiet garden, the beautiful Sussex Downs and of course lots of music. Lots of music, lots of churches and lots of worship. The Big Church Festival really is big. Epic in fact. First class worship? Tick. Spoken word and poetry? Tick. Different styles of worship? Tick. Steel Band? Tick. Opera singer? Tick. Comedy? Tick. Fairground rides? Tick. Lots of food vans? Double tick. There really is something for everyone at the largest Christian worship festival in Europe. Personal highlights were Israel Houghton and Philippa Hannah together on the main stage. BCF 2026 line up includes CC Winans and Charity Gale. Already looking forward to it. Oh, one more thing - there is a lot of walking! Big Church Festival - is it any good? Very good. Very good indeed.

12 Weeks after surgery...

12 weeks ago I had surgery for an inguenal hernia. Apparently it takes 3 months before you feel fully better. Well, I do feel better but not fully better. The wound has healed nicely. I do not have the protrusion out of my groin, but I can feel it. I guess that is because there is some guauze stuck in there now - a foreign body in my groin. I have put on weight. I have slowed down. I am unfit. So, some work to do now. I have been back at the pool. I have started running again, back on my bicycle and returned to walking football this week (yes, I know Walking football). Looking back I may have waited a bit longer before having the op but the doctors did say it would get worse - the tear bigger with more of me falling out!

Holiday Lunch Club in School Holidays

School holidays can be enormous fun for some and a bit of a worry for others. What can I do with the children all day that is free? How can I feed tham? Well, help is it hand - every Thursday though the summer Bridge Church in collaboration with St Mary's Shaw is offering a free lunch plus activities for families 12 noon-2.00pm - the Holiday Lunch Club. To help the catering Team prepare there is a web page to book in but turning up on the day is fine too. https://bridgechurchnewbury.co.uk/whats-on/lunch-club/ For more details please call 07554 577 262

Camping in Pembrokeshire

It is a long time since we have been to Wales so we decided to go to on a camping holiday to Pembrokeshire South Wales. The scenery is stunning, the beaches beautiful and we found a great little camp site. Greener Camping offer a number of smaller sites with larger plots. Little Haven is one such site and was prefect for us. You even get your owm allocated toilet! Skomer Island was not far away (Puffin Island) and we naively went to catch the boat only to discover that all boats were full until August - you have to book months in advacnce! Still the views from the point to the islands were beautiful and bracing. Merloes Beach is beautiful, Brides Bay is beautiful, Druidston Beach is beautiful - so many great bays and beaches within 20 minutes. Would we go to Pembrokeshire again? Yes (but in a bigger tent!).

Highlights of Leadership Conference 2025

I have just returned from 3 days away at the annual Leadership Conference organised by the Commission family of churches in Bournemouth. It was brilliant. So many good things, so many good sessions, so many good and challenging reports from around the world. So many precious friends. Whilst the conference was hosted by Commission many individuals, churches and spheres were welcomed and represented. Newfrontiers is a global family of churches. Vinu (India) brought faith each time he took to the floor; Rachel Wilson (Eastbourne) dropped a stunning Compassion bomb on Day 1; Chris Hawes (Woking) wins the prize for the funniest preach; Dave Devenish (Bedford) was in vintage form - Sent, Sent & Sent (!) with compelling stories; Mike Betts & Ian Hodgson helped us so much thinking about Prophetic Culture; stories from around the globe where believers are under great pressure and persecution is real were sobering and humbling; and Bournemouth beach in the heatwave was a short walk! Next year Winchester...

Hernia Op Recovery Week 2

Apparently it is the most common surgery in the UK with over 100,000 people having hernia surgery each year (mostly men). I am one of them. I had an inguinal hernia (groin) that was getting larger so relunctantly I did what the doctor said. A staggering 25% of men in the UK may suffer from inguinal hernia. The staff at The Royal Berkshire Hospital were great. No complaints at all, only garatutude for the NHS. Then signed off for 2 weeks - welcome time to slow down, read and watch Jesus the Gamechanger on Amazon Prime. Week 2 is a little less painful. I am not waking up with every movement. I don't need a pillow between my legs and I am going out each day for little walks. Still going to bed early exhausted. 4 weeks to go...

Mark's Review of House of David on Amazon Prime

How refreshing - a big budget, well produced and well acted Biblical epic on Amazon Prime House of David. At the beginning of each episode (6 in Series 1) a slide tells you that whilst this is based on the Biblical story and history some artistic licence has been taken in telling the story. In the first episode for example the relationship between the boy David and his mother plays a significant part. We don't actually know much about her from The Bible but it makes for an interesting story. All the big and important charcters there: David, Saul, Samuel and of course Goliath. Saul's wife too becomes central to the story for some time. The scene where Samuel the prophetc calls on Jesse and his sons to annoint the new king is powerful and laced with tenderness and humour. The purists may say there is too much extra-Biblical material but for a good Bible story on TV House of David makes for compelling viewing. It feels a bit like The Chosen - no surprise given that Dallas Jenkins is executive producer. It is rated 15 because of the violence and battle scenes so is not for children. It also has a large amount of very good looking people with amazing smiles and very white teeth! The best thing of all - it made me want to read my Bible to find out more...

Having a refugee to stay...

We have a teenage refugee staying with us. She is great. She has been with us for 18 months now. She fled a dangerous place to find safety, freedom and a new life. Her story has been featured on BBC TV, the BBC website, BBC Radio Berkshire and this week in Newbury Weekly News. She came to us via Step by Step an agency that places young people in supported lodgings - a bit like fostering but without the long-term committment. Step by Step gave us good training and have always provided good support. So far we have had 7 teenagers come and live with us, 2 of those refugees. It has been very worthwhile and I have learnt a lot. The challenge presently is that there are too many young people needing help and not enough homes. If you have a spare room and a bit of time for a young person maybe get in touch:. www.stepbystep.org.uk

Mark's Review of Conclave

Watching Conclave right now seems strangley appropriate give the current Pope's ill-health. Plans are already being made for the real Conclave. In the movie The Pope has died and the Cardinals gather in Conclave ((from the latin gathering under lock and key) to elect the next Pope. Cue political thriller, skeletons in the cupboard, lots of concerned looks and some daftness (who has a secret meeting in a stair well...?!) The film is full of surprises. The story will surprise you. The musical score will surprise you (Volker Buglemann as in All Quiet on the Western Front). The cinematography will surprise you. The ending will surprise you. It is surprisingly good. At £4.99 to watch on Amazon Prime Conclave makes for a good movie night. It is little wonder the accolades it has received. My predictions for Oscars: Best Movie Best Actor Ralph Fiennes Best Screen play Peter Straughan Best Costume Lizi Christi

Trump, Tarrifs and Tulips (From Newbury Weekly News)

One thing you cannot say about the President of America is that he is boring. We don’t know what he will do or say next: buy Greenland, Gaza or Mars? Put Tariffs on wind and waves because they come from overseas? We are confronted with the next big, unsettling thing. We just don’t know. Closer to home we do know that Spring is coming. The promise of longer, warmer days, colourful gardens, turning the heating down and who knows…maybe even a T-Shirt! It can be therapeutic in a big, crazy world to stop and look at what is happening on our doorstep – in the small things. The purple crocus coming through, the daffodil sprouting, the tender tiny bud appearing and tulips making a move. Soon gardens, parks and hedgerows will be awash with colour, the sky will be blue, the sun will shine. The cosmic canvas of the Creator coming to life once again. Aaah...relief. So, stop. Take a look. Closely. What do you see…? A spring flower – colour, life, growth, design, delicacy…and wonder…wonder at the Designer who made it for us to enjoy and for us to connect with Him. “The heavens declare the glory of God” the Psalmist wrote. We see it in the blue expanse, the blazing sun, the night sky. Our hearts soar in praise or maybe a whispered “thankyou God”. “Trump today, Sir?” “No thanks, a tulip will do.”

Who was St Valentine...?

At the time of Emperor Claudiuas there was a Christian man named Valentine. He ministered the gospel of Jesus Christ to many people, assured them of God's love for them and took care of their physical needs as best he could. He also did something else illegal - encouarged couples to get married, performing many marriage ceremonies himself. At the time men were not allowed to marry - the rationale was that men would fight more firecly without having to worry about a wife and family. For his alleged crimes against the pagan Roman empire Valentine was imprisoned, tortured (he would recant) and killed 14th February 269 - hence Valentines Day. On the eve of his death he wrote to his beloved and signed off "From your Valentine".

Who is this Jesus ? (written for Life Church Southampton)

Who is this Jesus? He is the Wave walking; Storm stilling; Boat climbing; Peace bringing; Sickness healing; Deaf hearing; Blind seeing; Paralytic walking; Demon chasing; Satan fleeing; Pharisee upsetting; Breakfast cooking; Lash taking; Cross bearing; Death defying; Tomb busting; Heaven opening; Sin forgiving; Grace giving; Spirit breathing; Ever loving Saviour

Parenting Seminars at Bridge Church

Being a parent is beautiful, rewarding and challenging. No one really teaches you how to be a parent. Mostly we pick things up from our own upbringing then modify those experiences, for good or ill. Becuase parenting is so important and pressure is great we want to provide a series of seminars for parents to support and encourage. There are lots of topics to consider but in the first session we will look at the digital challenge, marriage and family devotions. These are seminars - places to learn and discuss together (not a lecture). What is more...your child will be looked after during the seminar! Whether you are a parent, grandparent, married or single these Sunday afternoon seminars might just help... More information can be found on the Bridge Church Newbury Website.

Books that shaped me #4 The Hallelujah Factor by Jack Taylor

This book is full of praise. How to praise God, the scriptures and praise, the benefits of praise, when to praise, where to praise, the different words for praise, even the psychology of praise. Praise was erupting through the church in the 1980s. Paise was a real feature and highlight of the growing number of Bible Weeks. It was louder. Longer. And real. And this book helped to biblically explain and encourage praise for the individual and the church. A classic.

Christmas at Bridge Church

Bridge Carols on Sun 15th Dec was a great sucess. Lots of friends and visitors, mulled wine, a choir and special guest speaker Adrian Holloway. This w\e there are more opportunities to celebrate with a Live Nativty in collaboration with St Marys Church Speen with a light trail and animals. Sun 22nd Dec 10.30am at Trinity School is the Bridge Christmas Celebration with carols, games and dressing up (for those who want to). Then on Christmas Day a short informal meeting at Trinity School 10.00-10.40am. Further deatils can be found on the Bridge Church Newbury website. Whatever you are doing, wherever you are have a Happy Christ-mas!