5 on CAP Money Course training day

Yesterday five people from our congregation attended a CAP Money Course training day in Birmingham. The course trained the team in how to run the course: how to help people build a budget; how to use the CAP money management system to stay free from debt; how to point people in the right direction to get extra help and advice if needed; and how to combine practical help with sharing the Christian faith.

Everyone involved was excited by the potential a course like this offers in helping our church to reach our community in a real and practical ways, being the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.

We have resources to help 50 people and are looking forward to running our first course in the next few months. Course sizes will begin at around 6-7 people. Please check on our church website as to when, where and how to register for the next CAP Money Course.

You can gain control back over your finances and you can live a debt free life!

Bob Bell at After Hours Live - April 2013

On Friday 5th April, Bob Bell was back at After Hours Live delighting the audience with his tongue-in-cheek humour as well as his country music. Singing country classics as well as some old gospel standards, Bob Bell had the audience singing along and laughing out loud! One of his songs was by singer Tiny Tim and Bob came equipped with a long black haired wig and a ukelele to give a convincing performance! Bob was also joined on stage by a few friends, namely Alan Vibes and Robin Johnstone who helped sing and play a couple of the songs.

Octavia's Cafe once again played host to the enjoyable evening, giving a fantastic blend of ambiance, coffee and cake! It was good to see some old faces of people who regularly support After Hours Live, but it was equally good to see a whole host of new faces too - we hope to see you again next month?

Our next After Hours Live will not be on the first Friday of the month due to the bank holiday weekend. We will be back on the second Friday of May instead, Friday 10th May 2013. Our special guest is the young but very talented Joel Fitzsimmons who will be playing and singing a variety of songs, new and old. It promises to be an excellent event. We hope to see you there?

For more information, visit our website www.afterhourslive.org.uk

Good Friday Walk of Witness 2013

Good Friday walk of witness through the streets of Wisbech - Photo by Matt McChlery

Yesterday was Good Friday and Churches Together in Wisbech got together for their annual Walk of Witness through the streets of Wisbech. Starting outside The Baptist Church in the driving snow the procession of around 200 people silently made it's way through the town, stopping outside the United Reformed Church in the Crescent and St. Pater's & St. Paul's church next to NatWest. The procession then made its way up to the bus station in the Horse Fair Shopping Centre, ending in the Market Place. At each stop, the walkers sung hymns and read together the various stages of Jesus' crucifixion from The Bible.

Watch the video here.

Wisbech: 24th Best town in Britain!

Wisbech Harbour & Boathouse

The Wisbech Standard this week featured a story that was run in The Times. Choices of towns for the list were based on their history, housing, ameneties and looks.

With Wisbech's marvelous Georgian architecture, Anglia in Bloom Awards, the re-vamped park as well as new buildings and areas of rejuvination such as The Boathouse buiseness centre, The Ferry Project's 'Octavia View' building and the investment being put into the Isle College campus and Thomas Clarkson Academy helped put Wisbech in the judges top list.

The historic Pecover House, Wisbech Castle and Wisbech Museum and the Octavia Birthplace Museum as well as historic links with the famous abolitionist Thomas Clarkson, Wisbech has a lot of history to offer visitors.

Housing prices also played their part, as some very good hoses are available in Wisbech for a fraction of the price as they would be elsewhere.

It is great that Wisbech is starting to be recognised as a valuable town once again. Hopefully this will draw people's attention to the town once again and will re-energise efforts to re-establish a rail link to the national railway network (sign the petition here) as well as attract investors into the town and reverse the current trend of businesses folding or moving out of the town centre.

As a church, with the discussions going on around The Queen Mary Centre, this building will continue to play an important role in the life and community of our town. You too can help the church to reach our community and help Wisbech to become the best it can be, to fulfil the potential God has placed within it, within us! Keep thinking of ways you can be involved in the community and in the building.

Here is the top 30 list from The Times newspaper:

30 Best towns in Britain
1   Alnwick, Northumberland
2   Arundel, West Sussex
3   Cranbrook, Kent
4   Keswick, Cumbria
5   Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
6   Bakewell, Derbyshire
7   Saffron Walden, Essex
8   Hay on Wye, Powys
9   Hitchin, Hertfordshire
10 Marlborough, Wiltshire
11 Clitheroe, Lancashire
12 Liskeard, Cornwall
13 Grantham, Lincolnshire
14 Tetbury, Gloucestershire
15 Melbourne, Derbyshire
16 Dorking, Surrey
17 Amersham, Buckinghamshire
18 Uppingham, Rutland
19 Beaconsfield, Bucks
20 Bungay, Suffolk
21 Lewes, East Sussex
22 Downham Market, Norfolk
23 Kingsbridge, Devon
24 Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
25 Bridport, Dorset
26 Henley-in-Arden, Warwicks
27 Bradford-on-Avon, Wlitshire
28 Altringham, Gt Manchester
29 Axbridge, Somerset
30 Thirsk, North Yorkshire

LoziB & Thomas Clarkson Academy pupils at After Hours Live

Lozi B performing at After Hours Live in Octavia's Cafe, Wisbech

After Hours had yet another successful event last night at Octavia's Cafe in Wisbech. Our March event was the first time that we had a few warm-up acts before our headline performer took to the stage.

Starting at the earlier time of 6:30pm, pupils from the Thomas Clarkson Academy bravely took to the stage to give some top-quality performances. Emily Lyall kicked things off by singing a fantastic version of 'Bullet-proof'. Joshua Betts added to the variety of the evening by playing some amazing pieces on his saxaphone. The stand-out piece for me was his version of the popular TV series Poirot's theme tune. Jone Lipnickaite finished off the warm-up acts by singing and playing her guitar as well as singing one song accompanied by piano. Her distinctive vocal quality served to add to the outstanding quality of these young performers. We look forward to working with them and other performers from Thomas Clarkson Academy in the future.

After a relaxing break for a cup of tea and a slice of cake from the fabulous Octavia's Cafe, LoziB took to the stage. She sang a variety of covers including 'Stand By Me' and 'You've Got A Friend' as well as some original compositions. Near the end of her performance LoziB bravely invited members of the audience to suggest various words that she then used to make up a song on-the-spot. This resulted in a truly unique experience and a song about Wendy the blue-and-red tiger! Her chilled and laid-back style added to the relaxed ambiance of Octavia's Cafe and the audience enjoyed the evening.

Next month, Bob Bell is back at After Hours by popular demand. His often amusing style and delivery of country music songs are guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Why not come along and join us on the first Friday evening of May at Octavia's Cafe for the next After Hours Live?

Jackie preaches for first time!

Two weeks ago following promptings from the Holy Spirit as well as responding to the vision being cast by the church leaders who are encouraging everyone in the church to get involved in the ministry at The King's Church in Wisbech, Jackie Nurney bravely took a step of faith - She preached on Sunday and did an excellent job.

Jackie has given a pratical example to us all of what Clive Butcher has been talking about in his recent sermon series about Spiritual Gifts. We need to be brave, listen to what God is asking us to do, take that step of faith and get stuck in! God has equipped us with the abilities for the things he is asking each one of us to do. We (the people) are The Church, we are The Body of Christ on earth. It is up to each one of us to actively use the gifts God has given us to participate in minstry amongst each other as well as sharing the love of Jesus outside the church walls.

Ask yourself this:

• What can I do?
• What is God asking me to do for Him?
• How can I get stuck in?

Have a listen to Jackie's fantastic first sermon again: Click here

Info about After Hours Live

Earlier this week, Matt McChlery was interviewed about After Hours Live by local community TV Channel 'Popcorn TV'. Watch this video to find out a little bit about what After Hours Live is and who is performing in 2013!

Better still share the video link with your friends on Facebook, YouTube or anywhere else on the internet and encourage them to come along for a great night of entertainment with a twist of faith.