Good Friday Walk of Witness

Yesterday, on Good Friday our congregation joined with others from around the town of Wisbech to take part in a united Walk of Witness. Over 100 people attended the event, led by Russell Day from the Salvation Army and the opening service of collective worship held at St Peter’s Church, saw four processions, each reading part of the Easter story, walk around the town. We concluded by gathering together in the Market Place to form the shape of the cross by holding four strands of rope where we read the Bible, sang hymns and prayed together. It was a powerful witness and sign of unity. 

Contemporary Christmas Carols

The evening of Contemporary Christmas Carols hosted by Wisbech Churches Together with The King's Church, Wisbech in aid of the Refugee Fundraising Appeal happened on Saturday. The Queen Mary Centre in Wisbech came alive with rousing music - some familiar Christmas Carols alongside more contemporary Christmas worship songs which were enjoyed by all. Video clips of the Christmas story set within a modern context punctuated the music. Just before the interval, there was a moment to pause and pray for those caught up in the refugee crisis in Europe with prayer stations to help bring a focus to our prayers.

During the interval there were tea, coffee, mince pies, a variety of items needed in the Calais 'Jungle' Camp in France posted on an Amazon Wish List and some needlework crafts on sale to help raise funds for the appeal. A total of £247.36 was raised at the event that will be shared between the Hope For Calais Amazon wish list and the Christian Aid emergency appeal.

Thank you to everyone who attended.

After Hours Live with Rachel-Yvonne

Rachel-Yvonne, a member of the recent X-Factor group Melody Stone, graced the After Hours Live stage on Friday accompanied by her very able guitarist Phil. She sang a mixture of covers ranging from Whitney Houston to Bob Marley with a bit of Bruno Mars and Rhianna in between. Interlaced between the songs were stories of Rachel's recent X-Factor experiences as well as the journey of her life. Some of the songs were given a special twist where one or two lyrics had been altered to give them the After Hours Live 'twist of faith'. Rachel spoke about her faith in Jesus and how we should be seeking to find our identity in him, not in other things.

A good number of people braved the weather and dodged the fireworks to attend. This After Hours Live was the first time we had teamed-up with another local organisation. This month we joined forces with Wisbech Churches Together in order to raise funds for those caught up in the refugee crisis in Europe. Thanks to the generous giving of the audience we raised a total of £80.60 which will be given to Christian Aid. Thank you to all who gave.

On Friday 4 December we welcome Jon Kendall who will be getting us in the festive mood as well as playing some of his favourite songs. Please visit the After Hours Live website for more information.

New Chairperson of Wisbech Churches Together

Matt McChery (Chairperson) and Keith Aplin (Vice-Chair)

Matt McChlery was duly elected as the new Chairperson of Wisbech Churches Together at the annual AGM on 17 June 2015. He is Director of Music and one of the Worship Leaders at The King’s Church, Wisbech as well as a teacher at Magdalene House Prep School. The former Chairperson, Keith Aplin stepped down after many years of dedicated service. We wish to say a heartfelt thank you to Keith for all that he has done for Churches Together as Chairperson. He made the decision to step down as the Wisbech Foodbank is demanding more of his time and attention.

Churches Together in Wisbech Christian Aid Service

Members of The King's Church Wisbech were glad to be part of the inter-denominational service to mark the start of Christian Aid week on Sunday that was attended by 60 people. It was hosted by the Salvation Army although various churches took charge of certain sections of the service ranging from St. Peters (Church of England), the URC, the Salvation Army and our church also led a section. A brass band led most of the sung worship while our band joined with the Salvation Army worship band and played three songs in our 'style' of music which had the congregation joining in and had a few feet tapping! It was good to hear about the work of Christian Aid through the decades as they celebrate 70 years as an organisation. An offering was also taken for the future work of Christian Aid.

Good Friday Walk of Witness 2015

Watch the video taken earlier today during the Wisbech Churches Together Good Friday Walk of Witness that went through the town this morning. It began with a short service with a hymn and a prayer at the URC and then the procession began at the War Memorial in the Crescent. The walk then went past Wisbech Library and on to St Peter's gardens. From there it proceeded up past Beals department store, past the Empire and stopped again in front of Argos in the Horse Fair. It continued up the Horse Fair high street and paused outside Wisbech Baptist Church. From there the procession curved round Hill Street and ended in the Market Place where more hymns and readings were sung and read together.

It was a powerful display of unity amongst the churches in Wisbech as well as a positive witness to the people in the town who stopped to watch, or even join in.

Churches Together Hustings

Churches Together in Wisbech is pleased to announce that they are hosting a hustings of the North East Cambridgeshire candidates in the run up to the 2015 general election. So far four of the five candidates have confirmed their attendance and it is hoped that all five will be present on the day. The event will give opportunity for the people of Wisbech to hear the candidates’ policies as well as provide a platform for questions. However, questions need to be submitted in advance of the event by 8^th April and should be emailed to churchestogetherwisbech@gmail.com . Starting at 7:30pm on Wednesday 15^th April, the event is open to all and will be held in the Salvation Army Hall, Wisbech. Everyone is welcome.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity celebrated in Wisbech

Representatives from various churches in Wisbech at the service

The evening of Sunday 18^th January 2015 saw a joyous event take place in the Queen Mary Centre, Wisbech. The evening saw representatives and members from a wide variety of Christian church denominations and expressions gather together to celebrate their diversity and to pray for Christian unity in the town as well as in the wider world. Representatives from each church had the space to present something that represented their particular expression of the Christian faith which served as a meaningful contribution to the other collective elements of the service. The Salvation Army brass band played the hymn ‘Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken’ while The King’s Church band played a selection of more contemporary songs including a piece especially written for the event by Worship Leader, Matt McChlery. The whole event was a positive demonstration of Christian unity and solidarity in the town and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Clive Butcher, Elder of The King’s Church Wisbech said: 'A good expression of the unity that comes through our Christian faith - even though expressed in diverse ways around the churches'

Churches that were present included: The Church of England, United Reformed, Trinity Methodist, Wisbech Baptist Church, The Quakers, The Salvation Army, The Roman Catholic Church and was hosted by The King’s Church, Wisbech under the banner of the Wisbech Churches Together organisation. Keith Aplin, Chairperson of Churches Together in Wisbech said:‘I thank Clive and the King's Church Team plus all who took part for a lively and very moving WPCU Service Yesterday. It was great to see so many there and to enjoy worship and Fellowship.’

INVITATION - 'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity' Combined Service

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is coming up next week. The King's Church, Wisbech is pleased to be hosting this year's annual Churches Together service for this special occasion. Representatives from all the churches in Wisbech are encouraged to attend as we gather together as one corporate church to worship together and to pray for unity amongst The Church locally and globally.

The service is being held at the Queen Mary Centre in Wisbech and begins at 18:30. All are welcome.

Lucas and Barclay at 'Impact 2014'

Steve Barclay MP and Jeff Lucas

Churches from around Wisbech and the surrounding area gathered together last night for 'Impact 2014'. Special guests included Steve Barclay MP and Jeff Lucas. Steve shared some of the projects he is involved in that he hopes will help to improve life our town as well as suggestions of ways we can actually get involved, rather than sitting on the sidelines and complaining.

This was echoed by Jeff Lucas who delivered his message with his characteristic blend of humour and wit with some serious points mixed in. We need to be the change we want to see in our society. The church needs to lead the way. We should stop waiting for some superhero to come along and do all the hard work because actually it is ordinary people who change the world! By taking responsibility and going in to address the problems present in our community, by churches standing together and working together we can have a great impact in our world.

First Collection for the Wisbech Food Bank

Food collected at church today for the Wisbech Food Bank

The Wisbech Food Bank is opening in early June, so at church today we had our first ever food collection to help stock the Wisbech Food Bank before it opens. With some of the members of our church actively involved in the running of the Food Bank in Wisbech we are able to keep up to date with the need in our community as well as able to get involved as a whole church community and donate various food items.

Thanks to everyone who donated today. We ended up with even more food than is in the photo and it was very encouraging the see so many people in the church getting behind this worthwhile charity.

There will be more collections for the Wisbech Food Bank in the coming months. Please keep a look out in the church newsletter to find out when these will be taking place. However, a continuous collection point for the Wisbech Food Bank has been set up in the Oasis Book Shop (located at the end of Norfolk Street in Wisbech) if you would like to keep donating food on a more regular basis.

Visit the Wisbech Foodbank website!

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.