bridgelifemagazineconnecting you with the life of the church

january february march

SENIOR LEADER

RICHARD COOKE

Hello and Welcome!

“Richard...It’s about time that

you acted your age!” (As I

put on my motorbike helmet

or pound weights at the

gym.)

As a 47 year old young man

the world we live in shouts

“Grow up, act your age and

not your shoe size.” Yet

scripture encourages us to

do the opposite, that unless

we receive the Kingdom of

God like a child we will never

enter it. (Luke 18:17)

You know what? I don’t want

to ever lose that wonder of

a child, the freedom to learn,

to laugh and ultimately to

live.

Church life can function

that same way and we

can miss the opportunities

to laugh, learn and live.

Well, as a leader I’m

committed to embracing

this year as an adventure

and the fullness there in.

Shortly we kick off Life

groups meeting in homes

- loving, sharing and caring

for each other. As we

do this I believe God will

bring forth stories of lives

changed, restored and

healed. A great source of

encouragement for all.

Hebrews 10 encourages

us to be in the habit of

meeting together. Lets

get into good habits this

year and commit to

being attached as

well as attending.

Richard Cooke ‘Cookie’

20MEN13

20MEN13

It’s Sunday morning, 8AM and I am legging it across the Bridge Car Park to jump in a car that is heading straight to prison...

I knew that would grab your attention! We were heading to HMP Buckley Hall to play in a football tournament with some of the prisoners. Only the Christian life can give such crazy opportunities.

As we drive up to the prison I take a look at my fellow team mates today. I count the numbers and realise that we only have five players and its a five aside tournament. Therefore I will have to play every game...which was going to be tough!

As we arrive at the Prison, the Christian warden asks who is going to give their testimony. In a flash Aaron Foster, bless him, announces that it is going to be me.

When the team started visiting the prison they would usually play three times but today we faced six. I don’t know what I was most nervous about - six teams or 30 inmates listening to me.

Well we managed to make it to the semi-finals and the inmates listened intently to my story. So a result all round. But the best part was being able to share the experience with one of my sons.

As a man who loves God, I want to see God do something great with our men’s ministry, just like our football team today.

I want to see men that are up for the challenge, working together and celebrating our victories, but also working through our defeats as a team. I believe that this is possible. Do you?

Nick Donnelly

January 2013 WHAT’S ON?

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MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

CATALYST YOUTHDry your eyes! Catalyst is back! Bigger, bolder, brighter and better than ever before. It returns on the 11th January at 7:30PM. See you there, leave your Kleenex at home.

Church10:00am

BBFC VWESTWOOD

(H) 10:30am

Church10:00am

Alpha Course

10:30am

Catalyst 7:30pm

Alpha Course

10:30am

Catalyst 7:30pm

Oasis12:30pm

Oasis12:30pm

Alpha &Marriage

Course7:00pm

Alpha Course7:00pm

Alpha Course7:00pm

Alpha Course7:00pm

Prayer Team

Meeting7:30pm

Church10:00am

Alpha Course

10:30am

Catalyst &Inspire

7:30pm

Church10:00am

TheWednesday

Night Service7:30pm

Advance(Invite Only)

7:30pm

Have you ever felt that life is moving so fast that you cannot keep up? Have you ever felt that the carousel is spinning and you want to jump off? I have!

Recently I thought that God required me to fix everything and everyone. I became very tired in my body, in my mind and in my spirit. I felt completely confused, exhausted and inadequate.

Recently I was renovating a bedroom. I pulled a piece of wallpaper off the wall and cracks appeared. The more pieces of paper I removed, the more damage appeared. What had been covered up was being revealed piece by piece.

This is me I thought, I have been papering over the cracks for so long, busying myself and trying to be the answer. But now I feel burnt out, exhausted and in need of fixing.

Anything can be fixed, whether its a professional job or just a little TLC. God is avaliable to bring some DIY SOS to you and he is willing to deal with the cracks that have been hidden for so long.

Remember what God says about you, believe it and keep him close and let him repair and restore you.

Jo Wood

women

Alpha &Marriage

Course7:00pm

Alpha &Marriage

Course7:00pm

Alpha &Marriage

Course7:00pm

Alpha &Marriage

Course7:00pm

Alpha Course

10:30am

Catalyst 7:30pm

Alpha Course

10:30am

Catalyst 7:30pm

Alpha Course

10:30am

Catalyst &Inspire

7:30pm

February 2013 WHAT’S ON?

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MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new

dream.- C. S. Lewis

LIFE GROUP LAUNCH PARTYlife groups begin on the 20th februarywith a launch party here at the bridge.for more information check out the life grouparticle in this edition or visit the link this sunday.

Church10:00am

IntegrityMen

7:30am

BBFC VDITTON

(A) 10:30am

BBFC VIVY COSMOS

(H) 10:30am

Church10:00am

Oasis12:30pm

Oasis12:30pm

Prayer Team

Meeting7:30pm

Life Groups Launch

Party7:30pm

TheWednesday

Night Service7:30pm

Advance(Invite Only)

7:30pm

Church10:00am

Church10:00am

Alpha Course

10:30am

NoCatalyst

this week

It’s that time of year again, when we look at the year just gone and look forward to the new year ahead. As I have been looking at the year ahead, a statement has been playing over and over in my head. The statement is very simple, “ Make a move!”

I am reminded of how Noah had to pick up a hammer to build the ark, how the bleeding women reached out to touch Jesus’ cloak, how the disciples dropped their nets and gave everything to follow Jesus and how Peter had to step out of the boat to wallk on the water

These are just a few to mention, in which people in the Bible made a move of faith. What move do you need to make this year?

Morever, in Hebrews 12:1-3 it talks about running with perseverance and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. For some of you, you may have felt floored by the year just gone, and feel you have stopped running. Maybe its time to make a move and start running again. For others you may feel strong at this point in the race. Keep going in perseverance and give a helping hand to those in the church family that aren’t feeling so strong.

The year ahead may come with joys and challenges, but through it all let’s keep running with perseverance with our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. Let’s start the year well, let’s make a move and live a life of forward motion, and run our race well.

Natalie Foster

Alpha &Marriage

Course7:00pm

Alpha 7:00pm

Alpha7:00pm

Alpha 7:00pm

Alpha Course

10:30am

Catalyst 7:30pm

Alpha Course

10:30am

Catalyst 7:30pm

Alpha Course

10:30am

Catalyst 7:30pm

Alpha Course

10:30am

Catalyst &Inspire

7:30pm

March 2013WHAT’S ON?

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MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

In the end, its not the years in your life that count. Its the life in your

years.- Abraham Lincoln

STOP THE TRAFFIC PRAYERJOIN US ON TUESDAY 5TH MARCH HERE AT THEBRIDGE CHURCH AS WE PRAY FOR THE LIVES OF THOSEWHO ARE CAUGHT UP IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING. TOGETHEROUR PRAYERS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.STAND WITH US IN PRAYER.

Church10:00am

BBFC VOASIS

(A) 10:30am

BBFC V SM AMBASS

(H) 10:30am

FixedConference

8:30am

Church10:00am

Oasis12:30pm

Oasis12:30pm

Prayer Team

Meeting7:30pm

Stop The

TrafficPrayer Night

7:00pm

InspireMums &

Daughters1:00pm

Life Groups(Various

Locations)7:30pm

Life Groups(Various

Locations)7:30pm

TheWednesday

Night Service7:30pm

Advance(Invite Only)

7:30pm

Church10:00am

GoodFriday

11:00am(One Hour Service)

No Catalyst

This Week

Church10:00am

Church10:00am

(One Hour Service)

Easter Celebration

6:00pmCatalyst Youth - Escape 13

Week Of Prayer

FAITH IN ACTION...I love to read Hebrews 11; it’s the chapter that lists people who are known for their faith and great deeds. Individuals with probelms and hang ups but they became heroes of faith. It gives me hope that God can truly use anyone.

Hebrews 11:34 “By faith...their weakness was turned to strength

and they became powerful in battle”

Wow, they overcame their challenges and fears and were commended for living by faith, faith in action.

After reading this chapter, I stop and look around at our church. Not the crowd but the individuals. I can honestly say I am truly humbled and inspired by your stories. Its a honour to worship alongside people with the most amazing stories of how God met them, saved them, restored them and kept them in their time of need. Every story is unique and precious.

Thank you to you all for putting your faith into action so selflessly. Giving your time, energy, friendship and encouragement. Serving faithfully and consistently, sharing your skills and talents in order to help and bless those that are around you. All those hours invested, arriving early, staying late and hours behind the scenes preparing.

Faith in action - its all around! Let’s take time to encourage each other and help write each other’s stories of faith.

Sue Stokes

StartingFebruary

20th let us consider how to provoke oneanother to love and good deeds,not neglecting to meet together...

Hebrews encourages us to provoke one another to love and good deeds, but also not neglect the opportunity to meet together, which is so important.

We firmly believe for us to grow individually, grow as a family and help us make a difference in our world - Life Groups are key.

Let me encourage you to get on board and join us on Wednesday nights as we begin Life Groups on February 6th.

Life Groups will run on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. They will begin at 7:30PM and aim to finish around 9:00PM. However, we know that some you like to natter into the early hours of the morning, so if you’re nice to your hosts, they may let you stay a little longer.

we look forward to seeing you at our Life Group Launch party at the BridgeFebruary 20th - 7:30PM

let us consider how to provoke oneanother to love and good deeds,not neglecting to meet together...

But what about the Wednesday Night Service? That is a great question! - It will run as usual on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. However we will be focusing on all the exciting stories that come through our Life Groups, taking time together to share communion and worship.

We will have Life Groups located across Greater Manchester, so there should be one not too far from you. We have a dedicated team of hosts and pastors that are looking forward to opening up their homes in order to provide you with a place where you can grow as a individual, become part of the church family but also grow in your ability to make a difference in your world.

If you would like information in regard to the location of our Life Groups, join us on February 20th, 7:30PM at the Bridge. As we host a Life Group launch party, the perfect place to discover more.

Alternatively please contact the church offices on 01204 361704 or alternatively you can speak to someone at the Link this sunday.