On Wednesday 13th February to mark the beginning of Lent we will be joining with the World Prayer Centre at St Martin’s, to have an afternoon of prayer, praying specifically for the City of Birmingham and it’s people. The afternoon will begin at 12pm with a short act of worship that will include the imposition of ashes and will finish with an Ash Wednesday Service with Holy Communion at 6pm. Throughout the afternoon there will be prayer stations, times of guided prayer and a chance to prayer walk around the Bull Ring. Please do come along for all or part of the afternoon if you can. If you are unable to be with us – we do encourage you to set aside some time during the afternoon to join with us in prayer for the City wherever you may be. Click here to visit the Regular Services page. Photo by gocyclones – Flickr  

We have recently added a new meeting room to hire – the Bryan Green Room. This room is ideal for small meetings as it accommodates up to 10 people. For more information and availability, including, prices, please contact us by email at booking@bullring.org or telephone 0121 600 6020. Click here to visit the Room Hire page.     Image by ario

Week Beginning: Sunday 27th January 2013. Question 3: Why and how do I pray? Bible readings: Psalm 30, Matthew 6:1-5. Discussion Questions: 1. As you read the Lord’s Prayer which phrases do you find are most encouraging and which are more challenging? 2. Why is praying in private different from praying in public with others? 3. What do you think “your kingdom come” might look like when this prayer is being answered? 4. In your life today are there ways you can make the Lord’s Prayer personal? For example a particular need for help in an area of temptation or an area of provision.  Further resources for those exploring… Websites: http://www.alpha.org / www.rejesus.co.uk Books: “Questions of Life” by Nicky Gumbel, “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel & “Prayer: Does it make any Difference?” by Phillip Yancey.

All are welcome to join us as we remember Wayne and Ian, the Big Issue Sellers, recently killed in Birmingham.

Week Beginning: Sunday 20th January 2013 Question 2: Why Did Jesus die? Bible Readings: Romans 6:1-14,  John 6: 35-40;  Discussion Questions:  1. Which of the images or ways of answering the question “why did Jesus die” speak most powerfully to you and why? 2. If Jesus died to save us, what are you saved from?  What are you saved for? 3. Has your view of why Jesus died ‘for us’ changed over the course of your Christian experience?  If so, how?  Further resources: for those exploring… Websites: www.alpha.org www.rejesus.co.uk   Books: “Questions of Life” by Nicky Gumbel “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel  for those who want to go deeper… “The Enigma of the Cross”, Alister McGrath (Hodder and Stoughton) “Salvation”, T J Gorringe (Epworth Press)  

Week Beginning: Sunday 13th January 2013 Question 1: Who is Jesus? Bible Readings: Matthew 16:13-20, Isaiah 9: 1-7 Discussion Questions: Who do you think Jesus is? What images, words, thoughts, feelings come to mind? Having heard the talk in one of the services this week, has your concept of Jesus changed, how and why? How do you respond to what Jesus said about himself? (e.g. “I am the way the truth and the life”, “I am the light of the world”) If you had a chance to meet Jesus, how would you feel and what would you say to him? Further resources for those exploring… Websites: www.alpha.org www.rejesus.co.uk Books: “Questions of Life” by Nicky Gumbel “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel For those who want to go deeper… “Four Gospels, One Jesus?” by Richard Burridge “The Jesus I never knew” by Philip Yancey

During the cold nights St Martin’s are taking part in the city wide Winter Night Shelter and will be housing eight guests, selected by Street Outreach Teams, for an evening meal, night, and breakfast. We will be hosting one night per week during the 6 week period.  A number of churches across the city are working together so there will be beds every night of the week. Please pray that our guests will be renewed and refreshed during their time with us. Pray that all the preparations will go smoothly. Please thank God for our volunteers and for equipping us to host our guests during this cold winter period in the city. Click here to see an article with photos about the shelter on ITV.com   (Photo: Dubber, Flickr)

St Martin’s HOTS – January 5th 2013  Once more the weather was almost spring like in January. It was pleasant. There was some   cold wind but from time to time the sun appeared.  Passers-by were not rushing as much and they appeared to enjoy the unusual January weather. A good number of people from St Martin’s HOTS team turned up including some we had not seen for a while. It was a blessing to see you again.  A big thank you to you all. Also, thank you for your encouragement when we gathered together to pray before and after the session. Before we went out to pray we read a Bible passage from John 1: 43-50 about Jesus calling Philip and Nathanael. Three things were pointed out of this passage: Verse 46 ‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there? Nathaniel asked.’ We too may be tempted to ask this question when we see places where we don’t see much peace, order or goodness. Verse 48 ‘How do you know me? Nathanael asked Jesus.’ Jesus answered: I saw you under the fig tree before Philip

  8th Feb: Bantock Quartet (String); 15th Feb: Brass Concert. 22nd Feb: Trio: Clarinet, Piano, Viola. 1st Mar: Jonathan Warburton, Bass Trombone 8th Mar: Madelaine Jones and Daniel Edwards, Cello and Piano 15th Mar: Juliet Alice Jefferies: Piano, songs & solo 22nd Mar: No concert due to events in the church 29th Mar: Good Friday, no concert but please join us for Good Friday events. Watch this space for updates. (Image: crazybobbles)

Watch this space for the exciting upcoming Chocolate Lifepaths schools programme coming up at St. Martin in the Bull Ring…   Click here to read more about Scripture Union’s Lifepath model.     Image John Loo