Community

Many people have many preconceptions about God and especially the God Christians supposedly believe in. Many of our ideas about God we have inherited, absorbed or assumed – often influenced by art and culture, popular myth or family tradition.
But who is God? What do Christians actually believe about God?
The Bible says if we want to know what God is like we need to consider Jesus – his words, his actions, his character, his choices etc. Jesus loved to tell stories and in many of those stories he helps us to understand more about God and what God is really like. Throughout August we will be looking at several of those stories to discover all sorts of surprising truths about our unexpected God. Join us in church or online as we explore the following:
Our Unexpected God
…..invites us to a party – Luke 14 v15-24
…..looks for the lost – Luke 15 v1-7
…..longs for us to come home – Luke 15 v11-24
…..gives us a second chance – Luke 13 v6-9
…..gives good things – Luke 11 v5-13
Also if you would like to find out more about who God is then please e-mail us at life@bullring.org

While Sunday worship has resumed in the church building, we acknowledge for some people it remains much safer to stay at home to worship. So each Sunday we will continue to upload worship services to the St. Martin in the Bull Ring page on YouTube. These services are posted each Sunday but are available at any time. Please come and join us!

Each Sunday, at 10.30am, there will be a simple service of Holy Communion at St. Martin’s.
However our online worship will continue on the St. Martin in the Bull Ring page on YouTube, but for those without access to online worship this is an opportunity to gather for said worship, with scriptures, simple sermon, prayers of intercession,
and sharing in communion.

Every Thursday and Saturday, between 1-4pm, St. Martin in the Bull Ring is partially open for private prayer. Right in the city centre of Birmingham, come and find a place of peace and rest where you can quietly pray, reflect or meditate. You may wish to light a candle in our prayer chapel. In order for us all to stay healthy and safe, please follow the guidance of our volunteer team.

Mid week worship from St Martin in the Bull Ring

In our first online service we celebrate Mothering Sunday at St Martin’s! Join us as we celebrate this special day #lent #motheringsunday #COVID2019 #calltoprayer

Come back for more over the coming week!

Worship at St. Martin in the Bull Ring

Following on from the government’s health announcements on Monday, it has now been confirmed by the Archbishops that public worship should cease. So there will no acts of worship held at St. Martin in the Bull Ring until further notice. We are very sad at not being able to gather for worship but we must do everything we can to support our government and health services to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the advice of our Archbishops, at St. Martin in the Bull Ring

• our church building will remain open for prayer between 10am-4pm, and Sundays 9.30am till 1pm.
• we will be offering practical help and telephone support for those who are vulnerable and self-isolating
• to help keep us connected, and rooted in prayer and worship, St. Martin’s will be offering simple acts of worship which will be available on YouTube.
• further resources for prayer, worship and encouragement can be sourced from the Church of England website – https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

Please do follow all the latest health advice including hygiene precautions, self-isolating and social distancing. NHS guidance can be read at – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

If you are feeling anxious about the present situation you may find the guidance from Mind very helpful – https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/#collapse5f160

Prayer

This Sunday, 22^nd March, has been declared a national day of prayer. At 7pm everyone is encouraged to place a lighted candle in a window as we pray for our nation and the world. For more information see – https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/latest-news/coronavirus-archbishops-call-national-day-prayer-and-action

May we encourage us to pray for:

• our nation and the world;
• health workers and emergency services;
• local and national government;
• the vulnerable, lonely and isolated;
• generosity, care and kindness;
• ourselves, our families and friends.

Our Rector Jeremy leads us in a prayer via video.

Following on from the government’s health announcements yesterday, and instructions received from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York today, St Martin in the Bull Ring will cease all public acts of worship until further notice.

The church building will remain open during the daytime for personal prayer.

Please see below for full details – more to follow in the coming days! #COVID2019 #calltoprayer