Monthly Message (May 2010) - Bradbury Hall

Dear Friends,

Someone reportedly once said, be careful what you pray for … because it might just come true!

Many of us have experienced that ‘wobble within’ over the last six years of thinking, praying, planning, negotiating, deciding … and fundraising … would we ever see the day the Henleaze@Heart project would really come to fruition? What a journey we have travelled together. And here it is. May is the month when we should see the completion of Phase 1 of our building project and be able to move in to the new, and very beautiful, Bradbury Hall.

I know that I have written many times here about the building project … but it is worth the words! It is a great thing that has happened here and the walls and roof tiles, hidden drains, cables and insulation, sun-tubes, windows, wood, new colours … and so much more … all speak out a message of vibrant new life built to bring richness and community, into the lives of people and to the glory of God, in this place.

You can tell that I am thrilled with the progress ... and hope that you are too.

As we began this adventure one of our members remembered a phrase from one of our conversations. It was said : ‘A church is more that bricks and mortar … but it is also bricks and mortar.’

And I’ve often remembered that in this project. This building we will share with our community does speak of God’s creativity and love for people … but the building is, too, the place that is brought alive by the faith, hope and joy of the people who are the church within it.

As, in the coming months, we celebrate and enjoy this great new building … it brings us the challenge of being the welcoming and creative people of God in this place. A challenge that has a place and role for all of us to play.

This month, as well as exploring the new building, all members and friends of the church will be receiving a short questionnaire.

On it you’ll find some of the ways in which we have talked about the Church offering new opportunities and activities in the Bradbury Hall and suggestions of ways you can volunteer to be part of them. I hope that you’ll find something you’d like to be part of … there will be room for your new ideas too.

And meanwhile … let us keep up the prayer that this will be a place where people will find, in many and various ways, that God is generous, welcoming and ever resourceful in bringing a deep and colourful richness to life. A place where we find the joy of sharing the life that God has given us.

Yours,

Tracey.