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Our June iPhone wallpaper is out now Enjoy Download here

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:57:37 +0100

Our June iPhone wallpaper is out now

Enjoy

Download here

Bless: Introduce yourselves D&A: We’re Dave and Abby,...

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:45:23 +0100

Bless: Introduce yourselves

D&A: We’re Dave and Abby, we’re both 27 and have just come over to spend a few months at Bethanie after being in Brighton (UK), where we moved four years ago to be part of a small church that was seeking to be involved in the local community.

I (Dave) have spent the last few years running a community youthwork project with One Church Brighton and am passionate about simplicity and making faith work in real life. I am also passionate about fantasy football.

I (Abby) have spent the last few years working in supported accommodation for people that were previously homeless. I like people, art, being in the countryside and drinking chai latte.

Bless: What are you up to at the moment?

D&A: We came to Bethanie in April and are here for a few months to get involved with the work that Bless is up to, have a bit of space to reflect and work some things through, as well as to think and pray about what the future might hold for us.

Day to day we’re doing all sorts- enjoying the rhythm of prayer and community meals, generally helping Bethanie life to happen (veg patching, chickens, maintenance etc), helping out with French summer mission prep and anything as it comes up! Abby is having the space to do lots more art (abbyperrins.tumblr.com)

Bless: Describe Bless in 3 words?

Dave: Prayer, Friendship, Peace
Abby: Prayer, Community, Creativity

Bless: What is your experience of being a part of the Bless Family?

D&A: We love it. Bless was really helpful for us when we were in Brighton, coming over to Bethanie at different points gave us a really good chance to slow down, spend time with God and re-centre, which really helped us in our different roles at work/in life in general.

We really enjoy being part of Bless and have made some great friends through it - it really does feel like a family and being gradually more involved over the last few years has been really good for us.

Bless: What are your dreams for the next 12 months (or so)?

Dave: Wow, big question. I really want to go deeper in my faith and really grapple with some of the stuff I struggle with and that is difficult, and to grow holistically as a person. It’d also be great to get a clearer picture of what the future holds.

Abby: I really want to slow down to focus on love (of God and others) as the only thing that matters in life. I am also having some space to process some things and hope that my faith will grow deeper and wider through this. I also hope to grow in my creativity.

D&A: We’re hoping to travel a bit; to see some good places and meet some interesting people. We want to explore and see some of the things we are interested in on our travels, like church communities with rhythms of prayer and shared living, simple self-sustainable communities, becoming more connected with some of the products we use from across the globe.

Our hope is that the next 12 months would be a growing time and a fun time, as well as preparing us for whatever the next years hold for us.

Bless: How can we pray for you?

D&A: Just praying for the above really, that we would grow as people and as a couple- that we would grow in God’s ways of love.

PRAYERhouse Discography A Winged Victory for the Sullen: A...

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:23:00 +0100

PRAYERhouse Discography

A Winged Victory for the Sullen: A Winged Victory for the Sullen.

Bon Iver: Bon Iver.

Broken Social Scene: Feel Good Lost.

David Lamin: Arran. Advent. IV.

Efterklang: Piramida.

Gem Club: Acid and Everything.

Jónsi: Go.

Jónsi & Alex: Riceboy Sleeps.

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins: Diamond Mine.

Mark Tedder: The Door.

Matthew E. White: Big Inner.

Mother of the Unicorn: Minus Seventeen. MOTUEP3. MOTUEP2. MOTUEP1.

Múm: Finally We Are No One.

Nils Frahm: Screws. Felt.

Ólafur Arnalds: Living Room Songs. And They Have Escaped The Weight of Darkness. Found Songs.

Peter Broderick: Home.

Samuel Lane: The Fire.

S. Carey: Hoyas. All We Grow.

Sigur Rós: Valtari. Inni. Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust. Hvarf – Heim. Takk. (). Ágætis Byrjun.

This Will Destroy You: Field Studies. This Will Destroy You. Young Mountain.

Wilhelm: I Will Carry You Across The Dark Waters.

The XX: Coexist. XX.

Youth Lagoon: The Year of Hibernation.

‘O Lord you have searched me and you know me…you hem...

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:15:37 +0100

‘O Lord you have searched me and you know me…you hem me in - behind and before…Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence…even the darkness will not be dark to you.’ Psalm 139

On seeing THIS image I was struck by the size of the net and how when cast into the water, the net covered so much more than one man ever could by just using his bare hands. I remembered Psalm 139. David spends a lot of time describing how there is no escaping the Lord. Everything is within his grasp. He covers every inch of the earth and he know our hearts better than we do.

I suspended some netting in the prayer room and provided some paper and pens. We spent some time writing down everything that was pressing on our hearts, big or small, personal, local, national, global, political, medical, religious, past, present future. All of it.

With the image of the net suspended above our heads we placed all these things into the net. Instead of praying over it, we prayed under it. Knowing that it is God that holds the weight of everything in the earth, not us. There is nothing that he has not seen, nothing he doesn’t understand completely.

- Lou Van Der Linden

COMPLETELY HANDCRAFTED WAX COTTON CROPPED JACKET FULLY LINED...

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:25:17 +0100

COMPLETELY HANDCRAFTED
WAX COTTON CROPPED JACKET
FULLY LINED WITH SCOTTISH TARTAN
SIZE S/M
£150
ONLY ONE AVAILABLE IN THE WHOLE WORLD

Get yours here in the 80/20 shop

jonwhitedraws: “Spirit” - Oil on paper. “On a cake...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:55:19 +0100

jonwhitedraws:

“Spirit” - Oil on paper.

“On a cake weighed down with two thousand candles we celebrate the birth of the church. Come fire of God. Now as then, fill us.” @twitturgies

Check out all the photos from Bend It Like Bless 2013 HERE....

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:41:00 +0100

Check out all the photos from Bend It Like Bless 2013 HERE. There’s still time to SPONSOR US £6 for 6 games vs. 6 churches in 6 days.

BENDITLIKEBLESS STAT ATTACK: Minutes Played 365 Matches Played...

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:16:00 +0100

BENDITLIKEBLESS STAT ATTACK:

Minutes Played 365

Matches Played 6

Won 2
Lost 3
Drawn 1
Goals For 27
Goals Against 30

Red Cards 2 (both FALLONaini)

BLESS GOLDEN BOOT 2013:

Juan MATTa 6

Anders TIMpar 4

Santi CHEZorla 3

Eric TANTONa 2

Marouane FALLONaini 2

Yaya tourBRAY 1

Andres PERRINiesta 1

Collective Bless Ringers 8

Money Raised… we’re still counting so please help us reach our target by giving HERE.

Todd watch raffle draw… drum roll please… (We will...

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:42:35 +0100

Todd watch raffle draw… drum roll please…

(We will be contacting the winner shortly to arrange delivery.)

Bless finish with a flourish, finding the net nine times in a...

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:12:17 +0100

Bless finish with a flourish, finding the net nine times in a flattering final day victory in a feisty but friendly face-off in Carshalton Beeches.

Boosted by the return of santi CHEZorla and debuts for NIGEL turner and SAM lovell bless found their rhythm and took an early two goal lead only to be pegged back after some suspect defending and uncharacteristic distribution from the outstanding FALLONaini.

The game ebbed and flowed; each team taking it in turn to edge ahead by a single goal before being cancelled out. After half an hour the score was level at 5-5. Bless goals coming from SAM(2), CHEZorla, TIMpar & MATTa.

As the game entered its later stages the rain began to fall and the tension increased as both teams tried to take the initiative. Tackles flew in and the woodwork was rattled on several occasions before bless killed the game off with three rapid fire goals in 2 minutes. Goals for CHEZorla, MATTa and a stunning scissor kick from TANTONa.

With the rain continuing to fall and time being added on, in honour of the departing Sir Alex, there was just enough ticks on the clock for bless to carve out one final goal scoring chance. MATTa playing a perfectly weighted ball into the path of PERRINiesta, who notched his first goal of Benditlikebless with LITERALLY the last kick of the tour. Final Score 9-6.

To book your place on this Writers’ Conference please...

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:32:00 +0100

To book your place on this Writers’ Conference please email laura@blessnet.eu

Bless avenge last years league defeat by recording their first...

Mon, 13 May 2013 03:26:39 +0100

Bless avenge last years league defeat by recording their first win in a four quarter classic against the fancy dress wearing youth of Rising Brook.

Bless started the first quarter brightly taking an early lead despite kicking off only 10 hours after their previous game. Rising Brook responded and an balanced opening quarter ended 2-2. Goals from Summers and MATTa.

The second quarter was a story of two eighths. Rising Brook dominated the first seven minutes taking a 5-2 lead, before goals from TIMpar (2), MATTa & tourBRAY put bless into a 6-5 lead at halftime.

The heavens opened at the start of the third making the concrete pitch VERY slippery and chances were reduced to a premium. Bless maintained their one goal lead by the end of the quarter. 8-7. Goals for TANTONa & Summers.

Bless scored two early goals in a crucial final quarter to effectively kill off the game. TIMpar and MATTa & Summers completing a hat-trick of hat-tricks. Final Score 11-8.

There’s still time to SPONSOR US HERE.

There is a host of great artwork on the BEND IT LIKE BLESS...

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:36:00 +0100

There is a host of great artwork on the BEND IT LIKE BLESS SILENT AUCTION. Here’s a glimpse at some of the pieces available…

- CAMPFIRE BY KATE ALIZADEH
- FRESH CATCH BY HANNAH COUSINS
- NEW MEXICO BY ABBY PERRINS
- HARBOUR MASTER SCREEN PRINT BY DAVID DORAN

It’s the last day of the Bend It tour, so place your final bids on these items HERE. #BILB

today’s opposition #bilb

Sat, 11 May 2013 15:49:00 +0100

today’s opposition #bilb

Have a look at what the Bend It Like Bless team have been up to...

Sat, 11 May 2013 15:48:00 +0100

Have a look at what the Bend It Like Bless team have been up to so far… THE PAST FEW DAYS IN PICTURES. #BILB

Bless seeing DOUBLE after falling to another defeat following...

Sat, 11 May 2013 09:28:00 +0100

Bless seeing DOUBLE after falling to another defeat following one of the most bizarre games of football ever witnessed. FALLONaini with a double red card and a brace.

Team bless welcomed back yaya TourBRAY to the starting lineup with Jake Kele missing out through ice-cream related injury. Dorridge started with 10 players and a squad of rolling subs on the sidelines.

Dorridge took an early lead when ‘Micah’ pounced onto a short back pass. Bless found an equaliser before the break when Santi CHEZorla scored with a crisp left footed drive into the bottom corner.

Marouane FALLONaini was sent off (…into the sin bin) late inthe first half for deliberately handling the ball to prevent goal. Dorridge missed the ensuing penalty. Halftime 1-1. #controversial

Dorridge regained the lead before FALLONaini was sent off for the SECOND TIME (…into the sin bin again) for deliberate handball. Dorridge took advantage of the extra space stretching their lead to 3-1.

In a massively controversial twist FALLONaini was allowed back onto the pitch and pulled a goal back with a Gazza-esque sliding finish at the back post after a MATTa square ball. As bless chased the game Dorridge extended their lead to 4-2 despite an outstanding DOUBLE save from TourBRAY.

FALLONaini DOUBLED his tally (and went top of the bless golden boot), shinning in after a Anders TIMpar long throw. Bless searched for an equaliser loading everyone into the box for a series of throws and corners. FALLONaini having his hat-trick chalked off for off-side / hitting the jumper goalpost / dissent / wrestling the goalkeeper / being sent off twice…

Dorridge then scored a fifth to seal a memorable win. Final score Dorridge 5 - Bless 3.

6 games vs. 6 churches in 6 days
SPONSOR US DOUBLE HERE

Bless slip to their second defeat in Swansea after a hard-fought...

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:35:00 +0100

Bless slip to their second defeat in Swansea after a hard-fought six-a-side sporting spectacle surrounded by carpet of sweet smelling wild garlic.

Linden had the best of the early exchanges and took the lead when ‘Jez’ tapped in a rebound after a comical goal mouth scramble; goalkeeper FALLONaini tripping up on his own trousers after a sprawling save.

Bless grew in confidence as the half wore on but couldn’t capitalize on a number of goal scoring opportunities. Half Time 1-0 to Linden.

Both teams reorganized their formations for the start of the second half. Jake Kele worked tirelessly on the right side of midfield before being forced off with an ankle injury.

Linden continued to create better chances and it was only a matter of time before they doubled their lead with a fierce near post drive.

Despite some heroic defending by Anders TIMpar & brave PERRINiesta goalkeeping Linden added a third when Jez completed his hat-trick late in the game. Final Score 3-0.

6 matches vs. 6 churches in 6 days
SPONSOR TEAM BLESS £6 HERE

Good morning SWANSEA. #BILB

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:08:21 +0100

Good morning SWANSEA. #BILB

You can also sponsor us during the Bend It Like Bless Tour by...

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:58:00 +0100

You can also sponsor us during the Bend It Like Bless Tour by texting ‘BEND99 £5’ to 70070. All money raised will directly resource our go2bless summer missions. #BILB

Red Café uploaded some photos from today’s game, this is...

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:45:00 +0100

Red Café uploaded some photos from today’s game, this is our favourite.

Match report to follow shortly. #BILB