This is the community blog of Bless, a christian charity working to build a better future for Europe.
We are currently based in Dudley, England and Normandy, France.
Any queries, drop us a line: matt@blessnet.eu
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Fire update…
We spent the past 24 hours emptying our rooms of all our personal belongings so the cleaners can do their thing. The Lacey now has a neat pile of longlife which all needs to be wiped clean
The cleaners are working their way through the house and are expecting to finish by the end of the week. We’re hoping (and praying) for the electricity to be fixed so we can move back in asap - we’re currently living with a VERY KIND neighbour
The house kitchen is going to be out of action until mid June, so we’ve set up temporary camp in the Lacey
Please continue to pray for favour with the insurance company
Wednesday, April 25th 2012 2:42pm
Oh my… i really badly want to go to this!
June heart2bless trip to Bethanie is set to be a good one.
Tuesday, April 10th 2012 10:41pm
STAY at Bethanie, our missional training centre in France, and enter into our rhythm of daily PRAYer and shared meals. HEAR stories of what God is doing throughout Europe and explore what faith-in-the-future of our continent might look like?
Fancy coming out to Bethanie in June?
Contact gemma@blessnet.eu for more details.
Monday, March 26th 2012 1:23pm
At Bethanie we are rediscovering a long lost love for golf.
Yesterday we spend the afternoon swinging golf clubs on a local farm / driving range.
It was super RAD.
Friday, March 16th 2012 4:25pm
After a long weekend of good food, good teaching, good fires & good times Bethanie is beginning to slow down the pace … February heart2bless saw people from Stafford, Falmouth, Chelmsford, Stourbridge, Livarot, Caen & The Netherlands come together for the prayer weekend LOVE EUROPE.
It was an amazing time and we are so thankful to everyone who joined us and made it what it was.
Our next heart2bless weekend is 16th - 18th March. It will explore what missional leadership may look like for emerging cultures of 21st century Europe.
Want to join us? email gemma@blessnet.eu for more details.
Bethanie Bless February heart2bless h2b heart2bless LOVE EUROPE LEARN TO LEAD
Monday, February 20th 2012 3:22pm
Over the New Year Retreat we sat down and thought about our hopes, dreams and pictures for Bless & Bethanie.
This was the outcome …
For Bless:
Cabins
More partners
Partners with the right networks
Sustainable church relationships
Kickass website
Blesspadrilles
More international students
Mini buses
Expression of Bethanie in UK
100’s of people finding a place where they fit
Prayer events in Holland
Team support in Holland
Breakthrough in Brod
UK Hub
A network of European influences
Bosnia connection
Network of prayer rooms across Europe
Caen expression of faith
Next generation
New healthy churches around Europe
One Voice Europe
Study & empowerment
Release of team
Student Church
Blesstival
Blesstalks
For Bethanie:
Dollar
Barn conversion
Healthy and good backers
Outer community drawn in
Builders and architects
More connected with French culture
Student Church
Cabin/Sauna
Zach & Toutain
Build intern programme
time2bless
International reputation
Ducks, chickens, pigs, bees
VEG
Established without establishment
French speaking
Rhythm and rule of prayer
More resident team
Utilise space creatively
Friday, January 6th 2012 3:04pm
Thursday, January 5th 2012 8:40pm
Last weekend we hosted an ‘Franglais’ carol service at Bethanie, based on a taize advent service with multi-lingual carols, liturgy, mince pies and mulled wine
Lighting of candles / Allumez les bougies
We light this candle in the name of God the Creator, who brings all existence into being / Nous allumons cette bougie au nom de Dieu le Créateur, qui apporte toute existence en étant
[light candle / chandelles]
We light this candle in the name of God the Redeemer, who brings us salvation showing us a better way to live, and who calls us to follow / Nous allumons cette bougie au nom de Dieu le Rédempteur, qui nous apporte le salut de nous montrer une meilleure façon de vivre, et qui nous appelle à le suivre
[light candle / chandelles]
We light this candle in the name of God the Companion, who sustains all life and enables us to grow and find wisdom / Nous allumons cette bougie au nom de Dieu le compagnon, qui soutient toute la vie et qui nous permet de grandir et de trouver la sagesse
[light candle / chandelles]
God who is present to us now and always. We meet in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer, and of the Companion. / Dieu qui est présent parmi nous maintenant et toujours. Nous nous rencontrons dans le nom du Créateur, et du Rédempteur, et du compagnon. Amen.
Joy to the world
Psalm 19 / Psaume 19
O little town of Bethlehem
Hosea 6:1-2 / Osee 6:1-2
Silent Night
Matthew 1:18-24 / Mathieu 1:18-24
Amid the Winter Snow
Silence
Litany of Praise / Priere de Louange
Christ Jesus, sent into the world so that we may live through you:
—Lord, come soon!Jésus, le Christ, tu te tiens près de tous ceux dont la vie est méprisée :
- Seigneur, viens bientôt!Christ Jesus, you establish a new covenant with us that will never be broken:
—Lord, come soon!Jésus, le Christ, tu illumines les yeux de tous ceux qui sont dans les ténèbres :
- Seigneur, viens bientôt!Christ Jesus, you make our deserts blossom; you lead us towards the land of gladness:
—Lord, come soon!Jésus, le Christ, aux pauvres sera proclamée la Bonne Nouvelle et la délivrance aux prisonniers :
- Seigneur, viens bientôt!Christ Jesus, broken hearts will be healed, the starving filled:
—Lord, come soon!Jésus, le Christ, les chemins seront aplanis et ta gloire habitera notre terre :
- Seigneur, viens bientôt! Amen.Our Father / Notre Père
Prayers / Prière
Invitation to light a candle / Invitation à allumer les bougies
Hark the Herald / O come let us adore Him
Blessing
Wednesday, December 14th 2011 1:45pm
this week we’ve being decorating our meeting room ready for our Christmas Carol Service
Inspired by C&A’s christmas window display we tried our hand at flatpack cardboard reindeers (or dinodeers if you’d prefer)
who are standing proudly in front of our very tasteful red and white themed tree
Sunday, December 11th 2011 12:17pm
![On the first friday of each month we have a 24hr non-stop day of prayer for the transformation of Europe and the work of The Bless Network. Why not join in!?
This Friday (1st July) we’re praying specifically for our 2011/2012 fundraising goals:1. To raise through donations and investments €320,000 (£280,000) needed to repay short-term loans and complete the purchase of Bethanie.2. To raise through partnerships an ongoing income stream of €50,000 (£44,000) per year for development of our vision at Bethanie.3. To raise through donations, investments and donated labour a further €120,000 (£105,000) for conversion of additional buildings at Bethanie.Each month we suggest creative prayer activities… Read Romans 8:18-27 (in The Message if poss)Consider this; ‘Waiting does not diminish us… we are enlarged in the waiting’Pray this prayer with us… When we’re blinded by bignessGive us Your blueprintsEnlarge our vision in the waiting When we’re lost because of lack of skillGive us Your labourersEnlarge our trust in the waitingWhen are pockets are pennilessGive us Your pursestringsEnlarge our faith in the waitingWhen are giving out hits ground zeroGive us Your graceEnlarge us in the waitingAmen[Prayer written in Prayer room at Bethanie, June 2011]If you’d like to get involved or would like more info email matt@blessnet.eu](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnjvruQVOj1qzxypno1_500.jpg)
On the first friday of each month we have a 24hr non-stop day of prayer for the transformation of Europe and the work of The Bless Network. Why not join in!?
This Friday (1st July) we’re praying specifically for our 2011/2012 fundraising goals:
1. To raise through donations and investments €320,000 (£280,000) needed to repay short-term loans and complete the purchase of Bethanie.
2. To raise through partnerships an ongoing income stream of €50,000 (£44,000) per year for development of our vision at Bethanie.
3. To raise through donations, investments and donated labour a further €120,000 (£105,000) for conversion of additional buildings at Bethanie.
Each month we suggest creative prayer activities…
Read Romans 8:18-27 (in The Message if poss)
Consider this; ‘Waiting does not diminish us… we are enlarged in the waiting’
Pray this prayer with us…
When we’re blinded by bigness
Give us Your blueprints
Enlarge our vision in the waiting
When we’re lost because of lack of skill
Give us Your labourers
Enlarge our trust in the waiting
When are pockets are penniless
Give us Your pursestrings
Enlarge our faith in the waiting
When are giving out hits ground zero
Give us Your grace
Enlarge us in the waiting
Amen
[Prayer written in Prayer room at Bethanie, June 2011]
If you’d like to get involved or would like more info email matt@blessnet.eu
Wednesday, June 29th 2011 12:55pm
BLESS: Where do you come from? Where do you go? Do you know cotton-eye-joe?
JOE: I come from across the pond… specifically the inland NW region of Washington State. I go many places in my head… but that could be quite deep for this simple questionare. I AM cotton-eye-Joe :)
BLESS: Describe yourself in 5 words
JOE: Caring, blessed, detailed, intuitive, bold.
BLESS: What song is in your head today?
JOE: Last song I heard was Short Skirt Long Jacket by Cake, so that is still rumbling around in my brain, but my anthem for the last few days has been Caught Up In You by .38 Special… So I think both have a rightful place in this answer.
BLESS: Tea or Coffee?
JOE: Always COFFEE.
BLESS: What’s the best bargain you’ve ever found at a car boot or charity shop?
JOE: Probably supplies that I needed to help remodel my kitchen a few years ago… really helped keep the costs down.
BLESS: What’s your favourite Bible verse?
JOE: Romans 7:7-25 CEV
BLESS: If you had to live inside a TV show, what TV show and why?
JOE: Probably Arrested Development… because I love the dynamics of extremely dysfunctional families in a comedic setting.
BLESS: What’s your favourite website?
JOE: Stumbleupon.com
BLESS: Why Bless?
JOE: Better question for God than for me really… Although I can say that I love what Bless stands for and love the people.
Wednesday, April 27th 2011 7:33am
BLESS: Where do you come from? Where do you go? Do you know cotton-eye-joe?
CHARL: Brummy, born and bred.
BLESS: Describe yourself in 5 words
CHARL: (often) distracted, passionate, impulsive, positive, visionary.
BLESS: What song is in your head today?
CHARL: Willy Mason - Oxygen. Thanks to Trish I have been singing it since yesterday… well one line of it that is, if I sing anymore I’m gunna get beats.
BLESS: Tea or Coffee?
CHARL: Easy, coffee every time… surely you only have tea if needs must.
BLESS: What’s the best bargain you’ve ever found at a car boot or charity shop?
CHARL: hmmm. My mum once bought me an amazing Victorian hand sewing machine that cost like a tenner and I made some blanket on.
BLESS: What’s your favourite Bible verse?
CHARL: ‘Jesus wept’
BLESS: If you had to live inside a TV show, what TV show and why?
CHARL: Misfits. Who wouldn’t want to?
BLESS: What’s your favourite website?
CHARL: Facebook, JOKES… hmmmm I love reading people’s blogs so probs tumblr/blogspot etc
BLESS: Why Bless?
CHARL: Love what bless are about.
Wednesday, April 27th 2011 7:32am
Sunday, March 27th 2011 12:47am
we have been moving some furniture around at Bethanie
in the process we found boxes & boxes of books
so we thought it was about time to sort ‘The Lacey Library’
for the past week Tricia has been sorting books into piles
A-Z
today she re-filled the shelves
alpha-thematically
Thursday, March 10th 2011 6:27pm
Orange Wednesdays week 002:
Bless intern, Tricia, cooked another asian-style treat for us all last night…
Spicy chick pea curry and cous cous salad served with homemade flatbreads
Orange ingredient: TUMERIC!
What orange ingredient will she use next wednesday?
Thursday, March 10th 2011 6:16pm
