Market this week… 10th July 2010 (last market for 3 weeks)

Transform the Rest

God likes rest.

God wants you to rest.

He sets apart specific time from the very beginning for work to stop and rest to be taken (Gen 1:31).

It seems to me that Sabbath (time of rest) is about our relationship with God.

We rest because God does, God rests because he wants us to…

So our rest is designed to be with God, alongside Him, in Him, Holy for Him.

And when we spend time with God, even in rest, we get transformed.

Real sabbath rest should be defined through a transformation that happens by just being with God, no agenda, no system, no ‘work’ or ‘do’ but just being.

As we rest everything that has gone before can settle, be made sense of, fade or sharpen.

As we rest everything that may be coming God can prepare us for, strengthen us for, equip us for.

So as we rest from the Market and other Oaktree ministries this summer, let’s rest with God.

Ask God to lead you in the rest that He knows you need.

I believe that in this way, with Godly rest as our preparation, we could see these Acton streets become gracious and God-filled.

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THIS WEEK and 7th and 14th August…

This week: 2 spaces 10-12, 2 spaces 12-2

Hots: 2 spaces both 10-11 and 11-12

7th August – all shifts and Hots spaces available

14th August – all shifts and one Hots space 10-11 and two 11-12.

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Rest well.

mb

Rev. Mark Bishop

Out there and Curate

Oaktree, Acton.

Market this week… 26th June 2010

How do we distinguish between rich and poor?

The haves and have-nots?

Those who choose much and those who don’t have much choice?

Addicted to shopping and entertainment or addicted to drugs and alcohol?

Mentally well or mentally unwell?

Those who smell of roses or those who smell of fags?

Those who know God and those who don’t?

Jesus, was he rich or poor?

As far as I can tell he made himself poor, became homeless, adopted a new family, got a bad reputation from the powerful and a good reputation amongst the powerless.

But then he was rich, not short of heavenly quantities of food, health, knowledge.

Jesus managed to live in the tension between rich and poor, he listened to the poor and freely gave of his wealth.

At the market stall we are still living in that tension between rich and poor, however we define that.

Important information below:

Some practical things:

1. In order to learn more come September and through the Autumn/Winter term we will be having some focused MarketTRAINING sessions, one on Mental Health, one on Alcohol Addiction and one on Homelessness.
2. We already know the best way to work in this tension is AS A TEAM, so, especially as we have a few regulars who have demanding mental health issues, let’s look out for each other and ask for help.
3. We must ask God for help! FROM NOW ON each shift will start 10 minutes earlier for prayer.

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THIS WEEK:

Stall: 3 spaces 10-12, 3 spaces 12-2

Hots: 2 spaces both 10-11 and 11-12

nb. AM shift will meet to pray at 9.45 at the Kings Head benches. PM shift will meet at 11.50 in small room in St.Mary’s (where we fill flasks).

Also – I would love lots of volunteers for next week (3rd July) as Danny and I are both away on James Perryman’s stag!

AND – SUMMER MARKET:

There will be NO Market Stall on 17th, 24th and 31st JULY.

But we will be back for 7th and 14th AUGUST (and in need of you!)

Then away again 21st, 28th August….ready to start back September 4th 2010.

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Rich, Poor and following Jesus.

mb

Rev. Mark Bishop

Out there and Curate

Oaktree, Acton.

Market this week… June 12th 2010

Market Football

So the World Cup is fast approaching!

And I was thinking…

The Market stall is just like football really.

It’s a team game, individual confidence and skill is important but it’s how those things come together that counts

There are manager and coaching roles to get the details in place.

There are tactics learnt in training.* *There are different formations.

Sometimes we are more attacking and sometimes more defensive.

God is like owner (Father), manager (Jesus) and coach (HS)!

In theory God’s like the ultimate player-manager, he plays too.

Acton is our pitch and the church is our team!

But in some ways we are very different…

On our team, everyone is selected to play, no just any elite.

On our team the people we serve are not opposition, they are the prize worth fighting for.

On our team God is the fitness coach, calling us to be disciplined but not reliant on human strength.

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THIS WEEK

STALL: *3 spaces 10-12, 3 spaces 12-2 *HOTs: *2 spcaes 10-11 and 11-12

could you let me know if you have booked (to check my records) OR would like to book in any shift from this Saturday- July 10th (last Market stall before summer)- thankyou!

Also please volunteer for June 19th – inflatables for families AND the Rabuna Style cafe – get involved!

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Go team!

mb

Rev. Mark Bishop

Out there and Curate Oaktree, Acton.

Market Church

Market CHURCH

Hello Marketeers

I heard a current story this week through a friend who is involved with the Christian Socialist Movement ;
There is a young church leader in Luton who could well become the next labour MP representing one of the Luton constituencies.
He leads a team who are involved in a young church plant, “People from every race, colour and creed are caught up together in a shared mission, and God is doing little miracles continually”,
sounds like an exciting person to vote for!

Now I’ll be honest, I find the way are made consumers of political brands rather than participants in society hard BUT
I am always excited when people who have pledged their highest allegiance to Jesus are being heard as spokespersons of their communities and further.

At the Market we are being heard.
We are heard by those who visit once, who come regularly, who observe from a distance,
I have had recently a handful of great conversations with local businesses who are fascinated by what we do.
Let’s let people hear what we are for…  fairness, kindness, generosity, hope, liberation from debt, freedom from sin, healing of sickness, the pushing back of darkness… the list goes on and finishes with Jesus.
And because of Jesus, God hears us.
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THIS WEEK:

STALL: 2 spaces from 10-12. No afternoon shift.
HOTS: 2 spaces 10-11 and 11-12.

MarketTRAINING is THIS SATURDAY from 12.30-2pm @ 216 the High street.

COME AND EAT DOUGHNUTS AND/OR FRESH FRUIT!

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God listens to you.

Mark Bishop

Market Church

Market CHURCH

Hello Marketeers

Happy Birthday!!

We are 3!!!

Wow, 3 years…

• That’s over 20,000 cups of drinks…
• That’s about 20,000 conversations…
• That’s definitely some prays….
• That’s a lot of practice at grace and patience…
• That’s rain, sleet, snow, wind, sun, ice…
• That’s sustained mission…

And that’s not bad going for a church ‘waiting’ for a building!

I believe we have learnt so much as a team and as a church through serving in Acton Market. Here’s to continuing to learn…

MarketTRAINING on 20th March will be a bit of a celebration of the 3 years on the Market, a bit of new info about the general running of the stall and some space for us to re-visit ‘how to promote healthy boundaries’ with those who visit the stall and some specific pointers on offering prayer in our context.
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THIS WEEK:

STALL: 2 spaces 10-12, 2 spaces 12-2.
HOTs: 2 spaces 10-11 and 11-12.

(also MarketFAMILIES had to be postponed from last week to this so if you are a family and free for a bit of time 11-1pm please come along and help Lisa!)
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Thank you thank you thank you for all you have given and continue to give to the people of Acton.

Mark Bishop

Market Family – Easter Extravaganza

Market Family are celebrating Easter Weekend!

Details to follow.

Market Church

Market CHURCH

Hello Marketeers

And there's nothing like the rain of the city, kicking up all the dirt and getting right to your skin.

It's my own experience that much of February is gloomy... weather, my attitude, my feelings.

We see it in the Market too, the people who like their homes stay there, or rush through without stopping.

Those who don't like to stay at home because they're lonely, cold or homeless come out, often gloomy, often getting right to your skin.

There are clear seasons not just in our own lives that affect us but also in those around us (Ecclesiastes 3). Our job on the market is not to solve these issues in an instant (although let's always pray for that!) Our job is to look through the gloom, to trudge through the rain, and to look for the sunshine... more to the point... Our job is to look through the issues of our lives and of others and to look for the Son (Romans 4:1-3, Matthew 25:40).

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This week!

Market FAMILIES is on 11-1pm - if you are a family or not do come and help/hang out! AND...Can you give some time? STALL: 2 spaces 10-12, 1 space 12-2 HOTs: 2 spaces 10-11, 2 spaces 11-12

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Mark Bishop

Market Church

Market CHURCH

Hello Marketeers

Mark Bishop

Market Church – 13th Feb 2010

Market CHURCH

Hello Marketeers

Mark Bishop

Market Church – 6th Feb 2010

Market CHURCH

Hello Marketeers

The Market is a total free-for-all, no strings, no minimum purchase price! It is free no matter who you are or where you are from.

Mark Bishop

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