News 1

St Matthew's Festival 18-28 September 2008

- Celebrating Walsall -

NEWSLETTER #1

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel, but on a lampstand, so it will give light to the whole house. In the same way, let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven - Mt 5:14

Welcome to the first Newsletter letting you know about the forthcoming super-duper St Matthew's Festival! Most people at St Matthew's are aware that there is going to be a Festival but many are not sure what's going to happen or why. So here's your chance to find out a bit more.

I hope you will not only be informed by this Newsletter, but also inspired. We have some really exciting events lined up - please see the programme over the page. More than that, we have a vision for the Festival. It's not just fun and games for their own sake. The Festival is about overcoming our isolation up on top of Church Hill, forging links with the community and so reconnecting us with the people of Walsall. It is no accident that the festival reaches its climax on Back to Church Sunday.

We will need your participation in all sorts of ways: to bring your friends, act as stewards, serve refreshments, prepare the Church and Centre and tidy up afterwards, generally man the barricades, and above all, pray. It's a great opportunity - will you help us realise it? Please leave 18-28 September free in your diary and let me know how you would like to help.

Yours in Christ, Colin.

Our Vision:

We are conspicuous but isolated. We need to reconnect with the people of Walsall.
to fulfil our historic mission as the Borough Church.
to celebrate the creativity of Walsall people.
to build partnerships - Borough Council, Gallery, Asda...
to generate interest in St Matthew's by extensive media coverage
to break stereotypes of Christians as boring, joyless people
to attract significant numbers to church

Date	Time	Event	Venue
Thu 18	pm	The Graffiti Project	Centre
Fri 19	7.30 pm	The Rumour Rock Concert	Church
Sun 21		ST MATTHEW'S DAY
Sun 21	12.30	Shared Lunch	Centre
Sun 21	2.00 pm	Celebration time	Church
Tue 23	7.30 pm	The Outsiders Jazz Band	Church
Wed 24	7.30 pm	Saltmine drama: When I'm calling you	Church
Thu 25	7.30 pm	Nostalgia cinema night	Centre
Fri 26	7.30 pm	Barn Dance	Blue Coat
Sat 27	10.00 am	3 hour record breaking peal of bells	Church
Sat 27	All day	Heritage Tours	Church
Sat 27	7.30 pm	Shelfield Male Voice Choir/ Rotary	Church
Sun 28		Back to Church Sunday
Sun 28	10.00 am	Closing Ceremony in service Blue Coat Performing Arts Awards, thank yous, prizes	Church

Focus on the Grand Opening

§ Be enthralled by Christian magic with our Asian congregation

§ Learn Circus Arts with the JCU

§ Tuck into a tasty barbecue, also courtesy of the JCU

§ We hope there'll be some Morris Dancing...

§ Listen to our band

§ Follow a Treasure Trail through Church by Martin Barker

§ Learn your heritage with our Heritage and Bell Tower Tours

§ Be fascinated as internationally known potter Ken Jones plies his wheel and shapes his pots

§ Visit stalls and a Pets' Corner

§ Check the volume reached by our Town Crier

Proceedings will be opened by TV personality Michael Collie - if you haven't seen him on the telly, check out www.michaelcollie.co.uk . The mayor will also be in attendance.