Wednesday 27 February 2013

Recording time!

For the last few months the CMM team have been working hard on our latest project - a revamp of the musical 'Apostle'.  This musical was first published over 30 years ago, so Roger decided that now was a good time to revise the vocal score and create a completely new recording.

The vocal score is now with the printers and due to arrive any time, and the CD is well under way.  Chris King, Tim, Annie and Helen have all contributed backing tracks, and all of the instrumental, solo and vocal group work is now recorded.  All that is left is the congregational recording day on Saturday, and the final mixing.

The musical will be properly launched on Saturday 13th April with an exciting 'musical in a day' event, which should be great fun - singers and audience needed, so do contact events@cmm.org.uk if you are interested!  More photos to follow:

Barney - Sarah's inspiration to help her sing solos
Devon working hard as Saul

Helen and Sarah singing some duets

Peter, Karl and Chris working on the bonus track

The ladies of the group - Katie, Ann, Sarah, Annie and Helen

Setting up the strings recording

The men of the group - Dave, Peter, Simon, Chris and Phil

The 'Baddies' - Richard, Jonathan and Alan

Jane adding some lovely oboe
 
Simon as Ananias

Wednesday 20 February 2013

A weekend on the South Coast

On the last weekend of January, Roger, Helen, Marilyn and Bill travelled to Sidmouth and to Sidholme, a Christian Guild hotel there.  The weekend was organised by the Group for Evangelism and Renewal (GEAR) in the United Reformed Church, and was their annual Southern Area Conference.  It was an honour to be invited to lead the conference, and to work alongside Brian Harley again.

The hotel was almost full, and there were over 60 guests on the conference, some of whom were familiar to us, but mostly new.

Roger led the opening session with an introductory evening focusing on how God is the ultimate worship-seeker, opening the scriptures and seeing how time and time again God woos his people, seeking relationship.  This talk is based on one of the opening chapters of the Worship Workbook CMM is looking to bring out later in the year - watch this space for more information!

The prayer ministry workshop in action
The following morning Helen led a session called 'Being a worshipper', one of the talks CMM has developed over many years, focusing on David in 2 Samuel 6.  For the second half of the morning the conference divided into two workshops - Roger leading one with Marilyn and Bill about worship and Sunday mornings. Helen led another workshop with Brian which looked at prayer ministry.  Both of these sessions were aimed at encouraging local church life, and it was so encouraging to see people blessed and fired up to return to their home church situations.

After a free afternoon period the team led a creative prophetic workshop, which always brings people out of their comfort zones, followed in by a praise party in the evening after dinner.  One of the important sessions on this conference is the Saturday evening, and a lot of time and space is given for people to receive prayer ministry.  It was so encouraging to find a group of people determined to do this.

The conference finished off on Sunday morning with a communion service during which Roger spoke about the tabernacle - we enter the gates with thanksgiving, and the courts with praise, and because of the blood of Jesus we can have confidence to enter the most holy place.

Thanks so much Brian and the GEAR committee for inviting us and looking after us so well.  We pray that the conference was a blessing to all involved.

Tuesday 19 February 2013

A snowy adventure

Back in January as the snow was beginning to fall, Annie, Helen, Alan and Miriam set off for the Oakes in Sheffield, an old Manor house on the outskirts of the city that has been converted into a Christian Youth Centre.  The snow that thickly covered Birmingham was not too deep in Sheffield, and the team arrived on time for a special Two Sisters and a Funeral performing arts weekend.

The team at the Oakes had worked amazingly hard to gather nearly 60 campers for the weekend (only 3 of which were boys!), and it paid off with quite a number of new faces, and some amazing singers, dancers and instrumentalists.

After an introductory evening, hot dogs and quiz on the Friday night, the camp really got going on the Saturday, with rehearsals for the musical, Bible teaching based around Jesus - the resurrection and the life, and outdoor activities.  The Oakes is an amazing place geared up to look after young people, with lots of dorms, and lovely grounds which contain a ropes course, an archery range, a climbing wall, and a lake among other things.  After the campers had worked really hard all day they were let loose in the snow with a snow sculpture competition and a wide game, followed by a campfire.

The Sunday morning included more Bible teaching, worship and rehearsals and then in the afternoon the weekend culminated in a performance for the parents and guardians.  It was an amazing performance, and the audience loved it!

Have a look at the video above - now this is how you memorise a Bible verse!

Please pray for the work of the Oakes and for the young people that go there.  Pray that they take home the gospel message and let it transform their lives.

Wednesday 13 February 2013

The best way to start the year

Early in January Roger, Mary, Annie and Helen went away on retreat to start the new year with a good dose of the Holy Spirit and prayer.  This annual East Birmingham Renewal Group retreat was once again at Shallowford House, the diocese of Lichfield's retreat centre near Stafford.  We were joined by the rest of EBRG - Gill, Brian, Jane, Keith, Alan and Sue and also by Brian Harley, our speaker for the Saturday.

It was wonderful to have Brian with us.  He has known Roger and the ministry of CMM for many years, and currently he is the minister at Shanklin URC on the Isle of Wight, as well as the head of GEAR - the group for Evangelism and Renewal in the URC.  Two years ago Brian and his family took part in the Lee Abbey music week, and his daughter Sarah has been involved as a team member in a number of CMM events including last year's visit to Ontario, and the current new recording of Apostle.

On Saturday morning we all arrived at the house, and were made very welcome by Simon and Alison Hudson, who are in charge of Shallowford.  Brian then shared with us for two sessions in the morning, and one final one before the evening meal after a free afternoon.  Brian shared deeply and passionately from 2 Corinthians 4 and 5, which really blessed us all and gave us plenty of food for thought.

Brian managed to get home in time to be back in the pulpit on Sunday morning, leaving the rest of us at Shallowford.  After a good breakfast we spent the first session on Sunday morning discussing all we had heard the previous day, and thinking how it will relate to the ministry of CMM.  After coffee Alan and Sue led a wonderful ministry session, giving each member of the group chance to be prayed for, and we all listened to God on each other's behalf.

The retreat was the best way to star the year, and we pray that God will continue to speak to us and fire us up for his work in the world.