HOPE 2008
This page of the Southampton Christian Network website exists to tie together what is happening in Southampton as part of the nation-wide HOPE 2008 initiative. It contains details of events happening around the city plus information on how to get involved. If you know of events and initiatives going on that are not represented here, please send us details to include on the site. For more information about HOPE, read the article in our Features section or see the national website.
What has already happened...
NEW YEAR'S WATCHNIGHT PRAYER CELEBRATION
The year kicked off with a citywide watchnight prayer celebration event held at Central Baptist Church on New Year's Eve. People of all ages from several different churches across the city worshipped together and prayed the New Year in, holding our city and nation before God, thanking Him for all that had gone before and praying in faith for all He is going to do this year.
LOST FOR WORDS EVANGELISM TRAINING
On 30th January, James Lawrence came and presented an evening called Lost For Words, offering practical, down-to-earth evangelism training for all of us who want to share our faith with our friends in a relaxed, natural and helpful way.
CITYWIDE 24-7 PRAYER WEEK
During February half term a week of 24-7 prayer took place in Orchard Lane Church. People form different churches across the city signed up for hour long slots that ran continuously to fill a week of prayer. Further weeks are planned for later in the year.
EASTER CITYWIDE BALLOON LAUNCH
On Easter Sunday, 27 different churches across Southampton took part in a balloon launch as a united way of sharing hope with the city. At 11.30am on Easter morning, over 2,500 messages and prayers of hope attached to helium balloons were released.
HOPE ON THE FLOWERS
For two weeks in May City Life Church, New Community (Aster House) and St Alban's Church worked together on the Flower Estate to share HOPE with their neighbourhood. Over the two weeks they were out and about offering help with gardening, repairing fences, clearing litter and cleaning graffiti - amongst other things! They also met many new people in the area and held community barbecues at different houses each evening. Click on the icon for more information about the two weeks and how they went.
10 EVENINGS OF PRAYER & GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER
While the above mission took place on the Flower Estate, we also facilitated 10 evenings of prayer (1st-10th May) leading up to a citywide evening service on the Global Day of Prayer, Sunday 11th May. The evenings of prayer were held at Orchard Lane Church, where different churches were involved in shaping and leading the prayer each evening; there were some wonderful times of united worship and intercession.
The citywide evening service on Sunday 11th May was a wonderful time of celebrating and praying together as many different churches across Southampton. We packed out Central Hall with over 750 people - over 70 had to be seated in an overflow room! A full report of the evening can be found under Features on this website, or click here.
INTERNATIONAL DAY
On Sunday 13th July, Victory Gospel Church organised an International Day in Mayflower Park as part of HOPE 08. This was an afternoon of fun for all the family with games, bouncy castles, face painting and stalls. The mainstage was also set up in the park, and performances by dancers, live bands and a gospel choir wowed all those present. It was great to see the church in Southampton celebrating the many different cultures and nationalities that we have here here.
SUMMER CHARITY BALL
A HOPE 08 Summer Charity Ball took place at Central Hall on Saturday 19th July. The big band and choir were in sparkling form, the Mayor was impressed, Central Hall looked and sounded brilliant, the cafe did a roaring trade and everyone seemed to be having a great time! Just over £600 was given to the charities Basics Bank and Street Pastors, with Chris Davis and his wife Annette raising a further £550 with their sponsored cha cha. Many others kindly donated their money or time into making it a fabulous event - thank you, one and all, and don't put your dancing shoes away as we are hoping to put on similar events in future!
SUMMER MISSION WEEKS
Eastleigh Week of HOPE (28th July-1st August)
The team at New Community Eastleigh brought ‘Hope’ to the residents of the Nightingale Estate during a week of planned events. These included Kidz Club, dance workshops, parent & toddler sessions and activities utilising the new red bus. Sessions were available for families and kids to come along to in the morning, afternoon and evening, with many able to hear about Jesus and the hope he brings.
Dip Week on the Flower Estate (28th July-1st August)
The Flower of Justice team (together with a team from OM) provided a wide range of fun activities for the community on the Flower Estate from Monday 28th July-Friday 1st August. During the morning there were lots of organised activities for children and young people with bouncy castles, face painting, crafts, sport sessions and more. in the afternoon, each day culminated in a big BBQ for everyone to attend. There was a cafe, a prayer tent and ministry was available throughout the day. On Saturday 2nd August, several people who had become Christians during the week were baptised in the river!
Red Bus Week at Mansbridge (28th July-1st August)
The Red Bus Team were out and about as well with a team from OM providing sports activities each morning in Mansbridge. in the evenings they put on further fun activities from Monday to Thursday, and finished off the week on Friday with a community BBQ.
'The Big Event' Week in Northam (28th July-1st August)
The team at Southampton Christian Fellowship put on a jam-packed week of fun activities for all the family in Northam. Events included a holiday club, toddler groups, the big red bus, International Cafe and Dancing, Pizza in the Park, an over 50s Cream Tea and a free breakfast club! The week culminated with an open air service and barbecue at the Augustine Centre.
Splash Week in Sholing (28th July-1st August)
Paul Woodman (City Life Church) lead a mission week in Sholing based at St Monica Junior School. There was a kids club in the mornings follwed by lots of different family and community events in the afternoons.
Plans for the rest of the year...
HOPE Explored - September Courses
Advent and Christmas - The Gift Of HOPE
New Year's Eve Joint Prayer Celebration and Party
This New Year, we are planning a joint prayer celebration and party for all churches across Southampton, to celebrate and thank God for all he has done, as well as looking forward to 2009 in prayer and expectancy together. Some have suggested we call this event 'The End of HOPE' but it doesn't really have the right ring. We are planning on having time to party as well as pray, and we'll make sure we cater for families and children as well. Forget standing out in the cold for 20 minutes of fireworks or sitting in front of the TV, put this party in your diaries now!