Night Church opens twice a month

For many months the team has been thinking and planning in order that Night Church can grow to twice a month, as we really feel that being present in the city at night more often would help be fantastic. The great news is that from September we will be open twice a month on the second and fourth Saturday. Pop in and see us for a cuppa!

Unexpected friendships

Being with people who are very different from ourselves can at times be quite unsettling, it pushes us out of our comfort zone and often challenges our values and assumptions. But it is also offers opportunites to grow which are rich and inspiring. Night Church seems to bring together people from very different situations, the young and old, the rich and poor, and through this there seems to be something very special. Perhaps it unites us in our common humanity, reminding us that we are at our core really very similar?

The volunteers at Night Church are also very different, being from a wide range of churches and denominations, and we hold unity in diversity as we focus on loving God and loving others. Christian unity with those who believe exactly the same as us is easily won, but a much richer Christian unity is one that challenges us to lay down our own ways of being and doing things and to build friendships with those who view things very differently. It is a unity that is centred on our oneness in the Christian faith, it is a unity that will challenge us and cost us something ....but it will I believe give us back far more than we give.

Try getting to know someone who is really different from you - you may be very surprised by what you have to learn!

Welcoming Strangers

The Christian tradition of welcoming strangers is a long standing one, and it is an important part of Night Church. The Bible encourages Christians to always welcome people; 'Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels' (Hebrews 13v2). I have met so many lovely people during Night Church, I am not sure whether any were angels but they certainly have been wonderful people.



Many months ago I met a man who had lived on the streets in London for about 20 years. One of the stories he told had a real impact on me. For a time he had slept along with a whole row of other rough sleepers in a certain place and every morning a lady on her way to work put a kitkat next to each one of them! What an amazing lady and what a great example of showing hospitality to strangers.

Music can name the unnameable.......

Part of the fantastic atmosphere in Night Church is created by a wide variety of musicians who come to play for us. Some are individuals while others come in small groups, but what they all have in common is a huge amount of talent. We are so very grateful for them giving up their time to come and play.

In April we had some really amazing music, I would happily have paid to listen to it. We had violins, trumpets, flautist, guitars, vocalists...it was brilliant. One visitor arrived in Night Church saying that someone in a nearby bar has told them to pop in because there were some really good live sets happening. That's a great recommendation and a really big compliment to our musicians.

The Bible talks a lot about music and songs. Music is such a wonderful part of the world God made and it can speak to us in ways that are very special. At Night Church a man came in and listened to the music for quite a long time. As he left, our door staff noticed that he was quite upset and invited him back in to chat with someone. It took quite a while for him to say anything but he gradually shared how his dad was dying and how impossible he found it to accept the situation. We chatted for a long time and I encouraged him to read the Psalms which have examples of people crying out to God in times of desperate struggle and need. Of course some of those Psalms were oringinally songs of praise or lament, reminding me that music can span such a wide range of emotions and speak to our very souls. Beethoven said that 'music is a higher revelation than philosophy' and Leonard Bernstein comments that 'music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable'. In Night Church I see how music can connect people to God and speak to them in ways that simple spoken words alone can't - that music can indeed name the unnameable.

It really is a church!

Occasionally people wander into Night Church thinking that it's the pub next door. They have a bit of a shock! Some young lads came in last night and we had quite a laugh together over their mistake. They were completely amazed that we really were a church open for them to pop into at 1.30am in the morning. I offered them a coffee but they were after something a bit stronger and so with a high five to me they left. I like those funny moments - it's good to laugh with people.

Here's a picture of two of our volunteers, Jamie Edwards and Peter Fabian. They do a great job on the door chatting with people who pass by and inviting them in.

Gill

Night Church Team

Night Church is run by a team of fantastic volunteers, who regularly give up a Saturday evening in order to be available to people in the city centre at night.

They help in a variety of different way; in the cafe, on the door, with the prayer team. Others are musicians who come and play during the evening. I am really grateful to them all for their enthusiasm and dedication. Below is a picture of the January team - they come from 8 different churches in Chester. We work together for a common purpose; to share God's love with those who do not know it

Love in the Air!

For the second time we have had a couple get engaged at Night Church - it seems that the beauty of St Peter's brings out the romance in people! In December a man took his partner up to the altar and got down on one knee - it was a lovely moment to watch. Sadly we did not have any champagne to celebrate the moment...maybe we should keep a bottle ready for next time?!

'This is something different'

We had a great evening on Saturday night, with about 200 people coming into St Peter's. One of my volunteers has emailed me a conversation she had with someone who popped in late in the evening. It was a reminder that beneath people's very happy and fun-filled exterior there are some deep thoughts and very real worries.

Jess says, 'We had a bit of banter at the fact he spilt his tea but then he opened up out of the blue. He shared with me things that he hadn't shared with anyone: that he was "scared of dying"..."not knowing what was 'after'"...that he thought there was "something up there"...saying, "how could there not be something greater, watching over us"..he kept apologising for talking nonsense as he was a little tipsy.

He commented on how he felt "completely at peace" as soon as he walked through the door...he kept repeating how he "wasn't religious but this was something different" and how he was glad he came in. Our conversation kept being interrupted by one of his friends walking back in every few minutes, but despite the interruptions I was able to share that God does listen to him when he talks to Him, God knows his fears. I asked him if he knew about Jesus but that term just seemed too distant or had negative connotations around it. I was able to pray with him before he left, and reassured him that God did care about him and was listening. He thanked me and said he hopes "to remember tonight and come back next month. This is something different."

It was such an encouraging story, and makes staying up til 4am so worthwhile!

Gill

Night Church for the year

With the plan to continue with Night Church, here are the dates for this year

Saturday 13th August

Saturday 10th September

Saturday 8th October

Saturday 12th November

Saturday 10th December

Gill

Pilot over - Night Church carries on!

When Night Church began in December 2010, we committed ourseleves to a six month pilot - which ended in June. Throughout that time we have evaluated Night Church and looked at ways to continually improve what we are doing.

The good news is that Night Church will be continuing on the second Saturday of every month.

We have met so many lovely people over the months and have really enjoyed being able welcome people to join us - either by sitting quietly listening to the worship music, lighting a candle or chatting over a cup of tea.

In total we have had at least 1000 visitors to Night Church since it opened. Here are some recent pictures to give you a flavour of the night.

200 people come into Night Church!

On Saturday about 200 people came into Night Church. It was a great evening with lots of opportunities to chat and pray with people. There was a real mix of ages, and some people returned from previous nights bringing friends in to see us.

















Late in the evening, I was asked by three ladies to go up to the altar and to pray for them. Moments like this the make all the hard work and the lack of sleep worthwhile! I was able to speak to them about God's love for each of them and then pray for them. One of them commented at the end, 'I wish I had been in here all night, I prefer it to all the pubs we've been in to'.

Feedback from Visitors

I have been reading through some of the feedback sheets from people who have popped into Night Church over the last few months. It has been really encouraging to see that Night Church has had such a positive impact on so many people.






Here are a few examples:

• 'fantastic on so many levels'


• 'really good and relaxing, better than Cruise Nightclub'


• 'Brilliant, I wish they did something like this in Manchester'


• 'It rocks - well done'


• 'Absolutely amazing. Didn't think about things until now, after years'


• 'It's a nice contrast to all the drunkeness you see in the City'


• 'It's a brilliant idea, being able to pray for loved ones. It's really moving how much these guys care'


• 'Friendly, understanding,doors open, non-judgemental'

These comments are a great encouragement for the team as they plan for Night Church this Saturday, on 14th May.

Gill

The Great Banquet

Last Saturday there was a banquet at Night Church and we did not spend a single penny on it - really! The week before the team had been praying and sensed that the theme for Night Church was to be celebration and banquet. However, without a budget for a banquet we decided to pray and ask God to provide one. Well God really does know how to provide a great feast. Local shops and businesses provided us with an abundance of cakes, sweets, sandwiches, sausage rolls and more. They were incredibly generous and we had such a great night. People were blessed by the food, amazed that it was all free and we saw God meet with people in a very special way. An astounding 130 people came through the door during the evening.

(Gill Reeve)

Worship as evangelism

Night Church is an informal and open time, there are no set times of teaching or prayer. However, throughout the evening the musicians minister through music having listened to God in the weeks leading up to the evening. Sometimes they sense a distinct focus for the music, and throughout the evening they seek to be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Lighting candles draws people to God

Lighting candles in the Prayer Space is always well used by people. Sometimes people to choose to light a candle quietly and then leave. Often people talk about why they are lighting one, and it often leads to an opportunity to talk with people about God or pray with them. The team have been struck by how many people struggle with grief, and many cry as the team talk with them. Perhaps in our fast moving, hedonistic world there are few places where people have the space to work through the often long and difficult road that grief takes you on.

Night Church is Open!

Night Church is Open!

The banner and the lights outside help to advertise that Night Church is open. Most people are just passing by and decide to pop in. A few people have become regulars and stay for a long while. It has been great to make some new friends, I'll try to get a few to tell their stories here soon.

A welcoming and safe place

Inside St Peter's we set out a cafe area with low lighting, candles and music playing. Our aim is to bless those who come in by the way we greet them, serving them coffee and listening to them

Night Church

Welcome to the Night Church Blog! Night Church opened in December 2010 as a six month pilot. Based at St Peter's @ the Cross in Chester it is a bit of an experiment in terms of evangelism. Night Church is open on the second Saturday of the month from 9.30pm - 2am. It is staffed by volunteers from local churches as well as students and staff from The Light Project. Night Church has three central aims

• to be a place of welcome and safety


• to be a place of hospitality


• to be a place of spirituality

I had read about other Night Churches around the country and was intrigued to find out whether opening a church in the city centre at night would be a good opportunity to engage with people in a place where they naturally hang out. We have learnt a lot over the last few months and have had really wonderful conversations with people. So many people who come in are amazed that a church is open in the early hours of the morning, and many appreciate a place of peace in contrast to the noise and busyness of the streets outside. In June we will be finishing the pilot and then considering where God is leading us for the future.