Sunday January 8th

This Sunday's worship will be at 10.30am at Colchester Arts Centre.
The theme will be build on last week's Treasures of Darkness, looking at Haggai 1.

Barn Church will be on in the evening. Meet at Matalan 5pm.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Day Message

To read the Christmas day Message go to http://davidbeales.livejournal.com/

Christmas Day: 10am (note the time!!)

Please join us for Christmas Day worship at 10am, Colchester Arts Centre.
Worship will include:
Creativity- video, graphics, poetry and photography
Space- for personal reflection and prayer
Christmas songs - old and original
Interactive Bible reading- from Matthew 1, 1-16 (go on, look it up and see if you can get to the end without falling asleep!)
Holy Communion
It should last an hour in length.

Dave's blog- Seven O's of Advent

For the next week, Dave will be posting some Advent reflections on his blog at http://davidbeales.livejournal.com/

From early in the Christian era, Benedictine monks focussed their pre-Christmas meditations on 7 titles for the Messiah from the Old Testament.

Each day for a week before Christmas Eve, they looked at one title and prepared their hearts for the coming of Christ by addressing songs to Christ using the titles as names... “O, Wisdom, O, Lord etc.”

This year, rather than write blogs on the 12 days of Christmas, as I have done over a couple of years, I’m going to attempt a bit of benedictine-style reflection on “Who is this baby?” over the next week.

The photo here is "solitude on a sandbar". Lots of revelation happens when we open our souls to the possibility of silence and solitude.

In case you’d prefer to do your own reflections rather than read mine, here are the themes for the week-

Dec 17th Wisdom
Dec 18th Lord
Dec 19th Root of Jesse
Dec 20th Key of David
Dec 21st Dayspring
Dec 22nd King of the Nations
Dec 23rd God is with us

Christmas Festivities!

Over the next week a bunch of different groups are gathering to share food, faith and fun in the lead-up to Christmas!

Look out for Jessica McCarty who arrives in UK on Friday 16th December to serve with the UWM team. Please make her feel welcome; she'll be around for a few days before heading north for Christmas with friends and will start work in the new year.

Saturday 17th December, 5.30 pm at 34 St Augustine Mews, International Christian Fellowship will meet together for Christmas celebration with African food and a film called Flywheel. Call Enoch Kunarajah 07969210284

Sunday 18th December, 3.00-4.00pm Carol Service at Trinity/CO1, Trinity St. Having rung the council today, they have confirmed that Culver St West will be closed to traffic from 10.30am-4pm this Sunday, so please don't attempt to drive down to Trinity St just before 3pm. Do invite friends and family; there will be a band leading carols, drumming and drama, international music, video clips from 2010's BBC Nativity- all in an attempt to tell the Christmas story in a way to engage people who don't know it well. Please bring some mince pies or other nibbles to share; the young people from Barn Church will help to serve the food at the end. Call Janie or Dave Beales 01206 530934

Monday 19th December, 2.00-5.00pm, Barn Church Christmas Swim at Peyton Hall. Meet for a lift at the Lower Castle Park Gates near the boating pool, at the end of St Peter's St. Contact Isaac Lasky 07715357624

Tuesday 20th December, 2.00-4.00pm, Children's Christmas party at Celtic Rose Centre, Guildford Road. Call Emily Collins 07928969449.

Christmas Day 25th December, Christmas Communion, 10 -11am at the Arts Centre.

Our Christmas donations this year will go to Beacon House centre for the homeless. You will find information about what is required below. DNA is growing a close relationship with Beacon House as we seek to serve some of the needs of homeless people in the area. Feel free to bring donations over the next three weeks leading up to New Year.

Below is a list of our current needs. If you can help
please bring along to DNA or contact Beacon House.

MEN'S JOGGING BOTTOMS, MEN'S TRAINERS
SIZES 8 - 12,
DETTOL ANTI-BACTERIAL SPRAY URGENTLY
REQUIRED
Desperate
Men's Boxers Small and Medium Size
Men's Shoes sizes 8 - 12
Men's T Shirts
Men's belts sizes 30 - 36"
Ladies knickers sizes 10 and 12
Ladies T Shirts/Tops
Men's socks
Kitchen Roll
Need
Shampoo
Men's Spray Deodorant
Ladies shoes/trainers sizes 7 - 9
Toilet Rolls
Cup a soup
Dessert plastic spoons
Travel size toiletries (not soap please!)
CHRISTMAS APPEAL
We would be grateful for boxer shorts (small/medium),
socks and chocolate to be given as presents to our
clients. For some of them it will be the only presents
that they will have - and we would be very grateful if
they could be wrapped as well!
90 - 91 East Hill, Colchester, CO1 2QN
01206 761960
Web:www.beaconhouseministries.org.uk

We gather for Worship event this Sunday, 11th December, at Colchester Arts Centre, 10.30am.
After learning an unfamiliar song, there will be a brief video introduction to Advent, then community prayer inspired by a "What would Jesus do?" banner photographed outside St Paul's Cathedral last week.
Holy Communion will follow and further worship music.
John Claydon will be speaking about a vision for the Body of Christ, taken from Ephesians 4, 11-16.
There will be time to respond prayerfully before a final song.
Advance notice:The Arts Centre is unavailable again on December 18th. Because of this, the DNA Carol event will take place at 3pm on Sun 18th Dec at Trinity Church, CO1 cafe on Trinity Street.
Our Christmas donations this year will go to Beacon House centre for the homeless. You will find information about what is required below. DNA is growing a close relationship with Beacon House as we seek to serve some of the needs of homeless people in the area. Feel free to bring donations over the next three weeks leading up to New Year.
Many thanks,
David and Janie

Sunday 4th December

This Sunday, 4th December, DNA will host students from Essex University at the 10.30am worship event in the Colchester Arts Centre, which will include a shared lunch.

John Orchard will be overseeing the worship
Viv Critchley has been masterminding the menus
Naomi Snelling will be leading music
Isaac Lasky will be sharing a message about God's Comfort from 2 Corinthians 1
Enoch Kunarajah is managing the transport- if you can help please call him on 07969210284

Look forward to seeing you then!

Happy B'day Sherry!
International Christian Fellowship - 27/11/11

Enjoying the Greek Cuisine

Sunday 27th November

Sunday 27th, 1st Sunday in Advent will be a Creativity Sunday, 10.30 am Colchester Arts Centre.
The story of the birth of John the Baptist will be told via narration, mime and crowd participation! Following on, children and families can choose from a number of craft activities that will be set up in the main hall. Adults, plus any who would prefer a much deeper look at Scriptures (Matthew 3 and Luke 3) about John the Baptist's approach to faith and ethics, will be directed to the stage area for teaching and discussion. We will gather together at the end for a song, prayer and blessing and have opportunity to share what we have been doing.

International Christian Fellowship will be sharing Greek cuisine and discussing the idea of the Kingdom of God. Meet at 12.30pm at Enoch's house. Please call 07969210284 for further information.

Barn Church meets at 5.00pm at Matalan for a start at 5.30pm for a game, then to probe the question "Who is Jesus?" with dramatic investigations of two stories from Luke's Gospel.

Sunday 20th November

This Sunday, 20th November, the Arts Centre is unavailable, so we will be meeting at The Lakeside Theatre at the University of Essex, starting at the usual time of 10.30am.

Transport will leave from the Arts Centre at 9.45am to arrive in good time at the Uni. Drivers can park in the Visitors areas in the South end car parks (free at weekends), accessed via Boundary Rd.

We look forward to a time of worship, fellowship and teaching from God's Word. Enoch Kunarajah will be the speaker, with a little help from his friends.

This coming Sunday, November 13th, we are meeting as normal in Arts Centre, 10.30am start

The worship event will include:
Remembrance Day focus
Creative Prayer activity led by Sydni
Christine Claydon sharing (Titus 2:1-14; Genesis 9: 8-16)
music and interview

INTERNATIONAL COOKING MORNING

The women gathered for a demonstration of Iraqi cooking by Souzan last Friday. As you can see, Come Dine with Me has nothing on this!!

"Messy Families" half term event - Highwoods Country Park

Several families were able to meet this week in Highwoods Country Park for an action-packed time, organised by Mark and Naomi Snelling. On arrival, children and their families were sent out in teams on a scavenger hunt, searching for a variety of different leaves, nuts, moss and twigs, followed by free play on the climbing apparatus and swings. After a picnic lunch together teams were sent out to build dens in the woods. A great time!

International Christian Fellowship 23/10/11

Messy Church

Calling all families (and the young at heart!)
We are planning to gather a group in half term for a few hours of activities and chance to have a chat in Highwoods.
When? Thursday 27th October What time? 10am - 2pm Where? Please meet at the visitors centre (off Turner road) What? Please bring a packed lunch and clothes you don't mind getting messy!! Please let us know if you're coming or have any questions.
Naomi -naypants@hotmail.com or 07793971931
Home - 01206 855252
Hope to see you there
Naomi and Mark x

International Fellowship

International Christian Fellowship meeting on 25/09/11

DNA Football team 2011/2012

This Sunday DNA Networks will meet in the Colchester Arts Centre for a simple Family Communion at 10.30am. There will be some music, a short talk with children's activities round the table and a remembering of the Last Supper. All are welcome!! Call David or Janie Beales 01206 530934.


International Church meets 12.30pm at 18 Hereford Dr. for a Home made hot lunch (partly African food!) There will be a time of singing, watching a movie clip, some discussion plus making new friends from other nations. Call Enoch Kunarajah 07969 210284

Barn Church meets at the VAF (beside the former bus station) at 4pm before heading off to Praise in the Priory at 5pm. Call Isaac Lasky 07715 357624

The group formerly known as "Bacon Church" will gather for a picnic together at "Praise in the Priory" at 5pm. Call Nick Brooke 07949 294814

You are all invited to Prayer in the Town, Praise in the Priory, from 4pm as described below. Do check to see what gift you might be able to bring for Beacon House.

THIS SUNDAY DNA WILL MEET AT ST MARTIN'S, WEST STOCKWELL ST, AT 10.30AM AS THE ARTS CENTRE IS NOT AVAILABLE.
WEST STOCKWELL ST IS BESIDE THE TOWN HALL. WALK DOWN THE HILL AND IT'S ON THE RIGHT. (Easiest parking is at Williams and Griffin, but it's expensive!)
AS PART OF THE WORSHIP WE WILL WELCOME PATRICK RAMAZANI'S FAMILY TO COLCHESTER AND WE WILL PRAY FOR THEM AS THEY BEGIN NEW LIVES HERE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

DAVID AND JANIE

International church - 28/08/11

Baptism at Barn Church

Joel and Grace's Baptism service on 21/08/11

DNA Trip to Walton

Family fun day at the beach - 13/08/11

This week we feature 2 more episodes from the Canadian/British adaptation of John's Gospel, followed by discussion round the tables.
Questions will be set at 3 levels: easy (for children), basic, more in depth (for those who wish to have more in depth discussion)


Worship events over the Summer will aim to last an hour, in consideration of the fact that the children won't be having their normal term-time sessions on the stage. We will be meeting each week in the the Arts Centre and starting promptly at 10.30am.


Barn Church will continue as normal this week, meeting 5pm at Matalan.

August News

Aug 13th: Trip to Walton on the Naze - Contact Sydni for more details

Aug 21st Evening: Baptisms at Barn Church (Assington) - Please pray for the preparation. Contact David, Janie, Nick or Sydni for more details or if you are thinking to get Baptised.

Fun in the Sun

Took a day out to spend in the sun with friends and family at Old Heath Rec. Park.

Games were played,

food was eaten,

and fun was had by all!

DNA Cricket team 2011

Invitation to an end of football season kick-around (under 21's v over 21's?), picnic and games afternoon

When: Mid-day onwards, Monday 30th May
Where: Old Heath Recreation Ground, Old Heath Rd, Colchester
What to bring: Picnic, frisbee etc

Everyone’s welcome: from players and supporters, to non players and families with young children.

The Rec has a great play area for kids as well as plenty of space for frisbee, cricket and anything else you can think of.

There’ll be some organised games too during the afternoon for children and families.

Bring a picnic and come for the afternoon!

Easter Sunday 2011

Good Friday

After a 50m sprint race

DNA Family Picnic in the park

John acting outside the Castle Park

Swahili Church Choir

Good Friday March through Colchester Town Centre 2011

Palm Sunday - Messy Church

Barn Church

The youth have been spending a lot of time in Assington in both fellowship and Bible study.

However, lately they've been spending more time doing Bible acting.
Here are a few pictures of them acting out the story of Lazarus.

Anyone up for a game of rounders?