Shoe Boxes To Kosovo

The big news this week is that Colchester Boiler Room will be Collecting Shoe Boxes filled with goodies for children this Sunday 17th November 2013.

Below are the instructions for how best to fill a shoe box. I spoke with Liz Andrew, one of the leaders of our community who used to work in Kazakhstan and  was familiar with getting shoeboxes to hand out to people in need. She said the ones they always run low on are the 10-14 year old boy shoeboxes. So if you really want to make up the most needed box fill one up for a boy 10-14 year old.

All the shoeboxes are coming to a town called Gjakova in Kosovo. This is the place that steve went and lived in for 4 months about 5 years ago. Steve and Tina went again in 2011 and the people there are incredible. Many are still struggling from the effects of the war that happened with Serbia and poverty is a real every day thing there.

The shoeboxes you fill will be given to Roma Gypsies Children and for many this will be all they receive this Christmas. So if you have a spare shoebox or two lying around... consider filling it and then bring it it around our Community House 17th November 2013. Our community regularly shares a Sunday Meal from 1:00 to 3:00pm on Sunday so drop it off around then and you can have lunch with us too!!

Hope to see lots of you with your shoeboxes this Sunday!

Here is the instructions for filling the boxes: 

Choose to fill a box with item either for 2-4 years, 5-9 years or 10-14 years

The list of items suggested for each box are:
- cuddly toy
- toothbrush, toothpaste, bar of wrapped soap, flannel
- note pad, drawing paper, picture, comic books
- pencils, pens and pencil sharpener
- hat, cap, gloves or scarf
- small ball or tennis ball
- a puzzle (small jigsaw)
- For boys: a toy car, truck, passenger plane or similar and football cards
- For girls: small jewellery set, doll, skipping rope or hair accessories
- a greetings card and / or a photo of yourself
- wrapped sweets (sell by date must be at least March 2014)

Do not include:
- chocolate or other edible items due to customs
- war related items, toy guns, planes, soldiers, knives
- clothing (other than above)
- glass containers, mirrors, fragile items
- liquids of any type, i.e. bubbles, shower gel, shampoo
- marbles or sharp objects
- anything political or religious or racial
- medicines
- books with many words
- hand made or knitted stuffed toys

Prayer Room Prepped for Autumn

Colchester Boiler Room has prepped the prayer room for Autumn... but we are not finished yet! Every Wednesday the prayer room is open from 11am to 11pm. Book in a time to pray by letting Tina or Steve know that you want to get involved in praying... or speak to any other member of the community.

To sign up for this weeks prayer room click this link: http://www.24-7prayer.com/signup/259aeb

“Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking." John 14:1-4

Colchester Boiler Room is Back

After two weeks of a break Colchester Boiler Room will commence it's Community Rhythms this weeks.

FYI: 170 Berechurch road is being decorated over the next few weeks and we will not be able to gather inside the house as Boiler Room, but outside is free reign! :)

Things to look forward to this week:

Prayer Day
Wednesday 4th September 2013:
Pray for the Nations TBA Contact Liz Andrews for more information where to meet.
Prayer Walking at 7pm. Meet at 170 Berechurch Rd and Tina will be organizing those who want to go walking round our estate praying for our neighbours and the future!

Learning Day
Thursday 5th September 2013
Morning Learning Mini (playgroup) will not meet this week
Evening Learning Mini meet at 7pm at Steve and Tina's place on memnon court

Shared Meal
Sunday 8th September 2013
Meet at the Gurkha Restaurant near Abbeyfields at 1pm. They serve a set curry meal for £10.95, kids under 8(ish) eat free. We will pass a hat around the table at the meal and ask that people bring a minimum of £5... more if you can.... to help cover the cost of the meal. Boiler Room Community will help cover the rest.

Also just a side note... Steve and Tina got to go to B&Q and pick out colours to be painted in the house... so be excited cause soon the house will be ALIVE with colour.

May news

The prayer room is open today from 11am - 11pm.  8 hours of prayers are being carried together.
We were led to pray for Peru in the Prayer for the Nations group today.

There's Bible study and prayer groups meeting tomorrow and Friday.  In my group we're looking at Jesus calling the fishermen in Luke 5:1-11.

On Sunday we're gathering for Sunday lunch at 1pm.  There'll be a Bible story for children and families.

Easter and beyond with Colchester Boiler Room Community

The prayer room is open 12noon - 12midnight on Thursday.  Please contact r_g_smith@hotmail.com to book a slot.

We're hosting Messy Church on Good Friday 2 - 3.30pm. Families are welcome to come along for an Easter egg hunt!

Then on Easter Sunday, all are welcome to join in with our Easter Story, worship and Sunday lunch from noon.

After Easter we're deciding on our Community rhythm of life for the coming year.  So watch this space to see our new prayer room, shared meal and Bible discussion times...

Prayer, learning and mission in 2013

We've just started a new season of Thursday prayer room and community meal.

We're also having an adult Bible discussion and prayer time on Saturdays at 3.30pm.  We're learning about the Jesus and the kingdom of God, and considering ways that we can go and share this with others.