Hope Alba
Hope in Scotland’s villages, towns and cities

This is the official site of HOPE ALBA 

Our domain name is www.hopealba.com 

Doing more by Word and Action

Towards EasterThe approach to Easter and Easter Day itself is a wonderful time for Hope Alba activity.   Many church and groups of churches concentrate on Holy Week services and rightly so, but what happens on Easter Day itself that communicates to the outside world exactly how special this day is to you and your church family?   Are you strongly impelled to tell people that Jesus rose from the dead?   Are you convinced this is news worth sharing?Last year at Bearsden Baptist Church we were inspired by the booklet, Easter Hope, to hand out cards and Easter eggs telling people that we were celebrating the rising of Jesus from the dead.   We make our distribution on the streets and from door to door.   On the day we had thirty volunteers ranging in age from nine to almost ninety.   All of us were surprised at how well we were received and came back to base with most encouraging stories.      Indeed we continue to be so positive about what we did that we plan a repeat this year on a bigger scale.   As last year we are using a CPO card;   this time we have chosen one of the cards with the HOPE logo, C32871FA6C. If you feel challenged to do something similar you have till 9^th March to submit an order with CPO for printing.Contact details for CPO are: Tel   01903 263354; Fax   01903 830066; E-mail, sales@cpo.org.uk; Web, www.cposhop.org.uk

Watchnight Over Glasgow

The New Year presentation at George Square may have been abandoned this year, but certainly not the one at Glasgow Cathedral.

In his sound bite Ramsay Shields managed to take us on a one day trip to Philadelphia   It turned out to be the Philadelphia created in the centre of Glasgow earlier in the year for a film set.   It proved to be a an intriguing prop for a year-starting message - if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.

Donald MacLeod, ably supported by the group Cathedral Strings, led us in a lively start to our praise with Joy to the World.   The sense that everyone was part of the event was maintained throughout, but perhaps most especially in the opportunity to express year-transition prayers in writing.   These were presented to God collectively as they were brought to the front.

 Rab Donald told us about the Night Shelter being run over the winter at the Glasgow City Mission premises, and from the offering we were able to contribute £770 to this most worthwhile project.

As we approached the tolling of the bell Gerry Fitzpatrick directed our thought to Christ-like living in the year which we were entering - a sentiment underscored by the singing of Guide me, O thou great Jehovah as we prepared to go our separate ways.

Prospects for Games based activity in Scotland

With the Olympic Games coming to London in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow we have we have double bite at this tasty cherry.   Both of these events lead to a whole range of activities which give scope for a Hope Alba emphasis. 

Here are some things you may think about doing.

Have a Children’s Holiday Club in your church.

Coming our shortly from Scripture Union is the Resource book On Your Marks with plenty of ideas for a seven day programme.

Organise a Sports Clinic for children or teeenagers

Maybe you have someone in your church whose talent is awaiting an outlet or you have contacts with someone in the wider community who can provide the sporting input.

Facilitate a Community Event

Would a sports quiz be a possibility?

Hospitality

Athletes families from third world countries will be operating on very limited budgets.  Offers of bed and breakfast or even just a meal can give an insight into Christian home life in this country which otherwise they would not experience.

There will also be international mission teams coming for the games who need accommodation.

The Olympic Torch

The Olympic Torch will pass somewhere where you live.   Take people to see it passing.  Offer to help on one of the official teams to welcome the runners and serve them.

Official Stewarding

Offer your services as a steward for any local Olympic Games events.  If you are able to do this in Glasgow you put yourself in a good position to serve, possibly with more responsibility when it come to the Commonwealth Games.

 

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Developments in England

In England the current brand name is HOPE TOGETHER.   Their website is www.hopetogether.org.uk 

Hope Alba Developments

Contact Jim McNair   Telephone 0141 956 3230   E-mail jim-mcnair@virginmedia.com

Posted by Jim McNair for HOPE ALBA