Oak Grove Chapel

Oak Grove Chapel
"A Church with Community at Heart"

News
(Item's are listed with newest item first)

June 2009 - Catton SeminarPaul Reid

For the third year running Oak Grove Chapel will be having their Catton Seminar on Saturday 27th June, 9:30 – 12:45 @ The Hub, Catton Grove Primary School, Weston Road, NR3 3TP. The Catton Seminar seeks to challenge Christians with clear speaking on subjects the culture needs to hear a kingdom perspective on.

This year’s speaker is Paul Reid, who is the Leader of the Lifelink team, a group of churches in Ireland committed to church planting and resourcing other churches. He is also Senior Pastor of the fifteen hundred strong Christian Fellowship Church in Belfast. He travels extensively and has a vision to see the nations reached in his lifetime. Paul is committed to reconciliation in his own country and is firmly committed to the principle of the Unity of all believers which he sees as essential if we are going to effectively reach the world. He has a daily television programme entitled “Revival in Belfast.” He speaks regularly at conferences around the world and is known for his humour! He is married to Priscilla and they have four daughters.

Paul’s theme is ‘Taking issue’ The ten issues the Church needs to challenge our culture on.

Tickets are £5.00 available from the Oak Grove Office

May 2009 - The Crusade for World revival (CWR) presents the seminar '7 Laws for Life'

What are the essentials of effective Christian living?
Why do people give up on God, ensure you never do.
What is the essential disease of the soul, find its cure.
How to help stop difficult situations shattering your faith.

Based on Selwyn Hughes’ best selling book ‘7 Laws of Spiritual Success’. The seminar will be presented by Mike Brooks of C.W.R. and hosted by Oak Grove Chapel. Saturday 16th May, 10.00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. @ Oak Grove Chapel, Catton Grove Road, Norwich, NR3 3NT

Tickets are £6.00 available from the Oak Grove Office

April 2009 - Bumper Easter

Oak Grove Chapel is celebrating a bumper Easter with visits of Saltmine Theatre Company and Catton Community Choir and it’s first sunrise service on Easter Day @ Catton Park. The weekend’s celebration culminated with a Resurrection Celebration @ The Hub, Catton Grove Primary School, which included 6 baptism’s and the welcoming of 12 new members. Pictured below are those who were baptised and those who did the baptisms plus the new members and the Oak Grove leadership

Lent Challenge
"Doing Lent the Beer Mat Way"

Oak Grove Chapel as part of the lent season is developing a discipleship tool they call ‘Beer Mats’ The six ‘beer mats’ enable small groups of believers to do a spiritual health check on the four basic activities of the Christian life, Fellowship. Bible, Witness and Prayer. The other two ‘beer mats’ focus around the issues going on in our lives and where those issues come from and the challenge of how we respond too.
The ‘Beer Mats’ idea comes out of a desire to disciple whole church from various backgrounds while making believer more accountable to each other, interested why not find our more? Oak Grove Chapel has some spare sets left, a free copy to church/agency leaders, further packs can be bought for £3.50 (plus p.p.) each, available from Oak Grove chapel, 70 Catton Grove Road, Norwich, NR3 3NT.

Maundy Thursday April 9th

Want somewhere to pause, reflect, think and celebrate communion before the busyness of the Easter weekend. Then why not try Oak Grove’s Maundy Thursday meditation featuring The Catton Community Choir. The service will be mainly a quiet service around readings and songs from the choir culminating with communion being served on the street outside the chapel.
Start time is 7:45 p.m. venue Oak Grove Chapel, Catton Grove Road, NR3 3NT.

The Catton Community Choir has been functioning for the past 3 years and sing @ Oak Grove Chapel and community events, they released their 1st CD last summer, available for Oak Grove Office, 70 Catton Grove Road, Norwich, NR3 3NT. Cost £8:00.


Oak Grove is proud to announce the kick off of their Easter Celebrations. On Palm Sunday, April 5th @ 10:00 a.m. with the visit of the one and only Saltmine Theatre Company and their amazing production, ‘Who Moved the Egg?’ A real must for your family this Easter.

Journey with us as we travel through the Last Supper all the way to the Ascension - whilst trying to find an answer to that age old question that still puzzles people today – WHO DID MOVE THE EGG?

Admission is free, a collection will be taken to cover costs

 

 

 

January 2009

Get a taste of Christian music and record CD
TasteOak Grove Chapel, together with Christian band Taste are hosting a music activity week in Norwich from February 16 – 20 for anyone in school years 6 to 9.

The week gives the young people the chance to learn more about music, form a band, write their own song and then perform it at the end of the week to family and friends. They can also walk away with a recording of their song on CD.

The cost of the activity week is £25, and there are only 20 places available.

Following the activity week, Taste are staying on to do a gig at The Hub, Catton Grove Primary School, Norwich at 7pm on Saturday February 21. Admission is £1.

The band will also be leading worship and sharing about their work at Oak Grove’s service on Sunday February 22 at The Hub, Catton Grove Primary School (10am start)

Taste, headed up by Joy and Andy Clark, and part of Viz-a-Viz Ministries, are a Christian band with years of experience in evangelism through music. They use their dance/rock sound to challenge young people’s pre-conceived ideas of the Christian faith and present Jesus in an exciting and relevant way. Taste are available for one-off concerts, youth weekends, town-wide missions and schools’ weeks.

Taste have quite a connection with Norfolk; Joy originally hails from Norwich, and as a band they have been involved with many local events, including Living Water, Rock Solid weekends and last year’s Hope and Glory event held at Letton Hall.

For any more details about the Music Activity Week or the Concert please contact Darren Woodward or Becky Kemp on 01603 403388 or e-mail darren@oakgrovechapel.co.uk or becky@oakgrovechapel.co.uk

Click here for more details about Taste (pictured above)


December 2008

Celebrate Christmas 2008

The venue was set, the stage alight, the cast and choir ready. Yes. It was Oak Grove and Gage Road Chapels’ Celebrate Christmas Musical event at St Andrew’s Hall on Sunday. Over 80 people took part in the performance from Catton, the community choir, teachers and Catton Stage and Dance Workshop.

This years plot, there was trouble brewing in Santa’s workshop one of the elves had stolen Santa’s memory and marooned him in the desert. While there he bumps into some wise men and a cool guy from the H.B.A. (the heavenly bureau of angels).

Here starts another journey for Santa to discover the real the real meaning of Christmas and would you know his memory came back and Christmas was saved.

The collection at this year’s event was for the Charity Nelson’s Journey.

 


December 2008

The African Children’s Choir Performed at The Hub on 3rd December 2008

The African Children’s Choir comprised of 25 African children, aged seven to eleven. Each child in the Choir has lost one or both parents to AIDS. This year’s Choir members come from South Africa.

The concert included well-loved children’s songs, popular gospel tunes and lively spirituals. Through their songs and dances, the Choir brings Africa alive, in all its colour and splendour creating a truly unforgettable musical.

“The children in the Choir represent millions of children in Africa. These children are bright, articulate and motivated to realise their potential. We believe they can make a difference and we believe that when audiences see Africa through their eyes they will want to partner with us to give these children every opportunity to succeed and impact their countries,” says Ray Barnett, founder of the African Children’s Choir.

The first Choir was formed in 1984. Each year, a new Choir is formed and the children from the previous Choir return to their homelands to attend school. Their education is completely funded by the African Children’s Choir. Since its inception, the African Children’s Choir has established schools and provided educational scholarships in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.

In addition to education efforts, the Choir, through ongoing support from donors, finances numerous relief and development projects throughout Africa. The current Choir tour is appealing for donations for the Nkomazi region in South Africa. An area that is being devastated by the AIDS pandemic, many households in Nkomazi are now being led by children who face the daunting task of caring for themselves and their siblings without income or any education.

The African Children’s Choir remains committed to helping Africa’s most vulnerable children so they can help Africa tomorrow.


November 2008

Norwich youngsters spend weekend in a slum
SlumSurvivorCropA group of young people from Oak Grove Chapel in Norwich spent the weekend living the way a billion spend a lifetime – in a slum.

They built their own slum from cardboard, wood, tarpaulin etc and stayed in it overnight. They were only allowed one set of clothes, no ipods, phones, cd players, hair straighteners or deodorants.

They ate a diet of rice and porridge and participated in challenges including searching for food and travelling for clean water.

“It was really cold and I didn’t get much sleep but we wanted to do it because Jesus has died for us and it’s up to us to help the poor,” said Aaron Westlake, aged 16.

“We built the slum out of throwaway materials and it was a tough challenge but I’m glad I did it and I hope we raise lots of money to help people who have to live like that everyday,” said Tom Rowden, aged 13

SlumSurvivor2Youth leader Pete Skivington said: “We decided to take the Slum Survivor challenge to raise awareness that 1 billion people in the world live in slums and to raise money to improve living conditions for them. We have been given so much, and we want to use what we have to help those who go without.

“Doing the challenge really made myself and the young people appreciate all the things we regularly take for granted such as a proper roof over our heads, warm bed, change of clothes, hot meals and clean water. Two of our young people Adam Roberts 17 and Bethany Starling 18 are also travelling out to Durban in the Summer to work on the Soul Action projects, and I think God spoke to many of the group about His heart for the poor over the weekend.”

The 24 young people and eight adults were sponsored for this event and all profits raised will go to Soul Action projects working with some of the poorest communities in South Africa, Zimbabwe and around the world. For more details or to sponsor them please contact Pete Skivington at pete@oakgrovechapel.co.uk

Or visit www.soulaction.org

December 2007

It is with great sadness that Oak Grove Chapel announces the death and promotion to glory of John Breeze on 26th December 2007.

John was a life long member of Oak Grove, a real local lad who did good. He was a leader, our finest teacher, a pastor and to many a brilliant friend who’s heart of service has changed the lives of thousands.

His ministry was not just confined to Oak Grove either, but regional and truly massive in it’s influence. We really appreciate the gift that God put amongst us.

As a church we send our love to Pearl and the rest of the family and we look to God to see the real legacy of this man called John, “a real Catton Grover”.

Soldier of Christ – Well Done.

October 2007 - Norwich saints march into new church hall (Article from www.networknorwich.co.uk)

A New Orleans jazz band led a procession through Catton Grove to mark the dedication of the new community arts and sports hall, which Oak Grove Chapel are partners in. John Breeze reports.

Led by the New Orleans Mardy Jazz Band the triumphal procession raised eyebrows and enormous local interest as part of the Celebration and Dedication Day activities to mark the opening of the new hall in the Catton Grove area of Norwich. The hall will be used by Oak Grove Chapel for its growing Sunday Morning Congregation and at other times by Catton Grove School and community groups.

After a stop at Oak Grove Chapel to give thanks for the work there since 1935, the procession moved on, including guest of honour, Miss Vera Askham, Oak Grove’s oldest-longest serving member who would open the new building, the Communion Table and Communion Set – symbolising the importance, the centrality of the death and resurrection of Jesus to the church’s life and message. Many friends from far and near who had been part of the history of Oak Grove from earlier days were also there.

When the Saints go Marching In was played as the procession arrived at the new hall, with the Lord Mayor, Cllr Ray Blowers, Mrs Blowers and North Norwich MP Dr Ian Gibson in attendance.

Ian Savory, Oak Grove’s Senior Leader, welcomed all present and and after worship led by the Oak Grove Band, Ian invited Vera to cut the ribbon and declare the facility truly open.

Guest speaker, Rev Steve Chalke of the Oasis Trust, said he was moved by the initiative of having a church hall linked with a school: “This is incarnation of the Christian message,” he said, “and something which gives us great encouragement.”

The work of the church is to incarnate the message of Jesus and that means getting down to where people are hurting, said Steve. To offer them the party of their life - a party Jesus called ‘abundant life’. After a party of Oak Grove type tea and cakes the delegates adjourned for a break before the evening session.

In the evening, church leaders from around the county joining for the Faithworks’ Seminar, when Steve was interviewed about his journey through the story of the Oasis movement and Faithworks project.

He explained how the Church had been involved with community, social, caring and educational projects through the ages but had abdicated that responsibility to government. He spoke of his involvement with Government in looking at ways in which church could re-engage with such issues as health and education. He spoke of the work the Oasis Trust is doing in building educational and health facilities. He challenged: “It’s time to re-engage! It’s time to get out and get involved – church was never meant to be just sitting listening to sermons – it is not even about getting to heaven - it is about bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth.”

Using the incident of Jesus ‘cleansing the temple’ in Matthew 21, Steve went on to explain the principle of Intelligent Church - what we know of Jesus will tell us what we are here for and what church should be like. It is time to demolish those attitudes and structures that keep the church away from getting involved with those who need help, said Steve.

Pictured above are the jazz band marching the congregation to their new hall and guest speaker Steve Chalke at the evening elebration.

July 2007 - The new building is nearly ready!

Are you ready?! September 2nd 2007 is the kick off day, with the official Church launch on October 6th with guest speaker Steve chalke (The official school opening and Community concert is Sept 8th).

In case you've missed the news, Oak Grove is working alongside the new Catton Grove primary school in developing a community hall as part of the new school site.

The new community hall would be used as a sports hall by the school during the week and by us on the weekend for various activities. It will also be available to be used by other community groups.

Following the government’s new plans for junior school education, in September 2007 the Catton Grove First and Middle schools will be combined into one Primary school.

This building project is another step forward in our relationship with schools and the community that we partner with - together for the benefit of the whole area. This is incarnation, bringing out the God flavours of the earth!

Oak Grove’s financial contribution will mean that the school and community has a larger hall than they would otherwise get, furnished with a large stage area, PA, lighting facilities and storage areas to accommodate up to 300 people.

Ian Savory says: "This project is about partnership between the school, chapel and other groups. It will give us a venue that can benefit the whole community. The Chapel has been working in this area for 70 years and as such has been proud to be a part of the community, looking at various local issues and encouraging people to also be a part of the wider world. This venue is the next step for us as we grow as a community in confidence and abilities.”


June 2007 - BBC grant for youth worker

Hooray! We've been awarded £89,274 to fund a youth worker over the next three years by the BBC Children in Need Appeal! Darren Woodward says: "We're really chuffed. This is the third bid we have put in and the first time we have been successful."

The youth worker will work with children in the 11-14 age group, which the project has not previously been able to work with.

Oak Grove is among hundreds of projects helping disadvantaged children and young people to benefit from the £15m in grants from the appeal, £2m of which has been awarded to projects in the Midlands and East of England.

Last November's BBC Children in Need appeal night raised £18.3m, and since then the appeal has received additional donations from across the UK. The charity has received thousands of applications for funding which are rigorously assessed and processed.

The 792 projects finally selected all work with youngsters who are affected by homelessness, neglect, abuse or poverty, or those who have encountered serious illness, disabilities and psychological disorders.

The grants are targeted at the areas of greatest need and are allocated geographically to ensure that all areas of the UK receive a share. Nationally, the average amount awarded to a project is £19,916, with grants ranging in size from £350 £344,570.

27th - 31st July 2005 Holiday Club

Holiday Kidz Klub MontageThis year's holiday club, saw us taking on the theme of Shrek - you know that well known bible story sandwiched somewhere in between the gospels in the New Testament!

We used the story to look at issues such as self worth, and achieving against the odds, and that to God we are all beautifully and uniquely made - it doesn't matter what we look like it's what's inside that counts.

A great time was had by all, not least the satff who yet again got the chance to dress up and play the fool(s).

 

 

2nd July 2005 - Community Concert, & Oak Grove Chapel's 70th Birthday Celebrations

Our annual community concert, now in it's 5th year was extended into a weekend of celebrations as this yearCommunity Concert saw the event coincide with the 70th anniversary of Oak Grove Chapel.

Our special guests for the whole weekend were the People's Christian Fellowship Gospel Choir from Tottenham, London, led by Pastor David Daniels. The Lee Vesey Band once again got Catton Grove rocking during the Saturday afternoon with their mix of music suitable for all ages.

Perhaps the biggest round of applause of the day was reserved for our very own Catton Community choir, specially assembled for this event, made up of men women, children, school staff and many more, who performed two numbers with the PCF Choir.

28th April 2005 - Oak Grove Mum's & Toddlers Celebrating 25 Years

When we say we are going to do something, we do it! An example of this is our very successful Mum's and Toddlers group, who celebrated their 25th year anniversary on 28th April. One of the original founders and leaders of the group still helps lead the group each week, and many toddlers who attended in the early days, now have grown up, had children of their own and bring them along too!

Mum's and toddlers runs every Thursday term-time, and costs 50p per child. - All Welcome

19th April - Oak Grove Trust Charity Shop opens

Ian Gibson, opening the Charity ShopThe Oak Grove Trust Charity shop opened on 19th April, with a short speech and the official opening being performed by Dr Ian Gibson MP. The shop has been established, to provide decent. low-cost clothes and bric-a-brac to the local community and also to bring in another source of income to help towards funding our ongoing work within the local community. 10% of all profits will go to our chosen charity for that year.

Volunteers to man the shop / to sort clothes or to collect items to bring into the shop are very welcome, please contact the office for further details.

 

6th February 2005 - Catton Walks - A Great Success!

A walkers viewIn response to the news of the Tsunami disaster in Asia, Oak Grove Chapel, in partnership with Christian Aid, the Catton Grove & Angel Road Schools, and the Waterloo Park Pavillion playgroup organised and took part in a sponsored walk to raise money for the people affected by the disaster. Around 500 people turned up and walked anywhere from one to many circuits enjoying each others company and the fresh air as they went.

The event followed a week of assemblies being done in schools raising awareness of those in need and how even small amounts of money could have a large impact on people on the other side of the world. Money is still coming in, so as yet we do not have a final figure but we hope to publish the total soon.

11th December 2004 - Celebrate Christmas with Oak Grove and Friends

Celebrate Christmas!Oak Grove goes to Hollywood! - no not the eighties liverpudlian pop band, but Oak Grove's Christmas Musical extravaganza, held at the Hollywood Cinema, Anglia Square, with around 75 performers of all ages form the Catton Grove Community. The event saw approximately 400 people attend, including our VIP guests, the Sheriff of Norwich and his Wife, Mr and Mrs Paul King, and was partly sponsored by Norwich Learning Cities, with the remainder of costs being covered by ticket sales.

All profits from the event, plus the exit collection taken on the night went to Copars, a local charity working with children and families affected by cancer. We were pleased to pass on a cheque for £500.00.

9th November 2004 - New member of staff appointed

Sue Savory, Assistant AdministratorWe are pleased to announce that we have recently appointed, a new Assistant Administrator to join our staff team, helping with all that goes on in our increasingly busy office.

Sue Savory joined us on 9th November, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her previous employment, including experience of working within both the voluntary and statutory sectors, and also fundraising.

 

16th October - Catton Grove Clear Day (No.2)

Catton Grove Clear DayGuess Who? - Answers on a postcard.......Catton Grove Clear Day, a mission to tidy up and clear refuse from 2 designated areas of Catton Grove. - This was an initiative from Norwich City Council, which we as an organisation were invited to take part in, and contribute to the overall success of the day, together with many local residents and the CityCare refuse teams. We took part in the second arranged day, targeting Jewson Road, the previous weekend had seen the same activities taking place in the Saffron Square area. Both the days were themed as carnivals with a procession of refuse vehicles collecting rubbish ably assisted and supported by Theatre of Adventure and the Norwich Samba Band!
Now who was behind the mask of that Super Pooper Scooper?

8th October 2004 - Newly refurbished offices, grand opening

After spending some weeks over the summer, re-decorating and re-organising our office administration base, with a donation of monies recieved from Norwich Consolidated Charities. We threw open our doors to show-off our the fruits of our hard work, and also as a showcase for the work we are involved with in the local community.