Please pray about whether God is calling you to receive blessing and be blessed in this exciting way in 2012.

Tthe Mark Drama will be performed over five successive weekends by teams throughout Southampton, starting on 3 March and running through to 1 April. It's every incident from Mark's Gospel performed as theatre-in-the-round, which makes it feel like you're in the middle of the action. It's a powerful experience.

For full dates and venues, visit the Mark Drama website »

Who could you invite? Why not come along to one performance to find out what it's like? Then you can bring your friends the next weekend!

We're also looking for team members for the Above Bar Church production on 17 and 18 March. It doesn't matter whether you've been in Mark Drama before or never been in Mark Drama. Find out more at the information evening on Sunday 22 January in the church building.

"Here is Love"

Southampton University Christian Union's events week is 6–10 February with the theme "Here is Love."

Adrian Holloway will be doing talks to provide students with opportunities to come and hear about Jesus.

"Jesus and..."

Solent University Christian Union's events week is 20–24 February.

Please pray

• that Christian students would be bold in inviting their friends
• that God would work in the hearts of those invited
• that people would hear the message of grace and become Christians

Find out how Yazz came from fame to find freedom in Jesus.

On Saturday 18 February, 7.30pm, Yazz comes to Above Bar Church to sing and talk about the impact God has made in her life.

This is an excellent opportunity to invite friends for a relaxed evening of singing and hearing what God has done in Yazz's life.

Tickets: £5. Available from the information desk on Sundays, or contact the church office. You can also buy tickets at the door. (Doors open at 7pm.)

This will be the second meeting of Southampton Torch fellowship group, and it happens at Central Baptist Church from 3pm.

What happens at Torch

It's an exciting venture. Lorraine Low, from Above Bar Church, is involved with leading the group, which engages with isolated people who generally have little mainstream contact with Church. Several others from Above Bar Church support this ministry, helping with music and sound, washing the dishes and giving lifts to people who want to come along. It's an ideal opportunity to share the gospel in deed and conversation.

How Above Bar Church are involved

2012 marks a significant change in the leadership of the group. After many years of service the former chair of the group retired and Lorraine has been appointed its new leader and chair. In her new role Lorraine aims to develop the group’s ministry in co-operation with the national partner, Torch (formerly Torch Trust for the Blind). She will help to develop their national partnership agreement with the many Torch fellowship groups across the country.

In Southampton, Lorraine will lead a committee and a network of helpers from a variety of evangelical churches across the city. This includes Les Sivyour, Stephen Low, Sean Kennedy, Kate Laver and Chris Matheson from Above Bar Church. In addition, the regular monthly meetings have been blessed by the ministry of guest preachers from Above Bar Church, including David Abernethie, John Barnes, Richard Blake, James Musson, and Keir Hansford, who is speaking again on 18 February 2012.

How you can get involved

To find out more about the work of Southampton Torch contact Lorraine or Stephen Low through the church office.

This term lots has been happening in the youth groups (The Box and Rooted). Aaron talks to us about Bible studies, a weekend away, and tells us how the whole church can keep praying for the youth groups. 

Highlights of the Autumn term include the first Poppin Church, a training conference for youth and children's workers, as well as lots of learning in GSMA. Jane tells us about all of these things, and explains what we can pray for in the coming weeks.

Clusters are a central part of life in Above Bar Church. Paul explains their origins and how they have already been making an impact around the city, and helps us to look forward to some future developments.

Paul Allcock talks to John Risbridger about the Spring's morning sermon series in Deuteronomy.

Glo is a community of people aged 18 to 30. Come along to the launch event in the Top hall on Sunday 29 January, after the evening service, and find out more. Head over to the Glo page to read about the group.

Tim Chester's You Can Change has had a big impact on the lives of lots of people in Above Bar Church. Andrew Page explains why he would recommend it to anyone.

John explains why we have got excited about the Bible's promise that God has blessed us to make us a blessing. This is the same thing he promised Abraham in Genesis 12, and it forms the basis for what we believe is God's mission for the world today. Read our full statement of vision and values for a bit more about how we think this works out in Above Bar Church.

Paul Webber talks to John Risbridger about Caleb, who trusted God when those around him lost faith. Why he is an example we can aspire to follow?

Paul and Rebekka Webber get personal, talking about the challenges and the things they've learned as a family since becoming part of Above Bar Church.

Tom Heasman, on the committee of Southampton University Christian Union, talks to James Musson about what's happening in their upcoming events week, 6–10 February. Find out how we can pray that God would do great things in this week. (Read more about student event weeks in this news article.)

Paul answers Kate's questions about what he finds most annoying in church life: multiplication. He isn't talking about sums.

Paul talks to his children about reading the Bible and what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross.

Katy tells us what happened at Southampton University Christian Union's recent events week, and explains what's going on this week at Solent University.