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NEWS

Government backing for Walsall schools project

An education project set up in a converted pub has gone top of the class, winning Government backing and receiving independent school status.

Organisers say this could open the educational doors for The Vine in Walsall to move another step towards establishing a purpose-built centre in the town.

"We are over the moon," said ruth Clay, the educational projecs manager and now head teacher of the Second Chances project. Second Chances is one of 20 projects based at The Vine, which was transformed from a pub into a non-alcoholic bar 15 years ago.

It offers a different kind of schooling to disaffected teenagers between the ages of 14 and 16, and aims to get them back on track with education and the community by using a variety of motivational techniques.

Senior project worker Kevin Davis said more than £500,000 was needed each year for all of The Vine project work.

River Tyne 'prayer cruise' for Tyneside spiritual regeneration

Almost 150 Christians from 25 churches set sail on the River Tyne recently to pray for the spiritual resurgence of Tyneside.

The 'prayer cruise' started at Newcastle's newly transformed quayside in the shadow of the Milennium Bridge, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and the Sage Music Centre.

Jenny Steiner, prayer co-ordinator from the interdenominational group Pray4tyneside, explained: "It's great to see all the new buildings on the river banks, and we want to see the same regeneration take place spiritually. It's already begun."

As the Island Scene pleasure launch sailed from the Quayside to Tynemouth, prayers were offered for:

unity between the sister cities of Newcastle and Gateshead
resurgence of the once prosperous shipbuilding industry
healthy race relations
acceptance of refugees
health system in the region
armed forces

Prayers were also said for the African Mercy, the biggest hospital ship in the world, that is being refitted in Wallsend. The cruise ended with communion led by the Rev Dr Robert Ward, leader of Together in Christ, Tyneside.

Chaplain conducts marriage ceremony in US - from Iraq

The bride and groom were dressed for the occasion, reports Associated Press, but most of the other trappings of a wedding ceremony were missing when Jacob Schwartz and Aimee Thornton were married by the bride's father - a chaplain stationed in Iraq.

The midday heat blanketed the Middle Eastern desert, but the sun had barely made an appearance in Birmingham, USA, at 5.30am last Thursday as the ceremony took place.

Mark Thornton, the bride's father and an Army National Guard chaplain stationed in Mozul, Iraq, conducted the ceremony via telephone. It was broadcast live on a local radio station.

The couple sat across from each other in swivel chairs, wearing headphones and holding hands, as Mark Thornton spoke. "Real love will make your burdens lighter because you carry them together," the preacher said.

"We always thought Mark would marry us. We always thought it would be at a church," said Schwartz, a junior meteorology major at the University of Alabama. "We never imagined it would be conducted from Iraq."

Tears streamed down the faces of some of the 14 present family members and the couple as they repeated the vows. Because of limited studio capacity, remaining family members watched from an Embassy Suites conference room that became the reception hall afterward.

Mark Thornton, who hasn't seen his family in about six months, said: "I love you" to his family and new in-laws and added: "I wish I was there to kiss the bride."

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		NEWS Government backing for Walsall schools project An education project set up in a converted pub has gone top of the class, winning Government backing and receiving independent school status. Organisers say this could open the educational doors for The Vine in Walsall to move another step towards establishing a purpose-built centre in the town. "We are over the moon," said ruth Clay, the educational projecs manager and now head teacher of the Second Chances project. Second Chances is one of 20 projects based at The Vine, which was transformed from a pub into a non-alcoholic bar 15 years ago. It offers a different kind of schooling to disaffected teenagers between the ages of 14 and 16, and aims to get them back on track with education and the community by using a variety of motivational techniques. Senior project worker Kevin Davis said more than £500,000 was needed each year for all of The Vine project work. River Tyne 'prayer cruise' for Tyneside spiritual regeneration Almost 150 Christians from 25 churches set sail on the River Tyne recently to pray for the spiritual resurgence of Tyneside. The 'prayer cruise' started at Newcastle's newly transformed quayside in the shadow of the Milennium Bridge, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and the Sage Music Centre. Jenny Steiner, prayer co-ordinator from the interdenominational group Pray4tyneside, explained: "It's great to see all the new buildings on the river banks, and we want to see the same regeneration take place spiritually. It's already begun." As the Island Scene pleasure launch sailed from the Quayside to Tynemouth, prayers were offered for: unity between the sister cities of Newcastle and Gateshead resurgence of the once prosperous shipbuilding industry healthy race relations acceptance of refugees health system in the region armed forces Prayers were also said for the African Mercy, the biggest hospital ship in the world, that is being refitted in Wallsend. The cruise ended with communion led by the Rev Dr Robert Ward, leader of Together in Christ, Tyneside. Chaplain conducts marriage ceremony in US - from Iraq The bride and groom were dressed for the occasion, reports Associated Press, but most of the other trappings of a wedding ceremony were missing when Jacob Schwartz and Aimee Thornton were married by the bride's father - a chaplain stationed in Iraq. The midday heat blanketed the Middle Eastern desert, but the sun had barely made an appearance in Birmingham, USA, at 5.30am last Thursday as the ceremony took place. Mark Thornton, the bride's father and an Army National Guard chaplain stationed in Mozul, Iraq, conducted the ceremony via telephone. It was broadcast live on a local radio station. The couple sat across from each other in swivel chairs, wearing headphones and holding hands, as Mark Thornton spoke. "Real love will make your burdens lighter because you carry them together," the preacher said. "We always thought Mark would marry us. We always thought it would be at a church," said Schwartz, a junior meteorology major at the University of Alabama. "We never imagined it would be conducted from Iraq." Tears streamed down the faces of some of the 14 present family members and the couple as they repeated the vows. Because of limited studio capacity, remaining family members watched from an Embassy Suites conference room that became the reception hall afterward. Mark Thornton, who hasn't seen his family in about six months, said: "I love you" to his family and new in-laws and added: "I wish I was there to kiss the bride." © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.