Events & News
Click on any of the small pictures to see a larger version.
Christmas Craft Event 2012
The annual Christmas Craft Event was held once again at Dunchurch Junior School on 24th November. A record number of children attended, and decorated biscuits, painted glass jars, stitched sparkly star ornaments, made Christmas crackers, created cards, visited the World of Difference stall – there was almost too much to do, and the parents were often having as much fun as the children!
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| Making real Christmas crackers | Decorating baubles … | … and gift bags … | … and jars |
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| Stitch a star | Look what I made! | A whole range of crafts | The World of Difference stall |
Starters & Puds
When Sue thought of organising a meal to raise money for the Angel Tree charity, she came up with an idea that was sheer genius – forget about the main course, what most people want is starters & puds, and lots of them! She was proved absolutely right: a great number of self-sacrificing people were happy to enjoy a wide variety of delicious dishes in congenial company, and the donation box expanded almost as much as the waistlines of those present.
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| A welcoming spread … | … with something for everyone |
Sharing a pud and a chat |
Holiday at Home 2012 – Table-top Olympics
Holiday at Home came to DBC for Olympic fish & chips. The guests were arranged in "sports" (Rowers, Weightlifters, Swimmers etc.) and joined in quizzes and games such as darts (or archery, in Olympic terms) and sailing (by blowing a floating ping pong ball around two obstacles using straws). Once again the Bowes' musical interlude was one of the highlights of the afternoon!
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| The tables are set | A warm-up game |
Responsible adults were around to help |
The Olympic flame arrives |
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| Table-top sailing | … and archery |
Music with a sporting theme |
Medals for the winners |
Drama as part of the Sunday service
Sometimes in the morning service you may find yourself playing a memory game (to check if you've listened to the story) or participating in a quiz (which makes a point that is later picked up in the sermon). And if you're really lucky, you might get asked to take part in some drama! One Sunday in August the theme was Peter's escape from prison. Ten volunteers (Peter, soldier 1, soldier 2, sentry 1, sentry 2, Christian 1, Christian 2, Rhoda, angel, gate, door) were instructed by Dave about their part, and brought the story of Peter to life.
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The soldiers receive their props |
The sentries stand guard by the gate |
The Christians pray behind closed doors |
An angel comes to set Peter free |
Men's Breakfast July 2012
Breakfasts are coming thick and fast this year – a mere three months after the last one, the DBC men could once again bring sons and friends along to enjoy a Full English and a chat (sorry, that's "deep meaningful discussion"). They were tactful enough not to remark on the absence of flowers and printed menus … (see the Ladies' Breakfast last May)
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| Food & fellowship | Second helpings | After-breakfast talk |
Church Anniversary June 2012
This year during the Church Anniversary All Age Service we looked especially at all the things we were grateful for. We found that God has done many things in the past year but most of us were particularly grateful for the love and fellowship which he gives us within the church and the various small groups. Very appropriate then that part of the morning's message was about how we are all part of the same body – a message illustrated by some reconstructive surgery (as you can see in the first picture).
The service was to have been followed by a picnic at Draycote Water, but because of the typical summer weather (damp and chilly) it was decided that the back hall would probably be a more comfortable location!
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Ladies' Breakfast May 2012
After last month's excellent Men's Breakfast the men of DBC (well, three of them anyway) decided to provide an even more splendid Ladies' Breakfast: flowers on every table, fresh fruit salad, home-made jam and a proper Full English – when the ladies came in after their Saturday walk they were most impressed, not least by the chefs' outfits!
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| The three chefs | The tables are laid … |
with flowers and home-made jam! |
The menu |
Lazer's Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Evening
Straws and paper umbrellas at the ready for the only cocktail party where you're likely to get three of your five-a-day!
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Men's Breakfast April 2012
It had been a while since the last Men's Breakfast on account of a troublesome oven, but now the kitchen (and some of the DBC ladies) were ready to once more provide a nourishing meal. Afterwards Richard's friend Gary provided food for thought with his testimony.
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| One lump or two? | One slice or two? | All-age breakfast | Enjoying a full English |
DBC Weekend Away 2012
DBC-ers of all ages enjoyed a weekend of fellowship, games, worship, study, fun, and terror (on the big swing).
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| Games for young … | … and all other ages | This is serious! | Is RRTUTEEN a word? |
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| Sharing a meal |
This is how scary the big swing was! |
Reading from the Word | Worshiping together |
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Praise Him on the stringed instrument and the keyboard |
Are you laughing at my horse? |
Contributions from the young … |
… and the even younger |
Maundy Thursday Passover supper
On Maundy Thursday the combined churches of Dunchurch held a bring-and-share Passover supper at which we learnt a lot about the meaning of the various foods and cups of wine. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Last Supper and have fellowship with each other.
The Seder plate in the last picture is not the one we used, but gives an idea of the various parts of the ceremony.
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2012 DBC Spring Clean
Sometimes the church needs a bigger clean than usual, and then it's all hands on deck! But fortunately all the scrubbing, weeding, painting, tidying and decluttering don't go unrewarded – besides the virtuous glow of a job well done, the workers were treated to cake.
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| Decluttering | Plenty of cleaning materials! | Tidying up the new hatch | The workers' reward |
Holiday at Home 2011 – a visit to the DBC seaside
Holiday at Home came to DBC for fish & chips and seaside entertainment – all together now: "O I do like to be beside the seaside …" The guests were arranged in "resorts", and the Skegness table did particularly well at the quizzes. Everyone was in fine voice when joining in with the singing, accompanied by Mike on the accordion, and the Bowes' musical interlude was much appreciated!
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Three heads are better than one |
Pre-lunch mental exercise | The guests find their resorts | Seaside entertainment |
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| Making friends | The goody-bag lady | Time to go home | Making the paper |
Holiday Club 2011 – Mission: Rescue
We all went undercover this summer, learning more about Moses, doing crafts, breaking codes, participating in challenges, singing, making disguises, and watching the adventures of Agents 1, 2 and A. You can see lots more pictures on the Holiday Club page!
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| The Undercover Agents reveal themselves | Communication training: sending messages by plane | Shrunken Agents enjoying their crafts | Spy Masters & Agents in disguise |
Ladies' Walk – Alpaca Open Day
On Saturday 6th August Toft Alpacas held their 5th Anniversary Open Day with alpaca craft activities and farm tours. The Ladies' Walk usually passes the alpaca farm anyway (and its members have become quite friendly with some of the furry herd), so the group decided to drop in there for a visit. The Coventry Weavers, Spinners & Dyers were showing off their skills using alpaca fleeces, and there was an opportunity to try felting which several of our walkers had a go at. We were also introduced to yarn bombing – a sort of removable graffiti in crochet or knitting which unfortunately we forgot to photograph!
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| Spinning the alpaca wool | Carding is an art… | …and so is felting | How alpacas are made |
DBC outing – Twycross Zoo
On Saturday 2nd July a coach full of DBC-ers and Noah's Ark-ers set off for Twycross Zoo. We saw the monkeys and apes, watched the sea lions and penguins being fed, saw the elephants do their training, and had a lovely picnic lunch under the trees. It was a wonderful day out for all ages – our diverse group ranged from those who haven't had a single birthday yet to those who are approaching their 90th!
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| Lunch for the sea lions … | and for the penguins | Spot the otters! | A refreshing picnic |
Baptism of Dewi Parsons
During the evening service of Sunday 22nd May we celebrated the baptism of Dewi Parsons. The youth band played, and Dewi witnessed to his faith, speaking of baptism as a commitment you choose when you love God.
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| Dewi's testimony | Getting ready | Answering questions | Going under | Prayer |
Baptism of Russ & Emma, and Church Lunch
On Sunday 3rd April 2011 there was a busy morning service – Mothering Sunday, the baptism of Russ & Emma Pollard, and a Church Lunch. Russ & Emma shared their testimonies with us, telling us of their personal journeys of faith, and the importance of the church family.
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| Russell's testimony | Emma & assistant | Testing the water | Going under |
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| Getting ready | Being baptised | Prayer | |
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| The feast is spread | Sharing a meal | What's for pudding? | An after-pudding chat |
Youth Band service
On Sunday 13th March 2011 the DBC Youth Band led worship during the evening service.
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The 2nd Annual Ladies' Breakfast
Saturday 12th March 2011 saw the second Ladies' Breakfast, cooked by the gentlemen – well, five of them. And once again they surpassed the ladies' expectations: flowers on every table, a printed menu, attentive service and wonderful food. Whether or not the ladies can live up to these standards at the next Men's Breakfast remains to be seen!
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| The tables are laid | Breakfast is served | The team – didn't they do well! |
Dave Woods' birthday
On Sunday 6th March there was a Church Tea to introduce our 40 Days of Purpose programme for Lent. But unbeknownst to DBC's minister Dave Woods it was also a Birthday Tea for him! Sally's special cake was much admired by all.
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| The birthday boy | The cake |
Children's Nativity
On Sunday 12th December the children presented their Nativity, and as always they did a splendid job – the narrator told us everything that was happening in a very clear voice, the characters spoke their lines beautifully, and we were given a regal rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". It was a wonderful re-telling of the familiar story, and got everyone in the Christmas spirit!
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| Lighting the Advent Candle | Narrator and Angel play their part | No room at the inn | Twinkle twinkle |
Baptism of Kate Gooch
On Sunday 5th December Kate Gooch was baptised. She shared the story of her spiritual journey, of people and verses that had inspired her, and she used a cheese fondue to illustrate how faith envelops and surrounds us!
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| Kate witnesses to her faith | Preparing for the baptism | Dave Woods baptises Kate |
Meals at DBC
Having a meal together is a great way to catch up on things and get to know each other better – but if a meal like that is not for just a few friends but for anyone who'd like to come, how do you make sure there isn't one poor soul who spends the entire day in the kitchen?
Well, you could have a Bring & Share Church Lunch, which follows some of our Sunday morning services. Many thanks to all who bring food along, to all who help set everything up and clear it away again afterwards, and to all who come to enjoy these communal meals.
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| The food is set out | Filling the plates | Seconds, anyone? | Sharing a meal |
Other meals are the Men's Breakfasts (cooked by the women) and in response to that a Women's Brunch (cooked by the men). And sometimes (English summer weather permitting) we take everything to Draycote Water and have a picnic!
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| The blankets are spread | Ball games | Anything left in the cool bag? |
The DBC Egg Challenge
Several recent Easter services have been enlivened by a very special take on the Easter egg – can you make your egg into a Bible character, using as much information as possible from the Bible, and make it possible but difficult for all the other DBC-ers to guess which character it is? This challenge, posed by Chris, has resulted in (among many others) an egg covered in salt (exactly, Lot's wife), an egg standing in front of a divided expanse of red jelly (you guessed it: Moses), an egg sitting in a tree (that's right, Zaccheus), an egg covered in slices of red sugary jelly sweets (Job covered in boils – does that make him a "boiled" egg…?) and the two eggs you see below. Can you guess which characters they are without peaking at the caption?
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The poor widow who put two very small copper coins into the temple treasury. (Mark 12:41-43 and Luke 21:1-3) |
The boy who offered his five small barley loaves and two small fish to Jesus to feed the 5000 with. (John 6:9) |