Farewell to Lindsay

And now it is the turn of Lindsay to leave us. She has been given a new job at her church, directly over the road from her house (who can blame her!). So for a few weeks at the start of January we had both Lindsay and Tim working in the office (snow permitting), with Lindsay training Tim up to take over.

Lindsay then left us to have her tonsils out due to a calcium growth on them - and this is what happened:

"Good afternoon Rog

"At this particular time I should be feeling really anxious about getting
myself and the family ready for tomorrow..............................but I'm
not!

"Well, yesterday morning I felt the calcium in my throat move, and guess
what? I swallowed it!!! I telephoned the hospital in the afternoon
and the doctor was on the ward and said to 'CANCEL' my op and he would see me in
6 weeks.

"Talk about the power of prayer!! I was totally stunned for most of
the day but of course extremely relieved not to have to go under the
knife"

We're over the moon here in the office. God is so good - we should expect him to do things like that a bit more often! We'll miss Lindsay here, but we know God will be with her and her family into the future.

CMM Mailing

This week has seen the return of the phenomenon that is the CMM Mailing Stuffers. These are an incredibly wonderful group of people that come and stuff envelopes for us twice a year.

Just a few years ago, the mailing would take up to two weeks, but now with so many on email, it takes considerably less time.

On Monday we had an amazing team all crowded around the dining room table - Phil, Stella, Pauline, Jenny, Pat and Paul. And then on Tuesday Philip and Pauline finished off the last few bits. A record amount of tea, coffee and biscuits were consumed, and Phil even provided the team on Monday with cup-a-soups. What a fantastic team!

A snowy new year

Amidst snow and the big freeze, the CMM office reopened at the start of January to a backlog of orders. Lindsay and Tim both found it pretty hard to get in to the office due to children being off school - but somehow between us we coped.

Another impact of the snow was event cancellations. We were due to be leading worship at a ReSource supporters meeting at Emmanuel Church in Loughborough. This was due to be one of our first joint events with ReSource, and we were really looking forward to it. Hopefully it can be rescheduled in the future.

We also had to cancel our regular EBRG Thursday night meeting, which was a shame, as we were due to be preparing for our annual retreat, taking place on the weekend of the 9th and 10th January.

Despite the snow, the retreat was able to go ahead, and we had a wonderful time. We were led by Martin and Cesca Cavendar from ReSource. They began the weekend by focusing on the Word of God in all its different forms - Jesus, the Bible, hearing from God. Then they led us into looking at the gifts of the Spirit. So often as a group we have focused on the listening to God side of the gifts, and Martin and Cesca were encouraging us to broaden our range a little. It was a wonderful, challenging retreat, and we have plenty to ponder in the future.

The last event at the start of the new year that fell foul of the weather was the Rock Roadshow in Exeter on Saturday 16th January. Even though the snow had mostly cleared, the bad weather had meant a lot of people had been reluctant to book. Hopefully we will be back in the area again soon.

Christmas at the Convent

Our final event for 2009 was our now annual trip to St. John's House in Alum Rock. This is a wonderful Anglican Community of Sisters, who have been hugely supportive of CMM - Helen lived there for 3 years, and Sister Ivy attends Christ Church Burney Lane and also the CMM Choir. Denise, who helps in the CMM office has also been greatly supported by the sisters over the last few years.

So once again we were delighted to be able to share with them in an Advent Evening on Saturday 19th December.

We held an evening similar to the one at Tenbury Wells, in which Roger focused on Mary's meeting with the Angel Gabriel.

This time we had a large CMM team - as well as Roger, Mary, Helen and Annie we had Pat, Jonathan, Linda, Sue, and Alan. It was great to have such a large group of singers.

Grenfell Chrismas

Every year, Annie has been invited to the Grenfell Ladies' Christmas Service, to play for the carols and to provide another musical item. Grenfell Baptist Church is where Roger, Mary, Gill and a large number of the original CMM and EBRG supporters met and had their youth group. So it's a real privilege to be able to support this group of mostly West Indian ladies.

This year Annie was supported by Mary and Helen, and as well as providing accompaniment for the carols, we sang Mary and her man called Joe from Simeon, and also High Upon a Hillside from the Christmas Collection (it is also in The Inn Crowd, but with different words).

It was a lovely meeting, and we look forward to sharing with the group more next year.

The Inn Crowd

On the weekend of December 12th and 13, CMM found itself involved in three productions of the Inn Crowd, organised by the churches in Yardley. Anne Maddox, Roger's former PA, is the wife of Derek, the vicar of St. Michael and All Angels, Yardley. She, along with the wife of the minister of Digbeth in the Fields URC church, decided that it would be really great for the churches in the area to work on something together, and that a musical would be a good foundation for this.

So together they chose the Inn Crowd, and managed to get 12 churches or groups involved - a magnificent effort.

So after all the hard work and rehearsals, Roger, Helen, Tim and Amy were able to drop in and get involved in the performances. Tim on drums, and Helen and Amy with a variety of woodwind instruments, joining their already excellent pianist and guitarists.

The excellent local soloists (including some from the CMM choir) performed in costume in front of three packed churches, including mayors and bishops. It was the first time Roger had seen the drama performed, and it fitted with the songs beautifully. The drama had been written by Peter Lawrence, although Anne and team modified it a little - mostly fitting in a broad Black Country accent.

It was a brilliant weekend. Thanks so much to Anne and team for all the hard work, particularly including Margaret on the piano. Brilliant effort, and hopefully some wonderful relationships forged between the churches.

Roger's Christmas Mailing

"Hi Folks

At last we have persuaded Poppy to write her annual newsletter. I hope you'll notice that her spelling has now improved! In Poppy's Pages you'll find the JONES FAMILY NEWS, with information about two family weddings for 2010, exciting developments at CMM and so much more. Do have a look at: http://www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/newsletters/12-09-pp.pdf

(For all these links you will need the latest Acrobat reader. It's free! http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/ )

See the CMM NEWS for our 2010 Diary, music Weeks, Roadshows and other upcoming events:
http://www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/newsletters/12-09-cmmnews.pdf

See ANNIE'S NEWS and 2010 plans at:
http://www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/newsletters/12-09-ar.pdf

HELEN'S NEWS has a summary of her remarkable year and much more:
http://www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/newsletters/12-09-hg.pdf

Don't forget that by doing your Christmas (and future) shopping via the 'Easyfundraising' banner on our site, you can earn extra money for CMM and it won't cost you a penny extra! Just click on the EASY FUNDRAISING banner and follow the instructions: www.cmm.org.uk

We can send 'hard copies' of these Newsletters, and will if you would like them, but otherwise we are doing more and more 'online' as it is quicker and cheaper.

Do keep in touch with us. I hope we will see you at various events in the future.

Have a lovely Christmas, and we wish you God's richest blessings for the New Year.

Roger

Christian Music Ministries
www.cmm.org.uk
0121 783 3291

Follow us on FACEBOOK and TWITTER!
http://twitter.com/ (find 'christianmusicm')
On Facebook - 'Roger Jones' or 'Christian Music Ministries'
See lots of CMM Photos: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb229/rogerwjones/

Valley Worship in Tenbury Wells

On Saturday 5th December 2009, Roger, Helen, Simon, Louise, Ann and Tim travelled to Tenbury Wells/Burford in deepest darkest Worcestershire. Valley Worship is a monthly worship meeting organised by Bernard Morgan. The vision for the regular meeting is for the scattered village congregations, enabling them to meet together for lively worship that their own limited resources cannot support.

The evening was great fun. 80 or so gathered, and Roger led an evening full of praise and worship. It was themed around advent and Christmas, and incorporated a lot of Roger's own songs, including his version of O Little Town of Bethlehem, Infant Holy, God is with us, Emmanuel and God is our shelter and strength.

With Tim on drums and Simon on guitar there was a fantastic rythmn section. Roger led from the keyboard with Helen and Lou on flute and sax respectively, and Ann, Lou, Simon and Helen providing vocals.

We pray that the evening was fun and encouraging for the congregation, and that their meetings continue to bless the rural churches way into the future.

Men's Outreach in Redditch

On Tuesday 1st December, Roger, Mary, Simon and Louise travelled to a hotel in Redditch for a Men's Outreach Group dinner. These semi-regular dinners are organised by the Men's Outreach Group, supported by the Methodist Church in the area. The evening consists of drinks, dinner and then a speaker.

Roger spoke at the evening, particularly focusing on his testimony. He used lots of songs as illustrations, including quite a few Christmas songs for the time of the year.

The Men's Outreach Group have a wonderful ministry, reaching a lot of non-Christian men. Our prayers are with them as they organise more events this year.

A Day with Helena Wilkinson

On 29th November 2009, CMM came full circle. 30 years ago, a group of people started meeting to pray and work for renewal in East Birmingham. That group included Roger and Mary Jones, and they led a series of what they called 'Rallies' at Christ Church, Burney Lane. These Sunday evening services were a huge blessing, and part of the background of the ministries of both Roger and Peter Lawrence.

Now, in partnership with Christ Church, CMM have planned a series of renewal evenings at the church, and on the 29th November we held the first one. We were joined by Helena Wilkinson. She is a trained Christian Counsellor, and a writer, particularly focusing on eating disorders and other depression related illnesses. She often writes for CWR's Inspiring Women Every Day.

Helena spoke powerfully at Christ Church's morning service, particularly focusing on her testimony. Then in the afternoon she spoke at a seminar looking at healing below the water's surface. She used the image of an ice berg - eating disorders, self harm etc are just the tip of the iceberg that you can see above the water - 90% is still below the surface, and it is this area that needs to be carefully dealt with.

Then in the evening we held the first of a series of evening renewal services, and Helena spoke on 'The Power of Praise'. CMM provided the music for the service, and then Peter Smith, vicar of Christ Church led the ministry time.

It was a fantastic evening, and we really look forward to the events planned for this year:

21st February - Ian Parkinson, leader and host of New Wine North and East
18th April - Heather Butler, with a prophetic healing rooms ministry in Anglesey

Changes in the CMM office

It's a season of all kinds of changes, and particularly here in the CMM office. Back in October Anne Maddox had to leave us for family reasons, including the birth of her first grandchild - congratulations Anne!

And then early in December we heard that Lindsay has got a new job working as administrator for her Church's brand new premises, right over the road from her house. This meant that we needed to find two new members of staff pretty quickly.

Anne has been replaced by Nicky Hughes, from North Birmingham. Nicky has two grown up children and worships at a church in Walsall. It is great to have her working with us.

Lindsay leaves us at the end of January, and we are delighted to announce that she will be replaced by Tim Jones. Tim has a huge amount of experience in the Christian Music trade, having worked in Wesley Owen Birmingham, and then for Integrity Music. And it will be great for Roger to have another man about!

So do pray for us as we begin together as a team at the start of February.

CMM Choir

Sincere apologies for the huge delay in updating the CMM office blog. While the CMM team were travelling around the country performing Rock, the CMM choir were travelling around the West Midlands performing 'Wildfire'.

The amalgamation of both the East Birmingham Choir trained by Penny King and the West Birmingham Choir trained by Sylvia Whalley put on several fantastic performances:

20th September at Holy Trinity, West Bromwich
27th September at West Bromwich Baptist Church
3rd October at St. Martin's Walsall
8th November at Six Ways Baptist, Erdington
22nd November at Marston Green Free Church

The combined choir made a fantastic blended sound, and the soloists did a brilliant job. Jonathan Chappell took the part of Stephen, and Pat Woolridge the part of Rhoda. The other parts were sung by a variety of singers including Pete, Alan, David, Lomas, Sue, Fran, Miriam and Linda.

The audiences were thrilled with what they saw, even when Stephen used suprised members of the audience to be healed in Signs and Wonders. There was also a great dramatic element as all of the choir joined in throwing rocks in the stoning scene.

Well done to the choir - another fantastic series of performances. In the new year the choir will start rehearsing for Jail Break.

Roger's latest news

Here is Roger's latest email:

Hi Folks - we've just had tremendous ROCK productions at Tamworth,
Chandlers Ford, Salisbury, Wimborne and Weston and are now just about to go off on our final ROCK Tour
Week:

ROCK Tour 4 - Oct 09 (7.30pm unless stated)
24 Taunton Wellsprings Leisure Centre
25 Bristol Colston Hall
26 Bridport United Church
28 Minehead Regal Theatre
29 Bideford Kingsley School
30 Truro Methodist Central Hall
31 Exeter Salvation Army Citadel (4pm)
- For more details of times, ticket prices and contact numbers, go to http://www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/rocktour4.pdf

ROCK Roadshow (10am-4.30pm) 28 Nov 09 - Bethesda Baptist Church, Ipswich , Suffolk
Come and join me and the CMM team for a day of Bible teaching, worship and workshops all based around the themes from the musical Rock. Cost = £5 for the day - all are welcome, whether you sang in ROCK, watched it or missed it!
- download a booking form http://www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/rockroadshow.pdf

14 Nov 09 - ROCK Massed Choirs Grand Finale - Symphony Hall Birmingham
The final performance of the Rock nationwide tour, and the final ever CMM touring musical performance. Don't miss out - this is the end of an era before Christian Music Ministries moves on to 2010 and beyond. We have a choir of over 1000 voices, so this should be an incredibly exciting event. Tickets still available for both the 3.30pm and 7pm performances Audiences. Prices are £17 full price and £12 concessions or groups of 10 or more. Book online at http://www.cmm.org.uk/products/catalogue/index.php?id=ROCKTICK or call the CMM office on 0121 783 3291. Performances will be signed for the deaf.

Remaining CMM CHOIR productions of WILDFIRE (the story of St Stephen)
08 Nov - Erdington - 6.30pm
22 Nov - Marston Green Baptist Free Church - 6pm
- Further details from CMM - 0121 783 3291 or events@cmm.org.uk

A Day with HELENA WILKINSON - 29 Nov 09 - Christ Church, Burney Lane ,
Birmingham
Helena Wilkinson, Christian author and writer for CWR's Inspiring Women Everyday is coming to spend the day at Christ Church . She is a trained Christian counsellor with a background particularly in overcoming eating disorders and depression.
- 10.30am - Morning service - Helena will preach
- 3pm - 5pm - Afternoon seminar - teaching and ministry on "Healing below the water's surface"
- 6.30pm - Evening Renewal Meeting - Helena will speak on "Grace, mercy and love", followed by prayer ministry

The morning and evening meetings are free (with offering) and the afternoon seminar costs £5 - booking form available on page 5 of our summer newsletter - http://www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/newsletters/05-09-cmmnews.pdf

I still need a new PA/SECRETARY - 3 days per week (0930-1430) - with computer/internet skills as well as being a good "team player", organiser, tea-maker & dog-friendly! Anyone interested contact roger@cmm.org.uk
.

Please circularise these items as much as you can. Many thanks.

Roger Jones

Squidgy Bod

We have a new product now at CMM. The third and final book in the series of Squidgy Bod, written by Peter Lawrence, is now on sale. Squidgy Bod is a character Peter Lawrence created for childrens talks in his services, and he now appears in 3 books for children with resources for Sunday Schools and preachers.

This new book - Squidgy Bod at Easter follows Squidgy, who is now born again, with his family and friends at Easter. Squidgy isn't entirely well behaved, and he learns about saying sorry and forgiveness as his mum teaches him the Easter Story.

Peter Lawrence died after a battle with cancer earlier this year, and it is a real priviledge to be able to publish and promote this book. One of the first copies of the new book was presented to Carol Lawrence at the Wimborne performance of Rock on Saturday.

Apostle in a day

On the same day as Sarah's Angel Voices in a day, Annie went to Holy Trinity, Eccleshall in Staffordshire to lead Apostle in a day. She was accompanied by Jonathan Chappell (singing the part of Paul), Helen (singing the part of Ananias) and Laura Rhodes (dance workshop leader).

The day was actually a wonderful reunion for the Saints Alive group in Eccleshall, who are a group who regularly meet together, performing a musical each year with huge amounts of costume, drama and scenery. This year they decided to have a little break and have CMM do all the hard work, just simply performing this musical from scratch.

It was a wonderful day. There were about 40 in the choir, a small orchestra, and one very good dancer who worked with Laura to perform in two of the songs.

This is the email we received from them:

"Dear Annie

There was almost as much of a buzz on "the morning after the night before" in Holy Trinity Church yesterday! We all had a wonderful time on Saturday, and the audience were really appreciative of what we had to show them in the evening. You and your team were fantastic, and we do thank you so much for your time, your gifts, your patience.

You lead and managed the choir and orchestra brilliantly - we learnt a lot from you, and we were amazed by what we achieved - through your calm and effective leadership. You were all so kind - Helen moved her position so that she could ensure that Sophie knew where she was with her flute (recorder) music - Sophie was really pleased with her achievement! - Laura was so good with Annabel - there were lots of comments about the dance - lovely! I gather that Jonathan was doing another solo part somewhere the following evening!

A number of us are intending to come and see "Rock" - probably at Symphony Hall (some of us came and joined the choir at Symphony Hall when you did Jailbreak there (we had done it ourselves that summer) - a great experience that was!).

We will be talking about asking you back for another musical in a day - so many people got a lot out of it - a wonderful spirit - fun and fellowship............. So, thank you again to you, and please pass on our thanks again to your colleagues.

With very best wishes

Hazel"

Angel Voices in a day

It's always great to hear from you all about your events. Last weekend Sarah Moreton, a long standing friend and regular associate for CMM led a musical in a day in Croxley Green. Sarah is the conductor of the Joyful Noise Choir in and around Hemel Hempstead, and who form the basis of our trips to Watford or Hemel for the larger CMM tours. Sarah's musical of choice was Angel Voices, which is one of Roger's longest musicals, so we were all most impressed she managed to fit it into a day!

This is what she had to say:

"Only a small choir (30) but most of them had sung it before and were really excited about singing it again, incl the soli, who were fab. Had a good audience (outnumbered the choir considerably, anyway!) And we raised £400 for charity! So, all in all, a good day."

Treloyhan Holiday Week

The start of September saw our final family holiday week of the year come and go. The week took place at Treloyhan Manor Hotel, St. Ives, Cornwall. This is one of the smaller of the Christian Guild hotels, but it is absolutely beautiful, and wonderfully situated.

On this week, Roger and Mary were joined by Phil Parkin (former conductor of the CMM choir and CMM administrator), Caroline Finney (the original Mary Magdalene (!)), Bill Carpenter (Silas in Jail Break and Cornelius in Rock), and Amy Carter (instrumentalist in Jail Break and Rock). There was also a couple who were the hosts for the week from Christian Guild. The team gelled really well together, and had a brilliant time working with the 30 or so guests to perform Saints Alive at the end of the week.

As well as all the musical work, this was a wonderful week spiritually, with many people really blessed by God. Roger was buzzing with stories when he returned to Birmingham. Here is a snapshot from an email he sent during the week:

"I am really thrilled with how well things are progressing. The Team (inc. Mary, Amy, Phil, Bill, Caroline) is gelling very well indeed, and I am quite surpised at how much praying with folk there already has been. The teaching has been well received and we have had great times of worship. Our prophetic night was very exciting.

"One amazing thing - a lady is here who suffered a serious head injury some time ago and displays quite odd speech and behaviour. But she really loves Jesus and is open to the Spirit. Already she has had a prophecy and a picture!

"Once again, this is a very special week and God is doing some very deep things with some of the people. SAINTS ALIVE! on Friday evening will be a very lovely and worshipful occasion."

And it was - so I understand! Phil Parkin conducted, and then Roger spoke and conducted the last song.

Thank God for the amazing way he has used our music weeks this year - bring on next year!

Wydale Weekend

Ever wondered where people from Cumbria go on retreat when everyone else goes on retreat to Cumbria? Well the answer is Wydale.

On the weekend of 21st -23rd July, Roger, Mary and Devon set off for Wydale Hall, the retreat and conference centre for the diocese of York, near Pickering, right on the southern edge of the North York Moors national park.

They were leading the weekend retreat for Heversham Parish, near Milnthorpe. The weekend was based on the Rock teaching from the Roadshows, and was a brilliant time, with plenty of prayer ministry and worship.

Willersley Castle Music Week

Our penultimate music week of the year found us at Willersley Castle, near Cromford and Matlock in Derbyshire. The hotel was crammed full for the week with singers and instrumentalists ready to learn and then perform Rock on the last night of the week.

This week the team included Roger, Mary, Annie and Helen, as well as Paul (all the way from Paris!), Amy, Alan, Sue and the host couple Stuart and Brenda.

It was a fabulous week - God blessed us with wonderful weather for the afternoons, and with plenty of Holy Spirit for the other sessions! So many of the guests were touched in different ways, with even a couple of the guests making decisions to follow Jesus for the first time. Praise God!

The performance was like nothing you've ever heard before - an amazing huge orchestra including a professional recorder player, two trombones, a double bass and 3 electric guitars, and a wonderful choir, most of whom already knew it before the week.

Another email from Roger

Hi Folks - there is lots to tell you - this Autumn is very full and very exciting!

14 Nov 09 – ROCK Massed Choirs Grand Finale - Symphony Hall Birmingham
The final performance of the Rock nationwide tour, and the final ever CMM touring musical performance. Don’t miss out – this is the end of an era before Christian Music Ministries moves on to 2010 and beyond. We already have a choir of nearly a thousand voices, so this should be an incredibly exciting event.

Tickets still available for Choir, and for both the 3.30pm and 7pm performances Audiences. Prices are £17 full price and £12 concessions or groups of 10 or more. Book online at http://www.cmm.org.uk/products/catalogue/index.php?id=ROCKTICK or call the CMM office on 0121 783 3291. Performances will be signed for the deaf.


ROCK Tour 4 – Oct 09 (7.30pm unless stated)
10 Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church
11 Salisbury City Hall (6.30pm)
17 Wimborne Tivoli Theatre
18 Weston-super-Mare Playhouse (4pm)
24 Taunton Wellsprings Leisure Centre
25 Bristol Colston Hall
26 Bridport United Church
28 Minehead Regal Theatre
29 Bideford Kingsley School
30 Truro Methodist Central Hall
31 Exeter Salvation Army Citadel (4pm)

For more details of times, ticket prices and contact numbers, go to http://www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/rocktour4.pdf


ROCK Roadshows (10am-4.30pm)
03 Oct 09 – Witney, Oxfordshire
28 Nov 09 – Ipswich, Suffolk

Come and join me and the CMM team for a day of Bible teaching, worship and workshops all based around the themes from the musical Rock. Cost = £5 for the day - all are welcome, whether you sang in ROCK, watched it or missed it!

Download a booking form http://www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/rockroadshow.pdf


A Day with HELENA WILKINSON – 29 Nov 09
Christ Church, Burney Lane, Birmingham
Helena Wilkinson, Christian author and writer for CWR’s Inspiring Women Everyday is coming to spend the day at Christ Church. She is a trained Christian counsellor with a background particularly in overcoming eating disorders and depression.

10.30am - Morning service
3pm – 5pm afternoon seminar
6.30pm Evening service

The evening service we hope will be the first of many Sunday Evening Renewal Meetings, with worship led by myself and the CMM team, with plenty of opportunities for prayer ministry.

The morning and evening services are free and the afternoon seminar costs £5 and a booking form is available on page 5 of our summer newsletter
http://www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/newsletters/05-09-cmmnews.pdf


CMM CHOIR productions of WILDFIRE (the story of St Stephen)
20 Sep - Holy Trinity West Bromwich - 6.30pm
27 Sep - West Bromwich Baptist - 6pm
03 Oct - St Martin's Walsall - 7.30pm
08 Nov - Erdington - 6.30pm
22 Nov - Marston Green Baptist Free Church - 6pm

Further details from CMM - 0121 783 3291 or mhtml:%7B67F37E2F-824B-4EFB-91CC-33635D2044DA%7Dmid://00000286/!x-usc:blocked::mailto:events@cmm.org.uk


Keep in touch. I hope we shall see you at some of these events.

Roger Jones

Christian Music Ministries
www.cmm.org.uk
0121 783 3291