This week we delved back into Simon’s infamous Lego box of delights.  The usual height, stability, length and strength challenges were livened up by a fantastic boat race challenge.  Take a look at the pictures – and be sure to look out for the annotations (no offence intended) and the Caption Competition picture.  My creativity is lacking a bit this week so I decided to let the anagram generator play with the words “Lego bricks” and see what it could come up with for the post title.  Here are my favourites:

Bilge Rocks
Gerbil Sock
Biker Clogs
Glob Sicker
Be Ricks Log
Be Sock Girl
Bi Clerks Go

And with that in mind, we need to check out the names of our newest members for decent anagram possibilities:

Yolanda Potter

Rotten Payload
Tadpole Notary
Detonator Play
A Rotated Pylon
A Droopy Talent
Adrenal Pot Toy
Panda Tyre Tool
Dopy Anal Torte
Altar Toed Pony
(and way too many others to choose from)

Nick Bosdet

Bidet Conks
Bodkin Sect
Knob Edicts
Not Bed Sick
(and some which I can’t re-publish)

Anyway, back to the Lego for a moment.  Perhaps our next Lego activity should be a challenge to build something as impressive as this Church.  That would get the creative juices flowing.  For further inspiration, check out the projects at this site.  And finally, take a look at possibly the least appropriate use for Lego!

This week we also enjoyed some Carrot Cake, sponsored by the extended Rew family and their inability to communicate and organise themselves (everyone took a cake to a family gathering, because no-one spoke to anyone else), and some Jelly Belly Beans brought along and generously shared by Yolanda.  Check out this link and if you’re one of the first 100 people to visit you could get a free Jelly Belly Sample Pack.  Or if you’re in too much need and can’t take the risk you can buy them here.

Chris led devotions and used this poem to encourage us to consider how important we are to God:

My Child,
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me. John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4
And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is… Will you be my child? John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Happy Birthday to Yolanda for Monday – and best wishes for your driving instructor!

Next Week: Art Attack [details]

Saturday 29th March was the day of the Promise Auction which had been organised by the Amicus group members to raise funds for the 1st Bletchley BB Company. It took three months to plan, one day for the final preparations and one evening to execute. To find out exactly what we got up to and how much we raised, read on…

The Amicus group gathered at the Church Centre at 9am on the morning of the Promise Auction with a long to-do list which included: setting up lights, sound and vision equipment, decorating the hall and dressing the tables, making the bidding cards, finalising the processes, and drinking coffee! After an enforced break for lunch we returned at about 4pm to complete the tasks and make sure everyone knew their role and what was happening. With just three hours to go the priority was putting everything in the right place and ensuring that any rubbish was cleared up, and of course rehearsing the entertainment. The refreshments arrived and were arranged in the kitchen, then we had time for a quick briefing and time to anyone wishing to bid to pre-register. Before we knew it the time was 6:40pm and our guests started arriving.

The welcome team leapt into action and made everyone feel, erm, welcome before directing them to the registration table. Once registered everyone found their seats and started to settle in before being served by the waiters. A little after 7pm, with people still arriving, we made a start. Everyone was formally welcomed and instructed as to how the evening would work, before the auctioneer for the evening was introduced and things really started to hot up.

From the start of the evening the bidding was moving at a surprising pace, and we’re pleased to say that the prices kept up with it. Each lot was presented by the auctioneer and on the screen as the bidding got under way, with most being hotly fought over. As expected, Lot 105 for Nudrat’s home-made muffins went down a storm.

The evening was divided into three auction sections and breaks between them for fellowship, “comfort” and refreshments. At the end of each break we drew everyone back together again with a number of entertainment slots introduced by Flic. The first break included Steph singing “Somewhere over the rainbow” (see the link?) with Simon accompanying her on the ukulele. The second item was the world premiere of the Amicus movie – more on that later. The final item of entertainment before we returned was James singing “Hero” with the backing of Simon, Chris and Graham.

The second part of the auction was the longest and featured 17 lots. The apetite for bidding hadn’t been quenched and a number of bidding wars broke out – but thankfully they were good-natured and smiles remained on faces throughout. A number of people who were unable to make it to the event sent donations, and others sent money and specific instructions for what to bid on, so we had a number of Amicus members working as Proxy bidders for the night. Perhaps next year we’ll also organise telephone voting and live website updates.

The second break included the option of dessert and hot drinks, which were absolutely wolfed down, even before the Amicus members could get their hands on any (a politically difficult time in the evening). But tempers were calmed with the return of the entertainment, which included another viewing of the Amicus Movie and a duet from James and Steph (accompanied by Colin Bradley) singing “All For The Best” from Godspell which received a well deserved standing ovation. Before the final section of the auction started again we revealed the already impressive running total of £492.

Part three started back and featured a variety of different lots from cakes to cards and mastermind to make-over (see catalogue for full details) and included two further surprise lots which both sold well. The final two lots were star lots and lived up to their billing with the “Jeeves and Roaster” fetching a winning bid of £40 and Amicus Brute Force (like ‘ground force’ but with much less skill) raising an amazing £80.

We closed the evening with a few well-deserved ‘thank you’s to all concerned (even the fader monkey) before one last item of entertainment, the Amicus Auction Anthem written and performed by the Amicus members and sung to the tune of ‘Hero’. Sadly we didn’t record the performance but here are the words:

Would you pay if we promised you muffins?
Would you bid if we promised you cake?
Would you pay for the ones you love?
Would you save BB tonight?

I can be your ukulele,
I could sing this song all day,
With these promises we’ve made,
We will take your breath away.

Would you like us to clean your house?
Would you prefer us to walk your dogs?
O would you like us to stop singing this song,
And end the auction tonight?

Could we have your money, maybe,
Been given much change lately,
We have nearly hit our aim,
So stick your money to Jame – s!

The last line was a reference to the final opportunity to give money. For those who hadn’t been successful in bidding for their chosen lots, we figured we needed to give them the opportunity to donate some money to the cause, and so we covered James in sticky tape and invited everyone to stick their loose change to him on the way out. It seemed a little bit cheeky, but was a popular activity and it alone raised over £70! A few more stats for you:

• 41 registered bidders (but families shared bidding cards)
• 41 lots (including the extra cakes)
• Most Expensive Lot – 120 – Amicus Brute Force – raising £80
• Least Expensive Lot – 114 – A Clean Sweep – a genuine bargain at £8
• Most people came away with one lot, four people with 2 each and two people with five each!

By the end of the evening when all the lots had been auctioned, and the “James money” counted and added to the donations for desserts, we’d made a staggering £1200!!! So a huge thank you to everyone who supported our efforts in any way – you’re all stars. And we hope to see you all again for an even better event next year.

There are a few more photos below or you can view a slideshow of photos from the evening, and a few additional details.

Well you’ve waited patienly enough for further information about the Amicus Movie mentioned above, so here’s what you’ve been waiting for. The following movie was a complete team effort and took three weeks to plan and film (1 : 2 : 3) before Simon completed the editing and “foley“work. And here it is:

So that’s the Promise Auction over for this year – but we’re seriously considering another event for next year. If you attended the event, please leave a comment below and let us (and others) know what you thought of it. Thanks