living the luton dream

Sweet dreams

2006-08-08T02:51:00.000-07:00

Well, it's time to put the Luton Dream blog to bed at least for a short while, as we take stock and think about the success of our experiment.

Heaven definitely touched earth across the town as people considered their role in making Luton the town it is...talents were displayed, thoughts were shared, fun was had and in various places it seemed that dreams had a greater chance of coming true.

As ever God moved in unexpected ways but we're so grateful that he did.

We're keen to catch the dream again next May...so watch this space...send us any ideas or feedback and thanks for being a part of it.

Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

attributed to Sir Francis Drake -1577

Halyard happenings...

2006-08-08T02:42:00.000-07:00

At last here are pictures of Ruth Stacey's fab mural in Halyard school garden...I think it's fair to say she had great fun doing it even if the initial idea and timescale were a bit daunting but thanks to some generous paint donationsfrom Dulux it came into being. And the school are really pleased with the results.

It gives the already well loved garden an added dimension, helping to engage the mind, spirit and ...green fingers!

And evidence of the fantastic year 7 dodgeball tournament...everyone enjoyed it so much (staff and pupils alike) that thanks to Luton Dream it's now threatening to become an annual event!

Beat Bullying!

2006-05-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Here's some fantastic work by a young man who is doing his bit to improve life in Luton. His poem 'It's ok to walk away' tackles some of the issues around bullying from one who knows. It just shows how willing young people are to tackle the stuff that's happening in their life if only you give them a chance...

It's ok to walk away,
so stand up for yourself
and start today!
Why do people
stop and stare
and watch the victims
have 2 bare
all their anger and tears
building up.
And people that watch
are scared and just say "wassup?"
So help victims
and say no,
because if you don't
THE LORD WILL KNOW!!

by Emmitt, aged 12

Half way already...

2006-05-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, we're half way through LTLD week and I haven't even managed to blog it's been so hectic and awesome. Year 7 at South Luton got the message on tuesday and after our presentation were churning out brilliant ideas left right and centre. Year Head, Miss Blackmore is really committted to seeing each tutor group do a project so the ripples in this particular pond could be huge!

There were rehearsals at Ashcroft on tuesday too for thursday's concert ... pupils from across the school are singing, dancing, telling jokes and reading poems in a spirit of celebration.

Today I heard a football tournament has been organised but I have to track info down on that and a group from Miss Liao's class are planning a litter-pick with a poster campaign AND assembly piece to get people to think twice about what they do with their rubbish.

We're praying for a dry day tomorrow as Ruth is due to paint her 'hope' mural at Halyard, having submitted designs to pupils' scrutiny and come up with one that ticked everyone's boxes!

Plus there's all the individual actions going on across town, and more besides. The focus is for this week but the thought is forever...we reap what we sow.

So get planting!

Living the dream LOUD...

2006-05-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

So thebandwithnoname are in town on Sunday and for a mere £5 standing (£7 seated) you can jump around with the best of them to their breed of sanctified hip-hop and rap.

The venue Luton Christian Fellowship on Castle Street, just up from Matalan and it's doors open at 6pm... call 01582 619990 for more details.

We're really glad LCF have managed to get the guys for a gig as finding a slot in their hectic schedule seems to be nigh on impossible! Saturday night see's them play the Royal Albert Hall in London ... and St Petersberg, Belfast, Brighton and Livingstone are just some of the places they've been gigging recently so this is another 'nice one' for Luton!!

Hope to see you there!

Still wondering what to do?

2006-05-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

Here are the ideas again...you don't even have to check the archive, how easy is that?! So come on we've done our bit, will you do yours? There's just 4 days left to decide how you'll be living the dream next week. Go for it!

MAKE YOUR OFFICE OR SCHOOL A HAPPIER PLACE...

Smile at others!
Open doors for people.
Compliment 3 people a day.
Thank a teacher for a good lesson/colleague for their help.
Do something kind for someone, which they wouldn't expect.
Buy flowers for someone.
Talk to someone you've never spoken to before.

HOME SWEET HOME!

Have a party for no reason!
Arrange a family outing.
Eat a meal or play a game together.
Find out one thing you didn't already know about a member of your family.
Make your mum/partner a cup of tea.
Hang a welcome sign on your front door!
Give any visitors a party bag to take home.

MAKE YOUR SCHOOL A PLACE TO BE PROUD OF ...

Get involved in a school club / team / things that are already happening.
Look really smart all week!
Be nice to your local shop-keeper, chip-shop owner etc.
Organise a competition / project / fund-raiser e.g. school idol, sponsored silence, photographic project.
Make a poster advertising how the school could be a better place.
Do a presentation in assembly or a poster. advertising what will be happening that week.

MAKE THE TOWN OR YOUR OFFICE/SCHOOL A GREENER PLACE ...

Recycle mobile phones (pick up bags from Body Shop)
Turn off tap whilst cleaning teeth.
Have less baths and more showers!
Turn any lights off you are not using.
Don't overfill the kettle.
Use both sides of paper / re-use scrap.
Re-use plastic bags.
Start campaign at school/work to recycle.
Recycle at home.
Walk to school/work, instead of getting a lift.

THIS WAY FOR A HEALTHIER HAPPIER LUTON...

Find out facts about the effects of alcohol / drugs / smoking.
Find out what you can do to limit the danger to your health from these things.
Have an apple a day.
Find a new sport / form of exercise, which you've never tried before and is fun. E.g water aerobics, parkour.
Take the dog for a walk.

BRIGHTEN UP YOUR STREET ...

Plant some flowers in your front garden - try and grow some from seed!
Do a litter pick on your estate.
Vow never to drop litter again.

2006-05-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

The mentors were proudly showing off this artistic endeavour at Aschroft today, a stunning 'beat bullying quilt' produced by the Peer Mentors. These guys do such great work and really make a difference to life in the school, a big Luton Dream thumbs up to them.

It's been a great week for projects in the school too an outdoor concert is being planned by several members of Mr Bailey's tutor group - with loads of pupils taking part as acts. Miss Liao's group are trying to decide whether to get sporty or litter pick in their local park, Mr Manyuki's form wrote 'wishful thinking letters' (they're not sending them!) to the council about all the things they'd like to see change in the town...with noisy neighbours and litter coming top. Miss Hickman's group are continuing their poems and planning a tutor project which is still under wraps!

All this and the weeks not even here yet!!

The Toad To A Perfect England

2006-05-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

Miss Hickman's tutor group at Ashcroft have been getting into the Luton Dream and writing poems about their perfect town. Here's one from Tom in year 8, with a little help from Mentor, Dean.

Luton is a good place to live
but I only wish...
That we could travel aound town
without having to spend a pound.

I only wish ...
That no one needs to sleep on streets
and that they would be given free
shreaded wheat.
It would be nice to have fewer cars
on the roads,
So there is more space for all the toads!

I only wish...
that school's were bigger, better and fun,
so we can get all our work done
It would be nice to have a new park,
so you and your mates have somewhere to
have a laugh.

I only wish...
that there are more places to play sport,
including a brand new football court.
Everyone could live in peace,
there would be no need for the police.

The perfect place to live...LUTON.

This is how I'll be living it...

2006-05-15T05:35:00.000-07:00

I am pledging to take time out to write to 5 people from my past who made a difference to my life! My old sunday school teacher, school friends who I haven't talked to for ages, a friend I used to share an allotment with, they all inspired me and supported me.

I wonder what they're up to now and whether they realise the part they played in making me who I am today?!

Also I'm waiting till summer's here then I'm going to organise a 'street meet' so I can get to know all my neighbours and they can get to know each other too.

Lillie, Schools Worker

I'll be living it too!

2006-05-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

I am planning on doing some litter-picking on Marsh Farm next week with my house mate Sarah ... but I have yet to tell her! Perhaps she'll read it here and stock up on bin-bags!? I have real issues with litter so it should feel good to clear some of the estate up.

Rachel

Thought...

2006-05-15T05:21:00.000-07:00

"We are invited to rejoice in every moment of life
because every moment of life is a gift"

John Ortberg

I'm living the dream.

2006-05-15T04:39:00.000-07:00

Appliances on standby use between 75and 90% of the electricity they use when switched on! I couldn't quite believe it when I heard that. I must waste so much, over such huge periods of time, it's time that some things changed.

So, my aim, starting on Luton Dream week, I shall be turning off my appliances when I'm not using them. That means the TV, Sky box, 2 DVD players, PS2, ipod speakers, will be switched off properly. If I consistently turn off these 6 items that live on standby in my house, think of the noxious fumes that won't be generated and the electricity I will save, let alone the money. If everyone in the whole school did this, just think how much we could save.

Ruth

Mmm, a nice cup of tea...

2006-05-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

I recently read something on email and it made me stop and think. To do my bit to Live the Luton Dream I'm going to make time for those sponateous stop-gaps with people I meet. Starting today when I see a neighbour I am going to stop for a minute or two (so if I am late for anything!!!!!) it is all in a good cause.

Here is what I read:

A professor stood before his philosophy class and when the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then poured a box of pebbles into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and they rolled into the spaces between the balls. He then asked if the jar was now full. The students agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of tea from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar - filling the empty space between the sand.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "This jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -your family, your children, your health, your friends - and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the tea represented? The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a cup of tea with a friend."

Wendy

Social Inclusion Worker

Is this an impossible dream?

2006-05-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

Living the Luton Dream is just around the corner and as we step up a gear it seems like there's so much to do! This week I was thinking maybe I'm just being really naive, thinking we can make a difference...then I started reading The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian D McLaren and he says this about impossible dreams ...

' When I was a boy growing up in the United States,
racism was everywhere. (It still is, I know, in subtler
but still-too-real forms.)If you had talked about a
day when people could enjoy genuine harmony
with their neighbours and be enriched by their
racial differences people would have said,
"Impossible!" In South Africa, the overt system
of apartheid made hope for racial reconciliation
seem even more impossible. When everyone
"knows" something is impossible, nobody even
attempts it. Why waste their time? But look at
what's happened in recent decades: what was
impossible has become - if not yet fully real - at
least truly possible.'

I thought about the Drop the Debt campaign...when it started as Jubilee 2000, who could have predicted it would have been on the international agenda in a really real way. And some of the breakthrough treatments we now have for things like breast cancer, I bet that seemed like an impossible dream at one point.

Brian Mclaren also says when we 'believe' things 'become'. I guess I need to keep sight of that over the next few weeks...and keep my eyes open for the amazing!

Lillie

Talking the talk And walking the walk!

2006-04-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

I think that travelling slowly is under-rated. We get the journey out of the way as quick as possible because we see it as something we've got to do if we want to get places.

Given the option I would love to be able to click my fingers and go somewhere instantly. However, I think that if I could do that, I would lose a lot, particularly when it comes to sharing a journey with friends. It's a great way to get to know people better in the surroundings of beautiful nature.

This Bank Holiday I'm organising a walk to the Green Man pub in Great Offley to build community and share time and lunch and a pint (nobody's driving!) with people. I hope to do something similar on the 29th May and all-comers will be welcome.

I love walking with people and it was something Jesus did with his friends. I've had some very special times doing this. You can walk, you can talk and you can walk in silence without it being awkward ... and it's good for you - physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. If you're interested in the 29th, let me know!!

Joe

Gospel Choir is Good News

2006-04-27T02:42:00.000-07:00

South Luton Gospel Choir joined choirs from Stopsley, Denbigh, and Challney last week at the Hat Factory for a gospel spectacular. The young people had the audience on there feet and singing along...proving Luton's teens have a lot to give!

South Luton's Choir, Directed by Patricia Scott and Patrick George, has been a great boost to the school, giving staff and students alike something to be really proud of. Not only is choir great fun it also teaches the pupils to work as a team, develop their skills and that they have something really valuable to give back to the community.

Who's Living the Dream?

2006-04-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Nicki says...

I'm going to start going to the gym - in an attempt to get fitter!

I'm going to up the anti on my recycling - so that I recycle everything I can, although I'm already pretty good.

I'm also going to smile at more people, & give visitors a party bag to take home - I think that's a cool idea! I'm going to start that from tomorrow!!

It's all official!

2006-04-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

So here is the face of Living the Luton Dream...we hope you like it and be warned where you see this you may also see a little bit of heaven!

Lenten liberation

2006-02-27T10:09:00.000-08:00

Lent is fast approaching and in the spirit of Living the Luton Dream we're suggesting you take something up, as well as or instead of giving something up. Commit to a regular dose of kingdom living!

How about hospitality? Honour all those "you must come round for dinner" discussions. Over this period why not make a meal once a week that you'll share with friends, or those who've never been to your pad before.

Or refocus on an area that's slipped; maybe spending good time with God? Or blowing the dust off your bible?!

Or do something new; maybe read a book about an area of faith that's always bugged or bamboozled you.

Let us know what you're up to and how it goes...

Be inspired

2006-02-20T02:53:00.000-08:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?"
Actually, who are you not to be those things?
You are a child of God, your playing small
doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so
other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that's within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear our
presence automatically liberates others.

- Nelson Mandela, 1994 inaugural speech.

I used this quote in an assembly at Halyard. I love the way it talks about liberating people to fulfil their potential, a theme which God has really put on my heart over the past year and really ties into Living the Luton Dream.

Rachel, Schools Worker, LCET.

Faith and works

2006-02-20T02:37:00.000-08:00

That's Kat, Doug, Alex, Owen, Jake, Gary, Rory and Ethan from Hightown Baptist Church at the end of a busy week blessing the local community. Last week (13th-18th Feb) volunteers from the church offered services such as washing cars, gardening, cleaning windows, and other chores....all for FREE!!! They also ran a coffee shop each morning to allow local residents come and meet in the church, to see what happens there each week, and to come and be treated to coffee and cake on the house!

"WHY?"

That was the main reaction from residents, "why are they doing so many things for free?"... Lots of people even offered money, and they were all very grateful at the service the church was offering. The congregation wanted to do random acts for their neighbours to show generosity and to let them know there is an active church in their area.

How to live the dream...

2006-02-14T06:34:00.000-08:00

MAKE YOUR OFFICE OR SCHOOL A HAPPIER PLACE...

Smile at others!
Open doors for people.
Compliment 3 people a day.
Thank a teacher for a good lesson/colleague for their help.
Do something kind for someone, which they wouldn't expect.
Buy flowers for someone.
Talk to someone you've never spoken to before.

HOME SWEET HOME!

Have a party for no reason!
Arrange a family outing.
Eat a meal or play a game together.
Find out one thing you didn't already know about a member of your family.
Make your mum/partner a cup of tea.
Hang a welcome sign on your front door!
Give any visitors a party bag to take home.

MAKE YOUR SCHOOL A PLACE TO BE PROUD OF ...

Get involved in a school club / team / things that are already happening.
Look really smart all week!
Be nice to your local shop-keeper, chip-shop owner etc.
Organise a competition / project / fund-raiser e.g. school idol, sponsored silence, photographic project.
Make a poster advertising how the school could be a better place.
Do a presentation in assembly or a poster. advertising what will be happening that week.

MAKE THE TOWN OR YOUR OFFICE/SCHOOL A GREENER PLACE ...

Recycle mobile phones (pick up bags from Body Shop)
Turn off tap whilst cleaning teeth.
Have less baths and more showers!
Turn any lights off you are not using.
Don't overfill the kettle.
Use both sides of paper / re-use scrap.
Re-use plastic bags.
Start campaign at school/work to recycle.
Recycle at home.
Walk to school/work, instead of getting a lift.

THIS WAY FOR A HEALTHIER HAPPIER LUTON...

Find out facts about the effects of alcohol / drugs / smoking.
Find out what you can do to limit the danger to your health from these things.
Have an apple a day.
Find a new sport / form of exercise, which you've never tried before and is fun. E.g water aerobics, parkour.
Take the dog for a walk.

BRIGHTEN UP YOUR STREET ...

Plant some flowers in your front garden - try and grow some from seed!
Do a litter pick on your estate.
Vow never to drop litter again.

Prayer

2006-02-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

From where we are
to where you need us
CHRIST BE BESIDE US

From what we are
to what you can make of us
CHRIST BE BEFORE US

From the mouthing of generalities
to making signs of your kingdom
CHRIST BE BENEATH US

Through the streets of this world
to the gates of heaven
CHRIST BE ABOVE US

Surround us with your presence
inspire us with your purpose
confirm us in your love.
AMEN

Taken from "A Wee Worship Book" - Wild Goose Worship Group

Dream a little dream...

2006-02-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

A LIVING NIGHTMARE?

When Luton appeared in the 'Book of Crap Towns II - The nation decides', I was gutted and wanted to scream “Noooooooo” very loudly off the roof of the library car park but since the only thing that would have achieved was possibly getting me locked up, I lived with that fact brooding somewhere in my head.

Last year had been a really tough one for the town, THAT book, links to terrorists, struggling schools, not being top of the league and yet I and many of my colleagues at LCET feel passionately that this is a great town, with fantastic people and that Luton deserves better! I wondered what we could do to silence the cynics and to further enable people to live out the potential that they and this place have. But what?

THINKING BIG.

The LCET School's Team donned their thinking caps and discovered 'Acts of Random Kindness Week' and thought we could use this in schools to do some positive actions. But then we found the fantastic website www.wearewhatwedo.org. The BBC aired 'Making Slough Happy', which encouraged us no end, if it was possible to do that how much more could we do?! I also walk past Debenham's most days and they had Luton Town t-shirts in the window proclaiming 'Live the Luton Dream' - I thought why not, it makes a change from the message that life in Luton is a nightmare.

So the team and I prayed and we came up with Living the Luton Dream - for us it's about incarnating the generosity of God in the everyday stuff of life. It's what we try to do everyday but sometimes get tired and sometimes need to know others are with us too. But whether you believe in God, or not, everyone can play a part in making Luton a place to be proud of. So here's the plan.

From the 22nd to 29th of May 2006 we hope a network of projects, activities and actions will be built across the town. Visible, practical, relevant, a demonstration of love as lavish as the kingdom should be. And we want you to take part. There will be loads coming up on the blog to inspire you and get you going.

Will you join us and for one week, all week really LIVE the dream you dream the other 51 weeks a year?

Lillie, Schools Worker, LCET