[block\__Wellspring__ is an interdenominational worship group based in the north of England who have a special interest in bringing fresh vision to worship and encouraging the rediscovery of the creative arts within the wider church.¬Go to |About Us\biography| for more information.] __Firstly, a massive thank you to all of you!__ Many of you have supported us over the years, and we thank you for your feedback and encouragement during this recent quieter period of discernment. We believe passionately that the Lord continues to call us to teach, lead and train people in worship and mission - and to serve him with all the gracious gifts that he has given us - to help people access the deep 'wells' of God's refreshing water/Spirit.  We minister to the Lord, and by his grace, he ministers to us all. name=Our Calling [pic\news_00\portrait] We believe God has called us to be a community of artists who are committed to: **__worship__ to draw on the deep 'wells' of God's refreshing water/Spirit //(John 4)// **__mission__ to share God’s love, grace and compassion as we ‘walk the ancient pathways //(Jeremiah 6:16)// to the ancient meeting places’ **__healing__ to sing & play in an attitude that invites God’s Holy Spirit to graciously ‘bind up the broken-hearted... and bestow crowns of beauty instead of ashes’ //(Isaiah 61:3)// **__community__ who are there for one another within the divine embrace of God’s redeeming love, celebrating our unity & diversity together. //(Eph 4:16)// name=Recent Events We have been mainly ministering in and around Manchester recently. Have a look at the |events| page to see some things we’ve been up to, and some plans for the future. name=Stop Press! Manchester Cathedral Residency! [pic\news_01\portrait] It has been our pleasure and delight to work with the staff at |Manchester Cathedral\/manchestercathedral.org| and with the rhythm of worship and mission in the city centre over two decades; so much so that in a new exciting collaboration, Wellspring will become their __Contemporary Band in Residence__! From October 2010 we will take part in a number of morning services - eucharists, baptisms, all-age services - sometimes partnering with the choir and at other times on our own. We are not going to be replacing the excellent choir (as if we could!); our hope is to compliment their ministry, which is regularly featured on the BBC’s flagship |Choral Evensong\/www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tp7r| programme. We will also be taking part in the //Cathedral Dedication Day// on 3rd October 2010. The mission potential of this residency will be great and we are beginning to discuss a jazz eucharist for 2011 as well as other possibilities for a pioneering alliance of music and mission. name=Prayer Support We are so very grateful that many of you pray regularly for the ongoing ministry of Wellspring. Please do continue to hold all of us in your prayers, as with the effects of the recession now beginning to bite, it’s the arts that are always affected first with cut-backs. Many of the group do find it difficult to find work and juggle what can be a chaotic lifestyle whilst running from one job to the next. However, we are very conscious of God’s faithfulness to each one of us and we pray that we will be a blessing as we serve the Lord with all we have. Have a look at the |prayer| page for specific prayer requests. name=And Finally [pic\news_02\square] Thank you once again for continuing to support Wellspring with all your prayers and financial gifts. Please do continue to |get back to us\contact| with any queries or thoughts you may have; we always love to hear from our supporters. May you all know God’s grace, peace and blessing, //Mike and Sally Thornton.//