The Church exists to be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice. …
As part of a fresh approach to every aspect of Our Calling in the light of the pandemic the church will from Sept 2020 onward be considering how to Serve Others ‘as never before’ – see below for material relating to this which will be added over the coming months;
A Prayer for Serving others, based on ‘Beauty for brokenness’
Loving God, where there is brokenness and despair,
we pray for beauty and hope to be at work,
bringing justice, joy, peace.
Life is so fragile, work and self-worth so rare
as people struggle just to survive, let alone thrive
In a world where there are so few voices
to plead the cause of the poor,
Help us to cry out against injustice with compassion.
Melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain,
come change our love from a spark to a flame
We pray for a place of refuge
for those caught in the cross fire of war –
for sanctuary in this country,
for those fleeing hunger and violence.
Melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain,
come change our love from a spark to a flame
We pray for a new respect and care
for the earth ravaged and plundered by greed.
End our madness before it is too late,
and make us content with the things that we need.
Melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain,
come change our love from a spark to a flame
Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 693
Words and Music: © 1993, Graham Kendrick / Make Way Music Ltd, PO Box 320,
Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN2 9DE UK. <www.grahamkendrick.co.uk> Used by permission.
Some key questions to guide us
What are the key needs in our community and how are we responding to them?
Who is involved in service to the community through charities or community groups?
Are there opportunities for more of us to become involved?
Are we making the best use of our premises and our money for service to the community?
Are we wasting resources?
Are we spending our time and resources in ways which are consistent with our beliefs and values?
Looking back at 2016-2017
Loneliness is a key concern, and those who have shared in the Free Christmas Dinner in 2015 and 2016 were invited to come to Wednesday Lunch Club every other month for a further free meal in good company. This was further expanded into a monthly Sunday Lunch Bunch at the local Pub after morning service. A Meet and Eat leaflet has been produced to advertise other opportunities for people to meet over food , including regular Coffee Mornings, and a monthy Big Breakfast.
The provision of a bi-monthly Film Club provides an opportunity for people who don’t normally go to the cinema to get out and see a popular film. A final word highlights any Christian themes that have been raised by the film. Leisure/ games groups for both men and women provide further opportunities to meet others and make new friends.
The appointment of a further full time Families and Children’s Worker, and their support for Toddlers , Pre-School, Uniformed groups, youth clubs and Sunday children groups across two sites is part of our response to the pastoral needs of those with young children. A monthly gathering for young mums and carers called Coffee and Craft provides opportunities for them to mix and make new friends whilst being creative.
We support other charities in the area such as a local Food Bank and Hospice work at St Luke’s in Basildon
Areas that need to be addressed:
Do we share with one another our concerns about things which do not seem right, or cause trouble in our community, or appear unjust?
How do we challenge injustice in other parts of the world?
How does the life of our community, and our involvement in it, feature in the prayers of the church?
How do we give attention to the moral issues raised by daily work?
