We are now coming to the end of our second year of co-ordinating Café Church and we are pleased to report that our numbers have remained constant and that we have had a variety of speakers over the past year.
Maureen started our Methodist year with an interesting and unusual talk on Japanese flower arranging and its spiritual meaning. Maree told us of a very worthwhile project on homelessness in October and Stephanie gave an insight into the life and times of Susannah Wesley (John & Charles’s mother) in November.
In December we had a festive meeting, with Helen playing some favourite carols, a parable about ‘Christmas under the bed’, a quiz and the always delightful Pied Piper Nativity. Jane had also produced some beautiful bookmarks for everyone with dates of 2013 meetings.
2013 started with Jane telling us about ‘Angels’ (not necessarily in white with golden hair!) and in February Bob Farrimond told us all about the Town Chaplains in Newbury. Rev John Lee (URC) gave us a very thought-provoking talk on India – a subject which needed more time and which we thought might be worth an evening for the whole Church in the new year.
Rev Val Fisher entertained us with her knowledge and love of weather and meteorology in April and in May we had an excellent talk on being a Hospital Chaplain by Rev Chris Stott. In June Jeff Britt gave us all the inside information on being a Games-maker at the 2012 Olympics – very interesting, especially as he was dressed in his uniform!
We have again come full circle in that Will will be coming to speak to us on his travels at our July meeting and because people enjoy the fellowship and friendship (not to mention the coffee and cakes!) we will again hold a Café Church in August this year when Karen will be the speaker.
It is an informal relaxed form of worship - people can come in at any time between 9.30am and 11am, but we ‘pause for thought’ at about 10.15am for 10-15 minutes. There is a welcome for everyone – young and old, male and female; we normally have between 15 and 20 people who attend, from other Churches in the town and beyond – URC, Catholic, St Mary’s. Those who are able take their turn at serving the coffee (and washing up afterwards!) and we are very grateful to everyone for donating cakes, time and money; because of their generosity, we have been able to purchase more mugs and a saucepan for the Church and also to make a donation on Church Anniversary.
We would like to thank all those who support us during the year by speaking, but also by attending so regularly (whatever the weather!)
We are now looking ahead to next year and already have two speakers lined up for the autumn with several more ideas in mind.
Maureen started our Methodist year with an interesting and unusual talk on Japanese flower arranging and its spiritual meaning. Maree told us of a very worthwhile project on homelessness in October and Stephanie gave an insight into the life and times of Susannah Wesley (John & Charles’s mother) in November.
In December we had a festive meeting, with Helen playing some favourite carols, a parable about ‘Christmas under the bed’, a quiz and the always delightful Pied Piper Nativity. Jane had also produced some beautiful bookmarks for everyone with dates of 2013 meetings.
2013 started with Jane telling us about ‘Angels’ (not necessarily in white with golden hair!) and in February Bob Farrimond told us all about the Town Chaplains in Newbury. Rev John Lee (URC) gave us a very thought-provoking talk on India – a subject which needed more time and which we thought might be worth an evening for the whole Church in the new year.
Rev Val Fisher entertained us with her knowledge and love of weather and meteorology in April and in May we had an excellent talk on being a Hospital Chaplain by Rev Chris Stott. In June Jeff Britt gave us all the inside information on being a Games-maker at the 2012 Olympics – very interesting, especially as he was dressed in his uniform!
We have again come full circle in that Will will be coming to speak to us on his travels at our July meeting and because people enjoy the fellowship and friendship (not to mention the coffee and cakes!) we will again hold a Café Church in August this year when Karen will be the speaker.
It is an informal relaxed form of worship - people can come in at any time between 9.30am and 11am, but we ‘pause for thought’ at about 10.15am for 10-15 minutes. There is a welcome for everyone – young and old, male and female; we normally have between 15 and 20 people who attend, from other Churches in the town and beyond – URC, Catholic, St Mary’s. Those who are able take their turn at serving the coffee (and washing up afterwards!) and we are very grateful to everyone for donating cakes, time and money; because of their generosity, we have been able to purchase more mugs and a saucepan for the Church and also to make a donation on Church Anniversary.
We would like to thank all those who support us during the year by speaking, but also by attending so regularly (whatever the weather!)
We are now looking ahead to next year and already have two speakers lined up for the autumn with several more ideas in mind.