The United Reformed Church

Our latest article, by Church Related Community Worker (CRCW) Simon Loveitt, reflects on what it is like trying to serve your community in such unprecedented times. Simon works at the Manor Church and Community Project in Sheffield. Read his reflection here:

What a difference a week makes!

At 5pm on Monday 16th March, we had the first Prime Minister’s Covid-19 daily press conference, and life was about to change.

CRCW’s enable churches to strategically engage with, to transform and to become more relevant to their local neighbourhoods. Much of the work is through face to face meetings.

A week on and my diary has changed dramatically.  I work ecumenically, and the URC, Methodist and Anglican churches have cancelled Sunday worship till further notice.

Instead, Marian and I had our own service at home on Sunday morning.

All user groups at the three churches in the Parish, except essential groups, have now had their sessions cancelled.

Of the two groups that remain, I am chair of Manor After School and Kids Klub (MASKK), a local charity who run after school and holiday provision and run sessions for children with special needs.  This is still running on a reduced service, following the guidelines from Sheffield City Council.

I am also treasurer of the S2 Food Poverty Network, a large, independent Foodbank and Food Club for the S2 community of Sheffield.  We have reduced the days we operate, but are still running.  Demand has increased.  Donations to the Foodbank have increased dramatically.  The difficulty of sourcing enough food from supermarkets to provide food parcels has become a substantial daily challenge.  Change in the supermarket rules means we can only buy three items of one kind.  That is causing us massive logistical challenges.

A Covid-19 appeal for the 20 food banks in Sheffield is about to be launched, which the S2 Food Poverty Network has offered help co-ordinate.

There are questions too of the re-development of the Temple Park Centre.  It has already been a rollercoaster of a few weeks, with increased costs, and asbestos removal to cope with. Now, with the Covid-19 crisis, will building work actually be able to start?  

I end this reflection with the prayer written by Jamie Kissack and Simon Copley for the Sunday morning act of devotion:

Father, help us discern the activity of Your Holy Spirit in our current crisis that we may respond with the love of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Bring health and healing to all who are unwell and faith and confidence to all who are fearful.
Strengthen and guide all who lead the nations of the world, particularly our Queen and her advisers, our Prime Minister and his cabinet, those who lead the nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and all local government.

Give wisdom, compassion and strength to all in business, farming and public service who have power to provide for us and influence our way of life at this time. We pray, particularly, for strength and health of all who work in our emergency services and our health services and knowledge to those who are researching a cure for the virus.

Be with children as they are sent home from school and help them, along with all who are feeling isolated and under-employed, to use this time creatively. Help mothers who are caring for children at this time.

Help us find ways to give practical support and comfort to all who face financial difficulty, unemployment and loss of businesses.

Guide and lead your church that we may be a light of neighbourly love and care in our communities and a rock of compassion in our nation at this time.

Help us, individually, to respond in Your name and so find the new life of Your Spirit, through whose power you raised Christ from the dead.

Amen

Simon Loveitt

This is undoubtedly one of the busiest month's of the year for most and with so much to do, it can be easy to forget to give yourself some time out, space to breathe and think about your own mental wellbeing.

CRCW Jo Patterson has written a great article about mindfulness and how it's not just about seeking help with things go wrong, but constantly keeping your mental wellbeing in mind, which is equally as important as keeping your body fit and healthy:

"Regular maintenance of our mental well-being is just as necessary as a lemsip! After all, it could just be a matter of an hour between being fine and being vulnerable - and God knows that we are vulnerable all the time."

Jo describes how their vicar; Edward went on a mindfulness retreat for clergy last year and was so impressed by the way it made him feel that he went on courses to train as a mindfulness coach himself. He partnered with another qualified coach and as a result, the centre now offers regular mindfulness courses and drop in sessions. This has been a life-changer for some.

You can read Jo's full reflection about Mindfulness here.

This month we hear from Ann Honey, who is the Church Related Community Worker (CRCW) for the CRCW project at St. Columba's United Reformed Church in Billingham.

Ann reflects on her first year in Billingham and says: We “get to know” the church we’re working with, the people in and around it – and they “get to know” us. I believe it’s where projects are made – right at the start, when we make the relationships that set the tone and try to work out where the project might lead."

"Community work, as with life, is all about relationships."

Ann shares 3 'little things that are actually 3 really big things' that stay with her and provide an indication of how she is getting on in her first year of this new project. To find out more, Ann's reflection: Getting to know You' can be read here. (PDF)

This month, we have a number of reflections to share and we start with Katy Ollerenshaw, who is currently in her second year of CRCW training and on placement in Stockport. Katy says:

"In my time on placement one thing which has stood out has been how personal passions drive projects and in particular, volunteers. Being able to share something they personally benefit from makes the giving of time and skills appealing to those who may on occasion feel they are unable, too busy or have nothing to give."

Katy describes how an unintentional project: Mana Potion – 'an event where those seeking community, company and models of positive wellbeing can come and enjoy in their own way and time through play' has been embraced by all those around her:

"These regulars like to describe themselves as unofficial volunteers, that said they wouldn’t mind having a t-shirt to make it official! Their passions for table top games and their benefits have created a small community which supports each other both in and outside of the project."

Read Katy's reflection in full here.

If you would like to find out more about building community in your local area and the ministry of Church Related Community Work, contact our CRCW office by email or call 0207 916 2020.