The Revd Eddie Boon reflects on how the Holy Habit of ‘serving’ forms a significant part of the ministry at Cornerstone United Reformed Church, Hythe.
‘At Cornerstone, we have an interconnected ministry team structure where the mission and life of the church is divided into eleven teams which people are challenged to be part of. This empowers everyone to participate in the ministry which the church offers, participating as faithful and confident disciples of Jesus.
‘Our foyer ministry, which is open every day to serve the community, providing the public with a safe and welcoming place with a warm, friendly, listening ear. We also provide a fortnightly sale of donated items at bargain prices. Through this, we have encountered much of the 'Christ-like hospitality' that is described in Holy Habits (p181). This ministry works closely with with our pastoral team in supporting a number of vulnerable people who find their way to us.
‘Our ‘Families Matter’ project, which won a URC Community Award in 2016, serves the community in a variety of ways, including dementia support, mental health, schools transition work, anger management, family support, additional needs, autistic spectrum support, parenting, addiction support. We pay a part-time project manager and some of the workers, but many are volunteers. Through this, we directly experience the 'reciprocal hospitality' that is spoken of in the book, allowing groups to get to know each other and learn from one another.
‘The church’s world mission team also provides opportunities for people from within the church to gain experience in global mission. We particularly work in Sierra Leone and the latest team of ten volunteers, including three teenagers, returned in October from their travels to a small village where they did health and medical work, health promotion, well maintenance, practical work, schools work and evangelism.
‘It is exciting to be connected to communities in service (Holy Habits, p179); it is not without its cost and its burdens, but it is the work of God that we are joining in with – and it is well worth it.’
Learn more at: www.cornerstonehytheurc.org.uk
