OUTREACH is mission beyond our walls and extends our charity into the community, an area where we have funded an outreach worker for over 10 years, following an earlier windfall. Like outreach workers Alison Smith and Louise Everett before him, we have paid Don Philips for his services as social enterprise worker in an attempt to draw local healthcare providers into the church halls. Then came Covid, which shifted all our efforts.
Don has had more success using the global Internet to take this Reformed Church into the local community of Cheadle Hulme, wider into Stockport and further, making or using Churches Together or community websites and FaceBook pages. 1000’s of people know about us now according to Google.
He has found many like-minded churches, plus a council newly awakened to the vastness of voluntary work carried out by all faith groups, especially over Covid. A common phase is “Find out what God’s doing and help Him.” Don has built a database, a computer display, to gather together information on the work done across the area’s faith groups which can be searched like a census. This will co-ordinate churches, avoid duplication, and enable funding to be directed efficiently in support of the disadvantaged in the community. Don is also the Chair of the local food bank – Chelwood Foodbank+ (‘+’ indicating ‘more than just food’).
This URC is a strong supporter of Churches Together in Cheadle Hulme, and Chairing the group for several years.
Beyond that, we host a number of other initiatives…
Pre-school Group – run by Marple Childcare
Soup, Sweet n Meet – Once a month, a simple (except Christmas) lunch for members and their friends or neighbours.
Film Matinee – Every month we screen a thought provoking DVD for friends and neighbours.
Christmas & Easter Cards – With service details.
Remembrance and Armistice – Services on the Sunday and the 11th, supported by mini-exhibition.
Nativity Service – Pre-school have a nativity service in the sanctuary.
========================== Bernie Stevens