6. Grange URC â This is us! First we would have
to find out if it were feasible! It would require
finance, space, renovations and volunteers, all
of which were forthcoming
7. Southcote ALIVE
We already had an informal alliance with the other two churches in Southcote, under the
banner âSouthcote Aliveâ. We had done many things together such as Good Friday âWalks of
Witnessâ, âCarols in the Squareâ and other outreach events, and also had Prayer tents and BBQâs
at Southcote May Fayres. They were happy to join with us, so forming a planning group was
relatively easy.
9. CAFĂ ALIVE
âą Finding Space
Space was made by selling the organ situated at the back of the sanctuary. Some of the
congregation were not too happy about that, but were somewhat appeased when it was
sold to a Parish Organist from North Denmark. He, his daughter and a friend drove over
here and dismantled it, getting filthy in the process. They then went to our ministerâs home
for a shower and a meal, before driving it back to Denmark. He has since sent us emails
showing it reassembled and even hearing it playing!
13. The dais at the
front of the
church is cleared
completely, the
communion
table is moved,
covered over and
then becomes
the site for
bagatelle and
other interesting
games.
The bagatelle
originally
belonged to an
84 year old
church member
when he was a
boy. They love it,
and the top
score of the
afternoon wins a
free cake! Plenty
of other games
are also
provided.
17. CAFĂ ALIVE
âą How it works
Almost all volunteers have been endorsed by our three local churches
though one does come from a church from another part of the town. In
order to keep our Christian emphasis we have not sought volunteers from
elsewhere. We have one volunteer as manager who organises the rotas and
content of the childrenâs work, ensures paper work is done and checks the
stock.
20. We started
initially on
Wednesday
afternoons, but
before a year
was up, the
mums were
asking us to
open on another
morning a week.
We can manage
with less helpers
for that as we
only use the rear
part of the
sanctuary and
donât do so
much with the
children.
21. On Thursday
mornings we
only did drinks
and biscuits
initially, with a
few cakes left
over from the
day before. Then
we had the idea
of serving toast
as many of the
mums come in
straight from
dropping their
children off at
school. Often
they have not
had time to feed
themselves. It
went down very
well.
We quickly went
from a 2 slice
toaster to a 4
and then a 6,
which was
actually a
commercial
version and
much faster.
23. We have been
told it is the
âhappening place
to beâ and are
missed over the
summer when
for the health of
our volunteers
we are forced to
close. One very
pregnant young
mum told me it
was her best
afternoon of the
week. She could
sit back and relax
with a cup of
great coffee,
while her sons
played happily
without fighting.
24. They have told
us that they
really appreciate
the kindly willing
service they
receive.
25. We find time to
talk to people
who voluntarily
walk through our
church doors.
26. Thursday morning â a different arrangement of the building, but more geared up to the little
ones. The mums really enjoy their toast and chat!
27. On the till! Within the first year, all loans were repaid.
28. We all muck in together, sharing all the jobs. Most of us did a Food Safety course and exam and
most of us are DBS checked.
29. A group of older people are always the first to arrive and settle themselves in this corner. We
thought at first they were coming when it was quiet and would go when it got noisier. No way!
We have to kindly persuade them to leave when we are trying to clear up!
30. We do craft
activities with a
Bible story
theme for the
children. We
tried stories , but
they didnât really
want to just sit
down when
coming in
straight from
school. They do
like trying a
helperâs guitar
and sometimes
sing or dance.
31. All are welcome to
try our cakes,
including dogs for
the disabled!
32. We have frames
on each table
that we can
place small
notices in and
are currently
exploring how
we can display
more Christian
posters on the
walls.
33. Playtime after school. The frieze on the wall was done in the craft sessions in the
first term.
Grange URC â This is us! First we would have to find out if it were feasible! It would require finance, space, renovations and volunteers, all of which were forthcoming.
We already had an informal alliance with the other two churches in Southcote, under the banner âSouthcote Aliveâ. We had done many things together such as Good Friday âWalks of Witnessâ, âCarols in the Squareâ and outreach events, and also had Prayer tents and BBQâs at Southcote May Fayres. They were happy to join with us, so forming a planning group was relatively easy.
Space was made by selling the organ situated at the back of the sanctuary. Some of the congregation were not too happy about that, but were somewhat appeased when it was sold to a Parish Organist from North Denmark. He, his daughter and a friend drove over here and dismantled it, getting filthy in the process. They then went to our ministers for a shower and a meal, before driving it back to Denmark. He has since sent us emails showing it reassembled and even hearing it playing!
The dais at the front of the church is cleared completely, the communion table is moved, covered over and then becomes the site for bagatelle and other interesting games. The bagatelle originally belonged to an 84 year old church member when he was a boy. They love it, and the top score of the afternoon wins a free cake! Plenty of other games are also provided.
Almost all volunteers have been endorsed by our three local churches though one does come from a church from another part of the town. In order to keep our Christian emphasis we have not sought volunteers from elsewhere. We have one volunteer as manager who organises the rotas and content of the childrenâs work, ensures paper work is done and checks the stock.
We started initially on Wednesday afternoons, but before a year was up, the mums were asking us to open on another morning a week. We can manage with less helpers for that as we only use the rear part of the sanctuary and donât do so much with the children.
On Thursday mornings we only did drinks and biscuits initially, with a few cakes left over from the day before. Then we had the idea of serving toast as many of the mums come in straight from dropping their children off at school. Often they have not had time to feed themselves. It went down very well. We quickly went from a 2 slice toaster to a 4 and then a 6, which was actually a commercial version and much faster.
We have been told it is the âhappening place to beâ and are missed over the summer when for the health of our volunteers we are forced to close. One very pregnant young mum told me it was her best afternoon of the week. She could sit back and relax with a cup of great coffee, while her sons played happily without fighting.
They have told us that they really appreciate the kindly willing service they receive.
We find time to talk to people who voluntarily walk through our church doors.
Thursday morning â a different arrangement of the building, but more geared up to the little ones. The mums really enjoy their toast and chat!
On the till! Within the first year, all loans were repaid.
We all muck in together, sharing all the jobs. Most of us did a Food Safety course and exam and most of us are DBS checked.
A group of older people are always the first to arrive and settle themselves in this corner. We thought at first they were coming when it was quiet and would go when it got noisier. No way! We have to kindly persuade them to leave when we are trying to clear up!
We do craft activities with a Bible story theme for the children. We tried stories , but they didnât really want to just sit down when coming in straight from school. They do like trying a helperâs guitar and sometimes sing or dance.
All are welcome to try our cakes, including dogs for the disabled!
We have frames on each table that we can place small notices in and are currently exploring how we can display more Christian posters on the walls.
Playtime after school. The frieze on the wall was done in the craft sessions in the first term.