Stewardship Sunday 2022 – Giving Time

There are many different ways you can give of your time to the ministry and mission of St Mary’s Church. As our buildings, Sundays and midweek all become busier, we have more spaces and places to help than before. We’ve listed a few opportunities below as examples, but there will be plenty more.  Please get in touch with the office if you’re looking for a place to give your time, and we’re start finding the best place for you to help.

 

Our Welcomers greet people who use the Church buildings, those who are arriving for an event or meeting or there to collect/drop off their child for a club.

Being a Welcomer in the new building involves answering the phone, staffing the front desk, welcoming and directing people into the building; and talking and listening to those who come.

At each of our services on Sunday, and midweek, we have people who welcome and greet those coming for worship. We may have been coming for many years, or coming for a few weeks. We’re looking for people to the welcome at the door, and we know that makes all the difference to us in feeling at home  

There are lots of opportunities to be hospitable. Volunteers might be providing simple refreshments through the week; on a Wednesday lunchtime for after our Holy Communion service at the Parish Church; or on a Monday morning for our Forget-Me-Not café; or helping with some of our afterschool activities, or for pre-schoolers. Volunteers serve on a rota basis throughout the month.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) works alongside people who face crippling debt, giving them advice and assistance. Befrienders play an important role in encouraging and supporting CAP Clients, providing friendly support as they work towards being debt-free.

We have a thriving 0-18s Ministry at St Mary’s, offering toddler groups, a youth theatre company, drop-in sessions through the week, as well as Sunday School groups. Our Sunday Group leaders help out on a Sunday, usually during a morning service, providing fun, engaging sessions for our children and young people.

You may be interested in helping out by being a crucial spare pair of hands, or in leading a group

Our Youth Theatre company, Treading the Boards, has known a great many volunteers over the years. There are lots of varied things which people can get involved with, helping out at rehearsals, making props, scenery or costumes, or helping at the shows.

Opportunities to help our local young people spend time in the Bank and with friends and leaders. If you enjoy a game of pool, table football or card games with the young people, you could help Becca or Malcolm in the sessions, perhaps once a week or once a month, between 3:30pm and 5pm.

TLG Early Intervention gives the church a practical solution to support children, families and schools in their community. We’re in the early days of exploring what an Early Intervention Programme with Transforming Lives for Good might look like at St Mary’s. Volunteers would work one to one with school pupils on a regular basis. Let us know if you would like to express an interest in being involved.

We have a fantastic team of pastoral carers at St Marys, people who bake, cook, drive, deliver, call and visit. If you would be able to help with tasks like this please let us know.

For more information about volunteering opportunities and ways to serve, please contact the Church Office.