Jenny’s letter 7th June
Dear Friends,
Last week, Susan Jones reminded me that it was National Volunteers’ Week. It was a timely reminder because so much of what happens at St Barnabas simply would not happen without volunteers.
Whether you welcome people at the door, serve tea and coffee, arrange flowers, lead activities, help with finances, serve in the café, visit others, run groups, help in worship, work behind the scenes, or give your time in countless other ways, you are helping to make our church and community what it is. Thank you. Your generosity, kindness and faithfulness are deeply appreciated.
As many of you know, The Centre is continuing to develop its partnership with NEO Community, a charity committed to supporting people facing difficult circumstances and helping them move towards greater stability and independence. Over recent weeks we have begun to make available food, toiletries and household essentials for those who need them. This is happening at no financial cost to the church.
This is not, at this stage, a food bank. Rather, it is a way of offering a little extra support when people need it. Sometimes a small helping hand at the right moment can make a real difference.
The resources are available to anyone. We know that circumstances can change unexpectedly, and many people experience times when money is simply tighter than usual. Equally, some people may simply find it convenient to pick up a few items while they are visiting The Centre. We hope this will be a practical expression of care within our community, offered with dignity, generosity and without judgement.
As the project develops, we will continue to learn what works best and respond to the needs we encounter. We will be adopting a simple principle: “Take what you need. Pay what you can. Give if you’re able.” For some people, paying the full cost of an item will be straightforward. Some may choose to pay a little extra, helping to support others. Some may only be able to contribute a small amount. Others, at times of real hardship, may have nothing to give at all. This approach reflects something of God’s generosity towards us. We all receive according to our need and give according to our ability. At the same time, we want these resources to be available fairly and sustainably. That means taking only what we genuinely need and recognising that these supplies are intended to support those facing difficulties. Our volunteers will sometimes need to have sensitive conversations where appropriate. That is not always easy, but it is part of ensuring that kindness and fairness go hand in hand.
The early church understood something of this balance. We read in Acts that believers shared what they had so that “there was not a needy person among them” (Acts 4:34). Their generosity was not about creating dependence but about building a community where people cared for one another and nobody was left behind. Please pray for everyone involved in this developing work: those who will receive support, those who will give generously, and the volunteers who will help make it happen.
Finally, a reminder that the Bromborough Village Fair takes place next Saturday. There is still time to enter artwork into the art exhibition and competition. All entries will also be available for sale afterwards, making it a wonderful opportunity both to share your creativity and to support the event. We are also still looking for volunteers to help on the day. If you can spare some time, even for a short period, please do get in touch. Community events like this only happen because people are willing to lend a hand.
As National Volunteers’ Week comes to an end, perhaps that is the thread that ties all these things together: people offering what they can, where they can, for the good of others. It may not always seem much, but God has a remarkable habit of taking ordinary acts of generosity and using them to do extraordinary things.
Every blessing,
