Creating space for hospitality

An invitation to welcome others into our community is only the beginning of creating a truly welcoming environment. The harder work is making space for within our community and within ourselves to be truly welcoming. This is, of course, the harder work, as it involves letting go of power, influence and our preferred way of doing things.

The concept of hospitality is as old as the human race - the practice of welcoming and protecting the stranger, irrespective of their origin, opinions, beliefs or affiliations has an inescapable moral dimension to it. Issues of inclusion and exclusion have always concerned those holding power and exercising control over others; it is both a personal and a public matter. For radical inclusion can become a doorway to justice and move groups and organisations towards the beloved community. Children's Chapel taking place simultaneously in the Hall. See below for details.

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Bright Lights children's programme: 

Initiation of „Our Book“ (title will be determined by kids), which will be an ongoing assembly of „storytelling“ that we will finalise at the end of the curriculum year in some sort of hand-made tome version.

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You can also watch online via our YouTube Channel. 

You are also invited to join us afterwards for a virtual social gathering, Virtual Side Aisle, at noon via Zoom. Details and the Zoom link are on our weekly update email. You can also find the Zoom link on YouTube – in the Service description, under the video. Click the Connect link and it will take you to Zoom.

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Collection

Can be made as cash or contactless during the closing music. You can also donate to the Chapel online. Our collections in September, with the exception of online donations, will be used for the Good Cause of the Month, The Winter Shelter! In the period of 8 Nov 2024 - 25 Jan 2025 every Friday, we will host about 15 guests overnight, offering a safe, warm place, a hot meal and a good breakfast before they leave us on Saturday morning. Each week’s shelter costs at least £100 - from Chapel funds - thanks to our support. Please help!

Photo by DJ Paine on Unsplash