This month's newsletter from Maxine Heath
The 23rd August 2018 will be a significant date in the history of St James Church. Following the dissolution of the United Benefice with All Saints, Footscray, on that day, St James, together with our sister church St Barnabas, Joydens Wood, joined with St John the Evangelist, Bexley, and St Mary the Virgin, Bexley, to become known as the Bexley Team Ministry. Also, on that day, the Reverend Ren Harding’s position as Associate Priest at St James and Vicar of St Barnabas changed to Team Vicar of St Barnabas and St James.
Being part of the Bexley team will not only strengthen and widen our outreach and mission in the local community but bring new energy, and we look forward to working together with our fellow churches. Exciting times for our future lie ahead.
You can keep up to date with all that is going on within the Benefice by looking at our new Facebook page @bexleyteamministry.
Something you can already enjoy within the new Benefice is the Bexley Community Café. Based in the church hall at St John’s Church and run by Reverend Gary Best and a wonderful group of church volunteers, anyone, whether a churchgoer or not, can pop in anytime on a Thursday morning between 9.30am and 12.30pm for a chat, meet up with friends old and new, join in with the children’s activities, and enjoy free tea, coffee and cake.
On the morning I visited at the end of August, there were 36 adults and 19 children of all ages, from newborn babies to the elderly (many of whom live alone). The atmosphere was very relaxed, and everyone was enjoying themselves.
Reverend Gary has been hugely encouraged by the amount of people visiting the café, and each week the numbers increase as news spreads by word of mouth and social media. Going out nowadays, especially with a family, can be expensive, so being able to visit somewhere for a few hours, free of charge, is an opportunity not to be missed. Bring your friends along, too. You will all be made very welcome.
Maxine Heath, Churchwarden