The good news is that Berkswich Luncheon Club has grown! It now meets twice a month and has the new kitchen it's members dreamed of. Superintendent Minister Jeff Reynolds updates the story.
Watch Jeff, and Rosemary Cooke, update the story below.
The luncheon club still meets within the church hall and does very much the same as it already has. We have hit on a successful formula, so why change it?
The clientele are mainly elderly, but continue to eat a 3 course meal together and have the opportunity to talk to one another and also the minister and members of the church, in a setting that is relaxed and develops those strong pastoral links.
There is a real sense of community there. It was never set up to bring people to the Sunday service. To me, Wednesday lunch at 12.30 is just as important as Sunday at 10.30am. This is church.
When the team reflect back to the early days, they would never have considered they would could have managed twice a month. It essentially felt very resource-heavy to cook 60 cooked meals, but now they can do it – and they can do it comfortably.
We don't have an idea of where it is going… you have to be lead by God and for that reason we don't know what shape it may take but we continue to serve and share food together, as Jesus did.
We are also beginning church in a pub on a Sunday night. Again, we don't know how it will develop but we love a challenge and it's so important to build relationships with those around us.