Community
|
Intentionally Inclusive - Deliberately Diverse
At Christ Church we are particularly pleased to be a diverse community where everyone can find a welcome and join with others in the worship of God, enjoying acceptance and friendship, and expressing the Gospel through care and concern for our neighbours, both locally and beyond.
In our busy world of 24 hour working and the internet, society has changed and it is becoming increasingly difficult for people of different backgrounds to meet together to mix and share activities.
Within Christ Church toddlers and octogenarians, teenagers and professionals, people with disability, single people and couples and many different people with a variety of skills, enthusiasms, and talents join together in worship. All are valued, and all sorts of people of different backgrounds, experiences, and circumstances, come together in community.
Within the last year we have welcomed numerous visitors from all around the world. If you come for the first time and we don’t make you feel at home as you walk through the door - we are having a very bad day! (Join us for coffee afterwards and give us a second chance)
Children and young people are welcome, and we support them with a range of activities. A special All-age Service is held on the second Sunday in the month at 10 am, when we are joined by the various uniformed organisations. On the other Sundays, God's Gang and a supervised creche provide activities for children during the morning service. For the very young there is a flourishing Pre-School, and First Steps on the second Wednesday in the month at 1.45 p.m. offers mothers with children under 5 the opportunity to join in informal worship and enjoy a cup of coffee and a chat afterwards. There is also a Youth Club on Sunday evenings
We benefit from different Music styles so that a traditional Choral tradition is complemented by a more modern worship group. We may sing something from the Classical or Wesleyan tradition one week, and from Taize or Malawi the next. If you have musical talent or aspirations you will be very welcome to join.
On the second Saturday of each month there is a working party which undertakes cleaning and maintenance tasks. If you like DIY, this might be where you can contribute to the life of the Church. Not only does this do good and necessary work around the building and the grounds, it saves us money. Above all, it has become a very popular social occasion where you can meet and work with fellow members of the congregation and get to know them in another context, and perhaps find unexpected things in common.
A lively Mothers' Union group has a varied programme of speakers and social activities during the year.
At various times of the year we welcome to our special services War Veterans, those helped through bereavement by the EllenorLions Hospices, and local Schools.
Christ Church has an excellent hall with a small kitchen, which is available for hire to community groups. Various local organisations already meet there and are always glad to see new members. CCADS, our own Amateur Dramatic Society, put on two productions each year. They are always looking for more actors... why not come and join them?
We value our own tradition, but we are not inward looking. From time to time we join with other Churches in the East Gravesend Group of Churches so that we meet with our brother and sister Catholics, Salvationists and members of the local URC church for occasional Services.
We raise funds to support a number of other good causes throughout the year - and we have a special link with Christian Aid.
There is much else quietly happening as people give of their talents, organising our fundraising, serving in the sanctuary, running the administration, and website, cleaning or gardening, producing the magazine, photographing the events, teaching the young, driving those with mobility difficulties, and baptismal visiting.
In these and many other ways Christ Church sets out to place itself at the heart of our community. Do come and be part of it. You will be welcome.
|
 Printable Version |
