St Oswald’s Church in Broadwaters, Kidderminster has started a coffee morning which
has been recognised by the ‘Places of Welcome’ scheme. To be a Place of Welcome,
as well as offering a place to come and enjoy a cuppa completely free of charge,
members of the team also need to be a listening ear for people, able to signpost to
other areas of help.
The coffee morning was the idea of Churchwarden, Brian Murkett and his wife Sue.
Brian said: “In Broadwaters there are a lot of retired people and those living on their own
and as the church is the only hall in the area, there is nowhere else for them to meet.”
Having spoken to the DCC, Brian set up a meeting and invited people from Broadwaters’
Methodist Church and the Friends of Broadwaters, a community group which looks after
the local park. “I was overwhelmed at the support we received,” he said. “We’ve been able
to set up five different groups of volunteers who take turns each week to be responsible
for the running of the morning and supplying the tea, coffee, squash and biscuits.”
Nigel Taylor, Vicar in the Kidderminster Ismere team said: “I’d spoken about Places of
Welcome when I first arrived the parish – I’d had some experience of them in Lichfield
Diocese and they seemed very successful in building community. Brian’s coffee morning
was built on the same principles so we decided to apply for it to be part of the scheme.
We’ve now got access to logos and banners to help with publicity and we appear on the
Places of Welcome website. It’s a great opportunity to be part of a bigger network and
learn from others, and I’d definitely encourage other parishes to look at applying.”
Please pray for all those involved
in running the coffee morning at St
Oswald’s Church in Broadwaters and
for other parishes exploring becoming
a Place of Welcome.
Evesham Deanery: Rural Dean: Richard
Thorniley; Lay Chair: Liz Booth
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania: Bishop Mindaugas Sabutis
Diocese of Derry and Raphoe (Ireland): Bishop Kenneth Good
Diocese of Pennsylvania (USA): Bishop Clifton Daniel
Diocese of Pittsburgh (USA): Bishop Dorsey McConnell
