Doing more.  Doing it together.  Doing it in word and action.

Over the last few months I have been discussing with others an idea to unite the churches in our area to serve the communities in which we live.  This month, a proposal went to the Kirk Session, who approved it in principle.  It has also gone to the leadership of other churches in the area. I share it with you below in the hope that you will be excited at the opportunities it offers and be enthused to be a part of this venture.

 
There are 60 seconds in a minute.  60 minutes in an hour. 24 hours in a day. 525, 600 minutes or 8, 760 hours in a year. 
All we ask is for a few minutes now and a few hours later.

 
AIMS
The aim of this proposal is to introduce to you a new concept for identifying and meeting needs which exist in the areas in which our churches are situated and to gauge the interest of churches and their members to be involved in such a project.  The proposal is largely in line with the Hope Scotland vision to see churches ‘Do more.  Do it together.  Do it in word and action’. 

See www.hope08scotland.org.uk

 The concept is new in its aim to unite Christians from different denominations in our area in a more formal and organised approach to the growing number of needs that are apparent in the community we all aim to serve.  While we realise that currently there exists within each church ministries of mercy, it is felt that uniting our resources would provide greater economies of scale, the opportunity to do greater things for the community that we aim to serve and a strong witness to Jesus’ love and power to transform. 

HOW IT WOULD WORK
In brief, it is hoped that a representative would be made available from each church to form a steering group to facilitate the works of this new project group.  Each church representative would then be charged with recruiting volunteers from within their own church.  One of the key principles of the scheme is that the more people that are involved the better.  A greater pool of people increases the scope of the works can be undertaken but it also helps lessens the time that people may need to be involved. 
Volunteers only need to be willing and able to give up a few hours a year.

Once a pool of volunteers has been established, a representative from the project group would approach the council, schools, and community centres as well as other appropriate bodies to offer the support of the group to help at a local community level.  They would also suggest tasks that may be undertaken by the group.  Church representatives would then recruit appropriate volunteers from their own church to join a team to work on a specific project.

INVOLVING LOCAL PEOPLE
There is also the possibility and the desire to involve other local people in the teams to help them to enjoy and take pride in where they live and to build positive relationships. 

WHAT WOULD BE INVOLVED
Some examples of projects that could be undertaken are: Litter pickups; minor exterior repairs; minor gardening work; keeping parks and other public places (e.g. bus stops) clean and tidy; cleaning graffiti.  The only limitation is imagination!

WHAT IS THE COST?
In short we are looking for people and prayer. Not pounds and pence.

WHAT TO DO NEXT
We hope that you feel this is a project that you as a church could support in prayer and in people. 

If you wish to get involved, or to find out more, please contact me – I would be very glad to hear from you!