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| Marlborough Place Update "We moved here 4 years ago from Old Heath. We used to know loads of neighbours there. But there's no com-munity here. No one to bor-row sugar from,” said a neighbour at the Marlborough Place July barbecue. This neighbour then went on to suggest more outdoor activities, and offered help. These comments show people feel a desire to share together on the new Abbeyfield neighbourhoods. Colchester Boiler Room Community, and other friends, have prayed here now for more than 6 months. There have been answers to prayer, praise God. I needed space and helpers to run a football activity for young people. The Army gave permission to use Abbey Field. I discovered two of my next door neighbours are football coaches, and were willing to help! They now help me run the football game, along with helpers from local churches. We get more than 20 teenagers coming each week. Several neighbours gave generously to the May Plant Giveaway, as well as supporters from local churches. I went home with new plants for me too! About 12 neighbours came and received free plants, also compost bins donated by Colchester Borough Council. A few of us in Colchester Boiler Room Community dreamed about offering a Messy Church session to our neighbours. Some of our friends from the supporting churches offered to help, and this enabled us to run a Messy Church session in May half term. There was a story from Jesus, making things, food, prayer and a song. Everyone gave very good feedback, and we're planning the next one in the August holidays. Bovis, the house builders at the Quadriga neighbourhood, have welcomed the Abbeyfield Community Project information pack, and are giving it out to every new resident. They have also invited us to deliver the pack to the people who have already moved in. I have had an opportunity to meet with the Residents Association from Solus, another newly built neighbourhood. They welcome help from Abbeyfield Community Project, and particularly want me to share ideas about how to provide good activities for young people in their neighbourhood. I am working with St Margaret's Church to invite young people from this neighbourhood to their summer youth club. There are also difficulties in this work of encouraging people to share. I was the only person attending the June litter pick on my neighbourhood. I could not find other helpers from the Residents Association for the July barbecue. However, helpers from Colchester Boiler Room Community stepped in, and neighbours appreciated the barbecue. Another challenge is the size of the work. There will be seven new neighbourhoods when all the building is completed. I am learning that I can't impact all these people on my own. One of our prayers is that people will be equipped and sent to these neighbourhoods, to serve the communities there and grow house churches. We are spending time with peo-ple in Colchester Boiler Room Community to begin this equipping. “Can we run some more activities during the sum-mer holidays?” asked one of my neighbours, who helps run the football. I am looking to run an extra outdoor activity day during the August summer holidays on Abbey Field. Please contact me if you'd like to help, also, if you would like to help deliver information packs to Quadriga, or newsletters to Solus neighbourhoods. A big answer to prayer has been the provision of money to pay for my time, and resources, until end of August 2011. Thank you to every supporting church who has given generously to enable this work to continue. Thank you for your interest and support. Richard Smith Community Worker, Abbeyfield Community Project |
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| In the News: Gazette Article |
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