Welcoming Abbey Fields with ice lollies and smiles!
A number of new housing estates have sprung up around North Abingdon, and Christ Church was one of the local churches looking to engage and welcome the new residents to the area as they arrived.
Christ Church Long Furlong, planted from Christ Church Northcourt Road 30 years ago, led the welcome of new residents moving into the Abbey Fields development. A group of volunteers was set up by Pamela Shirras, ordained minister and member of the congregation at Long Furlong. With support from an estates team comprised of local ministers and lay members, Pamela led a team of people ready with gazebos and refreshments to run community events on the new estate to welcome people with a friendly smile, some garden games and a warm cup of tea. They would visit and pray for each house on the estate before each event, introducing themselves and distributing flyers and information about the local church.
The events weren’t without their challenges; often the weather would work against the team, but the most recent ‘meet your neighbours’ event took place on one of the hottest days of the year. It was the first time the sun had come out for such an event on Abbey Fields, and nearly 40 residents came to meet one another to enjoy an ice lolly and a cold drink or three!
Pamela said: “We are always outside so experience the full range of the elements: mini tornadoes, driving rain and recently thirty degree heat which certainly adds to the flavour, but are now seeing the first fruits in church.”
Families from Abbey Fields have now begun to attend Christ Church Long Furlong and find connections within their new communities, which has greatly encouraged the team and inspired them to keep bringing the message of God’s love to the wider parish whatever the weather!
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