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Senior Citizens' Lunch Club visit to
Special Needs Day Centre in Sutton Coldfield
 All
of the members of our regular Tuesday Senior Citizens' Lunch Club were
delighted to have been invited to go for lunch at a day centre for adults
with special needs in nearby Sutton Coldfield. Five or six of the day
centre users have been attending our regular Tuesday lunches for the last
six months or so. They were keen to be able to return the hospitality
and welcome us to their centre. All of the seniors met at our house at
11.00am on Tuesday 17th August and we borrowed the school minibus to take us
all over to Sutton where we were treated to a great afternoon of a wonderful
lunch, a game of bingo and good chat.
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Aston
Heritage Day
 Saturday 26th
June was Aston Heritage Day with a dozen or more local historic buildings
open to the public for the day. Our own Sacred Heart Church was one of
the buildings on the Heritage Trail. During the course of the day we
had 146 visitors to the church, many more than in previous years. Most
of the visitors were local residents, many of whom are Muslim, and have
never been into the Church before. It was a great occasion and an
opportunity for some very interesting conversations, not only about the
beauty of the Church but about Christianity and Christian worship. One
of our visitors was a local Imam who was fascinated by his visit and is keen
to have ongoing contact with us.
You can
download this year's Aston Heritage Day leaflet
here.
Mark and
Ton formally commissioned at Street Pastors
 Earlier this
year Mark and Ton completed their six month training as Street Pastors.
On June 13th there was a commissioning ceremony held at Mount Zion Christian
Centre in Aston where the new Street Pastors were formally appointed and
prayed for.
Mark and Ton have both been out patrolling the streets of
Aston at night over the last few weeks and find the experience very
interesting and rewarding. A rota has been drawn up and they will be
out on the streets at least once a month.
Ton's family visit
 During
the first two weeks of July Ton played host to four members of
his family who visited from Holland; his brother Frans, his sister
Elly, brother-in-law Paul and sister-in-law Mia. They stayed in the
MSC guest Cottage at Princethorpe and used it as a base to
do some sight-seeing around Warwickshire, the Cotswolds and Shropshire.
July 4th was Ton's 68th birthday and all of them
came to Aston for the afternoon and evening where we enjoyed a special
celebration meal. Happy birthday, Ton!!
"Heart of Welcome" offers English Conversation
Sessions
 Reflecting
on the experience of our Heart of Welcome Drop-In centre which opened in December, we
decided that there was sufficient need among people we know locally to
begin a weekly English conversation group. We have decided to
offer the conversation sessions at the beginning of the Thursday
Drop-In, for one hour. Many of the recent migrants we are working
with are attending some form of English classes, but have little or no
opportunity to practice English from one class to the next. This
will offer such an opportunity in a more relaxed, informal atmosphere
and in a situation where we are also providing other support -
befriending, help with form-filling, signposting of services, etc.
We held
the first conversation group on 13th May. They have been lively and
thoroughly enjoyable occasions. Most of the participants then stay for lunch
afterwards and continue the conversation that has begun during the
formal session.
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