Belonging Centre at St. Luke's

There is an exciting ministry opportunity emerging at St. Luke's, one of our neighbouring Anglican parishes in Holyrood.

This is an invitation to learn and volunteer.

The Boyle Street Community Services received a grant from the city to run what they are calling "belonging centers" throughout the city. They would run out of 5 Anglican church halls (hopefully including ours), the Amadyia Mosque and a venue downtown near the City Hall (where tee pee treats presently has a restaurant).

The belonging centers are for people who want to connect with neighbours and who may need the help of the social workers and case workers who will be onsite. They will have coffee, cards (or other games) and treats (no meal) and will have a scheduled time for prayer. At St. Luke's it is proposed that they would run on Monday and Wednesday from 9am - 3pm. It would be in our upstairs Wittingback hall and would host at most 20 people.

What will make the centers a success are what they are calling the "friendship volunteers". Those who can come for an hour or so to have conversation and make the welcome for those who come to participate.

At St. Luke's this would be very similar to the welcome we made for some neighbours at our recent pancake breakfast. Being available to hear and share stories with those who would come.

Boyle Street is hosting two training days at St. Faith (an Anglican Church just off 118th ave) on Saturday October 7^th or Saturday October 14^th from 9 - 3 (Lunch provided). Each training day will be identical so pick one that fits your schedule. There will be other opportunities to learn and train in the future as well but these big events will give us lots of opportunity to ask questions about the program before it begins and to meet volunteers from the other locations.