#SalisburysGotTalent: You are loved
The Revd Andy Muckle, Vicar of St Mary's Parish Church, West Moors, was present at Bishop Stephen's Inauguration service, and therefore received his £10 'talent'. Both Andy and his daughter used their talents generously at their 'Sharing Shed'.
Andy writes:
The gift of £10 has gone towards blessing someone through our Sharing Shed here in West Moors.
The Shed was established in 2021 as a partnership between St Mary’s Church and the First school opposite, with the aim of breaking down the embarrassment that comes with food poverty. Our idea was very simple, site a shed in an easily accessible but discreet place that was available 24 hours a day. The ethos of the Shed is that when we have plenty we place food in there, but if we are ‘short’ we take food out.
My vision was that the Shed would be a place of sharing food and through that sharing Christ’s love, and reflect both the church vision – Loving God, Loving West Moors and the school vision Believe in better, be more awesome, for anything is possible with God. Over the last year the Shed has turned over a colossal amount of food due to the generosity of the community of West Moors and local supermarkets. As one neighbour tells me, each night she sees the torches heading down to the Shed. Food poverty is real here in West Moors, and so is the embarrassment that goes with it, but the Shed seeks to overcome that, and it has, which has been such a blessing.
My daughter Isla used her £10 to buy some treats for the Shed, again to bless others.
I decided to do something a little different. I placed a tin of coffee in the Shed – but with a difference. At the top is a letter and the wonderful gift of £10. Someone will take that coffee, and when they open it, they will know they are loved, by Bishop Stephen, by the parish and by God.
You can see here what the letter said:
Dear friend
You will find (as well as coffee!) in this tin, a gift of £10.
On Sunday 19th June 2022, Bishop Stephen began his ministry as our new Bishop with a wonderful and joyful service at the Cathedral. As part of that service, everyone there was given £10 to use as a sign of God’s love in the world.
So, this gift comes to you with love from Bishop Stephen, from St Mary’s Parish Church and from me, your vicar.
Please use this money as you wish, to treat yourself or others.
It comes with God’s love and our prayers.
God Bless you
Revd Andy
If you haven't heard what #SalisburysGotTalent is, you can read the story here.
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