Pastoral Care
General
SAPLC has a team involved in and committed to developing pastoral care, with staff and many others reaching out and offering care to both church members and the local community.
Our weekly dementia café, the Tuesday Café, which closed during the pandemic, was re- opened in church in March 2023. Uptake was slow at first. In June, when the spire was repaired, we moved into Shirley House and experimented with opening in the afternoon instead of the morning. The focus of the café has changed to include older people living alone. This has been met with success and the café is now attended by people with and without obvious signs of dementia, both from Southcroft and from the wider community. The Knit and Natter Group continues to meet in Shirley House.
Clergy and members of the congregation once again provide voluntary support at MHA Southcroft Retirement Living with Care which is situated next to the church. Holy Communion is offered on a monthly basis at Twelve Trees Residential Home and is also available to be taken to house-bound members of the congregation.
Church Links
Church Links leaders have continued to maintain contact with their group members. At our meeting with Naomi in September, she underlined the vital role played by Links leaders. On that occasion we were pleased to welcome two new Links leaders and it was agreed to reorganise the groups to accommodate an increase in the membership. New members and friends have been allocated to Links Groups. Methodist Membership tickets were distributed in January.
Judith Roberts
March 2024