The new housing next to the Rivergate Church and the continuation of Minter Road - will soon be occupied over the next month. It is so exciting to watch the estate grow and to have the opportunity to meet and welcome new families to the Barking Riverside Community.
please click on photos to enlarge. The new housing next to the Rivergate Church and the continuation of Minter Road - will soon be occupied over the next month. It is so exciting to watch the estate grow and to have the opportunity to meet and welcome new families to the Barking Riverside Community. I have been fascinated by this bridge and I am so delighted to see that it has been restored beautifully. It now links the houses on both sides of the stream/ponds and will create a wonderful nature walk way around the stream/ponds for the residents, visitors and also to those who work/minister in the area.
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One of our important roles is to support events (whenever possible) that are taking place and organized by other groups either in the Church or in the Rivergate Centre. This gives us the opportunity to meet, relax and converse with so many people without the added responsibility of having organized the event ourselves - *BLISS*. The photos below show three ventures that have taken place in recent days (please click to enlarge)
In our roles as Chaplains/Governors we have enjoyed visiting the staff and children at the George Carey Primary School on a daily basis, lead and be involved in Assemblies and classroom activities - then, also to be supportive to the 1st Barking and Dagenham Scout Group who meet in the Church on a Monday and Thursday evening.
The photos below show some other activities that we aim to support: (please click to enlarge)
please click on photos to enlarge.
What can I say about Coffee and Chat other than to include some of my highlights!! We have enjoyed:
I have only scratched the surface as the list is endless but thank you all for the fun, conversation, participation and your generosity in providing the tea, coffee, drinking chocolate and cakes :)) Coffee and Chat recommences again on Tuesday, 9th September (please click on photos to enlarge)
On the 13th July between 3-5pm we held an 'Open House' event at the Rivergate Church and we were delighted to welcome two new families who came and participated in the activities. The evening was themed 'Love is like a Butterfly' following on from our successful 'Hungry Caterpillar' sessions at World Class Tots. Various prayer/activity areas were located around the Church and in the Church lobby and those present were invited to spend time contemplating various issues concerning our community, world, church, family and personal thoughts. As always, refreshments were available and it was encouraging to share in conversation, laughter and well as some serious contemplative moments. We are extremely fortunate to have a wonderful group of mums who support us by donating their time, energy and resources and go the extra mile for the benefit of others.
Today (16th July) was the last World Class Tots session before the summer holidays and, for this occasion, Fatuma had organised 'Soft Play' from 9am - 1pm. Twenty-three children and nineteen adults enjoyed the Toddler Activity, bouncy castle, bubble machine, plus other activities, plus ice lollies, crisps, biscuits, samosas, juice, tea, coffee and for the helpers, for lunch, home made curry, rice, plantain, chicken all freshly prepared and cooked by Fatuma. Yes, we are truly spoilt :-) To all our volunteers we say a big 'Thank You' because, without you, the mornings would not be such a success. Thank You Anna, Christine, Diana, Fatuma, and Laura for all that you do each week, at World Class Tots. We wish all our mums/carers/grandmas and volunteers an enjoyable summer holiday and hope to see you all back with us Wednesday, 10th September, 2014. Chocolate swiss roll, teas, coffees, cold drinks were on the menu as well lively, interesting and informative conversation. We find bribery works - advertise cake and more people attend :) We thrive on the unexpected and this morning we received an unexpected visit from Nicki Wright, Family Liaison Officer George Carey School, who came to introduce herself and to chat to those present. We were delighted that she popped in and look forward to future visits from Nicki. As always the ladies were on top form and it is so heart warming to hear their stories, share laughter and conversation and also to try and engage with circumstances that cause concern as well joy. We do have a 'token' man (Robert) who also attends and we are glad of his presence - especially when we have iPad, phone and IT problems :) On a Wednesday morning between 9-11am (term time only) Mums/Carers/Grandmas and sometimes a few Dads with their children (0-3 years) join together and enjoy fun, fellowship, music, dancing, craft activities and refreshments at World Class Tots.
The Early Years within George Carey School (we are located next door to the school) have been focusing on the story of The Hungry Caterpillar - so we, too, have followed the same theme. Last week we concentrated on the caterpillar and the variety of food he ate and the children decorated pictures of a caterpillar - this week we progressed to the Hungry Caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Thank you to Khushnood for drawing the butterflies for our little ones to decorate. Thank you to Diana for sorting out the refreshments and helping to decorate a butterfly, to Janine for the delicious caterpillar cakes, Laura for decorating a butterfly and clearing up after the split drinks!! Thank you to everyone who popped in and to those who stayed for Coffee and Chat. It is so lovely to greet 'old faces' in the respect that we see you nearly every day but a 'new face' to Coffee and Chat. You are most welcome and we hope you come again. Once again, thank you to Nikkie Marshall (Nursery) this time for the loan of the hungry caterpillar resources which Zion and Maddison investigated and gave their approval before tomorrow's World Class Tots. Laura was in her element with Maddison and Chidera and we are all eagerly awaiting the births of Eno, Morenike and Bicci babies!! In fact we are going to have to change our name to Coffee, Chat and Children how lovely - bless you all To those present last evening when I mentioned that I needed to update the website as its been a couple of months since I last did this!!!!!!!!! well I apologize profusely as, actually, it has been a YEAR :-0
I echo the sentiments of my previous post 'Year Three' - 'I don't believe it' - where, truly, has the time gone? I think, maybe, because we communicate so much of the activities through Facebook that, sadly, this site has suffered - however, if you are on Facebook then please do look us up and join - we are simply called 'Rivergate Church' and you can easily identify us as the photo is of Janine and Judy - the same as the home page for this site. A late New Year Resolution for the remainder of the year!!!! to endeavour to keep this website up-to-date :) |
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March 2015
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