hope 2008 – hull

we asked you to et in touch and tell us what you have been doing, or what you plan to do as part of Hope 2008 in the local area. Here are some of the responses we have received:

Hornsea Churches Together
Just to inform you of some Hope 08 events going on in Hornsea through Hornsea Churches Together in case no-one else has told you. Yesterday, Saturday April 12th, we had a big litter- picking clean -up in the town.  Morning and afternoon sessions of 2 hours each with around 40 people involved, some or all of the time.  We had comments like ‘what a good job you’re doing’, ‘do you work for the council?’, (even though we wore big badges saying who we were) &  ‘do you get paid?’. Some of the teenagers stopped to help;  one man commented when he realised who we were ‘most people think church is just for Sundays’.  We had the local press there taking photos and the ‘Hornsea in Bloom’ committee were pleased at what we were doing.
We have a host of people making bags from fabric which has been donated. One lady has made around 40!  On Tuesday morning we have a coffee morning when the bags will have Hope 08 labels fastened to them ready to be given out freely to those who want them.
Next Saturday morning, April 19th, we have a ‘Spring Sing’ down Newbegin, our main shopping street when we will sing well-known hymns and songs and have Bible passages read in the open-air.  We had an ‘Autumn Sing’ last year and people really appreciated it, some stopping to sing with us, others surprised that members of different churches could stand together. We are offering folk our eco-friendly hand -sewn bags, instead of using plastic ones.
I think everyone involved is enjoying what we are doing and we have more events at the planning stage.  The offshoot of all this is that we are getting to know and make friends with Christians from other churches.  Can’t be bad!

Willerby Methodist Church
Just to let you know that here at Willerby Methodist Church we are joining in the literpick/clean up by offering the use of our coffee shop The Square Well to provide tea, coffee, biscuits to any volunteer litter pickers.    The Square Well will be manned from 10.00am to 2.00pm.  We are Hoping for a good response.

New Life Church
We had over 500 at our Family Fun Day for Flood Victims, with free family portraits, sumo wrestling, endless food fair ground games and fun. Went awesome, despite a power cut!

We are hoping to hold a Free Plant Give Away, as Churches Together in Driffield are growing thousands of plants for flood hit gardens. We’ll turn New Life into a Garden Centre for the day and promote that all flood hit families can come and get 20 plants free. Hopefully 10 May. Will keep you posted.

We did a billboard campaign in Hull West for 2 weeks recently. 5 big boards, for £150 each per board, per 2 weeks. If central committee are interested in how/what then we can get these discounted prices through our TV agent. let me know if you want it for a HOPE promotion later in the year and I’ll explain. We can also get bus stops for about £90 a throw. v good prices. Good interest raised too from BBC and individuals getting in touch.

Cottingham Churches Together
Cottingham Chrches Together gathered on Good Friday at Holy Cross RC Church for a meditation on the Passion and a short discussion on “The Passion” (BBC) We then did a walk of Witness through the village ending off at Zion URC for a short meditation. Finishing at 12.00 noon. Maybe around 80 people did the walk. A good witness of what th Churches are doing together.

Voice of Hope Community Church, Market Weighton
We are holding a series of ‘Who is my neighbour’ coffee mornings/afternoons/evenings. Wherever church people live they are holding these times when the neighbours are simply invited to gather together and find out something about each other and put names to faces etc. The aim is to create a community spirit, draw people together and find out what needs are on our very doorsteps.
As part of Church Together our youth are involved in Rural Impact – making a difference to the community by tidying an elderly person’s garden, doing some painting or clearing up a neglected area of the community.
Also as Church Together we are having a family treasure hunt followed by free hot dogs and drinks and then a family games time in the park.