Vol 3/10
New Year
1999

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Christmas at the Spires Centre

"Something of the Gospel"

"The very first Christmas that we opened was 1990. I remember it like it was yesterday." Rev.Dan Shackell Director of the Spires Centre, Streatham

"Uncertainties and fears on our part about how it would all go, and the same probably from the many homeless users of the Centre that came in that first Christmas who didn't know what to expect from us.

But that all soon resolved to a Christmas of community and sharing and over the last eight years as the Centre has developed into a 5 day a week resource for homeless people. That sense of community has continued to evolve into something really tangible -

A particular memory from the first Christmas Eve we were open still haunts me. A homeless middle-aged man we'll call Frank, who was pretty drunk, was weaving his way round the car-park outside the Centre just as we were closing and insisting that one of the Centre workers should take him home with them - which none of us was prepared to do. At which point another of the users, who was living in a squat round the corner put his arms round Frank and led him back to share his squat that Christmas Eve. Echoes of the story of the Good Samaritan, the Priest and the Levite were very loud!

Over the years there have been so many stories. Stories of real people with heart-breaking problems of poverty and addiction and helplessness. Yet shining through all this has always been the strength of the human spirit which you are never more aware of than at Christmas-time. The time of the vulnerable Christ child.

So as we plan for Christmas 1998 and the provision of food, clothing and a host of other services for hundreds of homeless and lonely people, we do so with more confidence than in the early years. Perhaps, also, with more humility, remembering the story of Frank and wondering just who is serving whom."

If you would like to support for the year-through work of the Centre phone Dan on 020-8696-0943

And...New Year in New Hall

On 29 November, the Archdeacon of Southwark, Douglas Bartles-Smith, was due to open the new church hall at St Luke's, North Peckham.

The hall, and a new vicarage, due to be completed in mid-December, are at the heart of the biggest regeneration project of its kind. Five large estates which make up this deprived South London parish are all being either rebuilt or refurbished. The new church facilities are a significant part of the 'new start'.

The Vicar, the Rev. Jim Jelley told The Bridge "We are all very excited by the new hall and the fresh opportunity it will give us to serve our changing neighbourhood."

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The full printed edition of the 'Bridge' newspaper is available at all Southwark Parish Churches
Further copies can be obtained from wendy.s.robins@southwark.anglican.org
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