revealed 23 August 2024
Learn for 1 minute
An East Renfrewshire church has been acknowledged within the Scottish Parliament for its mission outreach work.
MSPs have thanked Neilston Parish Church for its dedication to facilitating “significant social engagement” for native folks.
Scottish Labour’s Paul O’Kane, checklist member for West of Scotland, acknowledged a movement signed by cross-party MSPs helped convey the church group collectively.
It mentioned: “Neilston Parish Church hosts a Tuesday lunchtime membership through the summer season holidays, which incorporates actions similar to video games, delicate play, cinema and crafts but in addition offers free lunch and different refreshments.”
The congregation sees itself as open and welcoming and “believes within the work of God via the group of religion”.
Welcoming parliamentary recognition, parish minister the Rev Matthew Ritchie mentioned: “It’s not sufficient for church buildings to be in the neighborhood, they should serve the group.
“A technique we do that is by offering a program of free, enjoyable actions and fellowship.
“Hospitality is on the coronary heart of Christ’s work and by offering meals, actions and locations to satisfy others, we are able to lengthen that hospitality to our group in His title.
“The work that certainly one of our members, Natasha Ritchie, and her group are doing is making an actual distinction to tackling loneliness, isolation and poverty in rural areas.
“We could not be prouder of them and it is nice to see them acknowledged on this approach by the Scottish Parliament.”
Neilston Parish Church, like many congregations, works tirelessly to help deprived folks affected by life’s crises.
Its Saturday lunch membership will resume on September 7 and can present a protected area for folks to get pleasure from a free lunch and take part with actions, crafts and video games.
Volunteers signpost folks to organizations that may assist with sensible and monetary recommendation.
The proposal acknowledged that the group of Neilston additionally benefited from social actions organized by St Thomas’ Roman Catholic Church.
The congregation sleeps each Thursday at a drop-in cafe, facilitated by the St Vincent de Paul Society, the place native individuals are inspired to attend, meet buddies and chat over tea and residential baking.
The movement was “Thanks to everybody at St Thomas’ RC Church and Neilston Parish Church for serving to the native folks of Neilston village to remain related to their very own group”.
