Faith
Come and join us in the Chapel for:-
Bible Reflection & Prayer Time
Thursday at 1.00pm
Bible Group
Tuesday at 2.00pm
Thursday at 11.00am
We have retained the word chaplaincy in our name as we began as a faith based initiative and want that to continue. At the same time we constantly stress that we offer support to people of any faith or none. The same welcome and commitment to help is given to everyone and there is no requirement to even show an interest in faith issues.
Those of us who do profess faith and come from a Christian perspective meet each week on a Thursday at 1pm for half an hour. During the Bible Reflection and Prayer time (BRP) we read a short passage from the Bible, share our thoughts on it and then pray specifically for the needs of the work and those who have come to us for help. In this way we demonstrate that our confidence is not in ourselves but in God who has promised to forgive and restore all who turn to him. We also host bible study at other times in the week for those who want to explore scripture in more detail.
We understand and accept that not everyone will come to share this faith. For those who come to us with a different understanding and experience wanting to pursue this we will seek to obtain for them the help they require. Where appropriate and requested this could include introducing them to a local faith community of their choice. Our commitment to help them with any issues they may have and to make them feel welcome at our centre will remain undiminished. Our chaplains can offer support with any issues that are affecting clients, as well as helping them to find and access practical help.
Community chaplaincy is about having chaplains in the community, just like there are chaplains in prisons who seek to help and serve those in prison. We seek to help and serve those who have been released from prison, working alongside our colleagues who offer information, advice and guidance, the opportunity to get involved in group activities and/or training and volunteering opportunities.
We aim to build a community at Community Chaplaincy that has the gospel as its foundation and centre, without making acceptance of this or even interest in this in any way compulsory for everyone.
Our chaplains (current and previous) are Christians, drawn from different denominations and backgrounds. Not all of our other staff share our faith, but we do all share the following values:
- The unconditional acceptance of everyone exactly where they are and as they are.
- A commitment to treat everyone with the same level of dignity and respect without showing any form of favouritism.
- A willingness to discover and seek to resolve the perceived needs of each person who comes to us.
- Sensitive, gentle and appropriate challenge of attitudes and behaviour that appears destructive or detrimental.
- A belief that everyone will have something to offer the community that is unique and beneficial.
- An agreement to be thoughtful and sensitive in our dealings with each other as well as appropriately open and honest.
- A commitment to forgive and resolve any difficulties that arise when we fail to do this.
- A refusal to gossip or criticise but to engage in conversation with those with whom we feel we have a problem
- To work as a team not as individuals and to value the ideas and contributions made by others.
- To aim at and value the meeting of others’ needs as our main goal.