Sharing Good News Across Our Mustard Seed Churches
A group of church leaders, including two Mustard Seed Community Ministers from Emmanuel Church, Bridlington made a special visit to Hull Minster. They were there to meet with Ann Wilkinson, a Mustard Seed Community Minister, who is an advocate for people with different learning abilities. The visit was planned so they could experience the Welcome Café held each Thursday in the nave of the Minster.
Ann has been working for some time to develop the cafe environment to be welcome and accessible for people with all kinds of ability. This has involved partnering with a range of groups including CASE, Active Day Care and HEY Foundation volunteers. The result is a flourishing community, where all are welcome, and activities and lives are shared. Time was spent socialising with tea, coffee and delicious cake, with scrabble, dominos, giant Jenga, connect four, and colouring activities. A sensory tent provides a quiet space if people feel overwhelmed and there are a range of sensory toys.
Everyone is encouraged to participate and share their gifts. It was wonderful to enjoy the piano being played by one young lady, and great fun to join in with the communal singing with actions and percussion. Some young adults with different learning abilities are now volunteers within Hull Minster, finding a place to belong and contribute their time and gifts, often bringing great joy to the community!
Our Bridlington Group certainly felt warmly welcomed by all who were there and went home inspired by the vision and experience of the Minster Welcome Café.
You can read more about Ann’s role here https://www.mseed.org/inclusivemission