Community and Mission Links
We believe that we should be a church for the community, and a church in the community.
Links with the community….
Links with our local community are an extremely important part of our church life. The items listed below are only designed to give a flavour of the many activities in which we are involved.
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Luncheon Club is a bi-weekly event for the over 60's held in the Eaves centre. This popular and well attended event provides the more elderly members of the village with a chance to enjoy a two course cooked meal followed by a short time of worship.
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Under 5's - catering for the younger end of the age range, this event is run weekly during term time and aims to provide a venue for children under 5 to meet and have fun – as well as giving parents a chance to meet and get to know each other. This event, which is held at the Eaves Centre, is often popular to the point of bursting out of the door and is a strong blend of both locals and congregation.
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Bream School - The church has formal and informal relationships with the local school. As well as providing three foundation governors (one of whom is the vicar), the church also participates in a number of events during the year from conducting regular assemblies to providing Bibles to leavers. The church also has links with an active "Open the Book" programme providing the school with access to bible stories through drama.
Viney Hill Christian Adventure Centre - the church has strong links with this local residential camping and activity centre, participating in regular outdoor pursuits and adventure activities, including an annual weekend work party to help with the maintenance of the centre.
Mission links....
At St. James we believe in a missionary church, helping to spread the word of God both at home and abroad by prayer and financial support.
The second Monday evening each month there is a time of prayer for those in the Mission field.
The congregation is encouraged to give generously so that this work may be done. After the Parish share has been taken, we aim to share the remainder equally between the running of the church and mission.
Missions we support at the present time financially are:
Overseas
Jane and Hans Koeble working with Operation Mobilisation in the Czech Republic. Jane grew up in Bream church and felt called to go on the mission field when a teenager; she is now married with three children. This is a long term commitment for the church. ·
REACHACROSS (formerly Red Sea Mission Team) is an association of evangelical Christians committed to taking the gospel to unreached peoples and presently serving in the Red Sea area, West Africa and Central Asia.
Open Doors and their work in the persecuted church.
Home Mission
Victory Outreach Helping young offenders by giving them a Christian home and caring environment.
Viney Hill Christian Centre An Adventure Centre based in the Forest of Dean showing a Christian witness through adventure activities.
Relief Agencies
Ugandan Children’s Relief Fund - A local charity that was started about twenty years ago to help support and run a Christian Orphanage in Uganda, where the children had either lost their parents through aids, the conflict at that time.
Tear Fund As a Christian relief and development charity, Tearfund believes that God’s people – with his help – can meet the needs of the whole person: not just people’s physical needs, but their emotional and spiritual needs as well. Tearfund’s vision is to see lives and communities transformed by God’s love.
Interlinx Trust A local charity which helps young people within Gloucestershire who are stigmatized as a result of homelessness, abuse, terminal illness or who have a parent in prison.