CHURCHGOERS have clocked up an admirable 6,000 voluntary hours of kindness so far this year.
As part of the national Hope 2014 campaign, churches from Rugby’s Revive network have added up the total time spent by parishioners on voluntary community projects, including support for those with learning disabilities, English language classes, school governance, charities, care homes, and youth activities.
Reverend Dr Michael I Bochenski said: “It has been thrilling to discover the many ways in which folk from Rugby’s many churches serve their communities in an unpaid capacity each month.
“Christians are not alone in doing so of course, but it has been encouraging to see the range and creativity of community projects our churches commit to each month.”
The ‘hours of kindness’ project flowed from several inter-church Lent groups held across the town before Easter.
“We wanted these groups to be more than talking shops,” said Dr Bochenski.
“They were deliberately designed to encourage us to ‘walk the talk’ and express our faith through service.
“One group created some attractive welcome packs for those moving in to new homes in the town, and another held four social evenings with lots of fun and free food for anyone who came along.
“Others got involved with footpath clearing, litter picking, a ‘Reminiscences’ project, Dementia Awareness week, a new edible gardens site, or with cleaning, gardening and painting at a care home.”
The hours of kindness project ended with a Big Community Lunch in the Indian Centre on Edward Street on Sunday.
Bob Reeve, from Rugby Street Pastors, added: “When you add to all of this the many unpaid hours given to other Revive supported projects such as Rugby Street Pastors, Hope 4, Christians against Poverty and the Rugby Food Bank, the voluntary commitment from churches across the Borough is truly encouraging.”
