DEMENTIA OUTREACH AS WE APPROACH CHRISTMAS

Around this time, the team of volunteers at St Mary’s would have been preparing for their annual Christmas Special – Dementia Friendly Afternoon Tea and Singalong. Regretfully, as a result of Covid-19 restrictions this has had to be cancelled, together with all of the other monthly Afternoon Tea and Singalong sessions since March this year.

However, to ensure our parishioners and guests know we are still thinking about them and to let them know how much we all miss our monthly gatherings, the team have been working behind the scenes preparing ‘gift-filled’ Christmas Stockings for delivery in mid-December.

As with previous Christmas Specials, this is a real community effort, supported by our Children’s Liturgy Group, local schools and businesses. The Children’s Liturgy Group have been beavering away making decorations, whilst the children at Much Woolton School have been preparing Christmas cards, all to be included with the Christmas Stockings; fifty of which have been donated by SFX College.

We have also been fortunate enough to be supported financially by Catherine Higgins Law in Woolton Village, together with a very generous Gift Card from Tesco in Woolton.

The team of volunteers are currently arranging a timetable for the delivery of these Christmas Stockings to some 85 households. Filled with Christmas goodies, but also with love and Christmas Blessings from all at St Mary’s.

Keeping in touch with our parishioners living with dementia and those who live in social isolation has become a regular practice at St Mary’s. Soon after the first lockdown,  we mailed out cards and posters with photos of the team at previous Afternoon Tea and Singalong sessions, together with individually wrapped tea bags with the caption Have a Cup of Tea on Us!

Then in September, in harmony with the Season of Creation, we sent out cards and small gift envelopes with sunflower seeds. Those parishioners who received the cards and seeds were invited to join with us in Sowing the Seeds of Hope. Once again, all sent with the love and blessings of all at St Mary’s.