Knutsford Methodist Church is a growing, vibrant worshipping community where, through individual friendships, house-group fellowship and personal support, God is worshipped, the love of Jesus is shared and the Holy Spirit is at work. A very tangible example of this is the work of The Over Ward Project and the 'Welcome' café.

Although you may already know something about the 'Welcome' you may not have a full picture of what or where it is. Let me fill you in on this dynamic project that the Lord has blessed so richly over the eleven years that it has been in existence.

The 'Welcome' is a 'not-for-profit' café situated at the end of a run of shops near to The Falcon Bearer Pub on Longridge. It is the 'building' component of The Over Ward Project that also includes community-outreach work and social support. The prime objective is to facilitate the opportunity for local residents to enhance their well-beings through social and learning activities.

If you were to call in at the 'Welcome' at any time on Monday to Thursday from 9.00am - 3.00pm, you might find a Toddlers' or Craft Group in action, or there might just be local residents enjoying socialising and refreshment. During school-holiday times there are additional activities and special-interest sessions. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday there are times when the 'Welcome' is a worship centre offering spiritual wholeness through Bible-study, prayer and accessible and relevant worship.

The project is led by an ecumenical team but operates under the constitution of the Methodist Church, being heavily supported by people from Knutsford Methodist Church and also from the Alderley Edge and Knutsford Circuit. The project manager, Mike Fisher, Julie (the cook) and the Youth Worker are the only three members of staff paid by the project. Their efforts are supplemented by Rev. Richard Byass, who provides ministerial input, and a team of volunteers who work in the café or with groups, do the administration, provide guidance or - most valuably - support the work in prayer.

If you would like to hear more about The Over Ward Project, then please do call Mike on Knutsford 750905 during opening hours.

Re-development: Well, that has filled you in a little on the project, now let me tell you more about the re-development. My goodness, how wonderful is our God; He is moving so mightily in this town that we have been active in with two development projects (the other at Knutsford Methodist Church)!

Both have now been completed. The 'Welcome' has expanded to include the shop-unit area next door. The units have been combined internally, resulting in a more flexible and user-friendly space for group sessions, and giving more scope for use by outside agencies. The café has been redeveloped to give a contemporary, professional look, and the whole ground-floor of the building and facilities are accessible to all users.

Please do bring all the work of The Over Ward Project before God in your prayers so, as the leadership team is guided in all the decisions, we earnestly ask,
'Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done'.
Ruth P