Gateway Community café takes place every Tuesday morning during term – time. It
is open from 9:30a.m. -1:00p.m. It is a ‘’Pay as you feel’ café, where people can
donate as they wish. It is mostly run by volunteers from Gateway or other churches
and charities. The menu includes jacket potatoes, soup and freshly made
sandwiches or toasted sandwiches, fruit, cakes, crisps, hot and cold drinks.
Alongside the café, we run a ‘Mums/Dads and Tots’ group, where many pre-schoolers
come and enjoy the slides, ride-on toys, building bricks, books and games etc. At
11a.m., there is usually a singing and story time. This draws people from different
nations and different faiths.
At various times during the year, Gateway Church volunteers, Natalie, Amy and Tina, come and teach us how to do amazing arts and crafts. During this summer, we moved outside, drawing the flowers and herbs in our new planters and enjoyed taking part in more energetic outdoor activities.
The community café hosts many different visitors each week. One week we might
have the community police officer enjoying a cuppa, alongside one or two councillors
who have come to see a Gateway staff member. Half an hour later, we can be joined
by 6 th form or university students who want a cheap lunch, or a homeless person
needing a meal, and some information. Several times a year, we can have an influx
of senior citizens from a local walking group. They often ask for a tour of St. Mark’s!
It is a joy to meet so many different people, to sing and play with preschoolers,
to have a tasty lunch and be able to put a smile on someone’s face.
Over the years the café has been open, we did have a special regular visitor. His
name was Ken. We all got to know Ken. Sadly, he died about a year ago. We know
he really looked forward to the Gateway Community café each week and started
attending Gateway on a Sunday, the last few months of his life. He was given a
bible and received prayer. We thank God for our friend Ken, and for the Gateway
Community Café that was the highlight of his week.
We would like to thank all who have helped and still help with Gateway Community
Café. It is an ‘oasis’ for many, providing food, comfort and friendship to all who come.
We look forward to seeing you!