An exciting new chapter has begun at Rivertown United Reformed Church in Shotton, as work gets underway on its Hope on the High Street building project.
The project will transform the church building into a church and flexible, multi-use community space, enabling Rivertown URC to better serve the needs of people in Shotton and continue its witness to God’s work within the community.
While the building work takes place, the congregation has temporarily moved out of its usual home. Reflecting on this period of change, Elder Steve Winrow has written 10,000 Staples, a poem about resilience, faith and discovering that the Church is ultimately its people rather than its building.
10,000 Staples
So here we are left in the lurch,
Across the road, without our church,
In a building worn and torn,
Crumbling with age,
And the spirits of broken children filled with rage.
Telling tales of broken homes, bricks and stones, cuts and falls,
10,000 staples stick out from these walls.
Can’t call it home, its scabby and bruising!
Second hand worship for 10 months of delusion
God wants his comfort, his cakes, choccy bics and tea
His glorious faithful in prime-time luxury
How can we worship our God and stand proud and tall
10,000 staples scar these walls.
I didn’t wanna move I’m happy as I am!
But the Lord gently whispers in our ears
In our thoughts, in our dreams, behind our eyes, through his tears.
We can be so much more than a welcome at the door
A sharing of the grace, a happy smiling face
Do my work, walk in my shoes, shine out my light and pick up those who fall
10,000 staples hold up these walls.
But listen, shhh not a sound
Look around at the faces
Faithful eyes, smiles and prayers followed by hugs and embraces.
We are this church, in Jesus we stand
In Spirit we serve hand in hand in hand.
We don’t need stained glass or soft furnishings to praise
A piped history won’t improve our voices raised
To God in song, stay strong together
Never forget, one is three, one is all
10,000 staples glimmer like stars in these walls.
Thank you for this new church!
A temporary home to do Christ’s work,
Reaching out, to turn frowns upside down
Feed toast, administer tea
Helping to break chains of adversity
Welcome the miserable, the downtrodden, the damaged the lonely, and forgotten
People who need advice, direction
Or a shoulder to cry on
To be treated as equals, not looked down upon
Then maybe, just maybe,
They see in our actions the light from above,
And here in this place of 10,000 prayers
We will continue to show until all will know God’s love.
Amen
As work continues on Hope on the High Street, we hold the congregation and wider Rivertown community in our prayers and look forward to seeing the next chapter of their mission in Shotton take shape.
