For two weeks in May, three local churches have worked together on the Flowers Estate, putting their faith in action to help the people around them.

Prayers at Aster House each morning - Paul Woodman, Community Church, is on the left.

From 5th-17th May, members of City Life Church (meets at Cantell School), New Community Church (Aster House) and St Alban’s and St Mary’s Churches worked together to give around 2000 volunteer hours clearing around about 100 gardens, mowing lawns, strimming hedges and replacing fence panels.

This activity is part of Hope 2008’s national Million Hours of Kindness campaign, an initiative where the church in Great Britain has pledged to offer its communities one million hours of kindness this year.

In addition to this practical help, the churches have put on two weeks of community events including a magic show, lunch for healthy living, quiz nights, daily barbecues, a film night, a break-dancing workshop and an inflatables night - much of which happened at St Alban‘s.

The final events were a Men’s Breakfast at the Stoneham Arms, a 5-a-side football tournament at Cantell School (before the cup final!) and a charity car-wash in the Surgery car park at St Alban’s in aid of Naomi House Children‘s Hospice.

Just some of the mountains of rubbish stored at the back of St Alban’s for collection by the Council.

City Life Church Leader, Paul Woodman, said “We’re delighted with the response of church members across the congregations to the call to give to the hours of kindness this May. The enthusiasm across the team was contagious and we received a very warm welcome from those in the community.

It was great to see faith in action.” A family member of a home on the estate emailed later in the week: “My Nan and Auntie were absolutely blown away by what you did for them, sorting out the garden. They thought that it was fantastic and that you were so good to meet. People seem so polarised these days and I am so proud that people are willing to do just a little bit, that can mean so much to people’s happiness.”

Break Dancing in St Alban’s

Over the week, the enormous amount of rubbish cleared from gardens on the estate was piled up at the back of St Alban’s Church, forming a fascinating (though temporary) tourist attraction.

The churches have really appreciated their partnership with Cleansing and Open Spaces and the CREW team from Southampton City Council, who have been brilliant in sorting and using trucks to clear rubbish and recyclable goods throughout the week.

Teenagers were treated to a special evening of break-dancing and rapping at St Alban’s. The local churches had asked Christian break-dancer, Joel Marsh, to come and help others learn some moves.

Joel said, “The youngsters were quick to learn and all of them gave it a go and didn’t hold back”.

Local MC’s also supported the event, helping people to write their own lyrics for raps and then performing at the end of the evening.

Lessons in rapping at St Alban’s

During the week about 1000 homes were visited with a brief questionnaire, and it was interesting to hear how many people had past connections with St Alban’s - it’s a real challenge for us (at both Churches) to encourage people to act on these past connections, and to renew them - something to work on for Back to Church Sunday at the beginning of October.