Congratulations to Maureen Clarke (Mo!) from Capel St Mary Methodist Church who has won the East of England regional prize in the Methodist Insurance annual Church Volunteer awards scheme. This award brings with it a cash sum of £1000.00 for Capel Methodist Church. Read all about Mo’s active role below … and please do go to the Methodist insurance website at the end of March to vote for Mo and Capel in the national finals ! (We will remind you on Facebook!)
For 16 years Mo and her team have been welcoming all who want to come and enjoy tea, cakes, coffee and toasties. From new born to 94-year-old Bill all gather at The Beacon. Young Offender working parties, passers-by, PCSOs, workmen and villagers join each week. Some people have even taken jobs on the understanding that they won’t have to work on Tuesdays.
The vision began with an empty Butcher’s shop. Mo rallied people to pray. The Butcher’s wasn’t to be but the Beacon was to find its home in the family lounge of the village bar.
The team started with a borrowed coffee machine and 3 customers. They now have over 40 regulars each week. Some have been coming from the start; children have been born, grown up and are now leaving high school. Friendships lost when children no longer needed taking to school have been renewed at The Beacon.
One woman with terminal cancer declared “You are the reason I get up in the morning.” Another says “I come in and feel at home right away.” Another added “I come in, am accepted and nothing is expected.” People share their lives with each other and with Mo and her team.
At Christmas, candles were given to remind people of Jesus. Across the village in homes where families do not yet know Jesus, candles were lit to remember him. Mo knows this because as she was doing her shopping in the Coop, people told her!
Following a tragic fire in the village with fatalities and displaced families, the Fire Service knew where to go to reach a large group of people to offer reassurance and advice; The Beacon of course.
Mo is still full of ideas and energy for the next 16 years – by which time she will be over 100! In 2003 God told her to take the work of The Beacon seriously. She has certainly done that while still finding time for family, friends, neighbours, Sunday church, prayer meetings, Home Groups, being part of the Welcome and Prayer Teams and has only recently retired from active youth work!
Mo’s advancing years and her blindness will not stand in her way. She heard God calling her to step out in faith in 2003 and is responding to that call as enthusiastically today as then.
Mo herself says that although her blindness means that she can no longer read or write, she can still serve God. The values that The Beacon embody today will remain for the years ahead – God’s love is for all – The Beacon is for all.
