Activity 
Our parish directory is woefully out of date. The last one was produced almost four years ago. An up to date directory is vital, so we need to know that your information is correct. If you have started coming to St Luke’s since 2006, or have changed any of your details since then, please let us know. Over the coming weeks there will be a form at the back of the church for you to enter your details. Since we last updated the directory, a great many more people have acquired email addresses. It would be great to have emails as well as phone numbers, so please leave details if you can. Email MITCH
Stand at the rear of almost any church and you’ll notice that most of the congregation are women.
Why?
Where are the men?
Are women more religious than men?
Do men shun belief and active involvement in religion because they know better?
Unlikely...
Much more likely is that men don’t feel comfortable in church. Men often don’t think it’s for them. If current trends continue, by 2028 there will be no men left in the church
Is this OK? What do you think?
At schools, at work, at home, men are role models, but, without the background and support of a strong social structure, it can be difficult to recognise this. Christianity needs ordinary men to be visible and active in the church.
The men’s group is just what it says it is: a group of men. We exist to be in fellowship with each other, to share our stories, to share our friendship and to share our faith.
The group comes together in various ways, mostly social, to build opportunities for fellowship and community. We are not a formal organisation within the church. We simply want to help our fellow men grow spiritually and to feel comfortable in church or with people who go to church.
The group is not intended to be exclusive to men. However, we feel that meeting as men helps develop a confidence and a spirituality that can help men come to church in a more meaningful way. We hope to break the barriers to involving more men in the life of the church.
Activities
The Men’s Group is first and foremost a way of getting together.
We are more about ‘being’ than ‘doing’. However, we also see that the best way to be is to organise ourselves socially.
The Men’s Group has been active in some form at St Luke’s for almost ten years. Early events included evening talks in a room above the Pilgrim Pub.
More recently we have begun holding breakfasts on Saturday mornings. The breakfasts are full of the richness of calories and conversation! Not for those who like a lightly buttered round of toast and nothing more. The breakfasts are developing into a standard event: always featuring bacon and eggs, always rounded off with a short discussion on some relevant topic. Always a good way to start the day.
We have strolled along the river Avon, talking, sharing and enjoying each others company. Ending with a pint at a local pub. We hope to do this more often
We have also held other evening events such as a Curry Night and are planning others. Watch out for bowling, for example. Simply a good way to get to know each other.
If you would like to get involved and may be suggest activities, there is no membership: simply turn up. Or telephone. Or talk to someone in church. There is no leader of the group, although some of us have been more involved in preparations so far.