Market Church
FREE TEA, COFFEE and PRAYER!
Acton Market Place
10am – 2pm every Saturday
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Over three years ago a Oaktree decided to start a market stall that would give out free tea and coffee and be a place where anyone could get a quick hot drink and a chat with a Christian if they wanted too!
Little did we know it would last this long.
We have met some amazing people who are part of the diversity of Acton, and we love hanging out with them each Saturday. From old to young, from wealthy to poor. Some have addiction issues, some have mental health problems, some dash away, some stay for hours… we try to serve them all equally and with as much grace as we can.
The great thing is that we have found smiles, laughter, patience and the giving of a free gift is pretty contagious! Other stalls have generously fed us, laughed with us and enjoyed the odd tea and coffee.
We have also found that in and amongst the smiles there is hurt and we can offer prayer to a great and faithful God for those things. We’ve seen pain disappear, tears and God speak to people to encourage them.
You can volunteer by getting in touch and coming to a training session.
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“There have been mornings I’ve been reluctant to do the market but every time I get down there it changes. It’s great getting to know other market stall holders and whoever comes to the stall… The bonus is all the people you meet.”.
“I would never be able to walk over to random strangers on the street and start chatting but on the market they come to me! I whole heartedly recommend it to anyone.”.
Market this week… 10th July 2010 (last market for 3 weeks)
Transform the Rest God likes rest. God wants you to rest. He sets apart specific time from the very beginning for work to stop and rest to be taken (Gen 1:31). It seems to me that Sabbath (time of rest) is about our relationship with God. We rest because God does, God rests because he wants us to… So our rest is designed to be with God, alongside Him, in Him, Holy for Him. And when we spend... [Read more of this entry]
Market this week… 26th June 2010
How do we distinguish between rich and poor? The haves and have-nots? Those who choose much and those who don’t have much choice? Addicted to shopping and entertainment or addicted to drugs and alcohol? Mentally well or mentally unwell? Those who smell of roses or those who smell of fags? Those who know God and those who don’t? Jesus, was he rich or poor? As far as I can tell he made himself... [Read more of this entry]
Market this week… June 12th 2010
Market Football So the World Cup is fast approaching! And I was thinking… The Market stall is just like football really. It’s a team game, individual confidence and skill is important but it’s how those things come together that counts There are manager and coaching roles to get the details in place. There are tactics learnt in training.* *There are different formations. Sometimes... [Read more of this entry]
Market Church
Market CHURCH Hello Marketeers I heard a current story this week through a friend who is involved with the Christian Socialist Movement ; There is a young church leader in Luton who could well become the next labour MP representing one of the Luton constituencies. He leads a team who are involved in a young church plant, “People from every race, colour and creed are caught up together in a... [Read more of this entry]
Market Church
Market CHURCH Hello Marketeers Happy Birthday!! We are 3!!! Wow, 3 years… That’s over 20,000 cups of drinks… That’s about 20,000 conversations… That’s definitely some prays…. That’s a lot of practice at grace and patience… That’s rain, sleet, snow, wind, sun, ice… That’s sustained mission… And that’s not... [Read more of this entry]
Market Family – Easter Extravaganza
Market Family are celebrating Easter Weekend! Details to follow. Read More →
Market Church
Market CHURCH Hello Marketeers Trudging through the rain. It rained a lot last week didn’t it?! And there’s nothing like the rain of the city, kicking up all the dirt and getting right to your skin. It’s my own experience that much of February is gloomy… weather, my attitude, my feelings. We see it in the Market too, the people who like their homes stay there, or rush through... [Read more of this entry]
Market Church
Market CHURCH Hello Marketeers Market POLITICS So there has been a lot of talk about politicians recently. In fact one politician, as part of the series Tower block of commons (click here to go to 4OD page with Acton episode), stayed with a mum and her kids on the South Acton Estate. It’s amazing how often politicians get distanced from the very people they believe they are representing. And... [Read more of this entry]
Market Church – 13th Feb 2010
Market CHURCH Hello Marketeers You are Naturally Supernatural… Today I was walking across south acton and I said hello to a guy who was, well, lurking on a corner. As I said hello he smiled a toothless grin and took his roll-up down from his lips, ‘Alright mate’, ‘what you up to?’… ‘I’m just visiting someone who lives on the estate’ I said innocently.... [Read more of this entry]
Market Church – 6th Feb 2010
Market CHURCH Hello Marketeers The Market is a total free-for-all, no strings, no minimum purchase price! It is free no matter who you are or where you are from. And we get a good glimpse of that diversity each week… inspiring that the world shares Acton, and we provide some presence with God out there each Saturday… This week at the market we focus on one key part of the ‘all’... [Read more of this entry]
Market Church – 30 Jan 2010
Market CHURCH Hello Marketeers http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8467833.stm Last week the BBC ran an article on the history of great British confectioners and I was interested to read that many of the firms were started by Quakers. The article said: The move into chocolate began with cocoa drinks in the 19th Century as a reaction against the perceived misery and deprivation caused by alcohol,... [Read more of this entry]
Market Church – Saturday 23rd January 2010
Market CHURCH Hello Marketeers When you stand on the mount you are praying. I am here, help me be a blessing. This person has some issues, please help them be whole. This person is homeless I think, please provide a home for them. This person has never spoken to a Christian, would you be sweet to them. This person who has never been to church, can I invite them? I’m cold, keep me warm. I’m... [Read more of this entry]
Market Family
Market Family is an addition to our regular Market Church stall. On these weeks we put on family friendly activities and encourage the families of Oak Tree to host. Email Lisa in the office for more details. Read More →
Market Church – Saturday 9th January 2010
Market CHURCH TRAINING This Saturday, 10-12.30@ 216 Acton High Street Hello Marketeers It would be brilliant to have as many as possible there this Saturday! If you come, I promise that… …there will be doughnuts …it will help you to get the most out of serving on the market …it will be thought provoking …there will be some heaters (but bring a warm coat as well!) …it... [Read more of this entry]
Market Church
Market CHURCH Hello Marketeers Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas Team and all!! Thank you again for all you have given over this festive period and throughout 2009! We have full shifts this coming Saturday but as many as are welcome to come and carol sing (11-12.30+1-2.30) and to see the nativity (12.30)…ho ho ho! and a HAPPY NEW YEAR (essential new) TRAINING DAY on the 9th Jan! PLEASE, if... [Read more of this entry]
