A Ministry of Hospitality
Purpose
The Oak Table Community Ministry is here to:
- welcome with respect all those who enter;
- maintain a safe and welcoming place;
- offer coffee, a snack and conversation, and;
- provide information about agencies where further help is provided.
Mission Statement
As an expression of God’s love and concern for all people, we provide hospitality, pastoral care, support, health promotion and social development activities, referral and advocacy within a safe, respectful environment for members of the surrounding communities.
Goals
The Oak Table Ministry seeks to:
- offer health and wellness promotion activities and information;
- provide skills development opportunities for community members;
- build community capacity for self-advocacy and development through activities which promote self-esteem and self-reliance;
- provide culturally sensitive and appropriate support to persons with mental health and addictions concerns;
- strengthen and build on relationships with community groups and local businesses, and develop partnerships to address common community goals and concerns; and
- break down barriers of race, class, and culture, which divide people and lead to prejudice and discrimination.
History
The Oak Table Community Ministry originated as an outreach ministry of Augustine United Church. It began in 1981 with an open office door and the coffee pot ready to pour. It has since evolved into a ministry which received Mission and Support funding to hire a part-time Oak Table minister.
In September 2008, the Augustine Oak Table, at the direction of The United Church of Canada, formed a board independent of Augustine United Church to carry on the community ministry that had been operating out of Augustine for the past 28 years. An interfaith board was chosen to more accurately reflect the diverse community in which we serve.
On December 9, 2008, Winnipeg Presbytery officially recognized the Oak Table Community Ministry as an Outreach Ministry of Winnipeg Presbytery and approved its new constitution. It was granted charitable status in May 2009.
Program
Currently, we open the doors of the church Monday to Thursday, 1:30-3:30 pm to everyone in the neighbourhood who wishes to drop in. The community members mostly live on a low income, and some are coping with issues of mental and physical health and addictions. Most days we serve a light meal as well as coffee and juice. On Wednesdays we offer art classes.
We also invite representatives from community organizations to offer information seminars on topics of interest such as income assistance and housing advocacy. In addition we offer public health clinics.
We provide a phone, computer access, newspapers and information about community services. We offer pastoral care and counseling. Several times a year we hold special activities outside of our regular drop-in hours.
The Oak Table Community Ministry is supported financially by the United Church Mission and Service Fund and donations from local United Church congregations. Augustine United Church also contributes space and administrative support. Food donations come from local businesses.
Our volunteers come from many different places as well as Augustine. Some volunteers come from other churches, some are members of the Oak Table community, and other simply hear about us and want to get involved.
The sense of community is very high inside the Oak Table circle, and those who attend have created guidelines for acceptable behavior to protect that sense of community. For example, inebriated folk are asked to come back another time when they are not in that state.
“Oak Table changed my life. I do art now, I participate in art events and I learned to play guitar during the course at OT.” Quote from an art class community member.
“Art at OT is occupational therapy for me, it gives me a hobby and replaces idleness.” Quote from a community member.
“Its nice to meet with other people and I’ve made new friends here. Oak Table is a peaceful and welcoming place which gave me a new beginning.” Quote from a community member.
Augustine would like to thank the Winnipeg Foundation, the Community Places Program of Manitoba and the Sir Thomas Cropo Foundation Inc. for their support toward the replacement of the stained glass windows at the front of our building.