The Community of the Sisters of the Church is an international body of women within the Anglican Communion, living under the values of poverty, chastity and obedience and exploring new ways of living community life and ministry today. Since the early 1990's there has been a community on Ashley Road in Bristol, seeking to serve the local community and share the love of Jesus with others. The group is celebrating 35 years of ministry and presence in Bristol this year and recently held an outdoor 'Eucharist in the yard' service.
The Bristol sisters describe their home as "between extremes", experiencing "such poverty and noise on our doorstep" whilst just around the corner are communities which are clearly more affluent. They carve out time each day for morning, evening and end-of-day prayer as well as a Eucharist in their chapel. They are often invited to preach in local churches, speak at School assembly opportunities and give talks to other groups.
Their main focus is the 'Loaves and Fishes' ministry, which focuses on giving out food parcels to those in need. The ministry started in the 1990s, when Sisters began giving out small food parcels to about 12 people who came for food each week. This soon grew, and for many years now the sisters have given food and companionship to around 250-300 people each week.
The ministry takes its name from John 6:1-14, where Jesus takes a boy's offering of five small barley loaves and two small fish and fed the five thousand. The sisters and volunteers are the channels of countless people's kind and generous donations, which is why they chose the name 'The Five Loaves and Two Fishes Project'. Food parcels are offered to anyone who calls asking for one. They judge no one and ask no questions except their name. Anyone and everyone is welcome, and no justification is needed.
Alongside the Loaves and Fishes Ministry, the sisters offer help with form filling and making phone calls as well as an annual Children's Day Out for our families who come to receive food parcels to an adventure park. They also offer pastoral care to those in prison, hospital or at home, as well as offering prayer ministry to anyone who asks.
Speaking about the 35-year anniversary, Teresa Mary, Sister in Charge, said:
"It has been a privilege to be the Sister-in-Charge these past 9 years. I have been blessed by the people who come, volunteers and clients alike. Each Sister-in-Charge brings something unique to the role and it is only through all our contributions that we have continued to offer hospitality to so many over the years. Our Mother Foundress was once accused of offering ‘indiscriminate charity’ and thank God, we continue to offer the same. We have been able to mark this anniversary in a quiet way with a few prayer-based events, culminating with the Eucharist in the Yard. We were invited to be a praying presence, and we continue to be so."
The community's recent 'Eucharist in the yard', a communion service open to all held outside in the yard by Ashley Road, was attended by around 35 people. The service took place while the Loaves and Fishes food parcel collection was open and the gospel reading was from John chapter 6, where Jesus feeds the five thousand.
We give thanks for the valuable ministry of the Bristol Community of the Sisters of the Church and pray for them as they continue to serve the community around them.