Wellbeing

The Dovecote: A Renew Wellbeing Centre

Our hope is to practically express God’s love and provision towards those struggling with mental, material and relational poverty in our community by helping to establish a new beachhead of wellbeing and soul-enriching community in our village.

A quiet shared space where it's ok not to be ok

Sundays 3pm-5pm & Thursdays 10am-12pm

A place for shared experiences and friendships. You are invited to bring a hobby or an activity to share with others.

Our Wellbeing Hub Values

Sharing God's Love: Prayer

  • A place where God's unconditional love for our community is expressed through faithful presence and caring action

  • A place where people can 'taste and see that the Lord is good'

  • A place that is peaceful, grace-full, joyful, hopeful

  • A place where people can access prayer as a resource for spiritual wellbeing

Welcoming All: Presence

  • A place that is safe, friendly and inclusive; where people feel valued, liked, accepted and able to belong

  • A place characterised by compassion, empathy, kindness and mutual respect

  • A place that goes above-and-beyond to ensure equality of access

  • A place that is non-judgemental, where "it's ok to not be ok"

Partnering with Others: Partnership

  • A place where high value is placed on listening & hearing from each other's wisdom

  • A place that encourages co-production, the use of gifts, and community ownership

  • A place that signposts, and partners with, professional agencies and resources

  • A place the addresses actual need - listening to and working with the community

You are invited to try the practise of prayer - here are the simple prayers we use to punctuate the day

Morning Prayer - Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name ~ Take a moment to bless His name.

Bless the Lord Oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits ~ Take a moment to thank him for all His blessings and benefits in your life.

He forgives all our sins ~ Take a moment just to receive God's forgiveness.

He heals all our diseases ~ Take a moment to lift before God the names of those who need to experience God's healing hand on them today.

He redeems our lives from the pit ~ Take a moment to name places and situations around the world that need God's redemptive touch.

He crowns us with love and compassion ~ Take a moment just to sit and receive his love for you.

And now may the God of all peace make you whole and holy. May he keep you safe, body, mind and spirit; ready for his presence. He has called you, He is faithful. He will do it. Amen

Midday Prayer - The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven hallowed be thy name ~ Take a moment to bless His name.

Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven ~ Take a moment to pray for any people, places or situations that are on your heart.

Give us this day our daily bread ~ Take a moment to share with God the needs you have this day.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us ~ Take a moment to confess and receive forgiveness from God or perhaps to ask Him to help you forgive someone who has hurt you

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil ~ Take a moment to seek God's wisdom, strength and protection.

For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, Forever and ever, Amen

Lord keep us in the beautiful attitudes, joyful, simple and gentle. And may the favour of the Lord our God be upon us. Establish for us the work of our hands, Oh Lord, Establish the work of our hands.

Evening Prayer - The Prayer of Examen

In what ways has God been present with you today? ~ Take a moment to think about the day that has past, recall what has been, what you've done, those you have spoken to and how you feel about all that has happened.

In what ways have you seen the love and compassion of God today? ~ Take a moment to thank God for these things.

In what ways have you not seen God's love and compassion? ~ Where it was due to your actions or something you said, take a moment to confess and receive forgiveness. Where it was because of someone else's troubles: just lay those things down before God.

What have you learnt from the good and the hard parts of this day? ~ Take a moment to share this with God and as you do listen to what he might be saying to you.

And now may the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show his favour and give you his peace. Amen

We all know that maintaining our mental health is becoming increasingly important as our lives are under so many stresses and strains, but we don't always know how to practically do that. Small actions may help improve our inner wellbeing.

Talk & listen

Be there

Feel connected

So speak encouraging words to one another - 1 Thes 5:11

Love each other as if your life depended on it. - 1 Peter 4:8

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. - Rom 12:15

Do what you can

Enjoy what you do

Move your mood

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. - Rom 12:1

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. - Matt 5:16

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - 1 Cor 10:31

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. - Phil 4:8

Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies. - 1 Cor 6:19-20

Remember the simple things that give you joy

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! - Phil 4:4

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. - Rom 12:12

Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. Matt 6:26

Embrace new experiences

See opportunities

Surprise yourself

Make the most of every opportunity... Understand what the Lord wants you to do. - Eph 5:16-17

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. - James 1:5

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. - Gal 6:10

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! - 2 Cor 5:17

Your time

Your words

Your presence

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. - 1 Peter 4:10

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. - Col 4:6

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. - Rom 12:15

1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England 

1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England

You are not alone

Here is a list of mental health organisations you may like to contact for support

Mental Health Organisations.pdf