Meet The Need
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”
Matthew 25: 35, 36, 40
On the first Sunday of each month, Granville Chapel collects a special “Meet the Need” offering, for those in need in Vancouver. The Meet the Need committee is responsible for administering the funds from the Meet the Need offering, and for encouraging members of Granville Chapel to volunteer their time in service.
Meet the Need offering currently supports six ministries:
CityGate Leadership Forum
CityGate Leadership Forum is a catalytic presence in the church and the city that equips change-makers to work with the poor for the wellbeing of the people and places of Greater Vancouver. One of the primary ways we do this is by cultivating the Planted Community Food Network, which provides nutritious food in ways that foster community, contribute to a sustainable local food system, and build on the strengths of the poor. Check out this video about community kitchens.
Just Work Economic Initiative
Physical disabilities, mental illness, homelessness and addictions are barriers to finding appropriate, steady employment. Persons facing such barriers are often marked as unemployable. JustWork fosters dignified, gainful work opportunities for persons with these challenges through three social enterprises; JustPotters, JustCatering and JustRenos.
Kinbrace
Kinbrace is BC’s longest-serving housing provider for refugee claimants, offering dedicated support and accessible educational resources across Canada.
Vancouver Crisis Pregnancy Centre
The Crisis Pregnancy Centre of Vancouver offers practical help and encouragement to individuals facing an unplanned pregnancy or experiencing post abortion concerns. The centre is staffed by trained volunteers under the supervision of a program director.
Granville Chapel Community Meal
Granville Chapel is the backdrop to a monthly meal held on the 3rd Tuesday from 5:30pm - 8:00pm. It started as a way for us to get to know some of the diverse families from a local non-profit organization, and for them to find mutual support with each other; which is a joy to observe.
We wash, chop, set tables, play and do crafts for the first hour and dinner is ready to serve and enjoy at 6:30. As we chat together and play with the children we become friends, always ready to welcome new families. A prayer box is set out, with paper and pens, for anyone to slip in a request that we distribute to team members at the end of the evening. What a privilege it is to pray for these needs.
We aim for families and individuals to experience mutual support and friendship within a welcoming and supportive environment.
The meal is held at Granville Chapel between September and April, and then we convene at either of two parks for the summer.
Three of our goals are 1) to make the meal together, 2) have a simple craft, with supervision, ready for the children 3) allow the parents especially to enjoy a slow meal and conversation.
To that end we are always happy to hear from volunteers who could help with meal prep,
crafts, or washing the dishes.
Jacob's Well
We are an ecumenical Christian community, that is, we come from many different denominations and churches. We find unity around our commitment to Christ and to loving the marginalized people He loves. We strive to keep Christ at the centre of all we do. We believe our common purpose as followers of Christ is to announce the good news (Gospel) of the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom of justice and shalom, where nothing is missing or broken, where all things are reconciled and restored. We do this in word and action, longing and working for right relationships between God, ourselves, our fellow humans, and creation. The way that we do this changes over time as our community ebbs and flows; sometimes we make meals together, do art together, or garden together, but over time we have remained grounded in four principles: hospitality, mutuality, spiritual formation, and pursuing justice.
Hospitality: We welcome everyone to join us. We pursue community, radical inclusion, and table fellowship.
Mutuality: We do life together. We aim for interdependence, collaboration, and shared creativity.
Spiritual Formation: We want every person to become whom they are created to be. We practice rhythms of prayer, worship, visitation, celebration, and equipping.
Pursuing Justice: We announce God’s upside-down kingdom. We seek restored, right relationships between each other, God, and the world
Meet the Need also encourages the congregation to participate in three drives per year:
• Care kits for Union Gospel Mission in March/April – personal care items for those living on the street (eg toothpaste, socks, soap, etc)
• Operation Baby Bottle for the Crisis Pregnancy Centre in May/June – a good way to use your loose change for a good cause! Take a baby bottle home on Mother’s Day, fill it with coins and return it on Father’s Day.
• Delivering Christmas Hampers in December to families and individuals in need. Last year Granville Chapel provided 49 hampers.
Meet the Need committee members: Claire Tweeddale (chair), Debra Barnes, Karen Harmel, Sally Law, Yardley McNeill, and Nellie Seeto.