Putting the ‘Tea’ into Community

Clowns invade ACT Tea-Tent - Summer 2024

This is a special year for Churches Together in Ashtead: we were founded in 2000, which makes it our 25th Anniversary.  There's more: it is the 21st Anniversary of the Ashtead Village Day's Tea Tent. And, there is something else: this is the tenth year that James and Eileen have guided the management of the Tea Tent.  We can say guided management, because we are only part of a team of eight people drawn from all three Church ministries in Ashtead who plan and review the setting up and running of the tea tent each year, monitoring the previous years’ experience and introducing incremental improvements.  This year, for the first time, we are offering a Meal Deal and setting up a Canned Drink Stall up front, outside the Marquee.

And we of course, are only part of something much bigger. Every year, around 60 people make cakes, 4 teams make rolls, 15 help put up and dismantle the marquees and 80 folk volunteer to serve on the day.  This year we are also looking to recruit up to 6 people with cars with a large boot space to help transport goods to and from the churches.

And there is more. Seeing as how it is James and Eileen's 10th year on the job, we are going to retire, hand over the reins, ride off into the sunset, or into something else. So, we are looking for two other people with enthusiasm, a heart for serving the Community, team working and planning experience, to help run an annual event with a 6-week lead time. This comes with the opportunity for Fellowship with folk from other Ashtead Churches and a chance to interact with the Community – and this is one of the greatest gifts that comes with all who take part in this enterprise.

Please note: although we keep our prices down, we still make a reasonable profit every year and donate this to our chosen Charities. But making a profit is not our prime purpose: our purpose is to serve the Community.

To sign up to support the Ashtead Churches Together tea-tent at Village Day on 14 June, click HERE or contact Carol Dare on 07704 838 071.