Outreach Friday Drop In Meetings It was good to have Revd Ron Overton lead our service on 16 January to explain mental illness in the community and the role of faith and spiritual issues to address the problem. We are grateful and wish him well in the new work he has taken up in Bury St Edmunds. This was an initiative by our Mission Group. It recognises an opportunity and need for this Church to develop ways of providing for the large proportion of people with physical, mental or psychological problems. We have individuals with experience of mental illness, of taking worship to clients and staff at Bridge Hospital and helping the MIND Oasis support group meeting in our hall each week. Let's strive to make it easier for everyone in the community to recognise and access the healing benefits of faith. Brian Loader, Ron Overton and colleagues at InterAct are working hard to help the disabled and sick in numerous ways. This includes developing the wide recognition by health professionals of the value of faith communities in this field and providing training for those involved. In Witham Churches we are fortunate to have ministers and lay people experienced and interested in this. Plans are being developed for provision of organisation and training. Once our premises is improved we believe it will attract and enable uses such as counselling, training, conferences and more community activity like MIND OASIS and healing work. In the meantime we need to develop our understanding and ability to grasp this opportunity. Please consider what you could do and pray for God's help.   Pat Ripton Mission Group Secretary. Craft Table at Friday Meeting   Whitechapel Mission Witham Methodist Church spports the Whitechapel Mission. This church in the East endof London operates a daily drop in centre for the homeless of the area. See www.whitechapel.or.uk. It is of special interest to us as our minister spent some years there before coming to Maldon, Witham & South Woodham. One of our retired lady ministers also spends time there as a meeter/greeter/facilitator. If you are able to help with donations of food, clothing and toiletries then we would be glad to receive your gifts at The church in Guithavon Street.