Volunteer Appreciation Evening at St John’s, Upper Norwood

On Saturday, 17 January 2026, St John’s, Upper Norwood, welcomed more than 100 of our volunteers of all ages for an evening which celebrated and said thank you to their commitment and contribution to the mission of the church. St John’s is a parish church at whose heart is worship, hospitality, and community outreach, which is accomplished through the hard work of our volunteering community. The evening celebrating our volunteers was warm and friendly, with an atmosphere which reflected that together we accomplish amazing things for this church and community. In taking time to publicly acknowledge that much of the church’s work happens quietly, through faithfulness and commitment that often goes unseen, we were able to acknowledge also our shared vocation as Christian people and as people for whom the church is as important when faith is still worked out.

Our celebration evening was a good opportunity also to step away from the routines of serving and simply share fellowship in a space shaped by shared experiences and memories. One volunteer who came to volunteer with St John’s following a bereavement described it as “a lovely evening, dining in a deeply familiar and beautiful setting with wonderful company and delicious food made with love.”

During 2025, more than 106 volunteers supported the life and mission of St John’s, offering an astonishing 9,582 hours of their time, the equivalent of 399 days of kindness freely given. Together, they served 8,705 meals, brewed 4,362 pots of coffee, washed 34,820 pieces of cutlery, baked over 4,024 cakes (an incredible 48,288 portions), and shared 2,110 conversations at the Refugee Café. Volunteers come from all walks of life and offer their time in different ways, whether weekly or occasionally, with each contribution forming part of a shared commitment to serve others. The numbers are inspiring, but the true impact of these facts is thousands of smiles and lives quietly touched by the Christian church.

The evening also reflected something deeper about the heart of volunteering within the church. Scripture consistently points to service as a response to God’s call, with Jesus himself saying, “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). By giving their time freely, volunteers consciously and subtly live out this calling through practical acts of kindness, generosity, and hospitality, supporting both the worshipping life of the church and its outreach into the wider community.

Those who attended expressed heartfelt appreciation for the event. “The food was simply delicious, and it was all so beautifully organised,” wrote onevolunteer, while another commented, “It was a truly enjoyable evening and well worth doing again.” Others spoke of feeling welcomed, valued, and encouraged by the opportunity to gather together.

As the church looks ahead, this spirit of generosity continues to shape how St John’s, Upper Norwood, serves its neighbours and responds to the needs it encounters. The Volunteer Appreciation Evening served as a reminder that acts of service, offered freely and faithfully, remain central to the life of our church and we pray for the Church in the world.