Palmerston North Corps creates spaces for all this Christmas

Captain Michelle Lee and The Salvation Army Palmerston North Corps have made a few changes to their space for this Christmas season. Rather than throwing a few strands of tinsel on a tree and calling it a day, they've looked at how the community are gathering in their building and how they can communicate a message of hope this year.

The Salvation Army Palmerston North Corps is bustling throughout the week with the many services, projects and opportunities for connection that the staff and ministries provide. Captain Michelle Lee is one of the officers at the corps and is always on the lookout for ways to bless the community. They're all about 'having a welcoming, friendly, loving environment so people felt accepted as they entered the building.'

A Christmas 'waiting' space

Throughout the year, The Salvation Army Palmerston North runs 'Catherine Booth Café'. This season they've transformed it into the 'Christmas Café', where people are welcome to a warm conversation and a hot drink! Kat Eden serves at the Corps and says, 'We have created a space for people just to come and share in fellowship while they wait to choose their toys and collect their Christmas food.'

'It has made people feel like they are not just a number as they enter the building. They are a real person who needs love and grace.'

'People have felt more relaxed and have fed back to us how it is nice to come and feel loved and unjudged in such a loving environment.' Whether it's filling in forms or waiting for a service, the space is set up thoughtfully, so people know they are welcome here.

A space for remembrance

Anyone entering the building is invited to write a name on the Tree of Remembrance. Michelle says 'In the foyer, people put hearts on the tree with names of loved ones that have passed or loved ones who live far away who they won't see this Christmas because of COVID-19.' 'The remembrance tree has been a blessing to the people as they have said that they love the idea of having an opportunity to remember their loved ones.'

Space for hope

'And Christmas time is the perfect time to show people that there is hope.'

Palmerston North's thoughtful spaces show that they are putting their love of people into practice. 'We wanted to do new things that would bring more love and freedom to the people who came in. Our 'Model of Care' and The Salvation Army's mission is 'Caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society.''

So what effect do these thoughtful spaces have on the people who come into The Salvation Army Corps? Michelle replied, 'It has made people feel like they are not just a number as they enter the building. They are a real person who needs love and grace. Coming here is a place where they can belong before they believe. Our corps knows that we need to be doing new things to share the love of Jesus.'

'And Christmas time is the perfect time to show people that there is hope.'

Christmas is an opportunity to create space for others to belong and know they are a valuable part of The Salvation Army, whatever their connection is. We thank you for all you are doing to make space for others this Christmas.