Cornerstone House @ 8 Chipmunk Chase, Hatfield
On the 1st of September the De
Havilland Community Project formerly became Cornerstone House and the outreach
of Marlborough Road and Hatfield Road Methodist Churches.
Cornerstone House is in Salisbury Village in Hatfield and is a large
housing estate of private and social Housing.
There are no churches on the estate, but the De Havilland Community Project
has been the Christian presence for over ten years. 
Each month Journey Light, a fresh expression of Church, takes place in the community room. A small group of people of all ages gather for fellowship, informal worship and time of reflection using art and crafts. The music is led by Chris Hancock and Chris together with Deacon Linda Kinchenton lead the time of informal and creative worship.
The outreach on the estate is just starting again after the 18 months or so of the pandemic. The De Havilland Community project formally ended in August with a Garden Party with 40 people in attendance. We had crafts, refreshments, games and a children’s entertainer.
So far this quarter a small group of local people have met most weeks on a Tuesday at 10.30am for Cuppa’N’Natta, which is a time to meet up a talk over a cup of tea or coffee. Up to 8 people at present come to this aged from 10 months to people in their 70’s.
Alongside this there has been a monthly family Craft café with around 10 children, aged 5 up to 10, attending with a parent or a child minder. In September we did crafts around woodland animals and in October we had sheep crafts to go with the Bible Story of the Lost Sheep. There is also a monthly pop-up café after school on the playground opposite the community room.
What to look forward to with Cornerstone House
Pumpkin Window Trail & House of Light
On 30th & 31st October there will be Pumpkin Window Trail of pictures of Pumpkins placed in 12 resident’s windows for the children to find. The prize for completing the trail will be a torch with the Cornerstone House logo on it. Then on the 31st of October between 5pm -8pm, the Manse’s carport, will be all lit up and become the House of Light, an alternative to trick and treating spreading the light of Jesus, with refreshments and a craft, as well as handing in the completed Pumpkin Window trail forms.
Christmas Window Trail and Posada
Between
the 1st -24th December there will be the Christmas Window
Trail with different pictures relating to Christmas placed in 24 resident’s
windows for the children to find. The
prize for completing the trail and delivering completed sheet on the 24th
will be a craft bag containing all that is needed to make a Christingle.
Also, during December there will be a Visiting
Posada, where a knitted Mary,
Joseph, and Donkey visit families in their homes
for 24 hours, dropping off some Christmas chocolate and a story book about
Christmas. The families take the Posada
to the next family.
This all finishes with a Christmas Eve drop-in Cafe between 1pm -5pm. This will be in the Cornerstone House Community Room. There will be an opportunity for refreshments and a craft, as well as handing in the completed Window trail forms.
Carol Singing
Journey Light, our fresh expression of Church, are also hoping to sing carols around the estate on the last week before Christmas. Journey Light takes place on the 4th Sunday (3rd Sunday in December) of each month at 5pm.
Volunteers Needed
If you, or others in the church, are able to help at any of these or join us for carol singing, you would be most welcome. Is there anyone who can knit me a donkey, pregnant Mary and Joseph? I would be very grateful. These were provided in previous years by Rev Sue Stillwell, who is no longer part of Cornerstone House.
If you would like more information about the work of Cornerstone House in Salisbury Village, please contact Deacon Linda Kinchenton 01707 271840 or email deaconlinda@live.co.uk or see our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/619305578088800/
