What’s happening at Wesley Mission this Christmas

Wesley Mission is providing meals, hampers and gifts for more than 2000 individuals and families this Christmas.

Hundreds of meals will be served to the disadvantaged, homeless and to older Australians across Sydney and the Hunter.

An army of volunteers have been packing over 2500 hampers and thousands of cans of food for underprivileged families. Wesley Mission is reconnecting more than 325 children in foster care with their birth parents on Christmas Day across western Sydney, the Hunter and Central Coast.

Wesley Mission’s Lifeline volunteers will also be busy during the Christmas/New Year period. Wesley Mission established Lifeline in 1963. From that first phone call, Lifeline has supported millions of people in crisis. Sadly, Christmas is no exception.

Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland are expecting up to 100 phone calls from people in crisis during Christmas Day.

People phone counsellors on issues ranging from loneliness and being estranged from family, to dealing with grief and loss experienced during the year to financial stress and its impact family members at Christmas.

Others phone about coping with parenting, visiting extended family and difficult relationships. Some are overwhelmed by sickness and chronic pain others discuss anxiety and depression.

“Christmas is a time for families to get together and celebrate but for many it will be a time of conflict,” the CEO of Wesley Mission the Rev Dr Keith Garner said.

“Too often people believe they can mend a messy relationship over a meal but in fact you need to be working on that relationship throughout the year to make it work at Christmas.

“An individual in crisis is a family in crisis. People can help by letting your family members know that they can talk to you about anything, without fear, reprisal or judgment.”

Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland takes more than 34,000 calls a year from people in crisis or who are seeking mental health support.

Lifeline’s 24 hour crisis telephone line: 13 11 14

Wesley Mission has 2000 staff, 4000 volunteers providing assistance and support in 130 centres across NSW to more than 200,000 Australians.

Wesley Mission will also be holding a range of church services on Christmas Day including:

 Christmas Day Worship Services at Wesley Mission 

9.30 am
Wesley International Congregation, City
Wesley Theatre, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney

10 am
Wesley International Congregation, Ryde
Unit 5, 112 Talavera Road, Macquarie Park

10.30 am
Wesley 10.30 am Congregation
Wesley Church, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney

Christmas Day Lunches at Wesley Mission

Christmas with Friends hosted by Rev Keith Garner & Carol Garner
Date: Friday 25 December
Time: 11.30 am for a 12 pm start
Venue: Upperroom Restocafe, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney
Price: $35 each

Shepherd’s Tucker welcomed by Rev Keith Garner & Carol Garner
Date: Friday 25 December
Time: 12 pm for a 12.30 pm start
Venue: Wesley Lyceum, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney
Price: $5 each

For more information visit the website