Welcome to our sixth Mission in Action update, in which you’ll find news of some of the causes, local and overseas, that we support as a parish.
Tools with a Mission (TWAM)
A highly successful ‘tool amnesty’ morning in March relieved owners of items from under-stairs cupboards, lofts and
garden sheds for collection by the TWAM team for refurbishing and sending to communities in the developing world. Sadly, the fundraising side of our Lent Project has had to be put on hold, but we all still have our mini-collecting boxes, so when we’re back in church we can return them – brimming by then with small change! – and make our promised donation in support of the brilliant work Tools with a Mission does in Africa and beyond. Thanks to everyone for keeping the project going during the Covid-19 lockdown. To make an individual donation, visit www.twam.uk
Coffee, cakes … and community action
With St Peter’s House closed, our Wednesday morning Places of Welcome café is taking a break. But a surprise donation of flour in the run-up to Easter had a small band of parish bakers delivering treats to our friends in self-isolation. A huge thank-you, too, to the WhatsApp neighbours of one member of our congregation, who raised a magnificent £1,000 for the foodbank at St Paul’s, Salford, in lieu of our usual food donations, which have had to stop for now.
Christian Aid Week: 10 to 16 May How you can still help
This year, door-to-door collections can’t go ahead. But that doesn’t mean fundraising itself is on hold.
The focus for this year’s Christian Aid Week is on Climate Justice, a huge issue for poorer nations, and one that’s been cast into shadow somewhat in recent weeks. The fact that we can’t go collecting at a time when poorer communities worldwide need support more than ever, makes it even more vital that we give to Christian Aid in any way we can.
Fundraising suggestions on the Christian Aid website include holding a virtual quiz, a cook -along session, a virtual craft class, an art competition or a virtual hymn-a-thon or sing-a-long. Or why not sponsor someone on a personal challenge?
In previous years collectors from St Peter’s have raised more than £2,000 for Christian Aid. If you’re not able to organise an activity, please make a private donation – and don’t forget to fill out the box so that Christian Aid can collect Gift Aid.
To donate to Christian Aid, visit www.christianaid.org.uk
Syria Relief: special appeal
Here are some sobering statistics: for a population of 3.5 million, Idlib province in Northern Syria has 20 intensive care beds, 60 ventilators, and 600 doctors. As of 8 April, only 600 Covid-19 testing kits had arrived in the north-west, and the north-east had not received a single testing kit.
Due to the deliberate targeting of hospitals during Syria’s nine-year civil war, the healthcare system in Northern Syria had collapsed long before Covid-19 appeared on the scene. The system simply will not cope with a serious Coronavirus outbreak. Syria Relief, one of our chosen charities this year, is continuing to support civilians in Idlib, and in the refugee camps. As a church, we support their work with schools and schoolchildren, but the charity has now launched a special Covid-19 appeal. Please see www.syriarelief.org.uk to learn more about how your individual donations can help.
Afrinspire update
Some good news from Morobi Nursery and Primary School in northern Uganda. Pastor Komi thanks us for the school materials we have funded in the last year, and reports that more permanent school buildings are being erected in the refugee camp on the border with South Sudan. More funding is always needed – for school uniforms (often the only source of adequate clothing for pupils) and medicines. Also, four classrooms still have no roof. As a church we give ongoing support, but if there is any way you can also help as an individual, please visit www.afrinspire.org.uk to find out more.
The Mission in Action team’s main task is to research and recommend to the PCC causes to support with the 10 per cent of annual giving that is allocated for this purpose. Donations are divided between UK and overseas causes. Where possible we support those with a local link, or that have been recommended to us. This year, we are giving ongoing support to: (overseas) our CMS Mission partners Lex and Alan in South-East Asia; Syria Relief school support; Afrinspire; SolarAid; and (locally) St Paul’s Salford; St Mary’s Partington; The Boaz Trust; The Counselling & Family Centre, Altrincham; The Cottage, Hale.
