With the
generous support of St Matthew’s congregation, Christian
Aid Week 2014 raised over £1005. This was through
various efforts – the familiar Red Envelope collection,
a Coffee Morning on Saturday 10 May at our Organiser’s
house, a Full English Breakfast in the Parish Centre on
Saturday 17 May, a Quiz, plus the proceeds from our
Friday lunch on 16 May.
Hannah Thomson, a Student and Youth Intern for Christian
Aid, came to the Breakfast to talk about her recent
visit to Colombia. Hannah quoted from Acts 2: 42-47
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and
to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many
wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the
believers were together and had everything in common.
They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who
had need. Every day they continued to meet together in
the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and
ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God
and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord
added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
This example of the early church shows a community
sharing with one another, sharing with their local
community. Today we no longer exist just in local
communities, but as global communities – 40% of the
products in our supermarkets are imported. But we are
failing to care for the global community of which we are
a part. Christian Aid is a charity that supports local
organisations to end poverty in their communities,
working in some 50 countries around the globe, just one
of them being Colombia. Hannah spoke about the impact
our donations will make to these local communities and
how they will change their lives.
This year’s Christian Aid theme of Reconciliation was at
the heart of the event, aiming to make a change in
helping to ease the endless of amounts of fear that
destroy people’s everyday lives in Columbia, Iraq and
South Sudan. With Christian Aid’s help these people will
get the vital support they need to fund life-changing
programmes – hugely appreciated by the local
communities.
Please find below a selection of photos taken at the
Breakfast on Saturday 17 May.
The Director of Music, Thomas Moore, is
looking to recruit BOYS from school year 4
to 7 and GIRLS from school year 5 upwards
who are keen to sing and eager to learn.