The United Benefice of
St Mary's, Henlow, and St Andrew's, Langford
Supporting Christian Aid in Langford
Anglicans and Methodists together for Christian Aid Week
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK IS HERE and this year it runs from Sunday 13th to Saturday 19th May.
The week was launched in Langford with a joint Anglican and Methodist service held at St Andrew's, led by the Revd Sue Groom (Anglican) and the Revd Jim Broadbridge (Methodist), well known locally as a double act leading assemblies in the village schools, but on this occasion the challenge was to engage the adults rather than entertain the children. With members of the congregation carrying out the Bible readings, the Gospel read by Graham Isaac representing the Langford Christian Aid Committee, Jim leading the prayers and Sue delivering the sermon - The Power of Standing Together - the service came together smoothly without rebellion in the ranks (although Jim was heard whispering during the Peace, "How long does this go on for?").
Bless the gifts we have offered,
bless the work we will do,
and bless all who will bear witness
to our collective support
for the people of Sierra Leone.
Bless all our endeavours
and small contributions,
and transform them
into fruit that endures.
The service ended with a Commissioning Prayer for everyone involved with the week, especially those who would be going from door to door delivering and collecting the familiar red envelopes, and was followed by refreshments in the Church Hall. A DVD presentation on this year's Christian Aid theme was running at one end of the hall and a fairtrade stall selling Traidcraft products was available at the other.
Look out for an Envelope
If you haven't already received one, please look out for one of those distinctive red envelopes appearing through your letterbox, and put as much as you can in it, ready for when a volunteer calls to collect it. Whether that's a few pence or a few pounds, it all adds up - and if you're a UK taxpayer, Christian Aid can reclaim the tax on your donation via Gift Aid: please fill in the form attached to the envelope and include it with your donation. Even without Gift Aid, however, your donations this year could be worth double as the UK Government has agreed to match funding £1 for £1 on the first £5M given: please give generously to make the most of this!
If for any reason your envelope isn't collected, please drop it in at either St Andrew's Church or the Methodist Chapel, or take it to The Vicarage, 65 Church Street, Langford, Bedfordshire SG18 9QT.
Thank you!
Lent 2012: Count Your Blessings - Make Lent Count!
Graham Isaac writes:
LENT IS A TIME and opportunity to take each day to reflect, pray and be thankful for the goodness of God and the blessings that we have received.
Christian Aid's 2012 Count Your Blessings - Make Lent Count leaflets and appeal boxes are now available in Langford's Methodist Chapel and St Andrew's Church. The leaflet contains engaging actions and inspiring stories of Christian Aid's work throughout the world.
While Christian Aid does not decry the giving up of chocolate or biscuits for Lent it encourages us to make Lent count in a fresh way by reflecting on God's blessings, counting our blessings and remembering those for whom poverty is a daily reality.
From Ash Wednesday (22 February) to Easter Sunday (8 April) we are asked to help the world's poorest and go on a Count Your Blessings journey: by recording our responses to the daily Count Your Blessings action our world view should be transformed, and the world's poorest communities helped.
For those of the PC and i-generation (Personal Computer, iPad, iPhone and similar devices!!!) who want to have Christian Aid's Count Your Blessings at their fingertips, but don't have anywhere to put their leaflet, Christian Aid has also gone digital:
- Download the brand new Christian Aid android app from christianaid.org.uk/getinvolved/Lent2012/android-app.aspx: this application features a Lent calculator function and brings daily reflections direct to your android phone.
- Join the Count Your Blessings journey on twitter: @christian_aid or #cyblessings
- Visit Christian Aid on facebook christianaid.org.uk/facebook-count-your-blessings for daily thoughts and reflections.
Download the Count Your Blessings 2012 leaflet (pdf, 901kb) or pick up a copy from either St Andrew's or the Methodist Chapel.
Hope In The Rubble presents Haiti Survie - Stories from Haiti
Haiti Survie is an environmental organisation working across Haiti promoting sustainable development. Christian Aid supported Haiti Survie after the earthquake of 2010 to deliver emergency relief. This included providing food and shelter, hygiene education, and cash grants for restarting economic activities in the country.
Haitian born Aldrin Calixte works for Haiti Survie and was part of the emergency relief effort after the earthquake. He is also a specialist in agro-engineering and is currently working on disaster risk reduction programmes for the organisation.
You can hear Aldrin Calixte at one of the Hope In The Rubble events in March during the run up to Christian Aid Week. All are invited to these exiting and inspirational events but please note: RSVP essential to the Christian Aid Oxford office; contact details below.
Events in our area are as follows, running from 7pm to 9pm:
- Monday 19th March 2012: Welwyn Garden City
St Francis Church, Church Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6HH - Wednesday 21st March 2012: Bedford
Priory Methodist Church, 63 Newnham Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9QJ - Thursday 22nd March 2012: Luton
Stopsley Baptist Church, St Thomas' Road, Luton, LU2 7XP
To book your place, please contact the Christian Aid Oxford Regional Office:
Wesley Memorial Church, New Inn Hall Street, Oxford, OX1 2DH
Telephone 01865 246818 or email oxford AT christian-aid.org
Graham Isaac,
On Behalf of Langford Christian Aid Committee.
Discover More...
- www.christianaid.org.uk
- www.caweek.org
- Christian Aid on facebook
- Christian Aid on twitter: @christian_aid
Looking Back... (most recent first)
2012
- Anglicans and Methodists together for Christian Aid Week
- Christian Aid Week Sermon: The Power of Standing Together
- Lent 2012: Count Your Blessings - Make Lent Count!
2011
St Mary's, Henlow, and St Andrew's, Langford :: Diocese of St Albans :: Church of England
© 2011 - 2012, The United Benefice of St Mary's, Henlow, and St Andrew's, Langford
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