Outward Giving from All Saints' Leamington Spa
Recently we reviewed our outward giving in order to give members of the congregation both a greater say in which projects are supported, and a greater sense of participation in the projects themselves. Instead of giving away a proportion of general church income, we now focus on a number of special appeals each year. Members of the congregation are invited to recommend recipient organisations, to raise awareness of their work and to hold fund-raising events.
Harvest Appeal: Leamington & Warwick Foodbank
The Food Bank was launched locally at the beginning of July and seeks to meet significant local needs, operating one day per week in each of five venues spread in the neediest parts of the district. More information can be found here and a 'shopping list' of appropriate items to donate can be found here. The cash collection at our Harvest Eucharist on 29th September has also been given to the Foodbank.
NB: We keep a supply of instant noodles for clear immediate needs, and these can be donated at any time via the Cafe or, on Sundays, via the sidesmen.
NB: We keep a supply of instant noodles for clear immediate needs, and these can be donated at any time via the Cafe or, on Sundays, via the sidesmen.
May Appeal: Christian Aid
Today 870 million people are in desperate need of food. This is a scandal.
Christian Aid helps some of the world's poorest families to eat - irrespective of their faith or culture.
It's not just about responding to emergencies - although of course Christian Aid is well-known for such work. It's also about working to change the world for the better, eradicating the root causes of poverty: gender discrimination, tax inequality, HIV and malaria, landlessness, and so on.
Christian Aid Week, with its well-established door-to-door collection, is the focus of this month's appeal - but there will be other opportunities to give too. Please be generous. Last year we raised £688; let's see what we can do this year.
Christian Aid helps some of the world's poorest families to eat - irrespective of their faith or culture.
It's not just about responding to emergencies - although of course Christian Aid is well-known for such work. It's also about working to change the world for the better, eradicating the root causes of poverty: gender discrimination, tax inequality, HIV and malaria, landlessness, and so on.
Christian Aid Week, with its well-established door-to-door collection, is the focus of this month's appeal - but there will be other opportunities to give too. Please be generous. Last year we raised £688; let's see what we can do this year.
Lent Appeal: Embrace the Middle East
(formerly Bible Lands Society)
The focus of this year's Lent Appeal was Palestine, and our support was again requested through donations, retiring collections and the proceeds of the Lent Lunches.
We were supporting a charity called 'Embrace the Middle East', familiar to many under its former name of BibleLands (publisher of the widely-used Bethlehem Carol Sheets). EmbraceME seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the Middle East. It does so in partnership with local Christians, focusing on education, healthcare and community development.
Further information about the charity can be found on their interesting website, www.embraceme.org. Su McClellan, who works for Embrace, came to preach on 10th March and this was greatly appreciated.
So far the appeal has raised £430 through donations, retiring collections, box-holders and Lent lunches. Thanks to everyone who has contributed in any way.
We were supporting a charity called 'Embrace the Middle East', familiar to many under its former name of BibleLands (publisher of the widely-used Bethlehem Carol Sheets). EmbraceME seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the Middle East. It does so in partnership with local Christians, focusing on education, healthcare and community development.
Further information about the charity can be found on their interesting website, www.embraceme.org. Su McClellan, who works for Embrace, came to preach on 10th March and this was greatly appreciated.
So far the appeal has raised £430 through donations, retiring collections, box-holders and Lent lunches. Thanks to everyone who has contributed in any way.