Zambia Link

It’s that time of the year again when we reflect on our link with the parish of All Saints, Mbala, and rededicate the link which started in February 2006. This will take place at St. Peter’s Prayer and Praise with Holy Communion on 7th February. Two major developments took place in the last year. The first is that St. Paul’s, Kewstoke, have now joined the link and will be making a regular monthly financial contribution. The second, more recent development is that Francesca Francis has agreed to be Link Co-ordinator and Ann Deakin has kindly consented to be our contact at St. Paul’s. Since Toni and Chris Chandler moved to France we have been without a Co-ordinator and have been a bit less active although still continuing contact with Fr Alfred, his family and congregation and managing to host a visit from Bishop Robert Mumbi and his wife, Joy, as well as enjoying a very successful and enjoyable Africa Evening. Now with Francesca as Link Co-ordinator and Ann as St. Paul’s contact, we can move forward more effectively. At St Peter’s, we continue with individual monthly planned giving for All Saints. This doesn’t require a burdensome contribution from each person but a small regular donation monthly means a great deal. Currently we have pledges from 6 people totalling £32 per month. If you could see your way clear to joining in with this way of supporting our link parish please fill out the form which will be available at the Rededication Service and from the Michelle in the Office, and envelopes will be provided for your monthly contribution. In the four year’s of the link, we have helped to fund the building of a new house for the priest and his family and enabled the beginning of the building of a sewing block with the money we are sending. The sewing block will help the women of the parish to continue to raise money to support the HIV/AID’s orphans through school and to provide for the other needs of the community which are great in a society with no health service, no benefit system, etc. But it’s not all about money! It’s about showing our love for our neighbour, and I hope as we go ahead on the next stage of our journey together we will become closer to Fr Alfred and his congregation in friendship, spirituality, prayer and worship. At the latest meeting of the Zambia Group we made plans to explore how we can use the internet to bond more closely and even share worship between our parishes – a really exciting prospect. Please continue to pray for our friends in Mbala, for the Zambia Group in both our churches as we seek God’s inspiration to develop the link, and for our combined church family as we respond to God’s calling. With love and blessings, Gill