Advertisement
Published: October 9th 2015
Edit Blog Post
We have all seen the pictures and read or heard the stories relating to the plight of the refugees. Call them what you will, migrants, refugees or asylum seekers, they are all human beings fleeing from something that you and I cannot imagine.
How would we cope if the situation were reversed and the water we had to cross in a small rubber dinghy was still safer than the land we stood on? Could we take the decision? We pray that we will never know.
Revd. Mary has been telling a story about a Kingfisher and a forest fire. The animals and birds of the forest run around not knowing what to do, so do nothing. Whereas the kingfisher goes back and forth between some water and the fire picking up one drop at a time and dropping it on the fire. When the other animals and birds say ‘what’s the use in that, you won’t put out the fire’ the Kingfisher answers ‘well doing something is better than nothing’
So while our politicians run around doing nothing the people have moved forward one drop at a time to do something to help the refugees.
The United
Benefice in Albrighton, opened St Mary’s as a place where people could leave donated goods for the refugees in Calais. A Group in Shrewsbury, the ‘Shrewsbury Donations to the Calais Refugees’ did an amazing job by coordinating other groups such as ours. They provided a list of requirements and a packing list which made handling and transporting easier.
The Shrewsbury group was linked to Calaid located in London and it is this group that arranges delivery and distribution to the refugees in Calais. This was people power at its best.
Generous donations came into St Mary’s which kept us busy sorting, labelling and packing them ready for delivery to Shrewsbury on
Wednesday 30th September. The Shrewsbury group which used of a 240 sq. foot storage unit donated by Storage King in Shrewsbury loaded the goods into 5 trucks for transportation to CalAid in London on
Sunday 4th October. It was a privilege to be part of the United Benefice’s effort and we pray that this ‘Drop’ will has made a small contribution to the refugee relief effort.
The Benefice has decided to continue the ongoing collection of toiletries, Tooth Paste, Tooth brushes, Soap
CalAid
Our United Benefice Flyer and Shampoo, plus blankets for the refugees as winter will soon be here.
Still Keeping Busy We have now moved into October and have taken some time to reflect on the past few years.
October 2012 was the time when God gave us our ‘Itinerary’ which started us on our Journey of Faith leading to Our Journey WITH Faith.
October 2012 was also the month when Jess handed in his resignation to CSmart.
The past 3 years have been an amazing ride with God who said to us ‘Do Not Worry’ (read Matthew 6 : 25 - 34) as He will provide all we need, and He has certainly done this.
And so the Journey continues: -
On
Saturday 12th September the Churches Together Association in Albrighton held a Ride & Stride event. Twelve brave souls set out in wet weather walking from St Cuthbert’s to St Chads via St Mary’s, St Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Methodist Church. Walkers are sponsored and all money raised is donated to the ‘Churches Trust’ which provides funds to churches in need of repair or renovation.
On
Saturday 19th September our friends from Berwick on
CalAid
Goods come in to St Mary's Tweed, Chris and Alan Marshall came to Albrighton in their motor home on their way to Wales. They attended St Chads with us on
Sunday 20th September for a prayer service before joining us for lunch at out flat. We spent the day together in Albrighton on
Monday 21st September before they departed the next day for Wales. It was great to see them again and as always we had lots to talk about. We pray they had a great safe holiday.
On
Wednesday 23rd September we headed to Wolverhampton on the 7.10am Arriva bus in order to catch the 8.40am National Express Coach to London. Our friend Pam from Hastings, Pam is the wife of Alex our Vicar at Holy Trinity Hastings, both of whom are special friends.
Pam was in the UK for a Leprosy conference being held in Sunbury Middlesex and as she did not have time in her busy schedule to get to Albrighton we could not miss the opportunity to see her and two days in London was a good break for us.
We are always happy with the UK public transport and once again have no complaints. The National Express coach
CalAid
Goods sorted and packed was on time and we enjoyed a comfortable ride to London Victoria coach station. Then it was onto a train to Clapham Junction and finally on a Train to Sunbury.
We checked in to the comfortable Premier Inn, Sunbury, before heading out to meet Pam at the Salvation Army Conference Centre before enjoying several hours of catch up over a great Chinese meal at the local restaurant. Such a great time of friendship shared.
The problem with these last two events, Chris & Alan visiting and catching up with Pam, is that you look forward to them for so long but they are over so quickly. We continue to thank God for these wonderful opportunities.
Tuesday 29th September saw us attend the next Deanery Synod meeting which was held in Shifnal. It was an opportunity to let the other Churches know about the Benefice’s efforts with Calaid and the Calais refugees plus an opportunity to issue the St Chad ‘Quiet Days’ brochure and a flyer which advertises the 2016 Quiet Day schedule.
Friday 2nd October was the St Chad Harvest Festival service followed by the Harvest Festival supper. It is a great opportunity to thank God
CalAid
Goods sorted and packed for his provisions and to thank the farmers for all their skill and work in bringing in the harvest. St Chads was decorated with an abundance of fruit and vegetables all of which were donated to the Compton Hospice on
Monday 5th October. Outside of church we continue to keep busy, Jess working in the menswear shop and gardening and Evelyn with her cleaning jobs and pastoral care.
We continually thank God for the life He has given us and all that he provides.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.122s; Tpl: 0.02s; cc: 10; qc: 28; dbt: 0.0451s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Bob Collie
non-member comment
Great Work
Hi Jess and Evelyn, You seem to be very organised with the Calaid. What a great idea and service to the refugees. I fear that the success of people heading for Germany will trigger even greater numbers seeking a better life. The numbers of people drowning at sea is sickening and Europe eventually won't be able to cope with housing and feeding so many. How are the Quiet Days doing ? Another great idea. Fancy catching up with Pam too. We are well and enjoying our home. We have a regular monthly get together with all the family which we really enjoy. Love to you both, Bob and Phyllis.