Spotlight Jan/Feb 2017 This year’s Lent Book is in 2017’s Bishop’s Lent Appeal, [see page 3] ‘Dethroning Mammon: raising funds to support refugees and asylum Making Money Serve seekers, people forced out of stable societies Grace’ just published and still left financially excluded when they by the Archbishop of reach a place of safety.” Canterbury, Justin Welby. Following the Gospels towards Easter, “I was really encouraged Dethroning Mammon reflects on the impact to hear there was a great of our attitudes, and of the pressures that uptake of the 2016 Lent surround us, on how we handle the power Book across the Diocese,” of money. Who will be on the throne of says Bishop Michael. our lives? Who will direct our actions and “And there’s a real benefit attitudes? Is it Jesus Christ, who brings in focusing on particular truth, hope and freedom? Or is it Mammon, themes for a season. so attractive, so clear, but leading us into Grace and Money “So the 2017 Lent paths that tangle, trip and deceive? Archbishop book follows on Justin encourages us to use Lent as a time of from last autumn’s learning to trust in the abundance and grace of God. Selwyn Lecture in looking at our Dethroning Mammon features study questions attitudes to money suitable for small groups. In addition, the Diocese and the effects is producing study materials for young people. It is it has on us and available for order until 27 January 2017 from the Andy Walton from the society around us. It is also Diocese at a substantial discount of £6 per copy. Centre for Theology & Community led a theme we will pick up the Selwyn Study Day last autumn There will be a number of collection points across at which over 200 the diocese (see https://www.lichfield.anglican. people also had the org/2017-lent-book/ ) for books, which must be chance to learn about the support and paid for in advance and can be ordered in single or resources available multiple copies. Alternatively, they can be posted around the diocese to help churches serve at an added cost. For details see their communities. www.lichfield.anglican.org/2017-lent-book/ The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country TGIThe MondayBishop’s launch Lent Appeal I was a stranger... Looking back at 2016 Looking forward to 2017 of Christians Through USPG, we will support the Gifts to the 2016 Bishop’s Lent Appeal has reduced This year’s Bishop’s Lent Appeal immediate plight of refugees arriving were split between two charities, The to less than will follow the theme of supporting in Greece. Church of England’s Children’s Society and two per cent asylum seekers and refugees both at Friends of the Holy Land (FHL). as people home and abroad. And working with our own Transforming are forced to Communities Together partnership, Sarah Shelton, the Children’s Society’s emigrate for a We have all been shocked and appalled we will support projects working with Diocesan Representative, said: “I would like better life for by the images of refugees in the media asylum seekers in our own region. to express my heartfelt thanks for all the their children in recent years - fleeing Syria, risking and losing Diocese has done to support our work. elsewhere. life crossing the Mediterranean looking for safety Around 62,000 refugees and migrants are 2016 was yet again another amazing in Europe. And we meet those seeking asylum currently stranded in Greece. While a third are year for us - to be chosen as a charity to “FHL works from other oppressive and murderous regimes in apartments, hotels or with host families, benefit from the Bishop’s Lent Appeal was closely with in Africa and the Middle East. The lucky ones 40,000 remain in pre-fabricated containers incredible. I have been fortunate to visit all Christian may be safe, but even once in the relative safety and canvas tents which provide little many churches to give updates on our denominations of Europe are often left destitute as while due protection from cold work. Thanks for all your prayers, campaign in the region process assesses their claim, they have no right weather and which actions and generous donations. Including and especially to shelter, food or the dignity of using their skills weren’t designed the Lent Appeal, more than £130,000 with the to work and contribute to society. for long-term has been given, raised from Christingle Anglican accommodation. services, house boxes, coffee mornings to Diocese of our committees hosting local events. Jerusalem. The Diocese Meanwhile, “Sadly, it is a painful fact that many children and manages 34 different educational and medical refugees continue young people suffer extreme hardship, abuse and institutions, despite a congregation of only 7,000. to arrive each neglect. Too often their problems are ignored and The project to fund school fees for the poorest week and this their voices unheard. We are proud of our historic Christian students in ten families at Christ Church puts further and strong relationship with the Church, who plays Episcopal School in Nazareth from the generous pressure on an already stretched system a vital role in our work. We want to work with every donations across Lichfield Diocese is bringing in Greece. For example, on the island of church in the Diocese so together, we can change benefit to both the Diocese and the families. Samos, a centre designed to host 850 the lives of many, more children.” people is currently hosting almost 2,500 “I visited the school in people in lightweight tents intended for If you’re interested in having Sarah speak at November and met the summer camping. your church or want to know about becoming a Director, The Venerable volunteer speaker for the charity email Samuel Barhoum, There are many local projects run in sarah.shelton@childrenssociety and many teachers This churches and communities around the diocese and students. Eighty year’s Lent Appeal helps to tackle both urgent that count asylum seekers and refugees as Peter Rand, FHL Chairman, said: “FHL were per cent of the 1,100 and ongoing needs. their clients. So the ‘home’ portion of this year’s delighted to be a beneficiary of last year’s Lent students are Muslim. As Archdeacon Samuel told appeal will assist a variety of those programmes. Appeal. Over 90 per cent of our grants directly me, ‘they fight to have their children educated here’.” help the most needy Christians in the community. Do you support any local project that in part helps asylum-seekers and refugees? Achieving a good education is essential to secure Contact FHL’s Diocesan Coordinator, the Very Revd To nominate it as a beneficiary, use the form on the website www.lichfield.anglican.org/lent-appeal or employment and maintain a Christian presence in Adrian Dorber ([email protected]) email [email protected] before Easter with the name of your church and details of that project. the West Bank, Gaza and Israel where the number or find out more at www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk Allocations will be made in July, and we will then be providing additional resources in support of this ministry. Follow us on Twitter @Lichfield_CofE 2 Regular updates on our website www.lichfield.anglican.org 3 Join our Facebook Group “The Church of England’s Diocese of Lichfield” The Church of England around Staffordshire, northern Shropshire and the Black Country Faith Under Fire Reaching New Generations The start of 2017 sees the Diocese’s “Some of you recognise this story from “We found so many Christians RNG team, which supports your own church – you’re making it happen parishes in their work with yourself: the young parents that came five who daily risk their lives to children and young people, years ago to get their baby baptised and return to full strength. Jon found an extended family; the child at Sunday minister in Jesus’ name.” White describes how Club that never spoke at all six months ago, influential key adults can be but has found her voice today; the lad that on young disciples. was kicked out of the other youth groups, but thrives at yours. Others of you recognise this “My wife and I were chatting experience because you were that child or to a former young person young person some years back. Still others of of ours a while back. We you may read this and think kept in touch when she ‘I want some of that for my outgrew the youth club, church, but I have no idea and still meet with her where to begin.’ occasionally now we’ve moved to Lichfield. “Whichever group you belong to, “She was telling us how much life has changed the Reaching for her: she moved in with her best friend, New Generations learned loads about living independently Team (RNG) – myself (11s-18s), Laura Helen Gilbert, Warden at Aldridge Parish of women and girls raped or abducted and (heating costs loads when a flat is damp, Edwards (0-5s Enabler) and Libby Church, recently visited the Diocese of Jos in communities displaced, driven off their land. food shopping is cheaper when you have Leech (5-11s and Nigeria. She tells us more here: Children told of seeing their parents massacred, a list – who knew!) and is thriving in a Schools Enabler) - would love to in some cases beheaded. Some children bear the business administration apprenticeship. work with you. We exist to inspire, “I was privileged to walk in the shoes of Christian scars of machete attacks; all are deeply traumatised.