Reps Circular

Dear ALMA Reps and Friends,

Greetings on the eve of ALMA Sunday! Tomorrow we join together for Evensong at the Cathedral at 3.15 pm with a last opportunity to visit our ‘Images of Transformation Exhibition’ from 2 pm - 3.15 pm.

Thank you so much to the valiant band of ALMA Reps and Mothers’ Union members who have stewarded the ALMA exhibition in the Cathedral over the last three weeks. It has been wonderful to engage with visitors as they saw the three Swords into Ploughshares sculptures and the other exhibits. None of us at the launch will ever forget how Neil McGregor, Director of the British Museum, gave a group of visiting school children from Southwark Park School their own ‘History of the World in 100 Objects’ tour of the sculptures. His unique unfolding of the stories and significance of the sculptures captivated not only the ten year olds!

The Capulana exhibition at St Botolph’s-without-Bishopsgate has also been much visited and commented upon, not least because of the presence of the four mannequins in the aisles. It was extraordinary to see the wealth of capulanas owned and treasured by ALMA in London all in one place – each a testimony to the relationship and to the visits between ALMA partners over the last twelve years. Helen Doery and I sadly took this exhibition down yesterday, but photographed each capulana so we have a record of these wonderful cloths which chart so many aspects of life in Angola and Mozambique.

For those of you who were unable to get to the exhibitions the two exhibition hand-outs are available from the Exhibition News page for you to read and there will be photo galleries shortly. There is also a news item on the Diocesan Website and one in the Church Times on the capulana exhibition.

This circular contains

1. A prayer for ALMA Sunday from our Intercessory Chaplain, Beryl Warren.
2. Diary Dates
3. News from our Partners
4. London News with an important notice from the ALMA Strategy Group.

1. Prayer for ALMA Sunday

Creator of all there is,
Our Saviour, our Redeemer,
We come to you in humility and faith
to give thanks for all that by Your grace
has been achieved this year by ALMA,
and for encouragement in the future.

For the divine in each of us, connecting to make us one soul,
we give You thanks.

For the Holy Spirit activating our prayers into positive action
we give You thanks.

We remember when faced with frustrations or disappointment:
that the child needing an eduction could be our grandchild or child - she is!
that the young man dying of AIDS could be our son - he is!
that the grandparent caring for the orphaned grandchild could be us - they are!

Lord hear us,
Lord graciously hear us.

May our prayers be carried to Your presence on the wings of our faith
and accepted on behalf of Your Son,
the infinite, the eternal Jesus Christ.

Amen.

2. Diary Dates

11 July ALMA SUNDAY and final chance to see the Cathedral exhibition. Doors will open at 2 pm to allow ALMA community to see the exhibition before Evensong at 3.15 pm  which will have an ALMA flavour and will include prayers for ALMA.

26 July Film: Escape to Luanda. Another chance to see this film on music students in Luanda, which was on Channel 4 last week. Free. At Amnesty International’s HQ at 6.30pm.

Summer and September Visits - see the list of visits in 2010.

3. News from Our Partners

a) Angola

John Tasker reports:

‘Bishop John Hayden led a team to Angola last month to deliver the ‘Rooted in Jesus’ course.  Fr Nunes and myself were able to brief him in person at the Partners in World Mission Conference last year, which helped the planning enormously.  I've now heard from Bishop John that the visit went exceptionally well, and he's provided a two page report which is a very encouraging read.’

If you haven’t come across Rooted in Jesus before do look at their website. It is a group course in Christian Discipleship written for use in Africa, using African rather than translated material.

b) Lebombo

In June Bishop Dinis led a group of 80 pilgrims from Mozambique to the Bernard Mizeki Shrine in Marondellas, Zimbabwe for the annual Bernard Mizeki Pilgrimage which went ahead despite difficult circumstances.

Bishop Chad Gandiya writes

‘The heavily armed police at the Bernard Mizeki Shrine, the road blocks on the main Harare/Mutare road and other police discouragements did not deter the majority of the pilgrims. Some pilgrims were returned home by the police.

We had to find an alternative venue in Marondera - the Marondera Show Ground. We had one of the largest gathering in recent memory! The pilgrims were very understanding despite the hardships. The worship, singing and testimonies were something out of this world! Even Kunonga [expelled Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, an avid support of Mugabe] and some of his people came and watched at a distance. I am told that he told one of the show ground officials that “this kind of gathering was a health hazard!”

We saw the hand of God at work throughout the weekend. Pilgrims stayed until we finished the early Sunday Eucharist. Bishop Dinis Sengulane of Lebombo, Mozambique led a group of about 80 pilgrims from Mozambique. In spite of the police efforts to discourage us we had one of the best celebrations in memory! Bishop Godfrey Tawonezvi of Masvingo preached a brilliant sermon and I was the chief celebrant. I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your prayer support. Still rejoicing.’

c) Niassa

The ALMA Strategy Group Meeting on June 9 drew up the following notice which Bishop Michael has asked to be circulated to ALMA Reps and Friends:

ALMA – and a special appeal.  Niassa is one of our Link Dioceses in Southern Africa and Bishop Mark serves in the Diocese as a USPG Mission Partner. As you may know most of the mission agencies are experiencing financial problems and USPG’s deficit puts some of its projects and support in jeopardy including the support costs for Bishop Mark. USPG needs to raise £15,000 during 2010 and early 2011 to enable the Bishop to continue the sterling work that he is doing in the Diocese, developing leadership and shaping the future of mission and ministry.  Last year USPG extended its Agreement with Bishop Mark, but current plans are that it will finish in April 2011. Longer term financial arrangements for the continuation of Bishop Mark and Helen’s ministry remain uncertain.

There are already some parishes and individuals in the diocese contributing to USPG’s support cost for the Van Koeverings but if there are others who would like to contribute, please send donations direct to USPG and ensure they are ear-marked for the ‘Diocese of London – Mark and Helen Van Koevering’ Appeal. Donations should be sent to USPG: Anglicans in World Mission, 200 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YB.

4. London

2010 Lent Appeal Update - Thank you so much to those of you who have contributed to the 2010 Lent Appeal for ALMA’s Children. To date £45,600 has been raised which is wonderful especially in this year of economic uncertainty – and we still hope to see our target of £70,000 reached.

ALMA’s Children does some wonderful work. The stellar example has been the 2010 Chihunzuine water project which has transformed the lives of a whole community and continues to impact on its neighbouring communities. I visited Magumeto 15 kilometres from Chihunzuine, another place where water is scarce and the water table deep, but where there is real desire to give their many infants an education like that of the Chihunzuine youngsters.

Another notable ALMA’s Children project is the school in Nacala.  Revd Helen Van Koevering’s Reflections from Niassa underline why supporting our partners in their work with the young is so important. We have added illustrations and photos.

Thank you once again to everyone who has made the exhibitions such a success. Apologies that the work on the exhibitions has meant we have been unable to have a full set of ALMA Sunday resources this year, but it is good to know that we have shared ALMA with a wider constituency and we do thank the City of London Festival for this unique opportunity.