Reps Circular
From Sheenagh Burrell, ALMA Co-ordinator
almacoordinator@london.anglican.org T: Tuesdays: 020 7932 1231
Dear ALMA Reps and Friends,
This circular contains:
Two special things are happening in the remainder of November:
This meeting will have a Mozambican focus with visit reports from Sheenagh and Ann Clarridge and contributions from others who have visited this summer. There will also be a brief time to gather in the three Chaplaincy groups (Angola, Lebombo and Niassa) and share informally with others in London who have links with the same partner diocese. If you can’t come could you see if someone else might like to come to represent your parish?
Revd Domingos Tole Chipuazo and Mrs Ana Joao Baptista are coming to London to visit their link parish. We’re hoping to arrange an afternoon tea at Diocesan House when a small group of us could meet Revd Domingos and Ana. Please email if you’d be interested.
‘Our greetings. We are in the last moments of the school term. We celebrated the teachers’ day (12 October) with high dignity. In this moment we are in the middle of preparing for the examinations and the New Year’s term, which will begin on January 17, 2011’.
‘The warning first rain came, as ever, mid October, and houses are being fixed, fields prepared for planting, our Vida teams have noticed the absence of people in the villages. This is the Advent absence, waiting for the Christ’s time - the rains are in full swing by Christmas day, and everyone pours back into their homes for the feasts and celebrations, the churches are full, and expectations and joy are high.
Remember Niassa in your prayers at this time – the planting and the rains on time are so vital to the cycle and rhythm of life.
This has been a year of momentous events, it seems. In September’s Synod, the decision to multiply our diocese was taken, and the planning and enthusiasm has generated much passion and many ideas already. The plan is to make two new dioceses: Lúrio Archdeaconry (with Nampula and Cabo Delgado) will be one, the other Zambézia. The driving force behind the decision has been the growth of our church in the last 5 years, from around 245 congregations to 507, many in the most unreached parts of the country, like Shire and Morrumbala in Zambézia, and Mecuburi , Malema and Murrupula in Lúrio. There are 143 congregations now in just these 5 areas where there was only a handful, or none, in 2005. We have responded as we can – there were only 21 priests, now there are 45; around 1000 MU members, now 2700, involved in pastoral work – but the Synod’s decision is a huge step forward for local leadership and further church growth. The timing of the multiplication is with God and the Bishops to decide, as a process now begins, but we believe that it could be within 3-4 years.
This is the year that our Vida teams increased their focus on integrated mission too. They were birthed a few years ago as activists in HIV/AIDS, but grew as we came to understand our crucial, unique role as church within communities here. The plan is to have a team in each congregation, and presently there are 325 teams (with around 20 members in each, and several groups overseen by an ‘adepto’ or ‘cheerleader’), made up of mainly youth, working voluntarily in their communities, digging wells, malaria prevention and net distribution, building latrines, involved in our discipleship course Rooted in Jesus, helping orphans in their communities, supporting the long-term sick, teaching about HIV/AIDS.’
Information about the next Lent Appeal went out in Diocesan Mailing at the end of October and is on the Diocese of London site. ALMA Reps can really help by taking the lead on this and ensuring their parish has read this and is planning to be involved!
I’m thrilled to tell you that we have not one, but two new ALMA Communications Officers – both called Helen! Obviously we may have to do a bit of tinkering with titles and email addresses during December to distinguish between them and their different roles in the post but I know you’ll join me in welcoming Helen Doery and Helen Newman to the ALMA team. Many of you already know them.
With the Communications post filled this means the ALMA Strategy Group is almost complete. We are still looking for a Projects Officer to oversee ALMA Projects in Mozambique alongside the ALMA Finance Officer. Please do look around and see if there is anyone you know who may be interested.
We are hugely grateful to all the people who volunteer to be ALMA Officers, part of the ALMA Strategy Group and sub groups, and are very thankful for the time and expertise so generously given.
Any ALMA banner makers out there? We’re still waiting for a date when we can formally present the ALMA banner for London to Bishop Richard and find a long term home for it, but this means it will be available on Monday for aspiring needle people to study, and, hopefully, find inspiration to make one for both parish and link parishes churches! People planning 2011 visits could talk with Ann Flett and Beryl Warren who have patterns, some of the fabric from the Rivers of Prayer (ALMA 10th Anniversary Service) to incorporate, and much practical expertise to impart.
Carrie Lees’ report of St Mary’s Hampton recent visit to Mandimba is now available – some great photos and encouraging stories. Please keep these coming as they’re such an encouragement to others!
… should have news about an initiative, separate from ALMA, for those of you who have expressed the desire to contribute to funding Bishop Mark and Helen Van Koevering in Niassa after April 2011 when USPG funding ceases. Contributions to USPG for the period Christmas to April are still welcome. See September Circular for details on this.
Finally apologies if I’m being a little slower in responding to your enquiries and not in the office. My Jury Service will be continuing into a third week next week and on Tuesday 30 November I will be out of the office at a meeting until the afternoon.
However, I’m looking forward to catching up with you on Monday at the ALMA Reps Meeting!
Sheenagh
Sheenagh Burrell