Reps Circular

Dear ALMA Reps and ALMA Friends,

As we continue to pray for Bishop Michael, Cynthia and Peter on their visit to Angola here is some other news which may interest you and be of use in thinking of how to mark ALMA Sunday.

THE BEAT GOES ON 8th July 2006

This is the anniversary of the Gleneagles G8 summit where significant promises on poverty reduction were made by the G8 leaders. Mozambique directly benefited from additional debt cancellation. However, the need for concerted action on poverty continues hence the beat goes on … a dual focused event to 1) mark the anniversary of Gleneagles reminding world leaders that the beat of MAKE POVERTY HISTORY continues and 2) make an attempt to break the world mass drumming record!

At twelve noon that day we want to have more than 10,102 people drumming across the UK - with one more than that number we have a chance of being in the Guinness Book of Records. We are looking for churches in each London borough to host a group drumming out to the people in the area the message that we are tired of having development and justice issues put off by the richer countries. It is time to stop paying the World Bank and the IMF to force poor countries to open their markets to their own detriment. (DFID, for example, is a more effective and worthy recipient of Government development grants than the World Bank and the IMF.)

The drumming needs to last for five minutes; we are hoping to learn to drum to a Senegalese beat. For the world drumming record to be valid the names of everyone participating needs to be recorded and authenticated by two independent witnesses - an MP, a clergy person, community leader etc. The drumming itself need not take place in the church; in many cases it would be more effective in a commercial centre or park. It would also be an opportunity to involve school bands and young people. The drumming should lead to good press coverage for the message.

We’ll have a resources pack for churches participating: there will be churches which will wish to put on a teaching or awareness – raising session leading into the drumming; others may be able to do only the minimum. We do want to have as many centres as possible.

For more information contact Gray Featherstone Christian Aid Area Co-ordinator, London 020 7654 5330

ALMA SUNDAY: 9th JULY 2006

As well as intercessions, displays, sharing visit stories, special collections and worship with an African focus … we can celebrate ALMA Sunday by being part of the beat goes on – for it is another way of reminding our congregations that the ALMA relationship is part of the body of Christ – wherein we share each others sorrow and joys, carry each others burdens and cry out for an end to poverty.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the extent of this poverty – for those who have IT connected churches there are two excellent short films on malaria – an endemic problem in Angola and Mozambique. David Beckham made a very powerful short on malaria, as part of socceraid and Jon Snow has made a short version of his inspiring report on long life insecticide treated nets.

and how about something practical for your congregation to join in with …

a) SAINSBURY’S ‘ENJOY SUMMER’ OFFER

Some of you might have noticed this offer in Sainsbury’s – Buy five picnic items (such as cooked meats. dips, sausage rolls, small scotch eggs) and get a large cool bag, 2 small ones or 3 soft balls free. If you have more cool bags than you know what to do with please think of getting the soft balls! The Mandimba presentation at the last reps meeting showed the success of the footballs Hampton took on their second trip. These soft balls would be perfect for younger children!  I would be happy to store any balls we collect and then send some with each visit from London.

b) On a similar note you will remember Ron and Margaret Davies’ kind offer to transport some items during their private visit to Mozambique in September. They will be visiting St Barnabas at Bagamoyo in Maputo (linked with St John's Greenhill) and Nampula where the school funded by ALMA is under construction. We had thought it would be a good idea to send some footballs and some stationary items like pencils/colouring pencils/rubbers /rulers with them. Perhaps your parish might like to give some of these items? Please do get in touch if you can help.

NEW Web Updates

Christian Aid have updated their website and you might be interested in their work in Angola and Mozambique -see the following links: Christian Aid in Angola   Christian Aid in Mozambique