Noticeboard

~ SUNDAY & WEEKDAY SERVICES ~

Retiring offering will go to the UNICEF appeal for funds to ease suffering of children affected by the recent storm and dam collapse in LIBYA.  We will keep the appeal active for another two weeks to allow those who cannot attend this Sunday the opportunity to contribute.  Envelopes will be provided in the pews.

We support Hostel provision to allow children to attend school.  The children mainly come from disadvantaged families of a disadvantaged community. Families may be broken or are migratory workers.  The young people whose education is made possible by our support  have had an interrupted year’s schooling in 2021/2022, with both secondary and primary schools shut from time to time.  Much work has been done by the staff of the hostels to keep the students healthy and encourage their continued attendance in the hostels while schools have been open.  Assistance has been given to enable participation online when school has been closed.  The students have done well in and out of class.  Without our very significant support the scheme would have found it very difficult, perhaps impossible, to continue.  Some Hostel residents have now gone on to achieve third level education qualifications.

In early 2022, CCR held a most generously supported retiring collection in aid of our Gujarat project. We received two brief reports on the current situation there during the Covid emergency.  CCR’s contributions support staff salaries at both Hostels.

Edited Versions of these reports are available below.

Some abbreviations:  CSI - the Church of South India: a united Protestant church founded very shortly after Indian independence in 1947.

FMPB - the Friends Missionary Prayer Band - A missionary organisation based in the CSI, formed in the 1950s with the aim of the conversion of Indians to Christianity.  Methods used included providing care for marginalised Social groups - lepers, and those at the bottom of or outside the Indian caste structure. Tribal people are those left in poorer land by later movements of people.

CNI - the Church of North India. The Northern equivalent of CSI. In this area English is less often used as a common language. Founded in 1970.

SISU - The Society for Integrated Social Uplift runs Hostels and other projects to support the FMPB. Based in Madurai Tamil Nadu.

Bethel Girls Hostel - Vyara, Gujarat Program update Jan 2022 (edited):

We praise God for His presence with us protecting and blessing this academic year 2021-22, through 4 different Covid waves. Now 80 tribal girls from 8 districts study in this hostel.

Education – The schools opened  in mid-July for Secondary students (9th to 12th grade), on 1st September for Middle school (grades 6-8),on 1st December for Primary School(grades 1-5). As the schools reopened our staff informed the children in the villages by phone and by visits from local missionaries. Staff visited absent children and encouraged them to return to the hostel, advising them about covid safety. At present due to the omicron wave only the Secondary grades are open. For the younger children there is online study. 19 girls are in the Hostel. We have selected 7 new girls.

Health: sick children were given health care, and taken to hospital when ill. The health of children at home was supervised by our staff by telephone. Children were provided for their basic health care needs.

Spiritual development: Morning and evening prayers were observed daily in the hostels, with the staff providing bible instruction and monthly retreats were  provided by the local JMPB missionaries. On Sunday the children attend the local  CNI church and sing a special hymn. Corona restrictions prevent Sunday school.  A Christmas celebration was prepared by the children, and the local church members attended.

A clergyman from FMPB visited in October and spoke to the residents.

Due to the above important activities the following progress could be seen among the girls:

• All children have passed in the last academic year 2020-2021 and were promoted into the next standard of education.

• All children are in good health and happy.  On 03-01-22 our children who are above 15 yrs were vaccinated as arranged by their school. First dose is over. And in the month of February they will get second dose.

• Viral fever affected a number of our children. Through timely & proper medical attention and prayer they are in good health now.

We praise God for all the blessings on our ministry and thank you for all the support.

Bethel Boys Hostel - Valsad, Gujarat Program update Jan 2022 (edited):

Boys and staff  were protected from Covid by the Lord

Education: Group study every morning and evening: all promoted to next standard due to pandemic rules.  The Hostel provides note books and stationery.

2 seniors studying as Fitters in Industrial Training Institute; and one doing BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications) ( 3 year courses in Higher Education )

Health and emotional care : Good food, toiletries supplied. Twice daily Covid temperature check.  Details were givenof 5 boys sent to hospital with fevers All recovered thanks to medical treatment and prayer.

Spiritual care – twice daily prayer and Bible school;  Monthly retreat for boys and staff. Given by JMPB pastor : or by a Valsad Sunday school teacher.  New clothes  were given at Christmas thanks to sponsors from the local CNI church.

At present only 7 senior boys attending hostel/school as  Middle and Junior Schools are closed.

The report again expressed thanks to God for His protection during the year .

Ways to contribute:

Regular contributions at present supply some 80% of the funds we have undertaken to provide.  Other contributors are the local congregations, and the FMPB (Friends Missionary Prayer Band), the Mission organization of the Church of South India.

You can make an online payment to the CCR bank account marking it Gujarat and including your FWO number if you have one, to:

   AIB Bank
   BIC: AIBKIE2D
   IBAN: IE94 AIBK 931225 05581090

Or send a cheque to the Hon. Treasurer at Christ Church Rathgar, Rathgar Road, Dublin 6, D06 CF63.