MISSION
WORLD CHURCH PROJECT
Link to Hope is our project over the next few years. The Project that we are involved in is Future Change – based in Romania.
They are setting up a Kindergarten providing education and social care. There is so much help needed to educate and support families. They provide medical advice, help with birth certificates, and property. They run homework clubs which help with basic life skills and developing behaviour.
See latest news below
Yvonne North
World Mission group
Read about shoeboxes and fundraising below and more about Link to Hope on their website by clicking on this logo.
LINK TO HOPE SHOEBOXES AND FUNDRAISING
Once again, we are supporting this worthwhile project of sending shoe boxes to Eastern European countries, including the Ukraine.
Donation of goods and money are welcomed as well as filled shoe boxes.
Leaflets are available in the church. Please can all filled shoe boxes be in by the end of October.
Our thanks to all those who have been busy making various articles throughout the year. Thank you also to everyone who helped or supported the summer deserts afternoon. £238 was given to Link to Hope – a great effort.
A team of about 6 or 7 people are already in line for sorting and filling boxes during October also for getting the boxes ready for dispatch in November.
If you have any queries, please contact either Yvonne North or Lesley Worrall.
Thanks, in anticipation.
Lesley and Yvonne
World Mission Group.
Regular donations would be greatly appreciated.
Name of Account: United Church Winchester
Please select Business Account
Sort Code 08 92 99
Account 673 037 40
Reference Link to Hope
Many thanks in anticipation for your support. We are a small committee and welcome any fundraising ideas.
World Mission Group
MEET AND GREET
We first opened the doors on a 16 April 2022 to welcome in those seeking sanctuary.
We were unsure if anyone would come, and would have been glad to see two or three, but guests flooded in from 10am and have been joining us ever since.
A massive thank you to you all volunteers for your ongoing time, care and commitment over the last year. Things have certainly developed from that first Saturday although we still focus on a relaxed informal offering.
Meet and Greet is open to all refugees and asylum seekers. Our first visitors were Ukrainians but we have welcomed a wide range of of nationalities.
If you would like to support Meet and Greet financially, donations can be made by bank transfer to:
Name of Account: United Church Winchester
Please select Business Account
Sort Code 08 92 99
Account 673 037 40
Reference <Meet and Greet>
Jo Pellatt Mission Coordinator
WINCHESTER CHURCHES CHRISTMAS PROJECT
Is Christmas usually a joyful time of year for you? To be plotted and planned for and full of pleasurable anticipation? Many of us are lucky and some of this scenario will prompt smiles of recognition. As Christians, we certainly hope it is special. However, for some people in Winchester there is another side to that time of year – exhaustion, worry, disappointment and even dread. All around will be adverts for things that cannot be afforded, bills to be paid, the expectations of children that cannot possibly be fulfilled.
Winchester Churches Christmas Project is an ecumenical attempt to help those in Winchester for whom Christmas is a really difficult time. It was started at The United Church in 1993 and now involves many other churches in Winchester. Money for the Project is raised each year through the churches – from whole congregations and from individuals.
How it works
We work closely with a range of local agencies including (but not limited to) Hampshire Children’s Services, Trinity Centre Women’s Services, Home-Start, Health Visitors, Winchester Young Carers Project and The Women’s Refuge. We only accept families and individuals referred by such agencies and we aim to help all those referred to us. However, this is always subject to the funds and numbers of volunteers available
In mid-November each pair of volunteers visit a family that has been referred to us by the agencies in order to discover their needs. They then shop with or on behalf of the family. Each family has a set amount of money allocated. Those visited are in charge as much as possible – they choose what will make Christmas special for them. Each case is different but perhaps we can provide a boost after a difficult year, a helping hand with a worrying bill or the peace of mind brought by knowing that the electricity won’t run out over Christmas. There could well be new toys and festive food but the list might also include warm clothes (to replace those left when fleeing domestic violence), a carpet, second hand furniture or a morale-boosting treat. Our volunteers need to be understanding and resourceful!
Sometimes the money is not the most important bit – knowing that someone is prepared to spend time and take the trouble to listen can mean a lot. There are no strings attached to our help. We show our Christian faith and witness in caring for and helping those we visit. Over the years our volunteers have managed to transform Christmas for many families, and in turn have found an extra blessing in their own Christmas celebrations.
Your prayers for the future work of this project would be so much appreciated.
EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Our church community has decided to make Education for Sustainability a focus.
This means a focus across the whole community on education, awareness and our impact over time that is in tune with creation; consciously embracing environmental degradation as a call to transform how we live as a community – by linking up what we do, by learning, by creatively exploring our connections within nature, and our understanding of God.
Read moreFor more information please email office@ucw.org.uk