Keeping You in the Loop December 2021
Lots more news and updates from Pat
Keeping you in the Loop…
Latest News
The Link – January 2022 Issue
Lots of news from both Parishes
Here is Mairi’s reflection delivered to the Scottish Parliament
Peter Scott led the Service on Sunday, 2nd January 2022 prepared and conducted by members of the Kirk Session
Order of Service 2nd January 2022
Rev Mairi Perkins conducted the Service on Sunday, 26th December 2021.
Order of Service 26th December 2021
THANK YOU so much for your support over an incredibly challenging couple of years. Your generosity and support has enabled orphaned children to continue to be protected during this global outbreak.
Uganda implemented some of the strictest lockdown restrictions out of any country in the world including closing schools for 30 months (only reopening on 10th January 2022). This has greatly impacted the economy and welfare of the already poor and vulnerable children on our project, especially girls. Outside of the protected walls of school, girls have been at an increased risk of early and forced marriage, sexual exploitation, transactional sex for basic goods, and unplanned pregnancy.
The WHO (World Health Organisation) are predicting that 30% of children mostly girls will not go back to education due to the impact of restrictions on their lives. This is not acceptable. So, we at Edith’s Hope want to address this by increasing the provisions and support the girls and young women in our community receive. To do this we are launching a women’s programme to offer education and training; empowering women to live more hopeful lives. We will be working with community groups, educating communities on the rights of women and children to create a culture of understanding and respect.
We are also working hard to find ways of creating financial sustainability in Uganda. We have crafted a 10 year plan to create greater financial sustainability over all our projects, empowering and brining dignity to all that work and benefit from being part of Edith’s Hope. We believe this is the only way to truly bring Hope to this community.
Although financial sustainability will bring independence for our current projects to be able to fund themselves, we don’t want to stop growing! We want to bring hope to more families. We want to start new projects, build and improve schools, hospitals, businesses which will need the support of churches, donors and organisations in the UK as we build the Kingdom of God in Ngora and the surrounding area, leaving a lasting legacy which will empower orphaned and vulnerable children now and for generations to come.
As a church community you have been so encouraging and generous towards our work over the last year and we really appreciate it. Every penny we have received has been spent on crucial, life changing projects. We would also love the opportunity to come and update you on our work and how your support is helping to progress our work in Uganda. We would be honoured if a member of our team could come to talk and share our plans and vision for the future with your church family.
If you have any questions about what we do, how we do it or why we do it, just ask and please do get in touch to arrange a date. You can contact us info@edithshope.org
Thank you again for your life changing, hope giving, support.
Edith’s Hope Team
Thought For The Week
COMMITMENT.
Commitment is defined as a willingness to give your time and energy to something that you believe in, or a promise or firm decision to do something. There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it is convenient. When you are committed to doing something, you accept no excuses; only results.
There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out. There’s no such thing as life in between. Unless a commitment is made there are only promises and hopes, but no plans. The real value of setting goals is not the recognition or reward; it’s the person we become by finding the discipline, courage and commitment to achieve them. Commitment is the glue that binds you to your goals.
Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort. You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can indeed change the world. It is the only thing that ever has. The greatest commitment you must keep is your commitment to yourself.
Dear Lord,
Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for all you have allowed into our lives this past year; the good along with the difficult things.
This has reminded us how much we need you and rely on your presence encouraging us every day.
We pray for your spirit to lead us each step of this New Year. We ask that you will guide our decisions and turn our hearts to deeply desire to do good above all else.
We ask that you will open the doors that need to be opened and close the ones that need to be closed tight. We ask that you would help us release our grip on the things to which you have said “no,” “not yet” or “wait.”
We ask for help to pursue you first, above every dream and desire you’ve put in our hearts. Amen
