A ‘TALENT’  TO  CHALLENGE

 You are challenged to `invest and increase` a £5 `Talent` 

- in support of three very worthwhile charities

Running throughout Lent, (from February 17^th) to Pentecost (May 23^rd) over two hundred £5 notes will be offered to individuals and families, on trust, with the exhortation to put their personal talents and skills to good use to make the £5 talent grow.

Ten years ago, in 2000, Millennium Year, a similar Challenge generated over £3,000, which supported the work of Macmillan Nurses and provided Bibles for the Sunday School Children. Ten years later, in 2010, St. Peter`s will be raising money for WaterAid,   Alzheimer`s Society, and Derian House, the local children`s Hospice.

The Challenge is based on Jesus` Parable of the Talents, from the New Testament. (St. Matthew`s Gospel, chapter 25, verses 14 – 30)  Here, a master gave his servants  five, two , or one talent, and then went on a journey. On his return, he summoned the servants, and asked how they had managed his property, ie the talents, in his absence. The `Good and Faithful Servants` increased the value of their talents. The `Bad and Lazy Servant` hoarded and hid his talent in the ground, and it had not increased in value.

You have the opportunity to use your God-given talents to do something with the monetary ‘talent’ and demonstrate your Christian faith in action, and to have some fun in the process. 

Anything goes, provided it`s legal and moral!

 

St. Peter's - Mission in Action

 

World Leprosy

 

 

World Leprosy Day will be celebrated on January 31^st 2010.  This year the spotlight falls particularly on Nepal, where The Leprosy Mission`s work includes not only medical care, but also counselling, education, housing support and small business loans.  The largest leprosy hospital in Nepal is set in the Himalayas above Kathmandu in Anandaban, and many people travel great distances to get treatment there.  There`s still a considerable stigma attached to leprosy, going all the way back to Bible times, even though people can now be cured.  Physical healing doesn`t always result in mental and spiritual healing, these may take longer, and the Leprosy Mission does not withdraw its support from former patients.

At St. Peter`s we can, and do, support the Leprosy Mission in several ways: by saving our used postage stamps, by digging out unused foreign currency, by keeping ourselves informed about this discriminating, but curable disease, and by making donations as individuals or through Church.

And we can remember the work of the Leprosy Mission in our Prayers:

God our loving heavenly Father, because of Your compassion and faithfulness, Your will for all people is health and salvation.

Grant your healing grace to those affected by leprosy, that they may be made whole.

Bless the leprosy work in Nepal we pray.  We ask for good access to services, especially for those living in very rural areas.

We pray for your blessing on the staff and programmes of The Leprosy Mission. Please give them success in combating the causes and consequences of leprosy, and may they glorify Your name through the work.

In Jesus' name

 Amen.

STAND  UP  AND BE  COUNTED!

 

Do you remember the Make Poverty History Campaign, a few years ago, when people wore white wrist bands, and tried very hard to keep the issue of World Poverty on the political agenda, with some, but not enough, success.  We`ve had Bob Geldorf and Feed the  World, and we have Christian Aid, and many, many other individuals and groups who try to redress the balance between the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have Nots.’

This year, Blackburn Diocese will be led by Bishop Nicholas in joining a national initiative to StandUp Against Poverty. The background?  - each autumn sees the follow-on to Make Poverty History – 50 days of Global Action Against Poverty. The 50 days are steered by the United Nations Millennium Campaign and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. An impressive team at the top! The climax is in mid-October, around October 17th, which is the United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty.  Perhaps it is no coincidence that this is also around the time of Harvest Festivals, when we give thanks to God for “all good gifts around us”, and remind ourselves that many people do not yet have their fair share of the fruits of the Harvest.

Last year over 116 million people took part, in over 130 countries.

This year at St. Peter`s we too will StandUp Against Poverty in Church on Sunday 18th October, and share some simple promises to the poor. Our opportunity to stand up and be counted.

Will YOU come and join us

For more information speak to Sheila Goodman

 Street Pastors

What are they? They are people connected to a Church with a concern for society - in particular young people who feel themselves to be excluded and marginalised. They engage people where they are, in terms of their thinking (i.e. their perspective of life) and location (i.e. where they hang out - be it on the streets, in the pubs and clubs or at parties etc).
 

Street Pastors work with fellow activists, church and community leaders, agencies and projects, both statutory and voluntary, to look at collaborative ways of working on issues affecting youth. They get to know people in the community, find out their needs and earn credibility in the community, so that people know that the Church is there for them in a practical way. The role is not of preaching but one of listening, caring and helping - working in an unconditional way.

Are you interested in the work they do? Teams are being set-up all over the country and you need to be over 18 (no upper age limit), a church member and able to commit to their training programme. Each Street Pastor team consists of at least three groups of four, each of which will work a minimum of one night a month, usually from 10pm to around 4am.

A scheme has been started in Blackburn and if you want more details then you can access their national web-site on; www.streetpastors.co.uk and follow the links to see what they do and where they operate.

Below we have some updated information on the developing work of Street Pastors in the Blackburn area

Help others through your Gift shopping

Choose cards and gifts from the Charity catalogues at the back of the Church

Why not buy 'Fairtrade' or even buy a gift for someone such as a mosquito net or maybe even a goat!!