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gifts, support

Generosity – Day 3

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Taking generosity beyond the church walls


Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise

– Luke 10:36-37

REFLECTION

This reading is the ending to one of the most famous parables in the Bible, the Good Samaritan. A man sets off down a dangerous road, is attacked by robbers and left for dead. Two members of the man’s own religious group, a priest and a Levite, pass by, but fearing for their own safety they do not assist. Then a Samaritan passes by and shows incredible generosity by risking his life to stop, tend the wounds of the injured man, and take him to safety. 

The Samaritans and Jews despised each other with each group committing atrocities against the other over hundreds of years before the time of Jesus. The fact that Jesus chooses in this parable to have a Samaritan rescue a Jew teaches us that generosity is not just for those groups of people that we like or feel comfortable around, like our own church congregations. There is in fact no limit to the generosity we should show; this includes showing generosity to those that are not like us, or who we do not like or who do not like us. We live the commandment to ‘go and do likewise’ when we take generosity beyond our church walls.
 

Hannah Silcock, Regional Giving Advisor (Midlands & East)

ACTIVITY

Keep one helpful thing on your person at all time, something small, such as a trolley coin, pack of tissues, a snack and be ready to give it away to whoever might need it. 

gifts, support

Generosity – Day 2

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Friendship and a foot up


The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

– John 10:10

REFLECTION

We are loved by a God of abundance. After all he gave his only son so we could enter back into a deep and loving relationship with him. Jesus’ words “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” are perhaps some of the most powerful recorded in the bible. Through God’s grace and generosity we are meant to thrive not just survive. Foodbanks are an invaluable source of support for those who have fallen on tough times, but going that one step further can be the difference in getting by and being helped back up.

His grace extends to relationships, we are made to be in them. How many times have we felt that we’ve seen God at work in others? We can witness the kingdom wherever we see God’s values happening. Signs of grace by the forming of communities and friendships, the generosity of service. Acts of generosity are practical expressions of our faith. As we look to live out God’s kingdom and grow more Christ like, we should perhaps ask this- how am I living in a way that helps others to experience life in its fullest?

Lou Bayliss, Giving Facilitator, Birmingham Diocese

ACTIVITY

Many projects that support the vulnerable have essential needs, but if they could have something extra, what would they like that to be? Find out what that extra is, and consider if it’s something within your means to help with?

gifts, support

Generosity – Day 1

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A good person produces good from the good treasure of his heart…because the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. 

Luke 6:45

REFLECTION

On the Day of Pentecost, one minute Jesus’s followers were inside four walls waiting for the unknown – uncertain and timorous; the next they were tumbling into the street, praise to God pouring out of them as the Holy Spirit had been poured into them. Onlookers, unbelievers and the religious alike were stopped in their tracks. The church was born and was on the move! From their ‘holy huddle’ to impacting a city, a nation and the world. 

When God fills our lives, we just can’t contain it. His goodness and love are so abundant that we are literally flooded out! And that leaking of love is designed to touch the lives of the world around us, in turn arresting others with God’s amazing love. Here in Cornwall, the beauty of our landscape often speaks for itself and holds our gaze but we also want our words and subsequently our actions to be a reflection of the grace and beauty of our Lord Jesus, drawing attention to Him. Has God filled your heart with good treasure? Then God expects it to overflow to others through your words, impressing them not with your own wisdom but with His power.

Jenny Wreford, Generous Giving Advisor, Truro Diocese

ACTIVITY

Are your words full of grace and kindness, truth and hope? Ask God to fill you afresh. Then pick up the phone to a hurting friend or greet a lonely neighbour and bless them today with life giving, Christ centred words.

gifts, Giving and Fundraising, support

Generosity

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Every day this week we will be considering generosity.

Generosity is at the heart of our faith. We believe in a generous God and our own generosity is a testament and hallmark of our faith in action. Every day we see generosity in our churches and Christian communities, reflecting the generous God we believe in.

Each day there will be materials to help us think about generosity.

There are more details here:

The following links will be available from 7am each day, with the bonus material available from 2pm on October 17. You can also watch our online services by clicking here.

Day one, October 10: Looking outwards to share God’s love

Day two, October 11: Friendship and a foot up

Day three, October 12: Taking generosity beyond the church walls

Day four, October 13: A helping hand not a handout

Day five, October 14: Generosity that grows

Day six, October 15: A generous youth for a generous world tomorrow

Day seven, October 16: Finding the individual in the crisis

Day eight, October 17: Helping yourself can help others

Bonus material and an online service

Picture: Lina Trochez on Unsplash

Children and Youth, Services, St George's Church, St John's Church, St Mark's Church

All God’s Creatures got a Place in the Choir

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There were barks, there was a lot of laughter, there may have been a couple of small accidents, and there was a lot of celebration and blessing at our three Pet Services on Sunday, October 3rd.

Thank you to everyone who came and brought their dogs, their pictures of pets and their cuddly toys, or even dressed in leopard print with a unicorn horn. There was a noticeable, but eminently sensible, lack of cats, but people brought photos of pets who really wouldn’t have dealt well with the dogs.

There was barking, wagging and a lot of enjoyment of pet treats and all the dogs, pictures and cuddly toys came forward for a blessing.

This was also a celebration of the blessings that pets can bring to us and an acknowledgement that God is the God of all – scaly, furry, smooth, two-, three-, four-, five-, six-, eight, 10-, many- and, yes, one-legged things. Snails are God’s creatures too!

As the hymn we sang says:
“All God’s creatures got a place in the choir
Some sing low and some sing higher,
Some sing out loud on a telephone wire,
Some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they’ve got now”.

Thanks again to Castle Vets for sponsoring the services.

Woof!

Art, Children and Youth, Events, Giving and Fundraising, magazine, Prayer

Your October magazine is out!

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The latest parish magazine is out, full of information about what is going on in your community here in North Farnham, and reflections on life and faith.

This month we consider generosity, particularly generosity of spirit, and celebrate the joy of the recent Confirmation service in the parish. There’s a collection of clothing and other items for refugees, a campaign for a new cancer centre, the return of Messy Church, an invitation to take part in the Big Draw and in a pet service and a reflection on the fact that pets are good for us. All these, along with local community news, local businesses and ideas, prayer and reflection, if you click below:

October 2021 magazineDownload

Giving and Fundraising, Prayer

Music for Matti

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Matti was born with a rare genetic disorder which means that he has dialysis every night and is waiting for a transplant from his mother. He is only six.

His family have made a video in support of Matti and to say thank you to Southampton Children’s hospital. There is a Just Giving link too for the hospital. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/music4matti

Please hold Matti and his whole family in your prayers.

Justice, safeguarding, support

Church asks victims and survivors to speak

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Are you a survivor or victim of church-related abuse? Could you help the Diocese of Guildford to learn from the past and protect the future?

The Diocese of Guildford is currently reviewing all its records, across all 162 parishes, to ensure that all safeguarding concerns and allegations have been identified, reported, and appropriately actioned. Critical to this, is the voice of survivors and victims. The Diocese of Guildford wants to listen to and to learn from your experiences and ensure that your voices are heard throughout this review process.

Coming forward

Anybody who would like to give information or make disclosures about church-related abuse is asked to contact Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, Jackie Broadfoot (jackie.broadfoot@cofeguildford.org.uk or 07918 559387).

Support is available

The Diocese recognises that coming forward may be extremely difficult and dedicated support has been set up for you. Two confidential listening services have been set up, for those people who have experienced church related abuse but who might want to talk through their experiences and feelings before taking any next step. To find out more about the support available visit www.dioceseofguildford.or.uk/about/safeguarding/past-cases-review-2-(pcr2)

Building the safest community we can

Bishop Andrew, Bishop of Guildford, said: “It is important we do everything we can to make our churches the safest places they can be. Safe means different things to different people but this review will help us to ensure that the concerns reported to our churches have been dealt with properly, and the care taken and the support given is of the high quality that people rightly deserve. We have learnt from a previous review that that survivors and victims’ voices are critical, and I would urge you to come forward.”

Art, Kitty Milroy, News Releases, St Mark's Church

Coffee, cake, Kitty and the Big Draw

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Fancy a cup of coffee with Kitty? Milroy that is. Join us at St Mark’s on Thursday, October 7, 10.30am-12.30pm, for coffee, cake and art and take part in The Big Draw.

Morning coffee and art will be resuming at St Mark’s, once a month, on the first Thursday of each month and the first one will coincide with The Big Draw Festival. Artist Philip Ryland will be dropping in to give us some guidance. Admission is free and you don’t have to book.

The Big Draw is a charity dedicated to raising the profile of drawing as a tool for wellbeing, thought, creativity, social and cultural engagement and runs The Big Draw Festival, the world’s biggest celebration of drawing.

While you are at St Mark’s spend some time admiring the Kitty Milroy murals in the church, our recently restored and nationally celebrated murals painted 100 years ago by local artist Kitty Milroy.

Giving and Fundraising, News Releases, St George's Church

Collection for Afghan Refugees

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Farnham Help for Refugees is holding a collection at St George’s Church, Badshot Lea, on Friday, October 8, 2.30-7pm, to support refugees, in particular those who have fled Afghanistan following the take-over of the country by the Taliban.

They are asking for winter clothes for men, women, children and babies, along with shoes, toiletries, baby goods, cleaning supplies, tents, blankets, sleeping bags, mobile phones, laptops, tablets and supermarket vouchers. See below for a full list.

Financial donations are also welcome. To donate, please bring cash on the day or donate via https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/sponsoraboxfh4r

Picture by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid on flickr.