Its getting cold

As announced today in our parish, we are beginning again to collect blankets and socks for distribution to those without four walls to live within. Also needed are mittens or gloves and hats of all types - anything to keep the cold out. Warmth when you have no home means life.

Please place these items in the Diakonia bin just outside the doors as you enter the sanctuary. And thank you so very much for this work to your neighbour!

The invisible and the political

Here is a link from the UK Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/famine

There are various segments about the famine. People comment throughout with some comments being more generous than others. I do not care about the politics. I do not recall Jesus telling us to check their identity cards before offering assistance or weighing whether or not the thirsty ought to be given that cup of water. People are dying. We can discuss later how to prevent another famine.

I read today that Dadaab can now be seen from space. It has even made its way into here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dadaab

What it has also done is disappear from the front page of our newspapers. How can so many be so invisible?

From the President of Doctors Without Borders

The following is a message from the President of Doctors Without Borders. He is very direct. He is realistic in what can and cannot be done.

It is the same with giving. It will be the same with our making cards to benefit DWB. Our offering is small. It will not solve the problem. But it is better than not offering anything at all. Will people die? They are and they will. But more will suffer and die if nothing is done.

Forgive the direct message. Starvation is an "in your face" event.

Please read the following message: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/sep/03/charity-aid-groups-misleading-somalia

And please remember to pray. The situation there is not going away anytime soon. And neither are we.

Keeping up with the Joneses

This is a FANTASTIC exercise for learning what life is like in less fortunate countries than ours! Have a look, and think about giving to charity in some way-- as you know, our own DIAKONIA ministry here at St. Herman's has a number of different projects on the go. Ask Angelina or Maria C. how you can help.

http://whoarethejoneses.org/


ps. The median family income in Canada  in 2009 was over $68,000

The making of cards....

We had our first card making gathering this past Saturday at St. Herman's and had such a great time, we are going to do it again. In fact, we are going to lead the choir. (Calm down, choir directors!) The choir is currently meeting every third Saturday and we will meet on the same day, just a wee bit earlier. To accommodate everyone's crazy life schedules, we will start at 9 am and end around 3 pm. We've already met for August so will next meet at the church on September 17. This past Saturday we had a pot luck lunch and if the choir promises to sing Nativity songs, we just might leave them something too.

These cards of course are being made in preparation to sell them for the work of Doctor's Without Borders. The most current news of the famine and the political situation there is terrible. The attached site from today's news outlines the theft of aid given for the poor. Grateful to see that this does not deter those trying to help as they look for creative solutions to this problem.

Please remember those in need and those who attempt to bring them aid in your prayers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/world/africa/17somalia.html

Canadian Government Matching Donations

The government is matching donations for a limited time via recognized charities. Here is a current link explaining the plan:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadians-raise-29-million-for-east-african-famine-victims/article2113590/

This is wonderful!

Famine update

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14283502

Please continue to pray.

We will meet at the church on Aug 13 at 10 am to make cards to sell with the aim to help even a little in this terrible crisis.