As the Diocesan Sudan’s Day on 18 March draws closer, we take a look at just a few of the activities our communities have been working on, from the Mothers Union to the Year Four pupils at St Mary's First School, West Moors.
For the Mothers Union, one longstanding project has been to provide stoles for ordinands in Sudan and relies very much on donations of time and resources, not just money.
The project involves volunteers giving up their time to sow packs of ready-cut fabrics into beautiful stoles destined for the Church in Sudan. Their current stock of completed stoles is running very low, however, following the visit of Sudanese Bishops in the Summer and the expeditions from our Diocese to Sudan.
In an effort to strike up more support, the Mothers' Union is putting on a colourful display at the Sudan Day. Those who attend will get to witness these vibrant stoles in person, find out more about the project, and be able to pick up their own packs of ready-cut fabric to take home and sew.
Organiser of the event, Maureen Frost, said: “I shall be at the church from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm to receive finished stoles, gifts of fabric, thread, interlining, ribbons, braids and any trimmings in ecclesiastical colours - as well as any cash donations for the cause. We’ve had some wonderful donations in the past from people who had leftovers from making bridesmaids' frocks or historical costumes, but also equally useful reels of thread. Please raid your sewing box, drop in and find me!"
Elsewhere at St Mary’s First School, the Year Four pupils have been serving as part of the catering team for St Mary’s Parish Church in aid of raising money and awareness for the Sudan’s.
The children helped with the preparation and serving of some delicious homemade soups, lots of talking and interaction, and more importantly – no split soup! The Two Lent Lunches for Christian Aid’s Sudan Appeal raised an incredible £560 this year and was a welcome return of this highlight in the school and church calendar.
If you’d like to learn more about where this money goes and the current political, security, and developmental initiatives in Sudan, you are encouraged to attend the Sudan Day on 18 March at St. Francis’ Church, Salisbury SP1 3PN, 10 am – 4 pm.
Speakers at the event include Bishop Stephen Lake, Bishop Andrew Rumsey, a representative from the Foreign Office, the UK’s representative to the Sudans, and a representative from the South Sudan Embassy. The programme can be found here.
Attendance to the talks are free, but any donations will be gratefully received on the day.
Please let the Diocese’s Sudan Secretary, Sheila, know if you are planning to come by emailing her at: sudan.secretary@salisbury.anglican.org.