Lent Letter 2010
My Dear Friends in Christ,
Christian practice is an apparent paradox, a paradox highlighted by some of our Eucharistic Prayers – it is ‘our duty and our joy.’
The Holy Season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday, 17th February, is that time in the Church’s Year when part of our duty is to consider and act upon a number of particular disciplines fundamental to our faith if that faith is to be a true and living witness. Although doing this may result in our making sacrifices, we should, as we do so, know Christian joy as we learn more of God’s love for us and as we enable good things to happen, usually to those less fortunate than ourselves. Lent calls us to the following disciplines:
Prayer – waiting upon God’s call.
Bible study – learning afresh the rules of life for the people of God.
Fasting – recognising that we can be too self-indulgent.
Almsgiving – giving to benefit those often without the basics of life.
I hope that you will make time and special efforts to practise these disciplines during the weeks of Lent, and I hope that good things will result.
Before Lent last year, following the example of some of my brother bishops, and aimed at bringing about a tangible result to Lenten Discipline, I launched a Lent Appeal. Over £4,500 was raised and donated to Water Aid, a charity which, as its name suggests, works to bring to parts of the world where running, clean water, something which we take for granted, is a luxury. I am launching a similar appeal for this year, and donations will be made to two charitable causes:
USPG support for ‘Healthcare for All’ project at Bollobhpur Hospital in Bangladesh where the Church of Bangladesh has asked for urgent assistance, and
The Disasters Emergency Committee’s appeal for earthquake relief in Haiti.
I had originally intended that this year’s appeal should seek to raise funds solely for the USPG project, but the recent disastrous events in Haiti, already in danger of disappearing from the front pages of newspapers and the headlines of news bulletins, will have consequences which will take many years to address. Long after the earthquake has disappeared from media attention, needs requiring massive and continuing financial input will remain. Many of you I know have already contributed personally and through parishes to the relief effort, but I am sure that you will recognise the need for aid to be an ongoing priority. The tragedy will, I’m sure, still be fresh in your minds.
Bangladesh’s need may be less familiar. It is one of the most densely populated and materially poor countries of the world, where 84 per cent of the population live on less than 2 American dollars a day, and where the poorest have no access to healthcare. Provision of healthcare is a central part of the ministry of The Church of Bangladesh which has a special concern for the well-being of the marginalised, irrespective of caste, creed, class or gender. Support of treatment and training of medical staff at Bollophpur Hospital is a part of that concern in action. The Church of Bangladesh and USPG, via regular written reports, accounts and visits ensure that money given is properly spent.
On the First Sunday of Lent, the Liturgy of the Word in the Revised Common Lectionary, reminds us of three things:
We have so much - more than we often acknowledge. We ought never to take this for granted.
Living faith leads to righteousness. Loving action is one sign of that righteousness.
Jesus, tempted in the wilderness, resisted temptation by recourse to the teaching of scripture. Despite seeing the Devil off, we are reminded that the Devil departed, biding his time to try again. Temptation lurks close at hand.
So, with our many resources we have the ability to help others in need, never forgetting that the temptation to forget them is one to which we can all too easily fall victim.
I do, of course, realise that many parishes already support missionary and charitable bodies through organised appeals and activities which have been well-established for years. However, some do not. Equally, many individuals may have the best of intentions to do something positive in Lent but, come the time, let the opportunity pass by. My Lent Appeal provides a chance for as many of us as possible to focus upon doing our disciplined best.
WHAT TO DO:
Here are some options for action:
If your health permits, you could do without one meal on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent. Estimate the cost of that meal and keep a careful note of your estimate.
Go without something that you enjoy, for example, chocolate, crisps – a big challenge for me! - meat, alcohol, tea or coffee as part of the Lenten fast. Walk somewhere and save petrol. Again, try to estimate the cost of what you have saved and keep a note.
Come Easter, add up all that you have saved, top it up if you feel so moved, and arrange for payment. Details of how to pay are in the notes at the end of this letter.
Thank you for your attention to this letter. May your Lenten discipline deepen your faith and bring blessings to others. With my love and prayers.
+ JOHN SWANSEA & BRECON
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MAKING PAYMENT:
Because it is a CAF charitable fund, it is not possible to Gift Aid money direct to the Bishop’s Fund for Emergencies, but donors may pay to their PCC’s through Gift Aid and parishes may pass on the money (with the recovered tax). Parochial cheques for the Lent Appeal should be made out to the ‘Bishop of Swansea & Brecon (Emergency)’.
Personal cheques (in an envelope with a Gift Aid declaration as below) may be made out directly to either USPG or the Disasters Emergency Committee.
If preferred, personal cheques may be made out to the Bishop’s fund as in 1 above.
Please ensure that payments are made by the end of June 2010. Money received after that will be held over for a future appeal.
GIFT AID DECLARATION FOR A PERSONAL DONATION ENVELOPE:
I WOULD LIKE (please select) USPG / THE DISASTER’S AID COMMITTEE TO RECLAIM TAX ON MY DONATION. I CONFIRM THAT I PAY TAX AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF THE TAX WHICH THE CHARITY MAY RECLAIM ON MY DONATION.
Please write your full name and address on the envelope and also add your signature and date.