Christian Aid

CHRISTIAN AID APPEAL

The people of St. Martin's regard it as an integral part of their Christian faith and duty to be aware of the needs of others, especially those in poor, underdeveloped or disaster-struck countries which are unable to help themselves.

The charity "Christian Aid" specifically works in such countries, and looks to the Church in more affluent parts of the world for the support and fundraising they need.

Our main Appeal each year is in May for Christian Aid Week, but we respond to Emergency Appeals at other times, and continue to collect throughout the year for the next Appeal, bearing out our motto:
"AT ST. MARTIN'S EVERY WEEK IS CHRISTIAN AID WEEK"

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SAINT MARTIN'S CHRISTIAN AID APPEAL 2023

2023 started with another Emergency Appeal, as we received news of the terrible earthquake in Syria and Turkey in February. Thanks to generous contributions to Retiring Collections at St. Martin's, we were able to send off £495 quickly to help them meet immediate and urgent needs in the area.

OUR ANNUAL APPEAL FOR 2023

Christian Aid Week this year was 14th - 20th May 2023.

We began the build-up to Christian Aid week with our Smartie tube collection during Lent

During Lent, a(free!) tube of Smarties was given to every member of the Church.

People were asked to eat the Smarties, and then to bring the tube back filled with cash.

In 2023, this raised £93.

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We were also pleased to have re-instated our Lent Lunches after three years, which took place in the Hall on Wednesdays.
These comprised a frugal but healthy lunch of soup and bread, and we were all invited to make a donation - in lieu of what we might have spent on our lunch - of whatever amount we chose. We remember that what is a frugal amount for us, might seem like a feast to people in disaster-struck areas elsewhere in the world. Donations in 2023 for these lunches totalled £335.

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On April 29th we held our Jumble Sale in the Church Hall, and this raised £204.

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This year 'Stations of the Cross' Services were held every Wednesday in Lent, and donations at these Services all went to Christian Aid, and these were combined with donations at our Services throughout May.

And from the envelopes distributed with our May Parish Magazines, to our Church members and the wider community in Christian Aid Week, an amazing £1,496 was received.

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SAINT MARTIN'S CHRISTIAN AID APPEAL 2021

In November 2020 we were shocked and saddened by the loss of our former Christian Aid organiser Steven Turnbull in a swimming accident. Donations in his memory were invited, and the amount raised by this Appeal was an incredible £3,150.00

We also continued to do as many of our usual Fundraising activities as COVID restrictions permitted: Our Smartie Tube collections took place as usual during Lent, raising £250.00, and we received £1000.00 in donations for our (virtual) Lent Lunches. We welcomed Helen Chapman as our new Christian Aid Co-ordinator, who organised the activities allowed during Christian Aid Week, which took place on 10-16 May. Envelopes were delivered via the Parish Magazine and to houses in the parish, and a further £2350.00 was raised from those returned.

So a cheque for £6750.00 was sent off in June to Christian Aid, and with £1641 of this Gift Aided, the total donation from the Parish exceeded £7,000.00!

We also joined in Christian Aid’s ‘Wave of Hope’ message to the G7 Summit meeting in June. See more by following this link:

Wave Of Hope

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Our motto continues to be:
"AT ST. MARTIN'S EVERY WEEK IS CHRISTIAN AID WEEK"

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See more from previous years in our Christian Aid Archives:

Christian Aid 2021 and 2022

Christian Aid 2019 and 2020

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