Dear Family of St John’s
I can remember distinctly my sense of pride when, as a little girl, I learnt to tie my own shoelaces. No longer did I need to rely on anyone else to tie my laces, I could do it myself. The sense of independence was very real. Although my husband insists my method is flawed, and he’s tried to convert me to his method, I disagree.
There are other things that evoke a similar sense of accomplishment. When I learned to read proficiently enough that I could read whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, on my own. I didn’t need to wait for someone to read me a story. I haven’t stopped reading, or enjoying the privilege that this skill brought.
Do you remember your sense of accomplishment when you passed your driver’s license? When you no longer needed to rely on anyone else to fetch you or drop you off anywhere? So many places just waited to be explored.
Our Centre of Concern at St John’s has been focusing on creating this sense of accomplishment and pride and in others through our sewing and beading classes. On the 9th October they held their last graduation for the year. Sixteen ladies graduated from their sewing classes, ten beginners and six advanced. And, a further seven ladies graduated from their beading class.
In just this last series of classes (many are run through the year) twenty-three people have been equipped to make a significant change in the livelihood of their family. The testimonies that were shared at the graduation moved many of our staff to tears. Hearing how these newly learned skills would change the circumstances of those who graduated was humbling, and inspiring.
Thank you so much to our Centre of Concern staff and those who volunteer their time to teach and pass on their knowledge, you have helped to make a difference.
I also want to thank each member of our congregation and community who assist in supporting the work that our Centre of Concern does. It wouldn’t be possible without you. I also suspect that many aren’t aware of just how much work is done!
As much as we would like to empower everyone to provide for themselves, we know that there is also a great need to help those who are in need. And so, the Centre of Concern continues to assist our community in other ways too.
In the last two months alone the Centre of Concern distributed, to various organisations, 530+ beanies, 65+ scarves, 18 bags of clothing, 44 blankets, 51+ jerseys, teddies, vests, bed socks and more! These can only be shared with others because you have knitted beanies or donated items. Thank you!
The soup kitchen feeds 80 recipients from Monday to Friday, every week. Food parcels, of various sizes, are distributed to almost 70 recipients monthly. Programmes are run daily for the elderly at St Augustine’s through the Ruth Project. The Haven continues to be managed and well run, looking after the welfare and needs of Bukho who is now in Grade 8.
As you can imagine, this all requires substantial funding. You help in this respect too. Did you know, that all the items that are in the display table in the foyer are made by staff and volunteers in the Centre of Concern? Did you know that the sale of these items helps to fund the work that the COC is doing? In September alone the sewing items that were sold from the table amounted to R4790. The table is being replenished with Christmas stock, so keep an eye out in the next few weeks and do some of your Christmas shopping there.
Another big fundraiser for the COC is our annual Golf Day, being held next Friday, 1st November. This event is also an opportunity to share with the wider community about the work that is being done in local outreach through our COC.
I wanted to share some of this with you firstly to thank you for your support of all these initiatives. And secondly, to ask that you keep this area of ministry at St John’s in prayer. The harvest is big, and we always need more workers! Please pray too that we will be able to expand our empowering projects, like the sewing and beading classes. The changes we help to make through these graduates’ lives, have the potential to change their communities.
With love
Your friend and rector,
Claire