Silent Auction works wonders!

The Silent Auction held at Caversham heights Methodist Church for the relief of the people of Haiti raised £1,500 and the church is grateful to all those who donated items for auction and to all who helped to make it such a success.

This brings the final total raised in aid of Haiti at this church to £3,400, which includes Gift Aid, the 5 Shelterboxes (at a cost of £500 apiece) that were sent as quickly as possible, and the remainder which will be channelled through the Methodist Relief and Development Fund that has been at work in Haiti for many years.

For those who didn't see my earlier blog, each Shelterbox includes everything needed to help a family or group of ten people to survive a disaster. The following is lifted from their website and reduced to be more suitable for short items of news.

At the heart of every ShelterBox is a ten-person tent. Every box contains a children’s pack containing drawing books, crayons and pens. In addition to the tent, the boxes contain a range of other survival equipment including thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets, essential in areas where temperatures plummet at nightfall. Where malaria is prevalent mosquito nets are supplied, as well a life saving means of water purification. A basic tool kit containing a hammer, axe, saw, trenching shovel, hoe head, pliers and wire cutters can be found in every box. The box itself is lightweight and waterproof and has been used for a variety of purposes in the past - from water and food storage containers to a cot for a newly born baby.
A key piece in every box is either a wood burning or multi-fuel stove - that can burn anything from diesel to old paint. This provides the heart of the new home where water is boiled, food is cooked and families congregate. In addition, there are pans, utensils, bowls, mugs and water storage containers.

Methodist Haiti appeal passes £80,000 mark

A joint appeal launched by the Methodist Church and MRDF for Haiti has smashed the £80,000 barrier, which means that more than £100,000 will be donated to Haiti.

Donations to the Church’s World Mission Fund have reached more than £37,000 by this morning. The Fund gave an immediate grant of £20,000 on 13 January, and the money raised through this appeal will allow for continued support. So far, donations to MRDF have reached £46,000. Donations have come from the Methodist Church in Ireland and people all over Great Britain and will go directly to the Church in Haiti, which is distributing aid to those most in need.

Expressing his gratitude for the initial grant, Revd Gesner Paul District President of the Methodist Church in Haiti, said; “We thank you for standing near us at this time of severe difficulty and continue to count on your support by any means as we try to recover from this very traumatic disaster.”

Revd Tom Quenet, Methodist Partnership Coordinator for the Americas and the Caribbean said; “We continue to be amazed by people’s generosity. While Haiti will remain in the news for a little while, we are in it for the long haul. We will continue to work with the Methodist Church in Haiti, helping them to rebuild their lives and communities long after the news crews have gone.”

In February, Tom hopes to lead a visit by a group of British Methodist representatives to the country. This will also include Lord Griffiths of Burry Port, who was ordained in Haiti, and Haitian minister Revd Marcus Torchon, whose family have been affected by the disaster.

Donations to MRDF will also support the work being carried out by the Methodist Church in Haiti, as well as the relief efforts of the charity’s emergency partner, Action by Churches Together (ACT) International. ACT is providing counselling services and water and sanitation engineers, who will construct water purification systems and latrines that will help in the fight against cholera and other water-based diseases. Donations through both ACT and the World Mission Fund will provide food, water, blankets and tents to thousands of people, as well as other essential support to those affected by the disaster.

Kirsty Smith, MRDF Director, said; “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported our appeal. These gifts will help to reinforce the relief efforts on the ground. The earthquake has caused major devastation to a country that was already battling extreme poverty. Key services and institutions have been totally destroyed. We will continue to do all that we can to make a difference.”

People can donate via the Methodist Church by visiting www.justgiving.com/Methodist-Church-Haiti-Appeal, or sending a cheque payable to the World Mission Fund to Dave Bennett, Fundraising Coordinator, at Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR. Postal donations should be labelled ‘Haiti Appeal’. For further information visit www.methodist.org.uk or contact Revd Tom Quenet on 020 7467 5160.

To donate via MRDF, visit www.mrdf.org.uk or call 020 7224 4814 to give by debit or credit card, or send a cheque made payable 'MRDF (Haiti emergency)' and to MRDF, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR.

Source: Methodist news Service 25/01/2010

Silent Auction for Haiti

Other churches may like to run something on similar lines as this event which I have just sent for publication in all our local papers and radio stations:-


Haiti Earthquake

Caversham Heights Methodist Church (Corner of Woodcote Rd and Highmoor Rd) in Reading will be holding a “Silent Auction” on Saturday 30th January. You are asked to donate gifts (of any value, new or second hand) that others might like to buy, and bring them to the church on Friday 29th between 7.00 pm and 10.00 pm, or Saturday 30th between 9.00am and 10.00 am. The gifts will be displayed in the church with a bidding paper beside them. From 10 am to 12 noon please come and write down bids for anything that takes your fancy.
At 12.00 noon the highest bidder gets the item.
Any unsold items to be collected by the donor plus items whose optional reserve price has not been reached.
There will be a homemade cake stall and tea and coffee will be served.

All proceeds will go to help bring aid to the people of Haiti.


UPDATE: from the two services at church on Sunday January 17th, £660 was donated which includes £111 of Gift Aid. Since than we have received a further £256 which also includes Gift Aid. A total of almost £930. We have already sent £500 to Shelterbox for box in our name to be sent to Haiti. The box includes everything needed to help a family or group of ten people to survive a disaster. The following is lifted from ther website and reduced to be more suitable for short items of news.

At the heart of every ShelterBox is a ten-person tent. Every box contains a children’s pack containing drawing books, crayons and pens. In addition to the tent, the boxes contain a range of other survival equipment including thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets, essential in areas where temperatures plummet at nightfall. Where malaria is prevalent mosquito nets are supplied, as well a life saving means of water purification. A basic tool kit containing a hammer, axe, saw, trenching shovel, hoe head, pliers and wire cutters can be found in every box. The box itself is lightweight and waterproof and has been used for a variety of purposes in the past - from water and food storage containers to a cot for a newly born baby.
A key piece in every box is either a wood burning or multi-fuel stove - that can burn anything from diesel to old paint. This provides the heart of the new home where water is boiled, food is cooked and families congregate. In addition, there are pans, utensils, bowls, mugs and water storage containers. Each box costs £490 to equip and ship.

Methodist Podcast re Haitian earthquake

A special edition of the Methodist Podcast following the earthquake disaster in Haiti on 12 January 2010 is now available to download from Methodist Web Radio.

People have been shocked and horrified by the scenes of devastation in Haiti following the massive earthquake, which left thousands of people dead and survivors fighting for their lives. Revd Tom Quenet, Methodist Partnership Coordinator for the Americas and the Caribbean, was due to be in Haiti when the earthquake struck. He told Karen Burke how he heard of the tragedy and the work he has been engaged in since to help with the relief effort.

To listen to the podcast, visit:

http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.webradio

Soutce: Methodist News Service 18/01/2010

Haiti earthquake Appeal

Appeal launched to help thousands struck by devastating Haiti earthquake

Church donates £20,000 to aid victims of killer quake feared to have left thousands dead

The Methodist Church in Britain has launched an emergency appeal and granted £20,000 in immediate aid to Haiti after a catastrophic earthquake rocked the Caribbean nation yesterday.

Reports revealed that the 7.0-magnitude quake, the worst to hit the country in two centuries, tore down the HQ of the UN Mission, the presidential palace and thousands of homes in the space of a minute at 16.53 Haitian time and 21.53 GMT. Survivors used the micro-blogging site Twitter to report on the unfolding tragedy.

Revd Marcus Torchon, a Haitian Methodist minister serving in the Liverpool District on an exchange programme, said: “I am still waiting for news from family members who are missing. I managed to speak to my nephew after the quake happened, but since that phone call there were more than 10 after-shocks. Now the line is dead because the major phone networks are down.

“It is really destabilising emotionally. Practically, I would like to be of service to them. I feel that at some point I may have to go there when the airport is open. At the end of the day, we have nothing but our faith in God.”

Revd Tom Quenet, Partnership Coordinator for the Americas and Caribbean, established contact with the President of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas at 3am GMT today. Tom said: “Following the damage caused by four successive hurricanes that hit the island in 2008, I fear that the people of Haiti will wake up to scenes of devastation, fear and loss of life.”

Haiti’s Methodist church is the largest membership district of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean & the Americas with 12,000 members.

Tom Osbeck from aviation ministry Air Calvary said: “The buildings, homes, businesses and hospitals of Port-au-Prince are flattened. We stand outside and weep as we hear thousands of crying people. Thousands have died – many, many around our house.”

David Carwell of Mission Aviation Fellowship said: “All kinds of things in our house shook and slid and came tumbling to the floor. There have been many aftershocks and tremors. They seem to be weakening, but I doubt if it’s over yet.”

The Methodist Church in Britain is appealing to people to make their response through the World Mission Fund while international relief agencies and governments work to bring relief to Haitians.

Donations can be made through the Just Giving webpage on the Methodist Church website here or by sending a cheque payable to the World Mission Fund and posting it to Dave Bennett, Fundraising Coordinator, at Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR. Postal donations should be labelled ‘Haiti Appeal’.


Source: Methodist news Service 13/01/2010


Please read what Angela Shier-Jones has written under "God of the Earthquake" on her blog http://the-kneeler.blogspot.com

Methodists support those affected by Caribbean hurricanes

Jamaicaa, In August and September hurricanes swept across the Caribbean leaving a trail of destruction in their wake:

Hundreds died in Haiti following floods that left 650,000 people homeless.

The Dominican Republic, one of the poorest countries in the region, suffered hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage to buildings and more than 250,000 people lost their homes.

19 people were killed when Hurricane Ike ripped through Cuba, which normally avoids deaths during hurricanes.

In Puerto Rico, thousands of poorly constructed homes in rural communities were washed away by six weeks of constant torrential rain.

Hurricane Gustav destroyed several rural churches and manses being used as shelters in Jamaica.

The World Mission Group has responded to the devastation with a £26,000 grant.

The Revd Tom Quenet, who works with churches in Latin America and the Caribbean, said, “The need is so vast that it is clear we can’t meet it outright. But this grant from the Fund For World Mission will make a difference and is an expression of our solidarity.

“We would encourage Methodists everywhere to hold the people of the region in their thoughts and prayers.”

Anyone wishing to support the grant should contact -

The Methodist Church Fund for World Mission.
Methodist Church House,
25 Marylebone Road,
LONDON
NW1 5JR


Source: Methodist "E" News 22/10/08