Local arrangement 16 March 2025 – report
Our Local Arrangement focused on The Leprosy Mission and we adapted the service around their Leprosy Mission Sunday resources.
The whole presentation was from Revelation 21:1-7 where it is revealed to the Apostle John through a vision that God will send a new heaven and a new earth, when He will wipe every tear from our eyes, where there will be no mourning, crying or pain, all those former things passing away. What a wonderful promise. This is a reminder that no matter how dark and difficult the present may seem, God’s promise of renewal and restoration is sure.
We saw slides of people in Odisha in India where 96% of the population have permanent and life changing disabilities caused by leprosy. They live in what looks like crumbing caves, with no hygiene facilities. Often begging is their only income and they cannot break out of the cycle of poverty.
Jesus spoke of his death and resurrection but that did not stop him from showing love and compassion to people when faced with their suffering. We too can look forward to a time when God will make all things new, but like Jesus, we need to help those who are in need, this is our opportunity to show love as we ourselves have been shown love.
It is crazy to think that £24 will provide medication for one person to be completely healed from leprosy. As recipients of God’s transformative love and hope, we are invited to be agents of change in a world that longs for healing and restoration and there are few places where this longing is as urgent as in the leprosy colonies of Odisha State in Eastern India.
We had a retiring collection at the end of the service and we did indeed respond with love and compassion to these people. We raised £309 which is also gift aided and so The Leprosy Mission can claim back the tax paid on that sum to make it £386.25. This means that our donations will have helped 16 people at the very least, to be cured of this most debilitating disease. Thank you all for your generosity, kindness and compassion.
Thank you too to everyone who took part in the service, to the Musicians for choosing the hymns, for Heather preparing and presenting the prayers of intercession, for Doug on his guitar and Alison on the piano, for Douglas operating the MM; Matt for presenting the service, Sandra, Mike, Sue T, Gil, Margaret H, Lesley and Wendy for their participation. A real team effort, thank you so much for your donations as well. The whole service glorified our wonderful Maker and Redeemer, the One who makes all things new.
Keg