St. Peter’s City Centre Church
Derby
Ethiopia
At St. Peter’s we are very aware of being part of a worldwide church, and we want to pray for, learn from and support Christians in very different cultures. We have a developing link with St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and several churches on the Sudanese border. In October 2007 a group from St. Peter’s went to spend time in Addis Ababa, and a second visit is planned for Easter 2010. For more information, contact anita@stpetersderby.org.uk.
WORLD MISSION
© 2010 St. Peter’s Church, Derby City Centre
Jigsaw Project, Philippines
St. Peter’s 2009 Lent Project raised £7,200 to support the work of the Jigsaw Project in Manila, The Philippines. There are an estimated 75,000 children living on the streets there. As a Christian development organisation, Jigsaw seeks to bring opportunities for change and development in urban poor communities and for individuals and families living on the streets. All of Jigsaw’s local staff come from the areas in which Jigsaw is working. Therefore they are the best equipped to understand, empathise and know the problems in their communities. One of Jigsaw’s aims is to train local staff to be kids' workers, managers, administrators or welfare/social workers. For more details, please visit www.jigsawkidsministries.org.
On 28th February we were delighted to welcome Yordanos, Frehiwot, Ilena and Sharon to join us for our morning worship. They are Eritreans and Ethiopian Christians living in the UK and are members of Rhema Pentecostal Church based in West London. It was good to share together in worship, to discover that many of the challenges we face in life and ministry are the same, and to hear more from Yordanos about the huge needs Ethiopia faces as a nation. After the service we were treated to an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, a traditional symbol of hospitality and welcome. Coffee beans were roasted over an open fire (the aroma was wonderful!) and then ground in front of us. Finally the coffee (‘buna’ in Amharic) was boiled in a traditional Ethiopian coffee pot, and enjoyed with popcorn and Ethiopian bread. It was a privilege to share in the ceremony – to take time to sit and chat and enjoy one another’s company rather than doing ‘instant’ coffee on the run – and to focus on our Lent Project, and how sharing even a little of what we have may bring blessing and change to a remarkable country and people.
A prayer celebrating hospitality:
Bless our home, Father,
That we cherish the bread before there is none,
Discover each other before we leave,
And enjoy each other for what we are,
While we have time. Amen.
Discover each other before we leave,
And enjoy each other for what we are,
While we have time. Amen.