We are entering an exciting time with regards to our third 'Hope in the Summer' project as we make the last preparations for hamper distribution to 39 families identified as in need of support this summer. Thanks go to those in the churches, pre schools and the Family support worker attached to our federated schools for aiding this process.We are finalising details in order to make two deliveries to nominated families on July 4th and again on August 1st. With the support from Hinckley Area Food Bank, an ASDA Community grant and the Parish Council, we are now going to deliver 3 days’ worth of food plus fresh fruit in July and provide ALDI vouchers plus fruit for the delivery in August. Please continue to pray for:all of the arrangements to come together and that everything is in place at the right time;sufficient volunteers when we are packing and delivering hampers, especially in July;the families, that they will be blessed by what they receive and that they feel God's love and hope this summer;the Hinckley Area Food Bank - may God bless them for all that they do. Thank you.The Hope Team
Maundy Thursday John 13 v 5, 12-14 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.......12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. As a baby we will have had an adult wash our feet even if we don’t have the actual memory of the event. But since childhood, can you remember having you had your feet washed by someone else? Have you had your feet washed in public? This year the Maundy Thursday service included foot washing! Rev Jo gave us the opportunity to have our feet washed by her. No pressure; just the opportunity to allow her to do this. I wasn’t sure how I felt about this. Could I cope with that and allow it to happen? Would it take more courage than I had, to agree to this? Could I bear for someone to touch my very ticklish feet? I was in danger of over-thinking this. My feet are no longer pretty - they are mis-shapen with age, worn, lumpy and bumpy. In Jesus time, when He washed the disciples feet, He would have been washing off dirt and grime from the tracks/paths they had walked on. Even though my feet were relatively clean, it was still very humbling to have someone else wash my feet. And so the Rector dressed in her priestly robes knelt and gently washed and dried our feet in turn as we sat before her. It was a very tender moment and one in which I felt surrounded by God’s love, humbled and honoured, precious and loved by God who sent His only Son to die on a cross for each one of us.
Please give thanks to our generous God for the thirty-four hampers that were safely delivered to local families and also the 85 floral gifts to individuals in the run up to Easter. The hampers were stocked with all sorts of dried and tinned goods (plus chocolate!!) and accompanied by a large box of fruit and veg. Each family was extremely grateful and wanted us to pass on our thanks to everyone involved. All who received a flower gift were also delighted-one lady said it had made her Easter as she is rarely able to get to church these days. We asked if the hamper recipients had any prayer requests and offered to pray for them. Several families responded very positively to this. Their requests will be on our prayerline. On behalf of all of the Hope Team, I would like to thank everyone who has made this possible: the schools, the churches of Sharnford and Sapcote; those that have given donations; people who have delivered for us and the Hinckley Area Foodbank for providing the food. It is a most wonderful team effort. Please pray that all of those we have been in contact with or have contributed in some way will truly experience God's love and Hope this Easter. Di pp The Hope team
