We were pleased to welcome Revd Gay Maynard to All Saints’ on 14 April. Gay spoke warmly and enthusiastically about the link of our Deanery with Maridi Diocese.
We heard about how the link with Sudan was established 50 years ago by a former Bishop of Salisbury. The church in South Sudan has been established now for over 100 years. It is growing and active, and we heard how even rural churches are full to over-flowing and have lots of young people.
Gay told us about the Chaima Institute which began as a Bible School in Chaima and is now part of the Episcopal University of South Sudan. A few years ago, Bishop Moses of Maridi Diocese requested help with the construction of 10 small houses to accommodate adult students coming to Maridi to study and train. Heytesbury Deanery raised the impressive sum of £21,000 to build 10 houses at the Institute. Each house was named after a church in our deanery. At our service we were presented with a picture of the house called “White Horse”. We have it on display in All Saints’, so do come and see it. The Deanery also funded beds for the students.
Could you sponsor a student?
Our Deanery usually raises around £5,000 a year, through social events (eg the annual quiz night) to support the work in Maridi. She also told us of the Primary School Bursary scheme, to help fund the cost of children’s education. Leaflets about this are available at All Saints. It costs £70 a year to sponsor a child to receive a primary school education which will drastically improve their chances in life. Every penny reaches the child. For more information about this scheme, please contact [email protected] .
Prayers of support
A prayer meeting is held for South Sudan once a month on the third Monday at 2.15 pm at the Minster Church, Warminster BA12 8PQ. All welcome.
Prayer leaflets were distributed and there are some available in church, if you are interested. Please do pray for our link with Maridi Diocese and for the small team which keeps this going.
Here is the Deanery Link Prayer for you:
God our Father, whose Son Jesus Christ wept over your people who knew not the way of peace, and were as sheep without a shepherd, hear our prayer for the people of Sudan and South Sudan.
Turn the hearts of their leaders to reconciliation and peace.
Bless Archbishop Ezekiel and Archbishop Justin and their clergy, especially Bishop Moses and Maridi Diocese, that they may be true shepherds of your flock.
Strengthen those who heal the wounded, feed the hungry, teach the children and work for peace.
Hasten the time when all the nations will own our just and gentle rule, and receive your gift of peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Diocesan prayer for South Sudan
