Excerpt from Diocesan Press Release
An Anglican hospital bringing hope to the residents of Gaza and projects across the diocese will benefit from the Bishop of Guildford’s Lent Call 2015 "40 days = 40 chances" which urges churchgoers to approach life differently during Lent, reaching both outwards and inwards. The material can be downloaded from the diocesan website (look at bottom of page).
Conceived to appeal to people of all ages it sets challenges such as saying hello to strangers in the street, giving up use of your mobile phone for a day, setting up a generosity jar and praying for those living with conflict or loneliness.
All funds raised will be split between the Al Ahli Anglican Hospital in Gaza, run by the Diocese of Jerusalem, and the Bishop of Guildford’s Foundation which supports local faith-linked projects. These included during 2014 The Vine Day Centre in Aldershot which provides support and services for those disadvantaged by homelessness, unemployment, illness, addiction and poverty; Parity for Disability; East to West Trust which runs day services in Camberley and Farnborough for children and adults with multiple disabilities; and the Supported Lodgings Scheme which places vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds from the Surrey Heath area and Runnymede in secure homes.
The Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, said: "The Watson family has gone vegetarian for Lent over the past few years, and supported a water and sanitation charity in South West Uganda - just a tiny way of drawing us closer to God our Provider, and helping us reach out to the financially poor, who remain his special concern. Please do use the material to help make this year’s Lent Call another resounding success. Let's draw near to God together, and seek to provide vital funds for those in need at home and abroad.”
Last year’s Lent Call raised nearly £24,000 which was split between Christian Aid and the Bishop of Guildford’s Foundation.