The Church Urban Fund (CUF) is encouraging parishes to take part in activities for Poverty Sunday.
Local churches are being invited to hold a Poverty Sunday Service followed by a “frugal lunch” on June 21, or on another date that suits, to raise funds for CUF. A “frugal lunch” involves replacing a normal Sunday lunch with soup or another inexpensive meal, with the savings donated to the Church Urban Fund. To download your free resources and find out more visit www.povertysunday.org.uk.
Paul Hackwood, CUF Executive Chair, said: “We believe this is an important time for churches to get involved. Great work is already being done but the need is immense. The more we can raise money, the more lives are going to be transformed.”
In this Diocese, Together Middlesbrough and Cleveland (TMC) is the local response of Church Urban Fund, working in partnership with the Diocese of York. The project has been working across Middlesbrough for over 2 years and is expanding it’s work into Redcar & Cleveland. Working with local churches and Christian activists TMC has supported the development of a variety of projects including Food Banks, support for asylum seekers and refugees, the Positive Pathways project supporting homeless people and Hope 4 Summer - summer activities for vulnerable families and children. Over £165,000 has been awarded to local projects through grant funding, to help churches respond to needs in their local communities.
Heather Black, Development Officer with TMC said:“At a time when local families and individuals are struggling with the basic necessities of food, warmth, shelter and clothing, and many are experiencing isolation and loneliness, the church is actively responding in Christ’s name. It is often simple acts of human kindness shared with love that can bring hope and enable human flourishing.”
For more information on TMC, visit their website here.