Success Stories
On the first Sunday in October, the Church of the Ascension holds its annual Harvest Thanksgiving Service. As well as thanking God for his great and unceasing goodness to us, we also use it as an opportunity to remember those less fortunate than ourselves and to do something to help them.At the CE school service held in church on the Friday before and at the Sunday service, those attending are asked to bring gifts of "dry" goods - tins, packets and jars - that are given to our local "aid agency", Warrington Action for the Homeless. Usually it takes two cars to move the dozens of carrier bags full of food that are collected!
In addition to this, on Sunday morning a set of scales is placed before the altar. On one pan is placed a 2lb bag of rice. Members of the congregation are asked to put money in the other pan to try to balance the scales. As the picture shows, usually we do it with cash to spare!
The money collected is made up to £200 with money from church funds and is sent directly to a charity supported by the church, called "The Children of Nepal", where it is used to fund educational projects designed to help children escape from a life of poverty. It may not seem a lot of money, but it is amazing what these resourceful people can do to make a little go a long way.
You can read more about the charity and the Church of the Ascension's involvement in their newsletters "Namaste!" which in turn can be found on their website www.children-of-nepal.org.uk
On the second Sunday in December, the church holds its annual toy service. Members of the congregation are again asked to remember those less fortunate than themselves - children this time - and bring along a new toy that will be given to a child in the community who otherwise might not get any presents at Christmas.
The response is always amazing and dozens of bags of gifts are given the agencies that deal with children, such as the NSPCC or Social Services.
A new venture for Christmas 2005 was the sale of cards featuring designs done by the children of Junior Church. The money raised was given to Oxfam's "Safe Water" appeal. Enough was sent to pay for two tapstands that will provide safe, clean water for villages that previously had no access to it.
Inside each card was a picture of a tap and the words "Jesus said "I am the water of life". What a precious gift given at Christmas." The people enjoying the novelty of having water 'on tap' will surely agree!
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