Many people ask what a diocese is and how it all fits together. Some people view “the diocese” purely as the central organisation that provides support services to ministers, parishes and church schools.

But a diocese is also the sum of its parts: our 204 churches in seven deaneries, 67 church schools, chaplaincies across the sectors and the structures that help join them together. And we are all part of it.

Over 30,000 people regularly worship in our churches and 15,000 children and young people attend a church school. We have 400 licensed ministers, lay and ordained, fulfilling leadership roles in church and chaplaincies.

The five minute animated film, created in-house by Sam Cavender, explains all of this as well as giving an overview of the finances of the Diocese and its parishes. The film ends focusing on what the Diocese is about: “We want to help each other experience and be changed by the love of God and make that love known in our communities – this is being the Church.”

Maseno Project Trip from Cris Rogers on Vimeo.

Imagine a world where poverty is being eradicated and people are seeing Jesus heal them on a daily basis…

Please welcome the Maseno Project!

‘My trip out to Maseno in July was a wonderful one. We saw on one afternoon over 70 healings of eyes, ears and legs. What was also wonderful was to be able to use the money Malmesbury Abbey generously gave the project. We were able to resource six young orphans with beds, cooking utensils, washing bowls and a sack of maize which will last them a good third of the year. Many of the young orphans we visited many were living with grandparents but these five were very much on their own. We were also able to buy them some footwear and some simple clothes. The remainder of the money we used to rent a field close by to one of the orphan feeding programs at Ekwanda, Maseno. This orphan-feeding program had about 350 orphans and we were able to rent a field so that some of the young people can learn to grow simple crops outside their homes. We have been able to do this elsewhere and it has proven to be quite successful, as the young people have been taking cuttings and even learning to grow bananas from the orphan feeding program mothers. The money Malmesbury Abbey gave allowed us to impact the lives of the orphans in Ekwanda in what will be hopefully lasting ways as they learn to grow their own food. Some of these orphans are as young as 7 and are desperate need. To see a full record of the trip please go to http://vimeo.com/13512358 where there is a short film looking at the impact of the trip of the lives of those in Maseno.’

For those of you who are curious as to what is coming up in our future Abbey series a sneak preview of what is provisionally planned: This autumn we hope to study 1 Corinthians together which will probably challenge us on a number of ethical and spiritual levels; from Advent to Easter our focus will be Matthew’s gospel, Christ’s birth, life, death & resurrection; at Easter we hope to have a series on Ephesians shaped by Eugene Peterson’s new book Practice Resurrection; and then after Pentecost in summer 2011 (yes we do plan that far ahead!) we return to the Old Testament for a look at the powerful prophetic ministries of Elijah & Elisha (from 1 & 2 Kings).

Well done to the young people of TRAX, FNT and Piepline who baked cakes and sold them at the Abbey last Sunday to raise money for the Haiti Earthquake appeal. £267 was raised and it will be banked tomorrow morning in the DEC’s bank account.

Reports of the earthquake in Haiti this week have left us all with the deeply shocking news that tens of thousands may be dead and approximately 3 million lives affected. As international relief teams continue to arrive in Port-au-Prince it’s good to remember that we can play our own part in this relief effort. First in prayer for the people, governmental leaders and the church of Haiti. Also by financial donation to the DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee) on 0370 60 60 900 or online at DEC donate_now. The DEC represents 13 humanitarian agencies including Save the Children, CAFOD, WorldVision and Christian Aid. Below is Christian Aid’s prayer for Haiti:

A prayer for Haiti

Loving God of creation,
at this time of devastation
we hold before you the people of Haiti.
When the damage is unimaginable,
and the suffering seems overwhelming,
remind us that every person affected
is loved, honoured and precious in your sight.
We remember all those who have been hurt;
all who have lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones.
Work through us to bring healing
to broken and distorted lives,
peace to those who have been thrown into despair,
light to those in darkness,
and hope to those who fear.
We ask this in the name of Jesus
in whom all life and grace is found.
Amen