Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Delaplane, VA
Delaplane, VA
Celebrating 150 Years of Deeds of the Spirit -Healing Partnership: 150 Ten Dollar Bills from Emmanuel to The Sudan
In this Advent time of holy anticipation, we seek to expect and invoke the Christ Child in the suffering world through learning about the deeds of the Spirit moving through the good work happening at Emmanuel and the Sudan. As we lift our hands to help the children of Renk, raising 150 ten dollar bills for life-saving medicines, we lift up the suffering of the world to God’s healing grace and love.
For over two years, the Parish of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Delaplane has been praying for The Rev.Lauren Stanley and her work in Renk, Sudan. This past year, Emmanuel Church granted $1000 to The Renk Theological College and helped convert a disused building into housing for two seminary students and their families. They named their home “Emmanuel House.”
Lauren continues her work there, amidst great need and challenging circumstances. Through partnerships in the Gospel, such as the one shared with Emmanuel, the theological college continues to thrive and be a source of hope for its students and the surrounding community.
Lauren will be with us for both services on Sunday, December 14, to share stories of her work and to share what more we can do to continue to support this mission, through prayer, outreach grants, and this special love offering.
Gifts from partners in the Gospel
bring life-saving treatments
to the children of Renk, Sudan
by the Rev. Lauren Stanley
Three and a half years ago, I answered a call to serve the neediest and most faithful people on earth. In the Sudan, we have a word, “mahfi,” which means “nothing,” and that is truly what we have in South Sudan - no roads, no resources, little food, or comfort. But the Sudanese people are some of the richest in the world when it comes to grace and faith. The church is growing faster there than any other in the Anglican Communion. I’ve witnessed the inexhaustible compassion of the Sudanese people as they embody Christ’s work in the world. Though they have never known peace, they are always willing to lend a hand, a coat, a last bit of food, or walk 50 kilometers to ensure another’s safety and well-being.
I came to the Sudan as a peacemaker and a teacher. As a lecturer at the Renk Theological College, I teach theology, Biblical Greek, literature and English. I live and worship with my students - who have been ordained, but have never had access to education - and their families. It is as close to life in first-century Christianity as one can imagine, where, alongside spiritual and intellectual needs, physical needs are just as pressing.
There is no real functioning economy in South Sudan; most families barely have enough money to feed their children. Therefore, most people also do not have the money to buy the medicines they need to treat malaria, typhoid, coughs, diarrhea and skin diseases. Malaria and typhoid cause high fevers; diarrhea dehydrates. All three diseases kill, and are among the most common, and deadliest, diseases in Africa.
Your monetary gifts will enable me to purchase medicines at the Renk Clinic, run by the Diocese of Renk, Episcopal Church of Sudan, to provide appropriate and life-saving treatment.
From August to November 2008, I purchased more than $3,000 worth of medicine to help more than 100 people suffering from malaria, typhoid, pneumonia, skin diseases, diarrhea, coughs, headaches, and nausea, as well as treatment for wounds and diabetes. These medicines were not just to make someone feel better, but to keep him or her alive. The children of my students, who have found a home at Emmanuel House, are some of the most recent to have received this care.
How to help: Gifts for the Christ Child at Emmanuel, Delaplane
This Advent Season, as part of the celebration of Emmanuel’s 150th year, we are making a love offering to the children of Renk, Sudan. We ask all communicants to participate in the drive to collect 150 $10 bills to give Lauren, so that she may buy more medicines for the children of the Renk Diocese.
In this Advent time of holy waiting, we can reach halfway across the world to our brothers and sisters in the Spirit, and help them as they faithfully prepare a place for the work of the Spirit in their community. The mission of Emmanuel Episcopal Church calls us to celebrate God’ grace in the world, invite others to be a friend of Christ, and restore people to unity with God.
Our partnership with The Diocese of Renk of the Episcopal Church of Sudan embodies our mission as we celebrate Lauren’s work, and invite one another to participate in the restoration of peace and health to a people and place which has known much suffering.
Special offering envelopes, numbered from 1-150, are available for you to pick up in the Parish Hall. You can drop this envelope with your offering of $10 in the plate on Sunday. Please make checks payable to Emmanuel Church, and specify “Sudan Offering” on the memo line.
In this Advent time of holy anticipation, we seek to expect and invoke the Christ Child in the suffering world through learning about the deeds of the Spirit moving through the good work happening at Emmanuel and the Sudan. As we lift our hands to help the children of Renk, raising 150 ten dollar bills for life-saving medicines, we lift up the suffering of the world to God’s healing grace and love.
For over two years, the Parish of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Delaplane has been praying for The Rev.Lauren Stanley and her work in Renk, Sudan. This past year, Emmanuel Church granted $1000 to The Renk Theological College and helped convert a disused building into housing for two seminary students and their families. They named their home “Emmanuel House.”
Lauren continues her work there, amidst great need and challenging circumstances. Through partnerships in the Gospel, such as the one shared with Emmanuel, the theological college continues to thrive and be a source of hope for its students and the surrounding community.
Lauren will be with us for both services on Sunday, December 14, to share stories of her work and to share what more we can do to continue to support this mission, through prayer, outreach grants, and this special love offering.
Gifts from partners in the Gospel
bring life-saving treatments
to the children of Renk, Sudan
by the Rev. Lauren Stanley
Three and a half years ago, I answered a call to serve the neediest and most faithful people on earth. In the Sudan, we have a word, “mahfi,” which means “nothing,” and that is truly what we have in South Sudan - no roads, no resources, little food, or comfort. But the Sudanese people are some of the richest in the world when it comes to grace and faith. The church is growing faster there than any other in the Anglican Communion. I’ve witnessed the inexhaustible compassion of the Sudanese people as they embody Christ’s work in the world. Though they have never known peace, they are always willing to lend a hand, a coat, a last bit of food, or walk 50 kilometers to ensure another’s safety and well-being.
I came to the Sudan as a peacemaker and a teacher. As a lecturer at the Renk Theological College, I teach theology, Biblical Greek, literature and English. I live and worship with my students - who have been ordained, but have never had access to education - and their families. It is as close to life in first-century Christianity as one can imagine, where, alongside spiritual and intellectual needs, physical needs are just as pressing.
There is no real functioning economy in South Sudan; most families barely have enough money to feed their children. Therefore, most people also do not have the money to buy the medicines they need to treat malaria, typhoid, coughs, diarrhea and skin diseases. Malaria and typhoid cause high fevers; diarrhea dehydrates. All three diseases kill, and are among the most common, and deadliest, diseases in Africa.
Your monetary gifts will enable me to purchase medicines at the Renk Clinic, run by the Diocese of Renk, Episcopal Church of Sudan, to provide appropriate and life-saving treatment.
From August to November 2008, I purchased more than $3,000 worth of medicine to help more than 100 people suffering from malaria, typhoid, pneumonia, skin diseases, diarrhea, coughs, headaches, and nausea, as well as treatment for wounds and diabetes. These medicines were not just to make someone feel better, but to keep him or her alive. The children of my students, who have found a home at Emmanuel House, are some of the most recent to have received this care.
How to help: Gifts for the Christ Child at Emmanuel, Delaplane
This Advent Season, as part of the celebration of Emmanuel’s 150th year, we are making a love offering to the children of Renk, Sudan. We ask all communicants to participate in the drive to collect 150 $10 bills to give Lauren, so that she may buy more medicines for the children of the Renk Diocese.
In this Advent time of holy waiting, we can reach halfway across the world to our brothers and sisters in the Spirit, and help them as they faithfully prepare a place for the work of the Spirit in their community. The mission of Emmanuel Episcopal Church calls us to celebrate God’ grace in the world, invite others to be a friend of Christ, and restore people to unity with God.
Our partnership with The Diocese of Renk of the Episcopal Church of Sudan embodies our mission as we celebrate Lauren’s work, and invite one another to participate in the restoration of peace and health to a people and place which has known much suffering.
Special offering envelopes, numbered from 1-150, are available for you to pick up in the Parish Hall. You can drop this envelope with your offering of $10 in the plate on Sunday. Please make checks payable to Emmanuel Church, and specify “Sudan Offering” on the memo line.