Diocese of Norwich announces Lent project
The Diocese of Norwich will launch its 2014 Lent Project on January 17 when three Bishops will come together to encourage Norfolk Christians to give away some of their good fortune this Lent in order to improve the resources of students preparing for ministry in Papau New Guinea.
Every year the
Diocese of Norwich runs the Lent Project, encouraging parishes to raise money to support charities both at home and abroad.
The Diocese supports its link with the
Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) through the Lent Project biennially. This year the Lent Project has been named
“Bilum Bilong Pris - Resources for New Vicars”.
The project aims to provide every ordinand in PNG with the resources needed for the ministry that awaits them, including a ‘Pastor’s Box’, containing a basic Bible commentary and other resources to support their parish ministry.
Talking about Lent,
The Rt Rev Graham James, Bishop of Norwich said:
“Everybody’s heard of Lent. Most people think it’s a season when you give something up, whether it’s chocolate, cheese, alcohol or some other commodity which makes us fatter. But Lent is really about giving away more than giving up. It prepares us for Holy Week, Easter and Jesus giving his life away for us. So during Lent I want to encourage the church congregation to give something of their good fortune away to parts of the world where people’s needs are even greater than here.”
The Norfolk link with the church in Papua New Guinea originates from the
Rev David Hand, a missionary from
Tatterford near
Fakenham, who became the first
Archbishop of Papau New Guinea on becoming an independent province of the Anglican Communion in 1977. Over the years clergy from PNG and the Diocese have visited each other and been committed to mutual prayer support.
The 2014 launch of the Lent Project will be held on
Friday January 17 at
10am at
Clover Hill Infant School, Bowthorpe, hosted by the
Bishop of Norwich.
The Rt Rev Jonathan Meyrick, Bishop of Lynn will be talking about his visits to PNG and
Bishop Peter Fox, a Bishop formerly in PNG, will present a musical interlude in traditional PNG languages.
Bible studies, prayers and publicity about the Diocese’ Lent Project can be downloaded at
www.norwich.anglican.org/lent.
For more information please contact Rev Graham Steel, Diocesan Lent Project Co-ordinator on 01493 368210 or grahamrsteel@tiscali.co.uk