Rev Herbert Beegumanya graduated in June 2009 with an upper second class honours degree from Uganda Christian Unversity. His fees were paid by Kingswood and South Gloucestershire Deanery as part of their commitment to supporting clergy training in Uganda.

Herbert writes: “Coming from a poor and non Christian background I did not imagine I would make such an achievement. However my belief in God and miracles kept me hopeful. … It has not been easy for me because I have a family with children at school … but thanks to Kingswood and South Gloucestershire Deanery I managed to get a good degree.”

Equipping clergy for the demands of ministry benefits the whole church, as Herbert says: “I have learned different strategies for development which will help my new archdeaconry. We are now planning a new Health Centre at Kinoni, the HQ of the archdeaconry.”

He has also appreciated the opportunity to grasp a wider picture of the church. “I have met various people from across the world and learnt about their cultures and ways of life. I have been able to keep up to date with changes in the world and in ministry, to become current with new religious and Christian trends.”

Training enables better communication: “Important to note is that my abilities in writing, teaching, preaching and presentation have also greatly improved. And these are life skills that will help me for a long time.”

Why not make a gift to the UCU Bursary Fund for Ugandan clergy? You too can help to build God’s Kingdom in East Africa by supporting clergy through training.

Picture: Rev Herbert in his graduation robes with his wife Mrs Alice Beegumanya

1. Christian Aid – Christmas Appeal

 I’m contacting you to let you know about some excellent resources we have for Advent and Christmas this year in the hope that they could be highlighted in your churches and other networks.

 Our Christmas appeal this year is called O broken town of Bethlehem and focuses on the work of our partner the YMCA in Bethlehem in bringing hope to children who have been injured in the conflict.

 From 11-13 December people will be singing in all sorts of events as part of The Big Christmas Sing. This will give your churches and communities an opportunity to hold some new and exciting events and support some of the world’s poorest communities at the same time. We can also supply you with our popular Present Aid gifts catalogue.

 If you would like us to send you resources (A5 leaflets for the appeal and The Big Christmas Sing, Present Aid catalogues and info about our appeal), please call the office on 01454 415923 and speak to Jane or Mary.

 2. Handel’s Messiah Soulful Celebration – Renewal Choir & guests

On Saturday 12 December Renewal Choir and a selection of Gospel artists from the South West will be hosting a performance of  Quincy Jones’ and Mervyn Warren’s arrangement of Handel’s Messiah at the Colston Hall, incorporating the sounds of jazz, r ‘n’ b, soul, spirituals, gospel, african rhythms and more.  Prices are £10 for standard tickets and £7 for concessions and these can be purchased from the Colston Hall website at www.colstonhall.org or by calling 0117 922 3686.  Doors open at 6pm for a 7pm start.

3. Goodbye

 Can I also take this opportunity to let you know that I will be leaving Christian Aid on the 16^th December. I will be visiting family in the Gambia then going travelling in Spain, France and Ireland where I will be doing some work on organic farms and exploring various sustainable living projects and documenting the journey through photography. I will be back in the UK by August 2010 ready to focus on my next step in life’s rich tapestry… It has been a great experience working with Christian Aid and I would like to thank all of you for your support along the way.

 With many thanks for your continued interest and support in helping the world’s poor

 Ruth

 Ruth Davey

Volunteer Development Officer

December 3rd – 5th, 2009

Join the national rally to encourage our leaders to take seriously the challenges posed by Climate Change when they meet in Copenhagen in December.

Bristol Diocese, together with other partners, is helping to organise a cycle ride from Bristol and Swindon to London, where we will join with thousands of others in marching through Central London.

Westminster Abbey

Archbishop Rowan Williams and Archbishop Vincent Nicholl will be leading a special service at 11.00 am in Westminster Abbey before joining the march.

Bristol Diocese

Both Bishop Mike and Bishop Lee will be riding for some or all of the ride and we hope that many others will join us.

Please visit the Bristol and Swindon Blue Wave Website for full details.

You can follow all Daphne’s updates here

Crossing the line

I arrived here in West Ankole last Wednesday having crossed the Equator en route. I’m afraid I did the “touristy” thing and had a photo taken with my feet in each hemisphere.

Received a very warm welcome from those at the Mothers’ Union Centre which is my home for the next three weeks.

Renewing friendship

On Independence Day (Friday) I met Edidah Mary (MU Provincial President) who took me to visit her home in the village. This involved a long drive on a very bumpy dirt road through a number of villages and banana plantations. We eventually arrived high in the mountains to the north of Bushyeni with spectacular views. It was good to renew our acquaintance as we had met in June when she was in the UK and I collected her from Swindon station and took her to her hosts near Malmesbury.

Praise, prayer and stepping outside of my comfort zone!

On Sunday I attended the English service in Bushenyi. Needless to say the singing was wonderfully uplifting, amazing harmonies and everyone so joyful. I was asked to give an address and although I was totally unprepared, God as usual came to the rescue and found some words to say which appeared to be appreciated. In the afternoon I was invited to join a prayer meeting at the local prison. This was a truly humbling experience as we were met by at least 100 Christian prisoners sitting on the floor of the 3 sided building about a further 100 were standing outside.

The meeting consisted of wonderful singing of gospel songs accompanied by a single drummer. I was asked again to speak and with the help of an interpreter was led to speak on Psalm 139. Having never expected to give unprepared addresses before this was indeed a learning experience which I will not forget.

With love from Uganda

Yesterday I met with Bishop Yona who sends his Christian greetings to everyone in Bristol.

God bless,

Daphne

Article written by Ricky Winn of Bristol West Deanery Uganda Link.

A great opportunity arose in July when Clare Jefferies, a teacher at Nailsea School, Somerset let us know that her school was being completely rebuilt. Most of the equipment would have to go somewhere other than into the new school before 28th August 2009.

Our Deanery in the Bristol Diocese has a close friendship with three of the most northerly dioceses in Uganda – Nebbi, Kitgum and Northern Uganda. Kitgum is the poorest and it was decided to send equipment out to that diocese. As a result two church secondary schools, Rev. Jabuloni Issoke Memorial College and Archbishop Janani Luwum Memorial College (just near where Archbishop Janani Luwum is buried) will be the recipients of hundreds of chairs, tables, bookcases, computers, sewing machines, 350 boxes of books of all kinds, footballs, biros, pencils, etc.…………..

Someone generously underwrote a portion of the projected cost (£8000) which spurred us on in faith to take up this great opportunity. We bought a 40ft container (much valued in Uganda) and arranged shipping. Parishes in the Deanery were asked to contribute; some were very generous as were individuals in St. Peter’s, Henleaze. We could not have done anything without Chris Perry, the Facilities Manager at the school, whose enthusiasm and expertise oversaw the packing and loading on two days in late August by a squad of enthusiasts of all ages from two churches. The container will go via Mombasa, then on to Kampala and finally to near the Sudan border, to Kitgum. It should take about two months.

Ali Vowles of BBC TV Points West came with a cameraman to do a piece which went out the same evening. We are grateful to Nightingales, Removals of Weston super-Mare for donating some boxes and to Chris Merson of Dynamic International, the shipper, who was very efficient and patient with those not used to moving containers!

Click this link for photographs: Container leaves for Uganda

I thought that your parishes may like to know that the £8000 raised from 6 parishes and individuals has enabled us to send a 40Ft container to two church schools in Kitgum, one of which is the Janani Luwum Memorial school, 20 kms north of Kitgum where the martyr Archbishop Janani Luwum is buried in his home town. The container leaves on Friday for the journey of 30 days to Mombasa then to Kampala to be cleared in customs by the Kitgum Diocesan Secretary, then sent up to Kitgum. Please pray for its safe journey on the long trek to Kitgum.

We are grateful to the parishes who supported us and the many individuals who helped on two Wednesdays, packing and loading the huge amount of equipment whic is not going into the new Nailsea School.

We are grateful that Ali Vowles of BBC TV Points West came to make a short film of us at work. Good publicity for the Deanery Uganda Link.

CONTENTS: ALL SECOND HAND SCHOOL EQUIPMENT

• 350 Boxes of varying size, the majority of which have in them popular school textbooks
  
• 15  Wooden bookcases
• 236 Stacking chairs
• 50  2 person tables
• 20  1 person small desks
• 8 Apple Mac computers
• 4 Overhead projectors
• 6 TVs
• 10 Whiteboards
• 20 plastic storage boxes
• 3 Sewing machines
• 10 New footballs (5 for each school)

Richard Winn.

Deanery Uganda Link

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

 It is so sad to hear of the death of John. A faithful minister of our Lord Jesus Christ. We remember him with fondness.

 May his memories continue in many years to come. We love John.

 In His Service,

 ++ Henry

The Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi

Archbishop

Church of the Province of Uganda

The official opening of the new cathedral at Kako is on Sunday 30.8.09.

Please pray for Bishop Samuel Kefa Semakule and the congregations of the diocese as they gather for this special celebration. The cathedral has been under construction for over 37 years. Many of those who conceived and started the construction will not have lived to see it complete.

If anyone would like to mark the occasion by donating a pew details can be found by emailing Alan Reader.

Dear friends,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We as a Diocese, are very much suddened to learn of the death of Father John Bradley. John’s dedicated love for God’s ministry especially in our Diocese was so remarkable.

He was a servant who was determined to fulfil his mission amidst death threats. He demonstrated his zeal for Christ in 1985 when while ministering in our Diocese, narrowly escaped death and yet continued working to the very end.

We join Bristol Diocese to mourn God’s dedicated servant who has been a great pillar in strengthening our link with your Diocese. We pray and commit his family members, friends and the Diocese as a whole for God’s strength and comfort.

Yours

Bishop Patrick Gidudu.

According to an IRIN report of 18 August 2009 a prolonged drought is hitting 17 districts in the North, North East and North West of Uganda. Crops have withers and hundreds of thousands of people are hungry. A further 31 districts are listed as ‘acutely affected.’

“I have never seen a famine like this – people can’t afford a meal for several days,” said Omax Hebron Omeda, Resident Commissioner of eastern Uganda’s Amuria District. “The most affected people are those on ARVs. Very soon, if government doesn’t intervene by scaling up the food supply, people are going to die.”

Drought on this scale will clearly have a significant impact on some of our partner dioceses. Please pray for them and keep in touch over the next few months.