Page 8 - Moravian Messenger March 2022

Unity Prayer Day Offering March 2022
This year we are being asked to to support support the the Moravian Church in in in in in North North America America in in in in their work of supporting refugees coming to to North North America America According to UNHCR (the UN's Refugee Agency) about 450 000 refugees more than half of whom are children arrive arrive in in in Canada and the United States each year Refugee families arrive arrive in in in in North America with very few belongings after arduous journeys carrying what little they can Upon arrival volunteers and donations are needed to provide food cooking utensils hygiene items clothing newborn supplies supplies supplies school supplies supplies supplies etc In addition to to these supplies supplies supplies refugees are in in in in need of support services services to to help them access safe housing transportation language courses medical services services services job training and and more These supplies and and services services are essential to providing refugee families with the best possible chance of a a a a a a successful new beginning How the Moravian Church in in North America is Helping
The 2022
Unity Offering will support the resettlement efforts being undertaken by North American Moravians and our ecumenical partner agencies Moravian Moravian congregations throughout the the United States and and and Canada are are engaging meaningfully with their local resettlement groups and and and are are working to collect and and and distribute needed supplies One congregation is is currently hosting an an an an Afghan refugee family in in the the wake of the the United States' withdrawal from
Afghanistan in in August 2021 On a a a a a a a a a a broader scale the the Board of of World World Mission of of the the Moravian Church Church in in in North America has been in in communication with our partner organisations Church Church World World Service Service and and and Lutheran Immigration and and and Refugee Service Service and and and has provided financial assistance for for their programs These agencies have been working on on on refugee resettlement for for decades so partnering with their programs allows our contributions to be be used efficiently and effectively The Unity Offering will support local congregations' efforts as as well as as the the the work of of the the the BWM's partners throughout the the the U U S and Canada Below you will find some examples of of items that may be provided through the the the Unity Offering and their associated costs In the the the April Moravian Moravian Messenger we will be be publishing a a a a a a a a a a a a a personal account of of this work from
Louisa Frey who is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a member of of of Central Moravian Moravian Church Bethlehem and of of the Afghan Sponsoring Committee Some common costs associated with hosting a a a a refugee family:
Item
Cost USD
Cost Sterling
Welcome Meal
Pantry filled with groceries
Beds and bedding for a a a family of four Monthly rent (dependent upon location)
75 55 250 184 500 368
1 000 737
Unity Mission and Development Board Dar Es Salaam
As a a a a a a a a denomination that operates on on on an an international level the COVID-19 pandemic has had a a a a a a a a a a a a considerable impact on on on how we work and engage with our partners across the the globe For much of of the the last two years we have been been able to make use of of Zoom and other online forums which has has been been a a a a a a a a a fantastic development However there has has been a a a a a a a a a growing need for various meetings to to take place in in in in a a a a a a a a a a physical setting to to overcome any language or infrastructure barriers and and continue to develop and and foster relationships The Unity Mission and Development Board (UMDB) is is such a a a a a a meeting which took place over a a a a a a a a a a a week in in in November 2021 in in in Dar Es Salaam
Tanzania when we we we were able to meet taking all the necessary (and plentiful!) safety precautions The body is made up of representatives from
all the the regions in in the the Unity (African Caribbean and and Latin America America European and and North American) as as well as as each Mission Agency and and the the Unity Women's Desk Brothers and and Sisters in attendance were from
Czech Republic German Switzerland Tanzania Guyana Nicaragua Honduras and and USA I attended on on on behalf of the British Mission Board The purpose of UMDB is is to consider the direction and opportunities for new mission mission work as as as well as as as support established mission mission ventures Much of the meeting was focussed on on on reporting from
each region and considering the the impact of the the pandemic We also looked to the the planning of the the Unity Mission Conference which is is is due
to take place in 2024 It is is is hoped
that that we can build upon the Unity Mission Agreement that that was signed in in in South Africa in in in 2017 in in in in the context of very tangible issues that are being faced around the Unity including climate change and and how our our theology of our our our Lord as both 'creator and and saviour' leads us to to to be active active in in in mission to to to actively live the Gospel in in in all all interactions with all God creates In the the same vein as as as climate change the the Unity Disaster Relief Fund was was a a a a a a a a a a a matter of great discussion A resolution was was passed in Unity Synod for the creation of such a a a a a a a fund and it it it is is hoped
that good progress will be be made on on this soon with a a a a a working group being set up up to establish the fund We also administer the Unity Mission and and Development Fund and and this year we will be supporting a a a a a a a a conference for the Spanish Speaking Provinces in in in in in Panama which will bring together leadership from
our Spanish speaking partners for the the first time The European and North American mission agencies also spent an an an an additional day together taking the the opportunity to to to meet as we had been unable to to to take part in in in our annual council meeting It is a a a a a a a a a a a useful time of sharing and and developing good practice and and common ideas in in in our mission activities
as as well as as seeking possibilities to support each other's projects in in the the future I also was was able to attend Moravian Church Foundation which was was taking place at at at the same time in in in my capacity as as acting Chair of the Worldwide Unity Going forward I am sure we we will continue to to use online platforms to to meet in in in in between physical conferences and this has undoubtedly marked a a a a a a shift in in the the the way we we will work in in in the the the future However there is productivity and key relationship building that can only be achieved when we have opportunities to to come together Aside from
the the the business of the the the week UMDB was an an opportunity to do do what Moravians do do best enjoy each other's company and fellowship We also attended Tabata Moravian Church in in Dar sharing a a a a a a a a a a a a a meal with the congregation It was a a a a a a a a joy to to be reconnected to to to brothers and and and sisters old and and and new sharing stories and and and experiences The joy at being together again was palpable Sr Roberta Hoey
Chair of British Mission Board 32
© Sr Roberta Hoey