Following on with our focus on refugees and migrants and God's call to his Church to welcome the stranger and to respond to those who are in need as if we are responding to Christ himself, see the wonderful sermon outline written by Charlotte Olhausen when she was an intern for Bishops' Appeal: 'Reading the Bible Missionally: our response to the global refugee crisis': http://www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org/reading-the-bible-missionally-sermon-outline-powerpoint/

It is wonderful to start the New Year receiving expressions of interest from people who wish to get TEFL qualifications so that they can teach English to Refugees and Migrants here in Ireland. We are providing a small number of grants to support people who wish to do this. The vast vast majority of our work is overseas, but when we responded to the Refugee Crisis, we did so in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq and then in Greece, Germany and Hungary. We felt that it was appropriate to also support responses locally. Often, the most powerful impact on a person's experience of conflict and loss and the precarious journey that ensues when they flee, is the welcome and friendship from the community where they are resettled. For more information email: bishopsappeal@ireland.anglican.org

It seems fitting that one of our most recently funded projects is an 'I am a Girl' project run by Fields of Life. It focuses on a small fishing community in Uganda. The project is providing supports for girls, who currently have to stay home from school when they menstruate, to continue attending. Our funding is providing separate latrines and all the materials needed to make reusuable sanitary towels. The broader project provides training and awareness at a wider level for breaking down stigma and reducing gender based violence. This Advent, as we reflect on the long and uncomfortable journey of an unmarried pregnant teenager, who subsequently gave birth in a stable, we rejoice at opportunites to provide access to vulnerable women. Access to health and hygiene; Acces to education; And therefore, access to opportunites; Access to dignity and Access to hope.

It was great to represent Bishops' Appeal at the AkiDwA conference 'Dare to Dialogue: Engaging Men and Faith Leaders to Combat Gender Based Violence'. Faith Leaders are in a prominent position to break the silence around Gender Based Violence, which exists in our faith communities in Ireland and globally. It was established at the conference that faith leaders need support to know how to raise awareness about Gender Based Violence. They need to have the language to speak with confidence about right relationships. And they need to know the boundaries of their engagement so that they don't create unsafe situations or, with good intentions, advise someone in ways that could be harmful or dangerous. Instead they need the supports and resources to know the reporting structures and to be able to direct anyone seeking support if they are a victim of any kind of violence or abuse. The longest journey begins with one small step. In the UK there is a pack for clergy which gives useful advise on all of this: http://www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Domestic-Violence-Church-Pack-Final-Version.pdf

Today is World Aids Day. It is a day to unite in the fight against HIV and Aids and to challenge the stigma and stereotyping of people living with HIV. It is a chance to raise awareness and to commemorate all the people who have dies because of the virus. Bishops' Appeal has supported several projects over the last few years that reduced parent to child transmission of HIV, raised awareness of high risk behaviour and encouraged testing and treatment. Christian Aid have provided a prayer to mark the day: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/worship/prayer-world-aids-day

Today is Day 4 of 16 days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. Groups around the country and around the world are raising awareness about distorted notions of power and control that lead to the abuse and degradation of women. This year Mothers' Union are continuing to advocate for an end to GBV in Ireland and around the world. See their resources below. Bishops' Appeal actively supports programmes that empower women in many countries worldwide. As the body of Christ we believe in the dignity and value of every person irrespective of gender. However, if in Ireland 1 in 5 women experience domestic abuse and globally the figure is 1 in 3 women, then we must acknowledge that this violence is being experienced by people in our communities and in our pews. We must speak out against abuse of power and control, teach our children about right relationships as God intended them to be and we must be a voice for those who are being silenced and enslaved by violence, fear and stigma. For more materials see: http://www.themothersunion.org/content/16-days-activism-2017

It was fantastic to be a part of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory Synod and hear all about their support for women's empowerment, particularly through their diocesan project supporting women's literacy in Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia through Bishops' Appeal. Their fundraising culminated in Bishop Michael doing a sponsored preaching marathon on all the books of the Bible. Other highlights of this Synod were definitely the eco-awards and the DCO singing her report!

Bishops' Appeal has released funding in response to urgent need around the world. A recent press release highlighted just some of these emergency relief responses: Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal Supports Rohingya Refugees and Others in Crisis Situations: The Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal has released emergency funds to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to support its work with over 500,000 Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar and seeking refuge in Bangladesh. Currently one third of Bangladesh is under floodwater and the country is struggling to deal with multiple crises. The number of people attending MSF’s two existing clinics in the Cox’s Bazar district has doubled to 550 patients every day and its mobile clinics have seen additional patients in their thousands. MSF has brought in additional doctors, nurses and midwives and is recruiting more medical staff. It has established four new health posts, a new in-patient department, and a surveillance network within refugee camps using outreach workers to identify any disease outbreaks. Church of Ireland support has contributed to the drilling of 15 wells for hand pumps and the provision of 250 emergency latrines in makeshift settlements. Four emergency fields have been provided for sanitation, with hand-washing stations, to prevent contamination of water sources and the spread of disease. MSF has also started pumping clean water to tap-stands in the settlements with a capacity of 200,000 litres a day. Bishops’ Appeal has also released funds to assist in other crises through the following agencies: • South Sudan: Emergency responses such as food, water, shelter and medical supplies for displaced people in the country and support for South Sudanese refugees in five refugee camps in Uganda (CMS Ireland); • Yemen: Medical supplies in response to the cholera outbreak (Tearfund Ireland); • Sierra Leone: Youth vocational training in communities affected by recent mudslides and high levels of unemployment (Christian Aid); • Caribbean region: Disaster relief following hurricanes (Christian Aid); • Ethiopia: Self-help groups to build resilience and reserves, as response to drought and famine (Tearfund Ireland). Bishops’ Appeal is grateful for all support received. Further funds to support the response in Bangladesh can be sent directly via Christian Aid or Médecins Sans Frontières. The East Africa Appeal, which supports emergency responses in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, remains open for donations at www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org/give

It was such a joy to attend Meath and Kildare Diocesan Synod and to listen to the report on their Diocesan Link Project 'Good for the Sole'. The project was carried out in 2 phases: the first for protective footwear for leprosy sufferers and the second for corrective surgeries. Rev William Steacy reported that not only has over €66,000 been raised but the Leprosy Mission has reported that the cost of corrective surgeries are now covered up to 2020 - hallelujah! See the full report here: http://www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org/rev-william-steacy-addresses-meath-kildare-diocesan-synod/

After stimulating discussion at the Council for Mission Retreat, it was great to head toTuam, Killala and Achonry Synod and to have the opportunity to address the synod regarding their water project in Kenya and then to join Bishop Michael on his last day of Route 66, where he completed his sponsored preaching marathon in aid of women's empowerment projects in some beautiful locations. (Tuam Cathedral Stone photo courtesty of Scott Hayes and Route 66 photos taken in Baltinglass Abbey)

It was good to pause last week at the Mothers' Union 'Big Sing' in the National Concert Hall and reflect on the life changing work they do globally, with which Bishops' Appeal partners. Equally, it was a joy to accompany Bishop Michael Burrows on his sponsored preaching marathon, Route 66, highlighting the Diocesan link with literacy projects in Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. Every sermon he preached from every book of the Bible emphasised women's empowerment. This week Bishops' Appeal is allocating funds where they are most needed. At a time when there are so many emergencies it's good to remember that our efforts are making a difference and can bring about change if we persist.