A final reminder that we would really appreciate some transport help this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday, transferring food donations from Waitrose, in Ruislip, to the church hall. We expect to need donations transported from the front door of Waitrose, in their carpark, at 12 noon, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm on Sunday. If you can fulfill any of these slots please contact us.
The SVP Team always receives tremendous support from the parish and the wider community and this is witness that the Holy Spirit really is present today. An upcoming example of this is the weekend of May 12-14. Over that weekend, Waitrose in Ruislip are providing us with space at their front door for a food bank appeal. There will be teams of volunteers there, between 10am and 6pm, with shopping trolleys and money boxes, a table and some leaflets.
Our bereavement support group meets in the hall on the first Wednesday of every month, after the 10am mass. For April, though, the date has moved to Wednesday April 12th. If you know of anyone who usually attends, then can you please let them know.
With the clocks now formally in British Summer Time it is an opportune moment for the SVP Team to say ‘Thank You’ for your support of the food bank during the winter. Our supplies were very stretched at times, but with local schools, shops, businesses and the congregation all pulling together we managed to make sure that all clients to the food bank went home with at least some items. Supplies still remain at challengingly low levels, however, so we ask you to continue to remember us during your weekly shop.
The SVP team would like to say ‘Thank You’ to everyone who was able to attend the Bingo evening last Saturday evening. The fact that it was a sell-out gives the team the energy and the confidence to continue to do what we are doing! Please, never underestimate the importance of your supprt to us.
Addressing all the different appeals for need can be daunting sometimes, especially when our inclination, powered by the Holy Spirit, is always to say ‘Yes’. So far, we have been able to deliver on each ‘Yes’ and we know that this has only been possible because of the fabulous parish we have. As Fr Paulo mentioned at the Bingo evening, if you would like to get more involved in the SVP then just reach out to any of us, either by phone, by email or when you see us around and about!
One of the pillars of the SVP is to reach out to the lonely. Many people are very fortunate to be able to visit their mums this weekend, but perhaps even more people are unable to, due to distance or maybe because their mum is no longer with us. So, while some celebrate Mothering Sunday, others feel a terrible sense of loneliness. We try and address this by our home and care home visits and by being available on the phone. We could do with more help, though. We seem to find that the more need we address, the more need we identify.