St Mary with St Alban

Vicars Viewpoint - Lent Appeal

This is a photo I took last year on my trip to Mozambique. It encapsulates the joy I experienced in every church I visited, a joy expressed by old and young alike in singing, dancing and rhythm. These children have so little in one sense, and yet so much in another. So little in terms of material wealth and educational opportunities, yet so much in terms of natural enthusiasm and abilities. Their exuberance was utterly infectious and I came back feeling very inspired. It's amazing to think that the Anglican church in such a remote and forgotten corner of the world can be so vibrant.

I'm therefore very passionate about the Diocese of London's Lent Appeal for 2010 which is aiming to raise £70,000 for ALMA?s Children. Let me explain the acronym. ALMA stands for Angola London Mozambique Association and represents the link that London has with the Anglican dioceses of Angola and Mozambique. But ALMA is more than an acronym because in Portuguese it means 'soul' and the link is about developing deep relationships between churches and communities in the three countries. This parish was one of the first churches to develop an individual link with another parish in Mozambique when ALMA started in 1998. And I very much hope to encourage new links that enable visits to happen in both directions.

ALMA's Children is a fund which supports projects targeted at helping the young as identified by our partners in Angola and Mozambique. A few startling statistics reveal why this is so vital:

Population under the age of 15 – UK 16.7%, Mozambique 46.9%, Angola 48%

34.3% of children in Mozambique between 6 and 17 are not attending school

31% boys and 41% girls in Angola are not enrolled at primary school

The poster for the Appeal shows a young boy watering the cabbages in his school garden. Prior to 2007 there was no school. Neither was there water. Daily life, before the ALMA's Children Chihunzuine project, involved a long trek to fetch water. Now a solar powered pump draws water from the 100-metre borehole into storage tanks and the new school flourishes – like the children and the vegetables.

I urge you to give generously to support projects like these which transform lives and communities. Gift Aid envelopes will be available in church throughout Lent. Cheques should be made out to 'Church of St Mary with St Alban (ALMA)'. Or you can give online: www.justgiving.com/almalent10

Many thanks

Joe Moffatt