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What Can One Parish
Do?
In December a group
of parishioners began to read “What Can One Person Do? which focused on the
eight Millennium Development Goals supported by the United Nations in
2000. On February 4, 2007 this group presented
the first of what will be a series of parish meetings to discuss and reflect
upon how we as Trinity, Castine, Maine might respond to these important goals
that help relief the suffering of many around the globe. It is important that we attempt to make this
material available to all who visit this web site so we might work together as
Episcopalians and as Christians who proclaim that God loves all His creation
regardless of skin color, economic status or where they live. Please join us as we travel this road to
restore and respect the dignity of every person. We remain committed as well to continue our outreach to those in
need in our own community and county.
These goals allow us to expand that concern to the world beyond
Castine. This page includes the eight
goals and links for you to visit and learn more. As we continue to understand the impact these goals have on us
may we keep an open mind, pray for God’s guidance as well as for those who live
day to day without food or shelter or confront living with HIV/AIDS or other
life threatening diseases daily.
The Millennium Goals:
- Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger.
- Achieve Universal Primary Education for Children.
- Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women.
- Reduce Child Mortality.
- Improve Maternal Health.
- Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other Diseases.
- Ensure Environmental Sustainability
- Create A Global Partnership for Development
When we met David and
Carolyn Unger, Kay Bailey and Sylvia Mazala presented thoughtful reflections
upon aspects of these goals.
Suggestions for us to ponder now include two, which I wish to highlight
and ask you to consider. The first is
that this year was as individuals consider giving 0.7% to help achieve these
goals. The General Convention of the
Episcopal Church has passed resolutions in 2003 and 2006 encouraging Diocese,
parishes, and individuals to prayerfully consider doing this. The other suggestion to reflect upon is how
we put some flesh to our response besides the giving a percentage of our
treasure. One idea, which I ask us to
hold in prayer, is to find a country to support by living out these goals. You see, there is much to do but the Good
News is that we don’t have to do this alone but as a parish we can do a great
deal of good.
Thank you for your taking
the time to learn and pray more about the MDG’s.
For more information you can refer to the following websites:
www.er-d.org
www.micahchallenge.org
www.one.org
www,episcopalchurch.org/ONE/
Fr. David T. Andrews,
Jr.
Rector, Trinity
Episcopal Church
Castine, Maine
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