Alcohol at St Paul's - St. Paul's Church Kingston Hill (Kingston Upon Thames)

In Focus

Bakiga Lodge

Our mission partners Craig and Claudia Smith will be leaving Uganda for good in 2013, and they are looking to ensure that the community project that they have set up will continue and flourish. That project supports agriculture, constructs and repairs water sources and subsidises Bible distribution. To find out more, follow the links on their web page: www.smithsinafrica.blogspot.co.uk.

Their plan is to set up a Gorilla Trekking Lodge in Ruhija, the heart of beautiful Bwindi Forest, with luxury twin tents, each with ensuite bathrooms and hot showers, a restaurant and lounge overlooking the forest. This will provide employment for their key project workers and ensure the project has a long-term future. Bakiga Lodge has just been licensed as an NGO, an answer to prayer.

Start-up costs are £20,000, and they have raised £15,000 already. We would love to raise the remainder for them before we talk to them live by Skype on July 15th. If you feel that you can contribute, there are special envelopes at the back of church, or send money to the church office clearly marked 'Bakiga Lodge'. Cheques should be made payable to "St Paul's PCC", and your donation can be gift-aided if you are a UK taxpayer.

You can follow the project’s progress at: http://bakigalodgebwindi.wordpress.com

St. Paul's Family News

Alcohol at St Paul's

The St Paul's PCC recognises that, while the Bible speaks of wine as a gift from God, which Jesus multiplied for others, alcohol must be handled wisely and responsibly, and we should be sensitive towards those whose lives it has spoiled. We therefore agreed that:

1) we will, where practical, serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic wine at communion services, thus giving people a choice.

2) we do not wish to acquire a licence for the church, so that it will not be possible to sell alcohol at functions in St Paul’s.

3) church social events may include alcohol, but only with the specific permission of the vicar, with a non-alcoholic alternative, and with sensitivity towards the vulnerable.