This fall our new Alongside Hope (previously PWRDF) Diocesan Rep Team has been busy at the Alongside Hope National Gathering with staff and volunteers from across Canada gathered in Toronto. This past year, Chris Pharo, our long time diocesan representative announced that he was feeling called to move into different ministries, and boy what big shoes Chris left to fill! Thank you so much Chris for all the time and energy you have put into sharing the good news and work of Alongside Hope’s partners and connecting our Parish Representatives in annual gatherings. In conversations with Bishop Sandra and the Alongside Hope Staff team, it was decided that perhaps we could be among the several other diocese that are moving toward having a team of diocesan representatives for Alongside Hope Ministry.
This fall, Bishop Sandra extended that invitation to Gillan Power, from St. Timothy’s Hatchet Lake, and Leah Marshall from St. James Armdale. On our team, we are joined by Rev. Cate Ratcliffe who has trained as an Alongside Hope Mapping the Ground we Stand On Facilitator.
Our diocese has a reputation for being very supportive of Alongside Hope. Afterall, this is where it all began. In 1958, Anglicans from across Canada came together to send support to Springhill Nova Scotia in response to the Springhill Mining Disaster. Out of this responses came PWRDF—connecting Anglicans from across Canada in the common initiative to support humanitarian efforts, food security campaigns, maternal and child health programing, and so much more; Anglicans coming alongside partners in Canda and around the world. In more recent years, Nova Scotia has been the recipient of Alongside Hope’s project in response to Hurricane Fiona Climate Resiliency Campaign, and in the The Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (MDCC).
“-To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Our new diocesan team has returned from the annual national gathering encouraged and excited to connect with the many parishes and regions of our diocese that care about this ministry and have worked so hard to help support our Alongside Hope partners.
This year our diocese had three representatives present for the gathering; Cate Ratcliffe and Gillian Power as a Mapping the Ground we Stand On facilitators, and Leah Marshall with Gillian as part of the Diocesan Representative team.
Our team is excited to connect with parishes! Would you like to hear an update about the partners and ministry of Alongside hope? Gillian and Leah are happy to come to your parish to speak to your congregation about this ministry during a service, coffee hour, or whenever convenient! Has your parish council done The Mapping Exercise yet? Join countless congregations across Canada in this meaningful exercise to consider Truth and Reconciliation in your ministry. Cate and Gillian are trained to come to your parish to facilitate the mapping exercise with you. Get in touch Here.
We are updating our list of folks who are parish representatives. If you haven’t already received an email from Gillian Power and your parish has a representative OR If your parish doesn’t currently have a parish rep and you would like to represent Alongside Hope in your parish, use the link above to let us know! We would love to connect with you!
- Leah Marshall