A VISIT TO OUR GHANAIAN LINKS, JUNE 2003

Printed in last month's magazine was a letter from the Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Revd Dr Kenneth Stevenson entitled The New IDWAL Strategy. This document was unanimously endorsed by the Diocesan Synod last June. Its purpose is to re-invigorate our relationship with the church in Ghana.

As you know we in St George's Parish are privileged to have two links with Ghana.

1) St Mary's Church, Axim, Accra Diocese.

2) (Through the MU Branch), The Church of the Holy Redeemer at Agona Kwanyaku, Cape Coast Diocese.

For next June a ten day visit is being organised to provide the opportunity to send two people from parishes in the Deaneries of Havant, Fareham and Petersfield, to visit their linked parishes.

I am hoping to go, especially to visit our MU Link. If you feel you would like to join the party, and accompany me, to visit St Mary's Axim, please tell the Vicar. I am happy to provide more details.

Such a visit offers a wonderful opportunity to share and experience worship with our linked parishes and their peoples. We can learn so much from one another.

The Bishop asks us to support IDWAL annually as part of our mission giving, to enable exchanges to be made on a more regular basis. Please consider this request seriously and prayerfully.

MARGARET SYMONDS