A new project: supporting a Ukrainian Daycare Centre in Bucharest

In our Gospel reading this Sunday, from Matthew 10, Jesus sends the disciples out on a mission: ‘As you go, proclaim the good news… cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.’

Healing is an integral part of Jesus’ ministry, an integral part of the proclamation of the good news - the kingdom of heaven has come near. Because in Jesus we find healing and wholeness. In Jesus, all things are made new.

God’s love for us is stronger even than death, and because of God’s love for us, even death has lost its hold on us. And so in the Gospel when Jesus sees the crowd, and has compassion on them – we see a foreshadowing of the resurrection, the moment heaven and earth are reconciled. We see a glimpse of the healing – not just of individuals – but of all creation.

Because we are all too aware that it is not just our frail bodies in need of healing. Our fractured selves, our broken relationships, the sickness of injustice, and the disease of war. These things too are overcome by the reconciling ministry of Jesus Christ.

And like the disciples, we too are called to share in that healing and reconciliation.

‘As you go….’ as you go about your daily lives… ‘proclaim the good news.’

To be a Christian, to be a follower of Jesus Christ, means above all sharing in the work of love that has redeemed us.

***

For a number of months now, we have been supporting Ukrainian refugees in Bucharest by providing food, clothing, medical supplies; trying to alleviate some of the additional stresses Ukrainian refugees face. We have been able to do this through a generous grant from the Diocese in Europe and USPG, and with the help of our dedicated volunteers. These small acts of kindness are powerful signs of the love that we are called to share.

And today we are launching another project, thanks to the generosity of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe through their refugee programme, Welcoming and Walking with Refugees, and with the help of Fr Steven Smith and Children in Distress.

We have 10,000 euros to support a daycare centre for Ukrainian children. It is run by Bucharest’s office for social services, but it is underfunded, so the money we have will go towards providing food for the roughly 200 children who will be enrolled from 1st July.

This is a critically important service because Ukrainian refugees with Temporary Protection can now only receive state support if they are in work or actively looking for work, and childcare is the most significant barrier to this.

There are a whole range of volunteering opportunities for our church community. The principle need is for people to help serve meals. You don’t need to cook! These come prepared but need setting out and tidying away. But there are also opportunities to help in a classroom. Each class will have around 35 children and 2 teachers, and an extra pair of hands will be welcome. They also have English classes every day, something we are well-placed to help with.

The centre is very close to Pipera metro station, so it is easy to get to – and as it involves working with children, we will support our volunteers with some basic safeguarding training.

This new project is a valuable opportunity for us to work alongside the local authorities, and provide a service that will make a real difference.

***

As followers of Jesus Christ, we can’t – by ourselves – change the whole world, but we can bring about healing and reconciliation through acts of love and kindness in the places we find ourselves. There is more need than we can meet, but this project will make a difference to the people we are helping: and if we open our hearts to others and try and see them as God sees them, then we ourselves can know the healing and reconciling love of God in our own lives.

I hope you will get involved - please be in touch at anglicanbucharest@gmail.com

               and ‘as you go, proclaim the good news – the kingdom of heaven has come near.’