OPERATION PINK - NOTES

I’m sure you’re all wondering why I’m standing here with an empty Pink bucket so please bear with me

 

 

I hate all your show and pretence,

the hypocrisy of your religious festivals
and solemn assemblies. 

I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain
offerings.  I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings.

Away with your hymns of praise! They are only noise to my ears. 

I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is. 

Instead I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry.

 

Here in Amos 5 you get a sense of God's anger towards the Israelites. 

To a people who were maybe singing His praise yet whose lives were not matching up.  They weren't living out a life full of God's justice. 

 

They failed to see that actually to care for the poor, the broken, the oppressed and those on the margins of society is an important aspect of
worship...to simply gaze into the eyes of the father while we look with
contempt on the poor, the broken and the despised is a contradiction in
terms

 

The Lord calls us to loose the chains of injustice

And untie the cords of the oppressed

 

To share our food with the hungry

to welcome the poor and give clothes to those who need them

 

Now unlike the Israelites of that time I know that Social Justice is something which lies deep within the hearts of those of us at City Church, however sometimes it’s difficult to bring about practical and sustainable ways of working in this area especially when we are still at the phase of looking for permanent residence.

 

As such I’ve been looking for something that we can do as a church that is really simple to implement but also effective and sustainable as I know that I along with many others long for this to be happening here today.

 

With this in mind I want to introduce you to the concept of Operation PINK which stands for Provision in Kindness.  

 

 

To work in conjunction with local charities and agencies with the provision of food and/or other essentials of a non perishable nature to those who are most in need in our city. 

 

This is a no strings attached approach whereby the church as a whole can contribute to a worthy cause. This will provide a simple form of witness to the local communities in need,

that City Church, Dundee cares about their social needs.

 

 

Contact will be made with a local charity or agency which will establish what their specific needs are. Once this need has been established, a request will be presented to the church to make some provision in kindness to the charity or agency in relation to the need. 

 

The initiative continues on a weekly basis for a pre-defined period and thereafter all proceeds are given to the charity as a gift from City Church.

 

 

Simple – Fill this pink bucket. This bucket will be placed in a prominent place each week. Those who wish to donate simply put items in the bucket once the  pre identified date has been reached, the contents will be donated to the chosen charity or agency. A different charity will be chosen the next time round.

 

 

I really want to encourage you that this is your initiative and with that in mind please get as involved as you can. If you can think of charities or agencies who you would like to see assisted in this way let me know.

 

It may transpire that there is an individual charity or agency or indeed group of charities or agencies that the church provides to on a more permanent basis.

 

OK I’d like us to watch the following video just for a little bit of inspiration then I will let you know what the chosen charity is for this month. 

 

The charity which has been chosen this month is called Alternatives which is based in the Mark Henderson Centre in the Hilltown.

Alternatives is a charity which provides a counseling service offering practical help and support for those who are facing an unexpected pregnancy. Now I don’t know everything there is to know about this charity but what I do know is that it is a charity which is in need of our help and our giving.

 

Now what I would highlight here is that this charity deals with people from all ages and all walks of life in all kinds of different circumstances so please don’t automatically assume that this simply relates to teenage pregnancies although as Dundee has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe it is not surprising to know that there is a large volume of those in this situation who use the service.

 

I also recognise that this may well be a very emotive subject for some and they may feel that they don’t wish to give to this organisation and that’s fine but what I would like to highlight here is that we are not going to be involved in this to debate the rights and wrongs in relation to how the unexpected pregnancy came about in the first place but rather we are supporting those individuals in our society who find themselves in a place of need after having the strength and courage to go through with an unplanned pregnancy, who are very likely in less fortunate circumstances than ourselves and frankly need our help and what we aim to provide is simply some baby starter packs.

 

As such I have printed out a list of products which the charity is in need of. 

This is just to give you an idea of the kind of things that they need and is definitely not restricted to this list so feel free to use your imaginations

 

And If you wish to have any further information in relation to Alternatives then please speak to myself or Caroline Stewart and we’ll be more than happy to speak with you.

 

Mat 25:35-36 for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

 

Let’s make sure that we are living this out as a church today and let’s turn this empty pink bucket into one which is overflowing, not only with baby products, but with God’s love, kindness, grace and mercy and by our simple actions we will be preaching the gospel

 

 

10 Pack of Baby Basics

- Hat
- Shoes
- Sleep suit
- Short sleeved body
- Mitts                           £7

3 Pack Long Sleeve Bodysuits £2

7 Pack Bodysuits £4

Bibs £2

Baby towel £3.5

Pack of nappies 24 nappies for as little as £1.66

80 pack of baby wipes for as little as 98 pence

2 Dummies for 85 pence

3 Feeding bottles £1.98