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Written by Sara Baker
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"You know, that child doesn’t belong only to those who raise him, because one day that child will be educated, and then he will belong to the whole country, in fact, to the whole world! And his job will be to help others! So that is why he is called ‘everyone’s child’ - he belongs to all of us, even America."
-Fr. Thomas, Principal, Lanet Umoja Primary School, Kenya
In February of 2012, I will embark on a journey to Kenya, with a small group of teachers and community members, to make connections between schools in Kenya and our elementary school in Moretown. We will travel with a group called Everyone’s Child. My participation in this trip is a direct result of prayer and meditation with our very own Christ Church Sudan Communion group and we see it as a natural extension of the Communion that we share with Sudan. As God would have it, I will be based in Nakuru, which is where I hope to visit with a Sudanese woman, Rhoda Yar, who some of us from the Sudan Communion have been supporting in her education at the Methodist University in Kenya. It is a wonderful thing to imagine being able to hold her in person, as I have in prayer for the past few years! Her plan is to go back to South Sudan to help in the continued recovery efforts. Another connection to Christ Church is that Beth Ann Maier (pediatrician and long time member of Christ Church) went with Everyone’s Child on a medical mission a couple of years ago.
But back to Everyone’s Child… I became aware of this group when Sister Ruth Young, of the Church of the Crucified One, came to my classroom several years ago and did a slideshow about her recent travels to Kenya. Everyone’s Child, is a non-profit, non-denominational group that was created as a result of her experiences and the quote above sums up the heart’s work of Everyone’s child. Their mission is to “educate where there are no schools, to care where there is a great need and to connect where there is isolation”. Toward that end, Everyone’s Child has built 5 primary schools in Kenya and we will be visiting these schools, bringing penpal letters, art, school supplies and a sense of connection to Moretown, Vermont – a place where children, just like themselves, have struggled with natural disaster (Moretown was hard hit by TS Irene) and who want the same things that they do – to play safely, to have friends and to learn all they can about this great big fascinating world we share. Through the activities and songs that we share with the students at these schools, it is our hope that they will see that though there are differences in how we live and what we look like, that our hearts and minds are very much the same.
I plan to update my Christ Church family regularly and would appreciate your prayers as I prepare for this adventure. Since prayer and communion with the Sudan Communion have been so powerful to me in this journey, I would like to extend that net, if you will, and ask if you might be interested in joining the Sudan Communion group for the four weeks preceding my trip – to pray for and with me, and for our brothers and sisters in the Sudan? I am not sure what this would look like or when we would meet, but I have the sense that I am supposed to be asking, so do with it what you will. I will also let folks know about donating school supplies or other items (if you are inclined to donate dollars that is fine too) but for now, I have the strong sense that what is needed most is prayer. Please consider joining me in mid to late January to prepare – if you are interested in more details or have questions, please email me at
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More information about Everyone’s Child can be found at: http://www.kidsinkenya.org/
In gratitude and anticipation,
Sara Baker (the blonde one) |
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About the Sudan Communion |
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The Sudan Communion at Christ Church is an interfaith multi-cultural communion of prayer and support for the Sudan and its people in the Sudan and around the world. It sprouted after Martha Holden’s trip to the Sudan in 2007 through the prayers and conversations of Sara Baker, Joan Sabens, Danielle O'Hallissey and Martha after her return. One of the results of the trip was an awareness of the human hunger for communion and how that hunger is most richly satisfied by reaching further outside our comfort zones. Sara wondered how it might be if a small group got together regularly and prayed for the Sudan -- thus the Christ Church Sudan Communion prayer group was formed. We now have folks across the country and around the world and from different faith traditions joining us in prayer. We heard in mid-June that the sisters of the Maryknoll Contemplative Community are joining us in prayer. We know of other groups, and some we don’t, but the number is growing in a very God-full way. 
Anyone can participate. The group meets every other Sunday after the 10 AM service -- although we may move to meeting between services for the summer. Our plans are to continue to pray and to respond as the Spirit moves us through our prayers. We do not always see eye to eye about how to respond, and we keep on praying. Thus it is a crucible of discernment as well as an outreach ministry. We invite you to join us -- in person or in prayer. Please sign up for our blog.
Please help us pray the collect for the Sudan:
Gracious One, Fountain of all mercy, lover of all humanity, fulfillment of all hope, we bring before you the Sudan and its people in the land of their birth and spread among the nations. Strengthen and sustain the Sudanese people and all of us, Sudanese by birth and Sudanese by affection, who labor and pray on their behalf. Bring us into communion with each other that we may pray with one heart, that others may join us, and your blessing pour out upon the Sudan and its people, in the Name of all that is Holy. Amen.
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For the past fourteen years, the Full Ladle Soup Kitchen has been a rich and rewarding ministry for many at Christ Church. Every Wednesday, the Soup Kitchen serves a nutritious noon meal to 65-85 guests from our community.
 We are blessed by the very generous offering of area businesses and parishioners that donate soups, bread, coffee, and vegetables. A group of faithful volunteers gather each Wednesday and have a very good time working together in the kitchen and serving our guests. There is much laughter and comaraderie, both in the kitchen and around the tables. For all of us, the pleasure comes from getting to know the members of the community who come each week and enjoying a meal with them.
On a typical Wednesday, Lloyd Moyer arrives first to start the coffee and begin setting up for lunch. Ruth Prey arrives soon after to set tables and arrange platters. Susan Reid and Steamer and Judy Walke come mid morning to command the salad spinner, heat the soups and pitch in with whatever needs doing. Susan, the former owner of Susan’s Kitchen, is a wiz in the kitchen and has been called on to make a soup (as in “stone soup”) for lunch at the last minute. From time to time, she throws off her apron and picks up her fiddle to provide the entertainment.
About 11:00, the lunch service begins and more volunteers pitch in. Paige McIntyre and her two children, Madeline and Thomas arrive. Paige provides the Soup Kitchen with wonderful homemade goodies and is tireless in helping to serve and clean up. Madeline and Tom, Soup Kitchen veterans, help in numerous ways.
Two elders of the Mormon Church arrive about the same time and are responsible for serving the Soup. Often, Ida Lange stops by. Her cooking prowess and organizational skills are formidable and most welcome. As dirty plates arrive, Ed Skea, our dedicated and efficient dishwasher steps up to his command post at the sink. We all know to stay out of his way, as he is a veritable white tornado!
Charlotte and Ernest Gibson arrive about noon. Charlotte clears tables and helps guests find what they need. Ernest, clearly a crowd favorite, eats lunch and chats with a growing circle of friends, who thoroughly enjoy his company.
The clean up crew consisting of Les Bloomberg, Bill Beard and Gail Kilkelly and anyone else we can grab, drift in later, as their work schedules permit, and provide much needed relief. By about 1:30, all is done, and peace and quiet returns to the kitchen.
Please consider coming and spending time at the Soup Kitchen. The work is rewarding and fun, the company fantastic and you get to eat lunch!!!!! Sharon Wilson photo by thebittenword |
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