Your latest eNews from CrossReach

Your bi-monthly update
from CrossReach:
January 2020
View this email in your browser

Hi *|HTML:MMERGE4|*, and happy 2020!
Welcome to the New Year edition of the CrossReach eNews!
Whatever your plans for this year we hope that you stay in touch and journey with us throughout Scotland, visiting communities and families as we hear about the effects that extra-ordinary acts of kindness, like yours, are having.

A new challenge?

How are your New Year resolutions going? Mine are actually going fairly well…..a new approach to healthy eating, spending more quality time with God and being more forgiving were my three resolutions and neither has been given much of a chance to fail. Yet!

It’s not so much of a resolution for me but more of a lifestyle, or philosophy. I have never liked being tied down by fear or anything that makes me anxious. So far this has meant I have approached things that have scared me with a bit of a bull in a China shop approach!
I was scared of needles so I trained to be a phlebotomist, I was scared of moving away from home, so when I was 20 I moved to China for 13 months! I did a skydive a few years ago, which I didn’t like, so I signed up to do another: determined to enjoy it!

For honesty's sake, I am still scared of needles so the immersion theory clearly doesn’t suit everyone!

Anyway, stepping outside of our comfort zones is hard, but can ultimately be very worthwhile. We see new things and see old things differently. It gives a chance for God to show us we can trust him.

We are looking for brave individuals to step out of their comfort zones this year and by doing so raise really important cash that will directly impact CrossReach projects in Scotland.

Some of the ‘bravery required’ events are listed below; the rest are on our website: www.crossreach.org.uk. We would be so delighted to encourage you as you step forward and do an event with us!

Thank you, Rebecca (CrossReach Events Officer)

P.S. Since I wrote this, the situation in China with the coronavirus has escalated. Please join me in praying for China and how it deals with this virus.

Reaching New Heights!
We have only TWO places on our skydiving adventure for this July!
Taking place in St Andrews (actually the sky above St Andrews!) on the 4^th July, this is one event sure to get your adrenaline pumping.
Places for this exciting experience are free but we ask all participants to raise £450. This covers your jump with a large chunk going directly to the services that we identify to be most in need at the time.
To inquire or sign up please email Rebecca or phone her on 0131 454 4391

Abseil the Forth Rail Bridge!
We warned you this would come up!
It’s scary.
It’s high (but not as high as the parachute jump)
It’s FANTASTIC!
And OUR CEO IS DOING IT!
Sign up here: https://www.rcsqsales.org.uk/

Lonely?

Life can be a bit lonely sometimes. Most of us have experienced being lonely.
The NHS now recognize loneliness as a threat to our physical and mental health.
Churches, charities and organisations are starting to respond to what is now known as ‘The Loneliness Experiment'.
If you, or someone you know, is feeling lonely these short and helpful tips could be a handy tool: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/feeling-lonely/
If you know of something happening near you to combat loneliness or isolation please could you let us know by emailing Rebecca.
CrossReach are working with groups to combat loneliness and isolation in partnership with the Church of Scotland Guild.

Christmas Appeal update
Thanks to the hundreds of people who responded to the appeal to help provide Stacey, and other like her, with a Feel Good package. Thanks to your generosity, Stacey has her package and was astonished that people she didn't even know should care about her.
And the response from others who have received packages, as recently as yesterday, is very similar.
Your generosity in this simple way has a remarkable impact on others. So may I pass on their thanks to you.
The Appeal is still open. To donate £5, or more, online to provide a Feel Good package, click HERE.
To make a regular, monthly, donation, please EMAIL us or call us on 0131 454 4374.

Thank you to our wonderful churches!

We are extremely grateful for the amazing generosity of the following churches (in no particular order) who donated to CrossReach in December to enable us to support families and children in Scotland.

T H A N K Y O U !

Inverkip
Craigrownie
Edinburgh Murrayfield
Rothiemurchus and Aviemore
Aberdeen Stockethill
Drumoak-Durris
Polbeth Harwood linked with West Kirk of Calder
Cumbernauld Condorrat
Saline and Blairingone
Collace
Newtonhill
Ormiston
Irvine St Andrew's
Glasgow Pollokshaws
Edinburgh Corstorphine St Ninian's
Paisley Salvation Army Citadel
Polbeth Harwood linked with West Kirk of Calder
Stair
Balmaclellan, Kells and Dalry
Girvan North (Old and St Andrew's)
Kirkmaiden
Maryculter Trinity
Lossiemouth St James'
Cowdenbeath Trinity
Tain
Dunrossness and St Ninian's including Fair Isle
Edinburgh Juniper Green
Gourock St John's
Oakbank Church and Sunday School
Beith
Paisley Glenburn
Rutherglen West and Wardlawhill
Kilmadock
Edinburgh Liberton
Ayr St Leonard's
Ayr St Columba Church Keep Fit Group
Mid Strathearn
Forres St Laurence
Broxburn
Girvan North (Old and St Andrew's)
Neilston
Burghead
Cleish
Carnoustie Panbride (charge)
Abernethy and Dron and Arngask
Inverurie West
Cadder
Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay
Longniddry
Gladsmuir
Cockenzie and Port Seton Chalmers Memorial
Dalkeith St John's and King's Park
Tranent (charge)
Harthill St Andrew's
Edinburgh Mayfield Salisbury
Methilhill and Denbeath
Ochiltree
(Apologies if we've missed anyone out)

Could your church hold a CrossReach Sunday event or a Bake Sale to support CrossReach projects in Scotland? To find our more please email Rebecca

The CrossReach Christmas Card Competition is NOW OPEN!
See YOUR design in print as a CrossReach Christmas Card.
Design a Christmas Card and the winning design will be printed as a Christmas Card and sold in the CrossReach Christmas Card and Calendar Catalogue 2020!
Full details HERE

eNews or eSnooze?
Is this e-news keeping you interested?
What would you like to hear more of?
What would you like to see less of?
Please drop me an email with your thoughts.
Thanks.

It's good to talk...
There's only limited space here to let you know of the transformations you and CrossReach, together, are making in Scotland, and the opportunities to do more.
We would love to come and talk to your Church, Guild or other group to let you know more about the exciting, life changing, differences being made, and how you can be part of it.
Phone us now on 0131 454 4374 or email us and let's agree a date to talk.