17 June 2017
Response to the fire at Grenfell Tower and appeal for donations
Statement and prayer from the London District Chairs in
response to the fire at Grenfell Tower and appeal for
donations.
"It is with shock and dismay that we woke on Wednesday morning to
the news of the fire at Grenfell Tower in Notting Hill.
"This has taken place in a densely populated, vibrant part of our
city and the tower block has been the home of many families.
Notting Hill Methodist Church is close to the fire and within the
cordon established by police. Superintendent Minister of the
Notting Hill Methodist Circuit, Mike Long, visited rescue centres
to see what help the Church might offer. The facts of the cause of
the fire and the events that followed will take time to emerge and
the effects on the local community will be long-term and
far-reaching. As a District we will do all we can to support the
local church as it works with the community in the weeks and months
to come."
Gracious God
We pray for those caught up in the fire at Grenfell Tower,
for casualties, for the wounded, for the missing and the
traumatised.
We pray for the emergency services and for those who are
responsible for co-ordinating the response to this major
incident.
In despair bring hope
In injury bring healing
In fear bring comfort.
In our helplessness be our strength.
In your mercy hear our prayers.
In Christ's name.
Amen.
We have received many calls from those who wish to
donate to the community of Grenfell Tower.
We would ask that at the moment financial donations are sent
through the District so that we can collect and process them. This
will then be sent to help the families and emergency services
affected by the fire.
Please ask your treasurers to either send a cheque made payable to
'The London District of the Methodist Church' noting on the back
for 'Grenfell', or contact the District Office at administration@methodistlondon.org.uk
for details for how to make a bank transfer payment. The address
for cheques is London District of the Methodist Church, 1 Central
Buildings, Westminster, London SW1H 9NH.
The Revd Mike Long, Superintendent at Notting Hill, has reported that the church have
been inundated with physical donations of clothing and food - we
have warmly welcomed these, but at present they do not have the
capacity to receive any more donations. He is seeking space at
Methodist churches nearby. We will update you on this as we receive
more information.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Revds Michaela Youngson & Nigel Cowgill
Chairs of the London District of the Methodist Church
To read the President & Vice-President's
reflections, click
here.