November Web Series Feature Partners in the Philippines and Friends in Tennessee

November 22, 2011

This month’s Power of Partnerships features a collaborative effort between rural communities, the Episcopal Church of the Philippines and the municipal government of Cabiao. In four barangays (villages) in the country’s central plains region, the local government has matched the efforts of the Church to build artesian wells in places where water is scarce. To become eligible for a well, a cluster of households agree to plant a vegetable garden that will be watered by overflow from the well and grey water from cooking and washing. This infrastructure, combined with micro-finance loans available from a community fund established by the Church, can reduce the impact of typhoons and other disasters, and make it easier for communities to recover.

November’s Friends of Episcopal Relief & Development highlights a growing phenomenon in Episcopal churches across the US: the U2charist. This is a church service that uses songs by the band U2, along with elements of a traditional liturgy, to create a worship experience that is spiritually uplifting but also presents a call to action. The U2charist gives an opportunity for attendees to learn about the Millennium Development Goals, and take action to help eradicate extreme poverty. St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Nashville, Tennessee, recently held a U2charist, with an offering designated to support Episcopal Relief & Development’s mission of healing a hurting world.

The monthly Power of Partnerships and Friends of Episcopal Relief & Development web series feature stories about the agency’s partners in the US and worldwide. Visit www.episcopalrelief.org to read past installments, find information about our programs or make a contribution. You can also call 1.855.312.HEAL. Gifts can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church and an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The agency takes its mandate from Jesus’ words found in Matthew 25. Its programs work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Episcopal Relief & Development works closely with the worldwide Church and ecumenical partners to help rebuild after disasters and to empower local communities to find lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.