RAINBOW OF HOPE - Morning service on June 23rd 2007
This "LA" was led by senior steward Ian Thomas with prayers and readings by members of the congregation. During the service Elizabeth Perret-Atkins spoke with passion about how God came into her life after a period of despair; and the work to which He has led her.
Although she had few physical resources God called her (John 21:15) to "Feed my lambs" and pointed her to the homeless and helpless living on the streets of Cardiff. Having cadged a few meat pies and bags of crisps from church friends she set out to meet the homeless for the first time and found they were more than willing to let her get alongside them, not as a "Bible thumper" but to share what she had. Now 27 teams from churches all over Cardiff work a rota which provides help for those on the streets on a daily basis. This help includes not only more than 7000 meals a year but other essentials for aiding the whole person, including toiletries, dog food, physical contact and a sympathetic ear. The people in the churches are challenged to provide the resources (food, preparation and distribution) as a practical expression of God's love with obvious parallels in Luke 9:10-17.
In addition to work with the homeless, the Rainbow of Hope is actively
aiding asylum seekers, ex-prisoners and others excluded by society.