Remember to collect your stamps – both ordinary stamps and commemorative stamps.
The charity that the Church of Scotland World Mission Stamp appeal is supporting is slightly different this year. The aim is to raise sufficient funds to pay the salary of a pastor working for the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). NESSL is a partner Church of the Church of Scotland. It has churches in both Lebanon and Syria. This Synod had been able in the past to support pastors from monies raised by running fee paying schools but as the economic situation has deteriorated in both Syria and Lebanon many families are finding it hard to pay the school fees and this has resulted in the Synod struggling to pay the pastors’ salaries. In 2021 the pastors in Syria and Lebanon started a scheme where they gave half of their salary to a relief programme for the neediest families in their congregations. The Synod has asked partner churches around the world for help to support its project work. As part of the Church of Scotland’s response it is hoped to raise enough to support a pastor for a full year. The salary of a pastor ranges from £100 to £150 per month.
You can leave stamps in the basket on the shelf to the right of the entrance door of St Fillan’s or leave them with me, Susan Morton, at Sunnyside, 4A Manse Street, Aberdour or post them to World Mission Stamp Project, PO Box 9191, Wishaw, Lanarkshire ML2 0YB. More information can be found on the Church of Scotland’s website under World Mission Stamp Appeal.
Thank you all for supporting this effort. Last financial year over £3,000 was raised by congregations sending in used stamps. This year the Stamp Project proceeds aim to raise enough funds to support a pastor for a full year’s salary.