Backing Baby Basics in Christ Church, Lisburn

Friday May 10th 2019

Karen Webb, right, from Connect Base visited Christ Church Parish’s JAM group to collect donations to Baby Basics North Belfast. The rector, the Ven Paul Dundas, is also pictured.

Parishioners in Christ Church Parish, Lisburn have been busy in recent months gathering various items in support of Baby Basics.

The Baby Basics project is run by Connor Diocese Children’s Project Development Officer Jill Hamilton and Church Army Pioneer Evangelist Karen Webb and operates from the North Belfast Centre of Mission, Connect Base.

The project works in partnership with local churches and relies on donations from congregations to build starter packs for new arrivals.

The starter packs, which support new parents and babies, provide an assortment of nappies and toiletries for baby, a range of cleansing products for mum and dad, and items such as Moses baskets, clothing and books. Over 60 starter packs have been distributed this year.

The Christ Church Parish 2019 Lent Project asked parishioners to pop a few additional items into their weekly shopping baskets to help make up individual Baby Basics starter packs. The response from donations across the Parish was overwhelming with a vast array of items received and some donors producing hand knitted cardigans and newborn clothes.

Jill Hamilton visited the Parish in November 2018 when she shared the work of Baby Basics with the JAM (Jesus And Me) group and the congregation at morning service. Some of the younger parishioners had an opportunity to present items donated to Karen Webb on May 5, when she popped into the Sunday morning KLIC (Kids Live in Christ-Church) and JAM groups. Karen thanked the rector, young people and the congregation for all their generosity in support of the ongoing work of Baby Basics.

The rector of Christ Church, the Ven Paul Dundas, Archdeacon of Dalriada, commended the work and witness of Baby Basics among the Parish stating: “Simply adding one or two items in your weekly shop can make a difference and help change someone’s life.

“Showing God’s love and concern in very practical ways has always been at the heart of our place in the City and we are grateful to the Parish for their support and great generosity.”

The Baby Basics project continues to help meet the needs of parents and babies in different communities and offers a tangible way for churches to provide care through practical giving.