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The Sixty One Christmas Gift Project


"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow-prisoners.” (Hebrews 13:3, NIV)

This Christmas the Sixty One Partnership (http://sixty-one.org/) has arranged for the 1,600 prisoners in HMP Bristol, Leyhill and Ashfield to receive a gift bag this Christmas. The bag will include useful items such as shower gel and socks, and ‘nice’ items such as chocolate and Christmas cake. There will also be an option for prisoners to receive a copy of St Luke’s Gospel, where they can read about the real meaning of Christmas, and the new life offered in Jesus.
On the 22nd November a number of Churches across Bristol came together to help with the packing and writing of cards. The cards, designed by a serving prisoner working with the Prodigal Arts project, contain the following message:

I hope you enjoy the gifts enclosed in this bag. They come from the churches across Bristol and have been co-ordinated by the charity Sixty One.
Being in prison at Christmas is doubly hard, so we just wanted you to know that many people have been thinking and praying for you.
As well as the gifts in the bag, there are copies of Luke’s gospel available, in this you will be able to read about the real meaning of Christmas. You will also find information on the MentorMe mentoring programme, which may be of interest to you. Merry Christmas.

Trustee of Sixty One, Tim Snowdon, says: “This project is a practical way to reach out to prisoners on what for many prisoners, is the hardest day of the year. It’s a practical way of demonstrating the love and forgiveness of Jesus to those who are often despised and even hated. I honestly believe it’s where Jesus would be if he returned this Christmas.”
“This is our first year of this project, but we want to involve more churches next year and to grow it beyond Bristol as well. Please pray that it will run smoothly, and pray for the prisoners, particularly in your Christmas services. To spend Christmas in prison is so very hard.

To support this project go to http://sixty-one.org/donate. Each gift bag will cost around £5. For more information on this project, or the MentorMe mentor training email or visit: http://sixty-one.org/mentoring-mentorme/

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