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Papua Partners Logo

 

Holy Trinity Westcott has, for many years, supported the amazing work of Papua Partners, who have been walking alongside indigenous people in West Papua, since being founded here in Westcott in 2006.  

Founders Naomi and Javier Sosa, who were married in Holy Trinity, lived and worked in West Papua for 11 years, training and helping to build capacity in the region, before relocating to Northern Ireland in 2019.  Naomi continues to work as CEO, supporting Papua Partners staff in West Papua, mentoring the partners and advocating for West Papua at international level.

West Papua - the Western half of the island of New Guinea - has been subjected to colonization by the Republic of Indonesia since the 1960s  and is currently in the grip of a humanitarian crisis, due to an ongoing conflict in many areas between the Army, Police and the West Papua National Liberation Army.  Indigenous West Papuans are caught in the middle and every day there are more reports from Partners of  indiscriminate use of torture and intimidation by Indonesian state forces, who continue to act with impunity under the guise of bringing peace to the region.

The land of West Papua forms part of the third largest tropical rainforest area in the world and is home to incredible biodiversity.  It is also rich in mineral resources.  This means that the region has become a hotspot for extractive industries, to feed the global demand for palm oil, gold and other resources.  This poses an acute threat to the forests and indigenous people.  Many fear that the ongoing conflict is being used as an excuse to make way for ongoing resource extraction.

Eneko Bahabol, Peace and Justice Coordinator for Papua Partners, said “We’ve learned of women, children and high school students being arrested and tortured by the Indonesian military, of villages being raised to the ground, and of multiple innocent civilians being executed without trial.  This is causing men, women and children to abandon their lives and communities and flee to the forest and other towns for safety.”

There are now over 60,000 displaced people eking out an existence in the jungle.  Local, national and international humanitarian aid and media are blocked from operating in West Papua.

Papua Partners has recently started a project with the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) to improve the environment where they are living by building relationships with host communities and improve access to health and education.  They are also supporting people to develop sustainable businesses, to earn some income.

Elsewhere, Papua Partners are supporting the training of teachers for new schools and community business initiatives, run by women in Bokondini, which in turn support a basic community health clinic which opens once a week.


PapuaPartners

Pictured above are some of the Papua Partners team: Yepina, who trains women and men in stopping violence against women and church facilitators in community change; Javed, Director of long-standing partner Yasumat; Domi, the new Papua Partners coordinator in West Papua; Eneko, who works on Peace and Justice; and Hannah, an expert in Indigenous rights, who is helping part-time with fundraising and campaigning.

To donate to, or read more about, Papau Partners work please visit:

www.papuapartners.org

 

 

Hello
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello 

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning, or Wednesday morning.

Where and When - Sunday Morning

Welcome Flag

We meet at Holy Trinity Church (find us) on Sunday mornings.  There are two Sunday Services to choose from:

The 8:30 am Book of Common Prayer Communion Service

This is a traditional service, with organ-led traditional hymns.  It is a beautiful and peaceful way to begin your Sunday morning.  The service lasts about 45 minutes.

The 10:15am Parish Service is either a service of Morning Worship, or Communion. 

This is a more informal service, with a mixture of traditional hymns and modern worship songs.  The service usually lasts about an hour.  This service is also livestreamed on Zoom.  You won't be able to use your camera or microphone, but will be able to see, hear and join in with the service, from the comfort of your own home.

Mask wearing is no longer mandatory in church, but there are designated seating areas for those who prefer to wear masks.

If you feel unwell, please do not come in person - join us on Zoom at our 10:15am Sunday services.

For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space (if you're driving) and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you will be greeted by one of our Welcome Team who will answer any questions you might have about the service, and help you find a seat.

We serve tea, coffee and biscuits after both services. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to pause and reflect before heading home. All refreshments are free.
Accessibility: There is wheelchair access to the side of the church, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. 

Where and When - Midweek

On Wednesday mornings, at 10am, there is a small, friendly and informal Communion Service, held at St John's Chapel (find us).  There are a choice of sofas or chairs to sit on.  The service usually starts with a song (unaccompanied but joyful!) and lasts about 30 minutes.  Refreshments are usually served afterwards.  
Parking directly outside St John's is limited, so if you want a guaranteed parking space, it is a good idea to arrive 10-15 minutes early.  However if you are able, there is on-street parking available in Furlong Road or St John's Road.  A warm welcome awaits you!

Getting Connected

Small Groups
While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some mornings and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Do get in touch with us if you'd like to know more about any of these services, or if you have any other questions about coming along to church.


We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.