By Alys Skoyles
The wreath has been part of festivities as far back as the Roman Empire, used in winter celebrations of different kinds. Christians use an Advent wreath, with the rounded shape representing eternity, a loop of love and life. The evergreen foliage is for enduring life, with resilience and hope into the depths of winter. Holly echoes the crown of thorns that adorned the head of Jesus as he hung on the cross, with the berries being his blood.
Hub Highlights
India: we are working with this sewing hub to print the 10th Birthday fabrics that have been designed in collaboration with Art Foundation students from Oxford Brookes University. We are planning to share more on this in the new year, with hopes of getting pre-orders for these celebration dresses. Some of our dressmakers have been telling us they are finding work.
Our prayer for the India hub is that all the ladies would find meaningful work that would bring them joy and purpose.
Uganda: as the academic year closes in Uganda we have been delighted to hear about the school qualification successes, and how the sewing machines you helped us provide have allowed for more efficient classes.
Our prayer for the Uganda hub is for rest following the academic year, that families would be able to appreciate time together and healing for those who are unwell.
Nigeria: A shipment of dresses has been sent ready to sell. They will be available online in the new year and then at events we have lined up in 2026. We are excited to share the new fabrics, with the gorgeous patterns and colours.
Our prayer is for safe passage of this stock, as the shipping process has proven vulnerable in the past.
Burundi: We have been experiencing some complications working as one group through three organisations, with language translation and communication channels no longer being as successful as they have been. We will be receiving the remaining part of this last batch of dresses in the coming months.
Our prayer is for wisdom and learning to come from this experience, as we develop hubs in the future.
Tanzania and Kenya: the collaboration of these hubs has been vital for their individual successes this year. Christine has been supporting Rose, helping us overcome the issues of communication with her local and language knowledge.
Our prayer is that we would be able to support this group, improving the quality of production and forging good relationships across our language and cultural differences.
Shropshire: We have been celebrating. The group are now producing dresses which is really exciting. They shared their success in a Sunday service at Hope Church, Oswestry just recently.
Our prayer is that their group would have more to celebrate, and an increased sense of value and purpose.
Oxfordshire: We now have four hubs, each functioning and serving in their locality. We are learning how to communicate across language and create community despite these challenges.
Our prayer is that we would be able to demonstrate the love of Jesus to the community through our action and conversations.
Prayer for the Dorcas Dress Project in 2026:
- We have seen the value of in-person relationship and would love to be able to connect and visit our international hubs. So, prayer for finance, time and the administration associated with this.
- Prayer for safe shipping as the next year of dresses are making their way across borders and oceans.
- Increase in impact in the community, both internationally and locally.
- Increase of faith, exploring and developing as a community of believers, being obedient in the actions we are called to take.