From The Rectory
Dear Friends,
I have decided that next year I shall buy only books for Christmas presents on the grounds that they are easy to wrap - much easier than pepper mills, or footballs or even football socks! But have you ever tried gift-wrapping a goat? Yes, I did mean to write goat, with a ‘g’, not coat with a ‘c’.
This year amongst the dozens of gift catalogues I have received, I have two inviting me to buy goats, or parts of a cow (live), or a pig or poultry or a hive of bees – even a latrine is on offer. I am totally at a loss to think how I should start wrapping any of these.
But then maybe I don’t need to gift-wrap anything, for the most beautiful Christmas gift of all came completely unwrapped. God’s gift of His Son to the world, the longed for Messiah, did not come in a blaze of glory surrounded by tinsel and lights. He came into the world just as most of us came into the world – probably with a lot less fuss and attention than most of us received. It was an amazing gift, small, vulnerable and life changing. That is why I like the idea of giving a goat – it could be life changing.
The idea is, that instead of wandering round and round the shops, wondering what to buy for people like Great Aunt Maud, who seems to have everything, I send one of a number of practical gifts to people in countries where a goat, a cow, a hive of bees etc can make all the difference between life and death. I then send my friend or relative a special card letting them know what I have bought in their name. It is so simple, so easy and somehow, for me, very beautiful. Exactly in the spirit of Christmas.
I wish you all a peaceful and joyful Christmas
Jo.
PS. If you would like to know more about practical gifts – please telephone me (01234 881312) or go to
www.cafod.org.uk/worldgifts or www.sendacow.org.uk
Please pray for…
The Christian Church throughout the world
The Holy Land and the peoples of Palestine and Israel
All for whom Christmas will not be a time of peace and joy.
Christingle
Our annual Christingle service is on Sunday 12th December at 11.00am. There are cardboard collecting boxes in aid of the work of The Children’s Society, do try to take one if you can and return it to Church before Christmas. This will be added to the collection from carol singing and sent to help the important work of the society.
Church Roof
Work on the roof has now begun in earnest! It is exciting and interesting to see what is happening. In the porch there is some of the wood that is being replaced – the beetles have obviously had a feast. At present the enormous beam that will form the new ridge beam is also in the porch – the old beam was beyond repair but I am told it has been there since the sixteenth century. I wonder how long it would have lasted without the infestation! There are also photographs in the Church of the work in progress on the roof – do go in and look at them if you can. At some stage in the future, we hope you will be offered a chance to buy a square of lead to replace some of the worn lead that has now been removed. In places it was so thin it was in holes.
We are now a Fairtrade Church.
At our last PCC meeting, members voted in favour of our becoming a Fairtrade Church. This means we have agreed to use Fairtrade coffee and tea at meetings for which we have responsibility and to move forward in using Fairtrade products -sugar, biscuits, etc. We will promote Fairtrade during the campaigns fortnight (1st to 13th March) and will explain more about the needs we are helping to meet and how our support is vital.
In her congratulatory letter the Fairtrade campaigns officer writes,
"Church congregations continue to be key Fairtrade supporters and campaigners. Now that your church has committed to use and promote Fairtrade products, we hope that your members will enjoy Fairtrade products more regularly and tell their friends and family about them.
Over 4.5 million farmers and their families benefit from the added income, security and market awareness that selling to the Fairtrade market gives. With your help, we are confident that Fairtrade sales - now running at over £100 million each year - will increase and bring benefits to more farmers in the developing countries."
David Seaton (PCC Hon. Secretary)
Coffee Mornings.
The November coffee morning at the Barton Homes raised £400 towards Church Funds. A very big thank you to all those who worked so hard to make the event such a success and to everyone who supported it.There is no coffee morning in December because of the Bazaar. The next coffee morning will be on Saturday 8th January at Homelands, High Street, Turvey.
Church Flowers. The church will be decorated for Christmas on Thursday 23rd December. If you would like to help please contact Anne Claypole White (881661) If you can spare any Christmas greenery from your gardens, especially variegated holly and ivy, it would be much appreciated! It could be left at the back of the church before the 23rd. Thank you.
Mothers’ Union.
Favourite Carols and Christmas Party, Thursday 16th December at 2:30 pm in the Manor Room.