Fairtrade Harvest

Revd Malcolm, with the help of some children enacting the parts, told us of the life of a tea picker in Sri Lanka. Her standard of living had not gone up in the last 40 years. We all found out thats ours had, but the price we pay for her part in the tea picking had not gone up 'in real terms.' But by us buying Fair Trade tea, she got a little more,and we payed a little more. A just price.

Lord of the Dance

Sarah gave birth to a little boy yesterday. He is to be called Daniel Oliver, This news got a great round of applause in church .... Another baby was baptised during the service this morning. We sang 'Lord of the Dance' and 'All things bright and beautiful.' two songs which are often chosen by the parents of baptised parents ...

Diana's Funeral

I am sure that some people were shocked by the funeral. The coffin was carried out of the church to the singing of the song 'I will go out with Joy... and the trees will clap their hands...' and some people who knew what Diana wished did clap and cheer as the coffin was borne out.

Packed Funeral

The Church was crowded for Gwen's funeral. People who could not get in were standing shoulder to shoulder in the welcome area. About a hundred of Gwen's colleagues from Tesco were there, together with relatives, friends, and people from Church. The bowls placed near the exit for Gwen's charity were piled high with notes.

Sad News

We were told that Gwen had passed away early this morning. She is very well known in the church, where she has served together with her husband R in many capacities for many years. Until a few months ago she was very well known as the customer service manager at Tesco.

Church Meeting

Diana led us in three hymns, interspersed throughout the meeting. I entered, a couple of minutes late, into a thunderous rendition of 'What a friend we have in Jesus.' In a round table discussion we considered what main challenges faced us and what successes and growth areas we had had as a church in the last year. We heard that after Revd Malcolm leaves next July.

Angels

Revd Malcolm described people being like angels. He had once set out on a long bike ride to Rome. A pious friend at the start had written in his diary something about an angel would help and protect him. This sounded very unpractical. Only a little way out, lost in a deserted industrial part of town, he was faced with a T junction. His map only showed the main roads. He was near to tears. Then a lady with a car full of children stopped and asked, 'Can I help you?' She was like an angel. Often in life, just at the right moment people have appeared to him like angels to help. Malcolm asked people to consider what God might be guiding them to do.