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The Methodist Church in CumbriaKeswick and Cockermouth CircuitCircuit Magazine |
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The Methodist Church in CumbriaKeswick and Cockermouth CircuitCircuit Magazine |
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There are two significant events in the life of the Church on 11 May. It's the Sunday of Christian Aid Week and this year it's also Pentecost - the birthday of the Church.
At first sight you might think that the two are unrelated. But they're not. Jesus promised us 'life in all its fullness'. And then at Pentecost he gave us the gift of his Spirit in order to turn that promise into reality, so that we might be people full of life. But that gift isn't intended simply to make us feel good ourselves. The effect of God's Spirit in the church is to turn us inside out - to turn our gaze away from ourselves and our own wants and needs and on to others. And we begin to see the world around us not with our own eyes, but with the vision of Jesus.
Wherever he went, Jesus was able to see the needs of the people whom he encountered, and he sought always to bring them healing and wholeness. As the Body of Christ in our world, we can't truly enjoy fullness of life whilst we know that there are others who struggle even to exist. Suddenly we become aware that the pain of others is our pain, too. When we're in pain, we cannot enjoy life as we should. And when we are in pain, we look for ways of finding relief. Enter, for example, Christian Aid … and indeed all those organisations who make it their mission to enable others to know something of the fullness of life which God intends for us all.
Supporting their work to the best of our ability, with our prayers, our time, our skills, our money, will help to relieve the pain - and if, as Christian Aid seek to do through their various campaigns, we fight and win the battle against the powers that continue to maintain and even increase the gap between rich and poor then we might even heal some of those wounds altogether. Then we would truly be using the gift of the Spirit as God intends it.
Happy birthday!
Jennet
It is now a full year since Mary and I returned from the trip to Kenya which resulted in the formation of this valuable mission project. We have been encouraged by all the support you have given us. The fundraising stall has run every month since June 2007 and usually averages about £90 in takings, as well as receiving some generous donations. All the proceeds are than split equally between the existing Maua Hospital project and the Karibuni Trust, who are delighted to receive this modest but vitally important regular income for all their work with the seriously disadvantaged peoples of the country. We realised when we were there that a little went a long way in Kenya, apart from the fact the people themselves are so happy just to know they are remembered and cared for. Thank you all for supporting this effort each month - and for all the jam jars which we are kept busy refilling…..!
Many of you have asked how the present violence due to the political situation has affected he various areas we visited last year. The Karibuni Trust have given us several updates as follows: In Meru, Maua and Tharaka it remains quiet, although there are tensions in the towns and there have been concerns about supplies of food and drugs getting through to Maua Methodist Hospital because of road blocks. The latest information suggests that the Hospital is now ok for these things. The children's home at Kaaga and the Township Programme in Meru Town seem to be operating as normal, as are the AIDS orphans Programme and the Disability Community Centre Programme and the Tharaka Women's and Children's Welfare Programme in Marimanti. In Nairobi there has been some fighting and burning of homes and kiosks, but the Shangilia project is returning to normal, although adjacent shops in Kangemi and Karawangware were burnt. The school at Limuru has reopened, although people feared to spend the night in their homes, but is now said to be calmer At Njoro, near Nakuru, which is housing many refugees, it appears calm but the road leading there is unsafe. After a worrying silence, we finally heard he projects in he massive Kibera slum in Nairobi were ok, although there had been some looting of food and the children's mattresses at one of the projects. There has been massive destruction of property in this area resulting in hundreds of displaced families who are now camping in the Jamhuri Park Showground to the west of Kibera.
The Kenyans are grateful for our prayers and ask for continued prayer support for peace and reconciliation in these troubled times.
Janice Westley
On a sad note to start with. Many of you who have bought and read books by Eddie Askew, or even heard him speak, will be sad to hear of his death last September, only a few months after the death of his wife, Barbara.
Eddie was the International Director of the Leprosy Mission from 1974, having previously worked in Purulia, India for 15 years at the leprosy hospital there, developing and furthering the centre's outreach to surrounding areas. On return to the UK, he worked all over the world furthering the work for leprosy and rehabilitation.
His many gifts were evident in both organisation and communication and, in retirement, a new career as a writer produced 16 books, which included some of his lifetime's hobby of painting and drawing from his many journeys throughout the world.
We are all grateful for the legacy he has left in his writing and "down-to-earth" meditations which many of us use regularly. There is a fuller tribute to him in the current 'New Day' (the TLM magazine) available from me at Lorton Street.
We had a good service to acknowledge leprosy work world wide on January 27th, when we of sufferers and those involved in their care, thanked God for His healing through them, the Leprosy Mission will continue to work as long as there are people with leprosy disabilities who need care, as will the Nepal Leprosy Trust and the various other charities involved. The very loyal collectors in Cockermouth between them raised £1,480-00 last year and thank you all for your support. If you would like a box or an "alternative cheque book" to purchase usual gifts for your friends and family, please see me on Sundays or ring me on 01900 824043.
John Roughley (The Leprosy Mission Organiser) will be visiting the ladies' fellowship on Wednesday, March 5th, 2 p.m. and also on October 10th for an evening meeting. Watch this space for details.
Mary Stocks
Good news. We've given a "Note to Preach" to Marion Beckham of Bassenthwaite. She'll be mentored by Roy Ellis, so when Roy appears on the Plan, Marion will be with him. It's most encouraging for the Circuit when folk respond to God's call.
Do you remember LPMA? The special "Local Preachers'" Sunday? What's happened to it? There's no longer a designated Sunday, and LPMA has been changed into the Leaders of Worship and Preachers Trust. The work goes on - with retirement homes (as at Grange-over-Sands) for leaders of worship and their dependants and a small amount of financial support to those facing unexpectedly large bills - and the funding needs are still there.
Donations, individual and via Church Councils, should be sent to LWPT, 89 High Street, Rickmansworth WD3 1EF.
Another trip down memory lane. You'll remember "Make Poverty History"? Some of you would help form that enormous chain round the convention centre in Birmingham where the G8, the world's most economically developed countries, were meeting. Many of us supported Alan Sharman (Keswick) as he cycled to Genoa to help lobby that same body.
Well, poverty is not yet history, despite all our efforts. There's work to be done, and Micah Challenge is one organisation that's doing it. "We intend to be a movement that is truly inclusive, engaging Christians of contrasting denominations in a way that stays true to a clear shared Chriostioan identity."
Micah? Oh, come on! Micah 6:v8 - "and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Look at the web site, www.micahchallenge.org for more.
So, you're committed to Fair Trade. Ok, you're giving to the hilt and can't really give any more.
Shared Interest is for you. It's a financial co-operative that uses the pooled investments of us, its members, to effect real and lasting improvements to people's lives in poorer parts of the world.
We lend it money. The interest rate isn't brilliant, but at least we can get our money back when we need it.
Shared Interest in turn lends to producer groups in less developed countries on affordable terms. Featured in this quarter's magazine are producers of brazil nuts in Bolivia, coffee in Honduras and peanuts in Malawi. All within the Fair Trade umbrella.
It's biggish, having 8,447 members (including me); £21 millions in share capital and it aims to grow this to £75 millions by 2012. With our help.
Contact it at 2 Cathedral Square, Groat Market, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 1EH or 0191 233 9100, or www.shared-interest.com
David Sharpe
(from Joe Human, Keswick & District Fair Trade Campaign)
For increasing numbers of Christians, and many others, Fairtrade shopping is part of their response to "How am I to live?" They answer that they should live a more ethical life, with more active engagement with global poverty and injustice, peace and human rights, climate change, global resource depletion and environmental degradation. Fairtrade fortnight is from 25th February to 9th March with Easter Day being on 23rd March.
Fairtrade transforms the lives of millions of poor producers, their families and communities in developing countries. In Keswick we know this through our growing friendship with the people of Choche in Ethiopia, a coffee farming community. Fairtrade helps them to plan for the future, invest in children's education, improve family health, and more, much more.
Our transformation may come from our mindful relationship with producers when we buy Fairtrade products as active global citizens, conducting our trading in what we call Trade Justice.
They've brought you up to date Lord, at St. Clairs.
They've pensioned off the organ and they're praising with guitars.
They've done it for the young ones - we want to draw them in.
But I do wish they could worship without making such a din.
For I'm growing rather deaf Lord, and when there's all that noise,
It gets so very hard Lord to hear your loving voice.
They've written brand new hymns Lord, with tunes that I don't know,
So I hardly ever sing now, though I did love singing so.
They're very go-ahead Lord, they use series three,
But the words are not so beautiful as the others used to be.
They've modernised the bible, and the Lord's prayer and the Creed,
When the old ones were so perfect, that they filled my every need,
My mind's not quite so agile as it was some years ago,
And I miss the age-old beauty of the words I used to know.
It's very clear to me Lord, I've overstayed my time.
I don't take change so kindly as I did when in my prime,
But it can't be very long now, before I'm called above,
And I know I'll find you there Lord, and glory in your love,
So till then I'll stick it out, though it's not the same for me,
But while others call you Lord, do you mind if I say Thee.
In 2010 the villagers of Oberammergau will once again be performing their world-famous Passion Play, a tradition which stretches back over the last 376 years. It takes place only once every ten years and the season runs from May to September.
The most renowned of all Passion Plays, Oberammergau is unique in its conception, setting and sheer scale of production. It is a vast undertaking involving more than 2,000 villagers, a full orchestra and a vast open-air stage, set against the spectacular backdrop of the Bavarian mountains.
The visually spectacular, day-long performance commemorates the last week in the life of Christ, His journey into Jerusalem, His death and resurrection. The Passion Play is performed in the original German, but speaks to all nations and is made all the more dramatic by a large choir and orchestra performing the music for the Play by a local teacher 190 years ago.
David and Anne Hasson are planning to take a group to Oberammergau for two nights and then on to Austria for five nights, departing from Edinburgh Airport on Monday, 9 August 2010. The Austrian part of the holiday will be based in the Salzburger Hof Hotel in Maria Alm, a picturesque village set amidst grand mountains and lush meadows, just over an hour's drive from the musical capital of Salzburg. From the square in Maria Alm a chasir-lift ascends onto an 'alm' or 'high pasture', where you can walk to alpine huts offering traditional hospitality.
There will be optional excursions to Salzburg, Krimml National Park, a guided local walk and a Mozart dinner concert in Salzburg.
Because of its popularity, there is always a high level of demand for tickets to see the Passion Play and tickets are not cheap! This means that the holiday can appear quite expensive. However, this is a special occasion, which can only be repeated every ten years. We will be running a savings scheme for those who would like to put money aside regularly. We'll have the final cost in March, but it looks as though it will be between £1,000 and £1,500 (including excursions).
If you're interested in finding out more about this holiday (no commitment at this stage), please have a word with David or Anne - telephone number 01228 522645 or email hasson2000@aol.com
A warm welcome will be given to all at our following fund raising events.
Daffodil Evening - Friday 4th April at 7.30 pm with the Mechanics Band to be held at Lorton Street. Tickets, to include supper - £5.00 on the door.
Coffee Morning - Saturday 26th April from 10 - 12 noon. to be held at The United Reformed Church, Cockermouth There will be a cake stall and a raffle. Minimum charge - 50p. We look forward to seeing you at these events
11 April, 7.00 pm at Southey Street A concert by The Kiev Singers, a group of professional musicians who are touring the UK performing classical and Ukranian folk music. Entry is free but there will be an offering taken for 'New Beginnings', a charity supporting Ukrainian orphans and homeless children.
Tuesday, 13th May at 7.30 p.m. at Brigham Methodist Church A Chapel Anniversary Concert with Travelling Light plus guest local musicians.