Compass is the name of St.Mary's Parish magazine. It is published at the beginning
of every month and is distributed throughout the Parish by a band of volunteers.
If you would like to receive a copy of the magazine every month, it is available
for an Annual Subscription of £3.60.
If you live outside the Parish and would still like to receive a copy, arrangements
can be made to post it for an additional charge
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Articles from September 2008 Magazine
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| Letter
from our Vicar |
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Vicar Ken writes..........
Everything is starting up again - its September. The busyness resumes;
maybe it's also a time for starting to do new things: the diet, joining
or rejoining the gym, learning Spanish, studying this or that, taking
on a new hobby. Do you enjoy being busy? ' A lot of the time we do, but
sometimes by November the enthusiasm wears off because the activity has
taken over.
The Bible is an action-packed book. Churches are full of apparently endless
activities. It's worth remembering at the beginning of another busy season
why it is that we do what we do.
What's it for? Why do we do it?
"Be still and know that I am God" is a much-quoted saying from
the Bible. But we know that stillness is not always easy to find. A real
effort is needed to jump off the conveyor belt of going from one thing
to another. To find space to rediscover who I am; to get in touch with
myself again.
Notice it doesn't say about God at this point that he is doing anything.
He just is who he is. In fact, one of the most startling revelations in
the Bible is God having a conversation with Moses from the bush that kept
burning. What did he say about himself? He said, "I am who I am".
That doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. God is apparently saying that
he has been around in the past, will be in the future, and is now in the
present (because no one knows what tense the verb °I am" is in
this passage). And in being present now, he is available for people like
Moses, and like you and me. He is there and he is here.
In the presence of God we discover even more fully who we are. In meeting
him, we truly find ourselves. What do we discover about ourselves when
we meet with God ? Well, certainly, we find that we are of great value
to him, that we are loved and accepted, that we are unique and special
...... and that he has plans for us.
Our activity can flow out of that relationship, and in that activity we
can find true fulfilment. One of the Psalms in the Bible (127) talks about
it being useless to get up early and stay up late, toiling for food to
eat. Yes, I know we need to work hard to earn money to live, and that
our work can be demanding, exhausting, and also very fulfilling at times.
But it also says here "unless the Lord builds the house its builders
labour in vain." What does this mean? Something, presumably, about
how God can be involved in what we are doing, or how we can choose to
live our lives without him. Being with God helps us to know who we are,
and it also helps us to know what we should be doing. Jesus actually said
that he only did what he saw the Father doing. When our activity flows
out of that relationship with God there is a wonderful sense of God doing
it with us. I'm not sure I know exactly what that means, but it sounds
good and it sounds worth exploring!
Personally, I think it's a good idea to build time spent with God into
our day. Finding ways to be still that suit us as individuals - a place,
a time, space in our daily programme. Opening our lives to his presence;
letting him speak to us through the Scriptures; finding ourselves by being
with him. An oasis of refreshment and strength in the midst of a busy
life
Be still and know that I am God.
Ken Shill
With love and best wishes
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| Alpha |
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This !s whet the papers say:
"What Alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is
permission, rare in secular culture, to discuss the big questions - life
and death and their meaning." The Guardian,
London
What distinguishes Alpha from other initiatives is the easy-going, relaxed
feel of the proceedings - that, and its astonishing success." The
Times, London
Many claim Alpha has changed their lives and appear genuinely happier
for the experience." Time Magazine
Alpha is an unqualified triumph." The Daily
Telegraph, London
Alpha makes Christianity relevant to modern life." The
Express, London
This is what Jim from Kent said:
I do not come from a Christian background, I didn't even know anyone who
was a Christian, so when a work colleague invited me to an Alpha supper
I had to think about it for several weeks, because part of me was interested
in why people go to Church but part of me was very wary. When I walked
in on that first night, I thought the hall was going to be full of people
who all had grey hair and looked like they were sucking on half a lemon.
I couldn't believe it when I found the hall full of people of all ages
and all backgrounds, I remember thinking I don't know why I was so worried
about coming
( found the group discussion about the various Alpha talks each week a
really good chance to learn. One of the bits that I personally liked was
the fact that I could ask any questions and everyone was interested in
them.
When I came on the course I thought they might try and get me on some
sort of religious treadmill, but the Alpha course taught me that I could
have a personal relationship with God, and that God was but a prayer away.
I went on the Alpha course with an open mind expecting nothing. I still
find it hard to take on board the positive difference it's made to my
life, marriage and family. The Alpha course helped me to look at myself
as I really am, and helped me to love and respect other people, even those
I considered not my type. Considering how reluctant I was to go, I actually
found myself looking forward to the Alpha course each week.'
Want to know more?
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We have a new course beginning in September.
Watch this space for details '
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| Christian
Aid Week = 11th to the 18th May |
When we look around at the world, what do we see? Violence and conflict.
Poverty so harsh that women turn to work on the streets to feed their children.
Ignorance so extreme that husbands pass on HIV to the ones they love. Christian
Aid are committed to seeing a just world now. 'They believe in 'life before
death'.
Christian Aid challenges the causes of poverty and makes change happen.
They work to ensure people build the lives they deserve in over 50 countries
as they aim to provide benefits on the ground and an end to injustice. Christian
Aid follows the teaching of Jesus Christ, who commanded his followers to
love their neighbour and work for a better world. Jesus identified with
the poor, excluded, weak, sick and oppressed. He said he wanted everyone
to have life, abundantly, hence, Christian Aid is outspoken for the rights
of the poor and marginalised; they are agents of change.
Christian Aid believes everyone is created equal, with inherent dignity
and basic rights. When people are dehumanised - denied food, water, dignity,
justice, education, healthcare and n chance for an income - Christian Aid
stands with them. They cross divides of religion, race and nationality,
acting as the Good Samaritan. Christian Aid works with and through local
organisations .e.g. Afghanistan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Colombia,
Nigeria, Kenya and Brazil. They are committed to the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Code of Conduct, meaning they never link aid with evangelism. They support
716 local organisations who know best how to deliver what people really
need. From providing shelters for battered women in Iraq, to helping people
earn a better living from farming their land in Bangladesh,. to getting
emergency relief to Afghan villages so families don't have to sell their
daughters in marriage to help their families survive drought.
In 2006/07; in large part thanks to your donations, Christian Aid spent
£63.9 million responding to emergencies and supporting development
programmes. In India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, your money enabled their
partners to help half a million people begin to return to some sort of normal
life after the Indian Ocean tsunami. Your contributions made it possible
for them to respond quickly and effectively to a drought in Afghanistan
so harsh that the fields were bare and food was running out.
In a world where a few hundred millionaires own as much wealth as the world's
poorest 2.5 billion people, poverty is a choice made by the rich, not by
the poor. More than 8 million people die each year from abject poverty.
10.9 million children die each year before they reach the age of five
Welcome to Christian Aid Week 2008
This is where you and thousands of people across Britain make a difference.
With your time and generosity we hope to raise millions for the world's
poor and oppressed. So please do something for Christian Aid Week. It
doesn't matter how big or small your pledge is. Whatever you do, do something.
Last year many of you kindly volunteered to collect door to door resulting
in a record collection from St Mary's of £2331.65. Without you we
can't make a difference in these peoples lives. Collecting door to door
is difficult but for just a few hours of discomfort the money collected
can make amazing life changes for others who are suffering a lifetime
of desperate poverty.
If you feel able to help please contact Andrea Sands.
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| Reflection
on the Apprentice |
| Youre hired!
I sacked Simon Smith. Yep, I gave this weeks hapless contestant
on The Apprentice his marching orders. OK, the TV evidence is that it
was the lovable epitome of all things shrewd and opportunist, Sir Alan
Sugar, who fired him but at least I was there to back up his decision.
As part of the studio audience for The Apprentice: Youre Fired!,
the follow-up show that interviews each weeks victim, I got to wave
my red card at Simon when the mob was asked how wed have handled
him.
In Sir Alans opinion, the ex-Army man currently a satellite
engineer was amiable and industrious but simply out of his depth
as a leader in the project hed been assigned. I heartily agreed
and, though I have no proven business acumen myself, I stand by my TV-ordained
right to make flash judgements based on the slightest of slanted evidence.
It got me thinking, though. How, when it came to the biggest job on earth
building the kingdom of God did Simon Peter get hired to
provide the foundation? Sure, he was bolshie, spoke his mind and was proactive
when it came to exercising faith. But was he the best choice? Could Jesus
have chosen only Peter for that position?
As for the rest of the apostles, did they exhibit qualities not found
in other fishermen, tax collectors and would-be insurgents? And heres
where I have a problem with the Great Commission: Jesus seemed to be telling
the Eleven, My family business has an aggressive expansion directive.
Not only are you hired, I want you to get out there and hire anyone you
come across, and train them so they can hire anyone they come across and
train them so well, you get the idea.
What kind of discernment is that? What kind of business sees fit to hire
anyone and everyone and train them to train others regardless of experience?
It seems Jesus had this intention from the start. Right at the outset,
his job offer came with a career development package. Come, follow
me, he said, and I will make you fishers of men.
For Peter and Andrew, it was about swapping one family business for another.
They chose wisely. So did Jesus. Which still leaves me wondering: What
is it about you and about me that makes God take one look at us and say,
Youre hired?
Jason Gardner - LICC
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| An
Incovenient Truth |
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Hopefully for those that missed this important film, there will be showings
of the film "An Inconvenient Truth" in the New Year. This is
a fascinating and challenging look at Climate Change and the implications
for our World!
Don't miss it!
For more information go to the web page
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| Stop
Supermarkets Squeezing Farmers |
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Church of England Proposes an Independent Ombudsman to Stop Supermarkets
Squeezing Farmers
The pursuit of cheap food coupled with the buying power of the big supermarkets
is putting farming livelihoods at risk, the Church of England has told
the Competition Commission. Making farmers pay for supermarkets' own promotions
is just one of a number of invisible and pernicious practices squeezing
farm-gate prices.
While welcoming the broad findings in the Competition Commission's recent
interim report, the Church argues that a wider debate is urgently needed
on the effects of retailers extracting `below cost' supply agreements
from farmers and their effect on a substantial and flourishing agricultural
sector. "The business practices of the major food retailers have
placed considerable stress on the farming community through the use of
methods which we believe to be unfair and of which consumers seem to be
unaware", said the Rt. Rev. Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter who
chairs, the Church's Rural Strategy Group. "Farmers seem unwilling
to complain or to expose these practices for fear that their products
may be boycotted by the major retailers. It is clear that the Supermarkets
Code of Practice is not working."
The call for a wider debate comes in the recent report `Fairtrade begins
at Home'. The report identifies a number of invisible and pernicious practices
that the consumer is largely unaware of and which have been accepted by
farmers as a `fait accompli' as part of the price of doing business. These
include:
o Products labelled as British but often only processed or packaged
here and obscuring the country of origin of the primary ingredients.
o Flexible contract terms that seldom work to the advantage of the farmer.
o Flexible payment terms subject to arbitrary change that often puts farmers
to an increased cost or financial loss.
o Facilitation payments, deductions and a range of financial inducements
paid to the retailer or processor at the farmers expense.
o Little evidence that retailers share the benefits of promotions with
farmers, and much evidence that farmers, in the main, bear the costs.
The Church calls on customers, supermarkets and Government to act on
the information in its report and the Competition Commission report.
o Consumers need to question the impact on farmers of very low
prices and the nature of special promotions (2 for 1 offers) in store,
who the beneficiaries are and how supermarkets supply certain goods at
reduced prices, and at whose expense. We contend there should be a debate
around a genuine fair trade `mark' for British food, reared, grown produced
and processed, that offers consumers and suppliers a fair product at a
fair price.
o Supermarkets must examine their buying practices with a view
to providing greater clarity and transparency to suppliers and consumers.
The worst abuses that we have noted must be rooted out of buying practices.
Each supermarket group should publish a buying code of how it does business
with local producers and how it expects middle-men to conduct business
relationships through the supply chain with producers. As part of this
arbitrary changes and termination of contracts without considered notice
should be avoided and the costs and benefits of in store and special promotions
should be shared by each party.
o Government also has a role to play The Code of Conduct is not
working, and has not acted to reduce fear of reprisals for `speaking out'.
We urge a serious review of whether there is a need for an independent
ombudsman with arbitration and regulatory powers. There may be an ongoing
public policy role for ministers, agencies and others to debate and consider
the worst abusers that we have noted, bearing in mind it is beyond the
brief of the current competition enquiry regime to rule on pernicious
practice per se, except where these are to the detriment of the consumer
or are deemed to be anti-competitive; the omission of a public interest
role is very different from the position in France, where this is used
to police and regulate appropriate business relationships between retailers
and farmers.
(Further information on this subject can be found at www.cofe.anglican.org/news)
If you feel strongly about this matter - why not take the trouble to write
to your MP asking him to support our farming community in ensuring that
the supermarkets treat them fairly.
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| Soul
Music |
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Sometimes the best insights into faith come from the most obvious places.
Take America, for instance a country founded by pilgrims,
where 98 per cent of the people believe in God and close to 50 per cent
attend church every Sunday. No wonder its balladeers, folk singers and
rock icons have so often filled their songs with echoes of gospel truth
or travesty. From the unequivocal Christian heritage of grassroots
groups such as the Carter Family through to contemporary hip hop and indie
music, Jesus is frequently namechecked - and not just when someones
picking up a Grammy.
Often its in praise, sometimes its in derision; but there
is also many a time when his mention invokes the reverence American artists
have for him (if not always for his followers).
I feel Jesus in the tenderness of honest, nervous lovers.
I feel Judas in the pistols and the pagers that come with all the powders.
Lost in fog and love and faithless fear,
Ive had kisses that make Judas seem sincere.
Citrus from The Hold Steadys Boys and Girls in America
Then there are those who recognise that wrestling with the political
and social conscience of America means also addressing the faith that
undergirds much of its ideology. Ben Folds, a long-term indie favourite,
could be a modern-day Isaiah, calling disingenuous religion to account
in his song Jesusland:
Town to town
broadcast to each house, they drop your name
but no one knows your face.
Billboards quoting things youd never say
you hang your head and pray
for Jesusland.
North of the border, things are much the same. The latest offering from
the Canadian band (and darlings of the music press) Arcade Fire, The Neon
Bible, is shot through with religious references and apocalyptic thoughts.
Hardly surprising, perhaps, from a band who recorded the album while holed
up in a church for 18 months and whose lead singer has a degree in scriptural
interpretation.
Of course, it would be misleading to read religious revival into the
current preoccupations of pop culture, but at least its heartening
to hear music from across the Pond that provides a little more food for
thought than controversy-courting raps about bling, cars and girls.
Ill leave you with a plea from the Arcade Fire song Windowsill
one I hope to hear reverberate around the globe:
MTV, what have you done to me?
Save my soul, set me free.
Jason Gardner -LICC
CLICK HERE if you want to learn more - www.licc.org.uk/culture/soul-music
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| Tuesday
Club |
We are hoping to begin a Tuesday After School Club aimed at the 5 to
11 year old age group. This will run during term time only.
We really need a minimum of 10 people to commit to this project before
we can begin. Ten people will give us the ability to cover any holidays
and other commitments which leaders may have. It will also mean that
people do not have to be there every week, as we appreciate that this
can be difficult for some.
We don't expect you to lead it although the opportunities are there
if you want to take part in this. We need friendly people of any age
who can welcome the children, provide refreshments and help with the
sports, games and creative activities; most importantly enough people
each week so that we have the time to reach out and form relationships
with the young people who come to the club.
All young people of the appropriate age will be welcome to come along.
They will be given the opportunity to learn about God in a fun and interactive
way. You will need to be there from about 3.15 pm until 5.30 pm. The
finer details are still up for discussion. Please pray about this opportunity.
Pray that if it is something God is leading us to do then the 10 people
will soon become available.
Is it something God is talking to you about? If it is then please sign
either the list at the back of church or the one on the notice board
in the Family Centre. For more information, please contact Ken, Jane
or Andrea.
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