Magazine

Fairtrade Borough Group
Annual review 2009/10

It has been another good year in the life of the group, culminating in the successful renewal of the Borough’s Fairtrade status, which was obtained in April. This is great news. The Fairtrade Foundation was very complimentary about the work that we do and the progress we have made. We will next have to renew in the spring of 2012.
Our work with the Borough Council was given a boost this year by the support we received from council leader Cllr Seán Woodward. The Council now has an official representative on the working group, Cllr Pam Bryant, whose presence is already proving very useful and positive. We were invited to have a Fairtrade stand at all six of the Summer 2010 Community Action Team meetings across the borough, which have been fruitful in reaching more people with the message of Fairtrade. The Hampshire County Councillors representing Fareham have also been very supportive.
The year has seen a big increase in the number and range of Fairtrade products which are available in shops throughout the borough. To a large extent this is due to major brands, and big retailers’ own brands, becoming Fairtrade: for example four-finger Kit Kats and Sainsbury’s Red Label tea. And it’s not just food: more and more clothes retailers are turning to Fairtrade cotton, and Fairtrade cosmetics and other beauty products are starting to become available. However, there is still room for individuals and groups to put pressure on their local store to stock more Fairtrade items; so please keep doing so!
We have received great support from the Southern Co-Operative group, which is based in Fareham. They have been generous with vouchers to enable us to offer free Fairtrade samples at our events, and also gave us a grant of £655 to buy a set of display boards.
We have continued our extensive work with schools, running assemblies and workshops, and helping teachers to work Fairtrade into the curriculum. We have also given talks to various community groups. We are always glad to do more of these, so if your school or community group would like us to come along please contact me. Faith groups throughout the borough also continue to support Fairtrade in a big way: mostly these are churches, although we have also made good links with the local Muslim congregation.
Fairtrade Fortnight, in late February and early March, was most successful, with a variety of displays and stalls. Our main stall, in Fareham Shopping Centre, was supported by the Mayor of Fareham, the leader of the council, and Mark Hoban MP, and attracted a lot of interest. We also sold a number of our unique Fairtrade cotton shopping bags, proclaiming that Fareham is a Fairtrade Borough – these are still available, priced at a very reasonable £2.
We have enjoyed increasingly close co-operation with other local Fairtrade groups. We attended events in Gosport, Eastleigh and Winchester, and together with several local groups we hosted a visit by Vinay Devaiah, a Fairtrade tea producer from India, who was able to share first-hand experience of the difference Fairtrade makes where it matters – in poor communities in the developing world.
When you buy Fairtrade, you are making a real difference. You are enabling people who have very little to earn a living, invest in their community, and take a big step out of poverty and into a fulfilled and dignified life. Thank you for your support.
Rachel Hicks
chair@fftb.org.uk 01329 312895

Dear Friends,

It has fallen to me to write September’s letter and, at the moment, I don’t know which way this will go! Last week I read an interesting article in ‘Christianity’ magazine about rules and regulations and worship. It posed an interesting question, “Are we too hide-bound by rules and do we forget about the message Jesus gave us?”

I have always felt self-conscious when reading, serving communion or welcoming friends to church because of my taste in clothing. One thing that is important to me (apart from my faith) is my type of music and I often wear ‘Heavy Metal’ T-shirts – advertising some of my favourite groups. I have an inkling, at the back of my mind, that the designs may cause offence or even repulsion to members of the congregation. However, the article outlined many points about ‘living by the rules’ rather than ‘by the spirit’. Would I be a better Christian if I wore a suit to church every Sunday? The article talked about how the early Christians were not so interested in HOW they worshipped God – just that they DID worship God. The article ended with something like, “will there some day be a group of Christians worshipping God kneeling on a mat, facing Jerusalem and doing it five times a day? I pray so.”

Surely it isn’t what God wants, us going to church only on Sundays, in our best clothes, and then being done with Him for the rest of the week. How many of us have started to say grace at every meal, as Bill McCrea encouraged us to do? How many of us include God in everything we do?

Should I still feel self-conscious about not wearing a suit on Sundays? . . . . . . . Probably not!

“Ask where the good way is and walk in it.” Jeremiah 6:16

The Christian Rambling Club celebrates its thirtieth anniversary next year, 2011, having been founded in 1981 to provide opportunities to enjoy walking at the weekend whilst still having Christian fellowship. Membership is open to any professing Christian aged 18 and over who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

HAMPSHIRE DAY WALKING GROUP OF CHRISTIAN RAMBLING CLUB

“You have made known to me the path of life” Psalm 16:11

The local branch, the Hampshire Christian Rambling Club focuses on keeping Sunday special and arranges a varied and interesting programme of walks on a Saturday so that the walks do not clash with Sunday services. The group starts with prayer, thanking God for the fellowship and committing the day to his hands. Some walks are relatively easy, others more challenging and are varied in length from 5 to 14 miles, depending on whoever has planned and is leading the walk. Walks might include a picnic lunch, pub lunch and may finish in a teashop. The programme includes occasional social events. To join us in Christian fellowship, fresh air and health giving exercise, contact the membership secretary on hcrc@btinternet.com.
You don’t have to live in Hampshire to join the HCRC for although the walks tend to be in Hampshire, walks have been arranged in Dorset, West Sussex, Wiltshire and of course the Isle of Wight. A very warm welcome awaits you, as well as plenty of fresh air, exercise and fellowship.

Is there a job you really need to do, but it’s just all too much??
Contact one of the members of the Worship Group listed below and we shall try to find a church member who can help.

If you indicated an interest in helping with odd jobs when you completed the Worship Group questionnaire earlier this year, be prepared – we may be calling on your services soon.

Gill Bailey, Sue Brown, Margaret Boyne, Carol Rogers.

I am Alpha and Omega

I am Alpha
I was here in the beginning, the beginning of all that is.
Before the world was, I was here, waiting, waiting for you.
Before there was sea or crushing waves,
Before there was sky or rushing clouds,
Before there was land or snow covered mountains,
I was here.

I was here in the beginning.
Before the fish swam or the insects crawled,
Before the cockerels crowed or the lions roared,
Before the singing of a million feathered life-forms greeted the rising sun,
I was here.

I am Alpha
I was here before man and woman came into being,
Before you built your homes,
Before you worked in the fields or subdued the land,
Before you discovered technology or sought to control the world through science.
I was here.

I was here in the beginning,
Before you lived or loved,
Before you talked or toiled,
Before your worried weariness made you doubt my existence.
I was here waiting, waiting for you.

I am Alpha
There is nothing I have not seen.
There is nowhere I have not been.
There is nothing I do not know or have not experienced,
No situation that I have not encountered,
No emotion that I do not have,
No feeling that I cannot understand.
There is no joy too great, no laughter too loud,
No amusement that I cannot enjoy,
No caring touch that I cannot feel.

I was here in the beginning.
There is no sorrow I cannot share,
No tears too deep, no pain too great,
No aching loneliness that I have not known,
No hatred or betrayal that I have not suffered.
Nothing is new to me.
Before the world began, I was here, waiting, waiting for you.
I am Alpha. Before the world began, ‘I am’.

I am Omega
I am the end,
The end of all that was, the end of all that will be.
I am the last, the final curtain.
When the world is no more and all is still,
I’ll be there waiting, waiting for you.

I am Omega
When the sun no longer shines and the rain ceases,
When mists no longer gather, nor snowflakes fall,
When the wind stops its constant roaming and rainbows are but a distant memory,
I’ll be there.

When wheat no longer grows, nor kestrels dive,
When boats no longer sail, nor passengers arrive,
When loud music ceases and all is hushed,
I’ll be there, waiting, waiting for you.

I am Omega
When you have done your worst to destroy my world,
Pulled down my trees, flattened my forests,
Polluted my rivers and plundered the land,
Altered the genes and confused the life-cycles,
I’ll be there.

When you have exploded your bombs and fought your wars,
Race against race, colour against colour,
When you have abused the young and ridiculed the old,
When you have ignored the poor and disobeyed my teaching,
I’ll be there, waiting, waiting for you.

I am Omega
I am the end.
One day I will return and take you with me.
You need not fear me, for I love you.
I created you in my image,
Made you to live in my world,
To know its joys and woes,
To work, to play, to love!
To win, to lose and start again,
To live and breathe and know that I am your God and you are my people.
I am the end.
When evil is banished and all creation is at peace again as it was in the beginning,
I’ll be there.

For I am Alpha and Omega,
The beginning and the end,
The first and the last,
And I am waiting, waiting for you.

A small (and dare we say ‘select’?) group of people have been meeting regularly on Thursday evenings for a little physical activity ever since we moved to the new building. Our numbers are diminishing (mainly due to age but for other reasons also) to the point where sometimes only four people are present – just enough for a game of badminton!

Our main game (apart from being sarcastic in ‘the best possible taste’ about the playing abilities of the others present) is badminton. You don’t have to be an expert player to come – or even know the rules of the game (some have been playing since the group started - for all those years - and after all this time do not know even the basics!) but it helps if you can count (only up to 15) and remember what happened two minutes ago so you know who should be serving next (again some of the present players cannot do either of these things).

If you prefer other games, we do have a table tennis table (you do have to be able to count up to 21 for this) and a small snooker table (up to 147 for this!), so there is plenty for everyone. It only costs 75p a week, with all ‘donations’ (having bought a few shuttlecocks, that is) going to the church. So why not come along (all ages are welcome as long as they are not too energetic or active) and have some fun – quite a lot of ‘chatting’ does take place as well!
Leslie Brown
p.p The FURC Sporting (well we try anyway!) Group

It is a sadness that I make my last contribution, as interim moderator, to the Messenger without seeing an end to the vacancy. I am saying farewell to the Gosport pastorate and another interim moderator will be appointed in due course by Synod for Fareham and Sarisbury Green. In August I and my family are moving to Buckinghamshire where I have been called as minister to Beaconsfield and Holtspur United Reformed Churches.

It has been interesting to me to see the process of ministerial appointment from both sides at the same time. From the perspective of interim moderator one tends to see candidates and pastorates failing to connect--and one is tempted to be critical of the rather clumsy URC system of filling vacancies. From my perspective as a candidate the same system, which is undoubtedly trying for some ministers, can also work very smoothly and relatively quickly--and I am thankful that that has been my experience over the last few months.

My experience may give heart to congregations struggling to fill vacancies. God does have a purpose, and is implementing his plan. In dues course the right candidate will come along and then this process which has so far been so frustrating and unfruitful will (I hope) quickly and easily achieve its purpose. Our task, as congregations and as ministers, is to remember that we are seeking God's will, and be prepared to wait for his timing.

One final thought. As a farewell to the lovely Hampshire coastline, and as an opportunity to raise money for a charity with which I have a close connection, I am asking my congregations if (instead of any leaving gifts) they would sponsor me to walk the Solent Way, from Emsworth to Milford on Sea, a distance of 60 miles, in two days. The money raised will go through Health Help International to help fund a centre for disabled children in Tamil Nadu, south India. If anyone in the church would like to sponsor me, I would be most grateful.

I wish you every blessing during the rest of your vacancy and on the appointment, in due course, of a new minister for Fareham and Sarisbury Green United Reformed Churches.

Nigel Douglas

Over the next few weeks we shall be meeting and working through an excellent booklet called PRAYER – THE REAL BATTLE. If you are interested in exploring your ideas and/or finding out about the life of prayer that Brother Andrew and Al Janssen describe, please join us on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 7.30 pm for tea & biscuits, chat and discussion in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.

We are looking forward to you joining us on our continuing journey. Alternatively, if you have any questions about this or the booklet, please see Audrey Mann or Carol Rogers.

SEND A COW

“Send a Cow started when some British farmers were watching a programme about African farmers struggling to survive. They joked about sending some of their own fine cattle, but from this first silly suggestion grew a charity with a determination to improve the lives of poor farmers in developing countries.

They do literally take cows and other livestock, improving the gene-pool of the local animals by cross-breeding. They provide training in animal care and farming methods, research accessible technology and run health-care classes.
Everyone who receives an animal is expected to pass on the first-born kid or calf to another family; even seeds from fruit trees are passed on. Those who receive training are expected to train their neighbours.

Recently, they sent me a story of a woman in Ethiopia who was given training and a metal stove pipe and roofing. From this she built a cook-house and efficient oven. She made each brick herself from local mud. She can now cook for and feed her extended family and the orphans she cares for more hygienically and using much less wood.

The result of these small gifts and training (and a great deal of hard work from the people themselves) is that the crops are increased, children are fed and educated, diets are improved and simple medicines are purchased. Community life is grown and the standing of widows improved.”

www.sendacow.com

Soapbox
(The page for YOUR special causes, ideas, etc.)

On 1st October 2007, Bryn Parry of the Royal Green Jackets launched an appeal to provide extra and better facilities and support for our wounded service men and women returning from Afghanistan, a new charity called ‘Help for Heroes’.

Headley Court, the government run rehabilitation centre, near Epsom in Surrey, was once an Elizabethan Farmhouse, which was bought and extended into a large mansion and later used as the HQ for Canadian forces during the war, training engineers in the art of building air strips and trench systems.

Although this is a large building which already provided a hydrotherapy pool, there wasn’t a full size swimming pool, so patients had to be taken to the public pools in Leatherhead. Unfortunately, this resulted in some unpleasant encounters! The charity provided the money for a new on-site pool, which has now been built. Sadly, due to the increasing number of casualties, there is now a need to arrange accommodation for 30 more beds to add to the current 28.

Another objective was to try to raise funds to build three new Personal Recovery Centres across England and to extend, or replace, the one in Scotland. The charity has now successfully raised the necessary £20 million to begin the first one, which will be built at Colchester. These brand new facilities will not only have comfortable accommodation, but also all the latest gadgets and technology needed to provide excellent care for each individual, so that they can begin to rebuild their lives in the best possible way.

The money is also being used to provide accommodation for relatives coming to support and encourage their sons, daughters, husbands, or wives, as they begin to start on the long road to recovery. Families are also given money to go out for a meal together, as these wounded personal are often daunted by the prospect of being seen in public with their injuries.

It seems to me that if we expect men and women, some of them heartbreakingly young, to go out and risk their lives for our sakes, the least we can do for them is to provide the best possible help for them when and if they need it.

Should you wish to send a donation, the address is;

H4H,Unit 6,Aspire Business, Ordnance Road, Tidworth Hants SP9 7QD

Gill B.

Dear Friends,

One of my favourite poems from my schooldays is “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which, if you are not familiar with this poem, is the story of an old sailor who accosts a wedding guest with a tale of a shipwreck following his killing of an albatross. It includes the famous line: “Water, water, everywhere nor any drop to drink”, and it is true that of all the water in the world over 97% is undrinkable as it is seawater. Of the 3% that remains, 2% is part of the icecaps, leaving less than 1% that is available for people to use. It’s no wonder that water is so precious.

Water was a scarce resource in Palestine in Jesus’ time, as it is today, and there are numerous references to water in the New Testament. Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Canaan; he was baptised in the waters of the River Jordan; he washed the feet of his disciples in water; and Pilate washed his hands in water when not releasing Jesus just before the Crucifixion. In particular, I wanted to refer to Matthew chapter 10 verse 42 where Jesus says: “You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water to one of the least of my followers... will certainly receive a reward”. How can we give water to those who need it? Well (!), one of the organisations that is doing just that is Water Aid. In fact Water Aid is one of the two charities adopted by the church to support this year. On your behalf I have already sent Water Aid a cheque for £200 and will send them a further one later in the year. That will be for a larger amount as any money put on the offertory plate is shared between the two charities.

Finally, Jesus did not only offer physical water but also spiritual water in saying “...whoever drinks the water that I will give will never be thirsty again”. May we appreciate the water that Jesus gives and not take it for granted.
Jeff Smith

Dear Friends,

On the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter went out into the streets of Jerusalem and preached the first sermon ever. After hearing what he had to say, THREE THOUSAND people became Christians. Not bad for a first sermon attempt! And this is Peter; Peter the fisherman. We don’t hear of him speaking much in the Gospels, and when we do it’s often because he got things wrong. What changed? Had he taken a theology degree or a course in public speaking? No. This is what had happened; Peter and the other apostles had been filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s what made his words electrifying.

But it didn’t stop there. Peter told the three thousand new converts:

“You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children and for .... everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him”.

The promise is for all Christians, for you and me.

The Holy Spirit is God’s transforming power at work in our lives, affecting every aspect of life; our attitudes, our priorities, our actions – enabling us to serve God in new and exciting ways.

Within our own church community there is a wealth of skills and talents; but perhaps we don’t always make the most of these. At this time of Pentecost, let’s all think and pray about what God is inviting us to do – in the church and beyond. And be ready to be surprised!

If Peter the fisherman had been asked to list his talents and skills would he have said “orator and evangelist”?

Would the physically weak Paul have seen himself as a great traveller and man of action?

Would Moses, comfortably settled in the land of Midian with his Midianite wife and young family, have recognised his calling as leader and liberator of the Israelites?

The Holy Spirit inspires us to make the most of our natural God given talents AND to be ready to be used in new and unexpected ways by the God of surprises.

Sue Brown