The improved premises were officialy handed over a few weeks ago, but on the 9th of June we will be blessing and dedicating our refurbished premises at Immanuel. To see more photographs click here.
Many thanks to all involved in this project: The Builders, the building project team, and all those who have raised finance towards the works. We hope to see you at the dedication in June to give thanks officially!
Immanuel World Concerns Meeting 24th April 2012
A summary of the meeting of our World Concerns group
Trade Justice/Debt/Fairtrade: Fairtrade coffee morning held on 3rd March went well. Liz took £81.75 on the stall and sent a profit of £25 to Traidcraft Exchange. Some people needed encouragement to sample the products. Leaflets were placed on the tables for people to read while drinking their coffee, and the committee agreed to consider repeating the event next year using the new foyer. Liz reported that overall her takings for Fairtrade products are down.
One World Week: A service will be led by Robert on 21st October using the material which will be published on the website. To discuss further at the next meeting.
Harvest Appeal: 2011 - A planned visit by Lyn and John on 22nd April has been postponed to later in the year. Lyn and John will contact Robert with dates they have available. A thank you letter received by Bernard will be placed in Weekly News.
Harvest Appeal: 2012 - The appeal will be launched on 16th September. Eddie had followed up a letter from Archie Kent but felt it was not suitable for us as it was mainly publications or large construction projects. Projects in Peru and Argentina had not materialised but there may be one in Thailand. Jean had learned of a project in Ocotal where women were being admitted to the maternity hospital with additional medical and social problems due to being abused. She had enquired whether we could help and had received costings for a staff education project to enable hospital and outreach staff to identify and work with abused women. Patients would also be helped to learn about their human rights and what help was available to them. The committee were interested in supporting the project but Jean was asked to obtain additional information re how the project will be organised and monitored and how the outcomes will be measured and evaluated. Jean will liaise with the treasurer and Robert offered to translate any docs sent from Ocotal which are in Spanish. Committee members will be copied in to emails. Further meetings to discuss the project will be held after the morning service in the rear extension if necessary. Jean will collate the information and present the project at the church meeting on 21st June.
Harvest Appeal 2013 - Robert and Jean reported that The Partnership Council had agreed that next year there should be a partnership project linked to the work of Christian Aid. An EU scheme means that if the churches raise £5,000 the EU will donate triple the amount, making a total of £20,000 for a Christian Aid project.
Amnesty: A new prisoner was presented in March but as he was on hunger strike the committee wondered if he was still alive. Jean will email Peter and ask him to check on this.
Topical Development Issues: A discussion took place on the problems in Bahrain and Israel. Both Action Aid and Christian Aid are involved in raising the issue of tax loopholes used by large companies in developing countries. Jean has corresponded with Robert Buckland, MP, on the matter. Di will bring in some cards to send ministers from Christian Aid.
Emergency Appeals, Correspondence and AOB: Jean had sent £200 to Oxfam for the floods in the Phillipines in Dec 11, and a further £200 to Save the Children for the famine appeal in West Africa. She had received a thank you letter from Oxfam but nothing from Save the Children so will try to discover whether the cheque had been presented. Andrew had announced when presenting the end of year accounts that the current balance in the emergencies fund was £573. Jean was asked to find out how much of this is Gift Aid from last year’s Harvest Appeal. Jean reported she now had a blank cheque book.
AOB -
Christian Aid - Eddie reminded the committee that there is a Christian Aid Brazilian Evening on Sat 12th May and Jean said she had been asked to sell Christian Aid quiz sheets at £1 each on Sunday morning before the service. Ann Hopkins is standing down as the CA rep and Eddie had been asked if her replacement could join the World Concerns committee. This was agreed.
Notice Board- There will be board space in the new foyer near the lift. Events can also be publicised on a notice board to be positioned outside the main door. A news report that Lights for Learning are using schoolchildren to make lighting parts will go on the board. Robert has a map of the world in the vestry that we can use when necessary.
Next Meeting: 7.30pm on Monday 10th September 2012.
For our own meditation
The term shepherd is political in the Bible. It means king, sovereign, lord, authority, the one who directs, to whom I am answerable, whom I trust and serve. In the simple opening line of Psalm 23 there is clarity about the goals and focus, the centre and purpose of life: Yahweh and no other. There is no rival loyalty, no competing claim – not economic or political, not liberal or conservative, not sexist or racist, not any of the other petty loyalties that seduce us. It is a mark of discernment and maturity to strip life down to one compelling loyalty, to be freed of all the others that turn out to be idolatrous.
(Walter Brueggemann – The Threat of life: sermons on pain, power and weakness)
New Beginnings
What a simply great exhibition we had last weekend! A steady flow of visitors over both Saturday and Sunday really appreciated some lovely artwork (and some tasty refreshments too!) One spin-off (other than some welcome cash to the church accounts) was the service with a difference we had on Sunday morning. So I’m sure I speak for everyone who came along when I express grateful thanks to all the organising committee who worked so hard not just over the weekend but in planning the event. If not an annual event I hope we shall see a repeat some time.
Steve Brain
Easyfundraising.org.uk
We have just received a cheque for £20.91 from easyfundraising.org.uk – the result of friends of Immanuel buying their internet purchases through this website. It involved no extra work or effort (once the user had signed up) and it is all shear profit for the church. So if you shop on-line, have a look at this website, sign up and specify Immanuel as your preferred recipient.
