Bishop to make children's safety a priority
The Bishop of Bath and Wells is to be the new chairman of The Children's Society.
The Rt Rev Jim Thompson begins his new role in October as a replacement for the retired Bishop of Worcester, Philip Goodrich. His experience with the problems children face began in the mid-1980s when together with the Children's Society he launched the first children's safe house for runaways in Britain.
"I'm very honoured to be made chair-man and to follow in the footsteps of Philip Goodrich," Bishop Jim said "protecting the welfare of children has always been one of my primary concerns. It is a privilege to work with the Children's Society to challenge some of the injustices which affect them.
"I'm also immensely thankful that the Society has such a terrific team in place. I'm particularly pleased to see the work with young runaways continue."
Ian Sparks, chief executive of the Children's Society, welcomed Bishop Jim to the role. "We are extremely fortunate," he said. "Everyone who knows him, whether through his broadcasts or through his work, knows his commitment to social justice and to improving the well-being of children in our society."
Occasional contribution from John Wileman, Administrator,
St Ouen's Parish Church with St George's Church.
"Great is the mystery of godliness: Jesus was manifest in the flesh."
(1 Timothy 3:16)
WHEN first I became a member of a prayer triplet, I was made aware that one of Christianity's most glorious revelations and truths is that Christ would still have died for me; sinner that I am - even if I had been the only person on earth. He would have paid the price just for me. That is a fact that we must deal with now, or someday. Better to deal with it sooner than later. More than being redeemed, we become heirs.
There were two friends, I read recently, who went to law school. One became a lawyer, but the other wasted his life in, perhaps, the manner of the prodigal son. He eventually ended up in court, penniless and in debt, and yes you are right, his old friend occupied the judge's seat. Everyone in court, knowing the circumstances of their early friendship, sat wondering what sort of sentence the judge would hand down. To everyone's utter astonishment, the judge demanded the full penalty. But no sooner had he passed sentence than he stepped down into the court, removed his robes, walked over to the dock where his old friend stood and, putting his arm around him, gently said, "Let it be recorded today, not only have I passed sentence on him, but I will stand chargeable with all his debts." In that moment, his judge became his redeemer! Praise God!
Christian redemption, in my dictionary, is described as deliverance from sin through the incarnation, sufferings and death of Christ. Even if I had been the only person on earth . . .
What we call Christmas is the story of the day God took off the robes of deity and put on the garments of humanity. He left a palace to come to a stable because he loved us - yes, as individuals. "But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4-5)
Not only are we adopted as sons; there is much more to it than that. We are a chosen people, heirs to royalty.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9)
Be Positive
You can boldly face tomorrow,
Don't let Satan get you down,
Though you feel the world's against you,
Give a smile and not a frown.
See the doughnut not the centre;
Silver lining to the cloud;
Face the sunshine, not the shadow;
See the people not the crowd.
For the Bible's full of promise,
See what God has given you,
Put your faith in what is written;
He will surely bring you through.
So now look beyond your problems
To the greatness of the Lord,
Put all fear and doubt behind you,
Firmly based upon His word.
What you're feeling doesn't matter
For your feelings are no guide,
Let the power of the Spirit
Bring a change deep down inside.
There's no need to hide within you
All the negatives and pain,
Let God take your guilt and sorrow,
And restore your soul again.
Be more positive in future
And don't ever more look back,
Let your gaze be forward-looking
And you'll be on the right track.
You can win because God loves you,
You can smile because He cares;
All you need is yours through Jesus,
All that's His with you He shares.
- Clarence W Schofield
How what you choose helps the
FAIRTRADE FARMERS
A RECENT decision by the House of Commons to have only "fairly traded" coffees served in the Mother of Parliaments is an important boost for the Fairtrade movement.
More and more individuals in the UK are choosing products like Café Direct, but over half of the 2.5 billion cups of coffee we drink each year is consumed outside the home. As most producers are still heavily dependent on the commercial market, getting Fairtrade into institutions and catering outlets would have an enormous impact for Third World farmers.
People like Jose Rivera in Peru, who says: "The higher price we get when we sell beans to Café Direct means that now our co-operative can afford to pay a doctor to treat our members when they are ill. I can afford more food for my family and send my children to school equipped with pens and notebooks for the first time." In Peru there is also another problem: many small-scale coffee farmers could make a better living from growing coca leaves, the raw material for cocaine.
"Nobody wants to do it," says Jose, "but the temptation is there. Growing coca is the last resort. There's hardly any money in it for the farmer, but you can at least feed your family by growing coca for the drugs trade." The fairer terms offered by Cafe Direct help farmers to resist the pressure.
A million supporters of major development agencies and the UK's two biggest women's organisations are being mobilised to hand in cards calling for Fairtrade wherever they drink coffee and tea. But getting catering suppliers on board has been crucial to the success of this campaign. The response has been phenomenal. Eighteen months ago there was only one brand of roast and ground coffee available through the retail trade. Now there are 23 Fairtrade Mark coffees available through fifteen national and regional catering suppliers. As a result, thousands of restaurants and other outlets can now switch to Fairtrade coffees.
St Ouen's Parish Church with St George's Church.
"Great is the mystery of godliness: Jesus was manifest in the flesh."
(1 Timothy 3:16)
WHEN first I became a member of a prayer triplet, I was made aware that one of Christianity's most glorious revelations and truths is that Christ would still have died for me; sinner that I am - even if I had been the only person on earth. He would have paid the price just for me. That is a fact that we must deal with now, or someday. Better to deal with it sooner than later. More than being redeemed, we become heirs.
There were two friends, I read recently, who went to law school. One became a lawyer, but the other wasted his life in, perhaps, the manner of the prodigal son. He eventually ended up in court, penniless and in debt, and yes you are right, his old friend occupied the judge's seat. Everyone in court, knowing the circumstances of their early friendship, sat wondering what sort of sentence the judge would hand down. To everyone's utter astonishment, the judge demanded the full penalty. But no sooner had he passed sentence than he stepped down into the court, removed his robes, walked over to the dock where his old friend stood and, putting his arm around him, gently said, "Let it be recorded today, not only have I passed sentence on him, but I will stand chargeable with all his debts." In that moment, his judge became his redeemer! Praise God!
Christian redemption, in my dictionary, is described as deliverance from sin through the incarnation, sufferings and death of Christ. Even if I had been the only person on earth . . .
What we call Christmas is the story of the day God took off the robes of deity and put on the garments of humanity. He left a palace to come to a stable because he loved us - yes, as individuals. "But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4-5)
Not only are we adopted as sons; there is much more to it than that. We are a chosen people, heirs to royalty.
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9)
Be Positive
You can boldly face tomorrow,
Don't let Satan get you down,
Though you feel the world's against you,
Give a smile and not a frown.
See the doughnut not the centre;
Silver lining to the cloud;
Face the sunshine, not the shadow;
See the people not the crowd.
For the Bible's full of promise,
See what God has given you,
Put your faith in what is written;
He will surely bring you through.
So now look beyond your problems
To the greatness of the Lord,
Put all fear and doubt behind you,
Firmly based upon His word.
What you're feeling doesn't matter
For your feelings are no guide,
Let the power of the Spirit
Bring a change deep down inside.
There's no need to hide within you
All the negatives and pain,
Let God take your guilt and sorrow,
And restore your soul again.
Be more positive in future
And don't ever more look back,
Let your gaze be forward-looking
And you'll be on the right track.
You can win because God loves you,
You can smile because He cares;
All you need is yours through Jesus,
All that's His with you He shares.
- Clarence W Schofield
How what you choose helps the
FAIRTRADE FARMERS
A RECENT decision by the House of Commons to have only "fairly traded" coffees served in the Mother of Parliaments is an important boost for the Fairtrade movement.
More and more individuals in the UK are choosing products like Café Direct, but over half of the 2.5 billion cups of coffee we drink each year is consumed outside the home. As most producers are still heavily dependent on the commercial market, getting Fairtrade into institutions and catering outlets would have an enormous impact for Third World farmers.
People like Jose Rivera in Peru, who says: "The higher price we get when we sell beans to Café Direct means that now our co-operative can afford to pay a doctor to treat our members when they are ill. I can afford more food for my family and send my children to school equipped with pens and notebooks for the first time." In Peru there is also another problem: many small-scale coffee farmers could make a better living from growing coca leaves, the raw material for cocaine.
"Nobody wants to do it," says Jose, "but the temptation is there. Growing coca is the last resort. There's hardly any money in it for the farmer, but you can at least feed your family by growing coca for the drugs trade." The fairer terms offered by Cafe Direct help farmers to resist the pressure.
A million supporters of major development agencies and the UK's two biggest women's organisations are being mobilised to hand in cards calling for Fairtrade wherever they drink coffee and tea. But getting catering suppliers on board has been crucial to the success of this campaign. The response has been phenomenal. Eighteen months ago there was only one brand of roast and ground coffee available through the retail trade. Now there are 23 Fairtrade Mark coffees available through fifteen national and regional catering suppliers. As a result, thousands of restaurants and other outlets can now switch to Fairtrade coffees.
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