From Fr Philip
Dear Friends
The holiday season is on us once more
– it seems to come around more quickly each year.
Use it as a time for rest and relaxation, reading that book
you’ve been meaning to read for ages; spending quality
time with the family and friends, letting your hair down
away from the everyday chores and humdrum of the office,
or factory, or running the house or family or whatever.
You deserve a break.
But when you come back home, return
to work or your normal routine, spare a thought for the
millions in this world who have no holiday and are forced
either by economic factors beyond their control or just
by geography, to live a subsistence life, living as best
they can off the crops they can grow for themselves; constantly
threatened by drought or natural disasters, famine or war,
which seem to be endemic in so many parts of the world.
Please continue to uphold in your
prayers the people of Zimbabwe who have suffered and are
still suffering due to poor leadership in their country.
Some have lost everything – shelter, relatives, freedom,
etc – and some are carrying psychological wounds which
will take years to heal
We live in the western world where
poverty is relative, but there are many in our own country
who live on (who try living on) the basic Old Age Pension
or Unemployment benefit. We are a wealthy nation compared
to most of the rest of the world and in terms of material
things and certainly are not subject to terrible natural
disasters that so many other parts of the world regularly
experience.
Where we appear to be most poor in
relation to most of the rest of the world however, is in
spiritual matters and in faith. The churches of Africa,
Asia and South America are growing at phenomenal rates,
whilst we are experiencing a steady decline in church membership
in all the mainstream denominations.
So the other thing I would ask you
to pray for as you enjoy your holidays is not only for a
harvest of the produce of the land but of souls too. Have
a good holiday wherever it may be.
Fr Philip
From: Barbara
Edwards
Many thanks to all who supported and
helped in any way to raise funds for The Grand Bassa Orphanage
in Liberia, the Coffee Morning was a most enjoyable time
of fellowship with residents and staff from ‘Rene
Court’ Abbeyfields, friends and family, I also received
many kind letters and donations from people who could not
come but sent their best wishes and prayers for its success.
The total sum raised was a fantastic £475 which will
be a great help towards the current ongoing project. In
your prayers please remember all the children and volunteers.
Thank you once more and may God bless you all.
With love,
Barbara.
From: Peggy
Greedy
Dear Friends
From the bottom of my heart I want
to thank all of you for your concern over the past six weeks.
During this time you have been so kind and thoughtful. Many
of you I know have held me in your thoughts and prayers.
How does one say thank you for all the visits, cards, flowers,
meals, cakes, chocolates and goodies that you have brought
me. Teg and I have appreciated and enjoyed every one. Today,
30th June I went to see the consultant who did the operation
and, as he told me earlier, it will be a long job. The pain
could stay with me for a year (or more). It could well be
I will be one of the fortunate ones and the nerve will heal.
So I thank God for prayers, painkillers, surgeons and kind
people like yourselves, and know that I am truly blest.
Teg sees to all my needs, but I hope not for much longer!!!
What a privilege and a joy it is to
be surrounded by loving friends and family.
God bless you all.
Peggy
From: Mr. and
Mrs. Swift
Betty and Des would like to thank
everyone for their cards, and the Mothers Union for the
lovely bouquet, on the occasion of their Golden Wedding
Betty and Des
