Blog

Tanja Patten considers the long-term impact of the work of Compassion UK

At my home group last week, I showed them a picture of a boy and said, ‘We have a new addition to the family.’ Confused, they started asking questions. That was my opening to talk to them about Compassion UK and the child we chose to support.

Working in the church office, I had the opportunity to meet Michael Robins, from Compassion UK, when he came in to discuss the service he talked at on 12 January. When he spoke about the children, you could really feel his enthusiasm and excitement about how some of the Compassion children’s lives were being changed.

It was infectious. I wanted to know more. He relayed a number of stories. I know many of you will have heard about the chap he sat next to on one of his flights and how that man turned out to be a Compassion Child. Small world! He told Michael about how Compassion UK helped change and shape his life … he was on his way to the US to study for his third degree! He also explained how he now goes back home to help Compassion UK support children similar to himself.

This really struck me. In the tedium and routine of everyday life it’s hard to think about the standing order we have coming out of our account and the impact that will have on someone’s life as a whole. The conversation Michael had on the plane proves that it really does make a difference. We think of our child, write to them, and pray for them, but forget about the long-term impact when the money goes out of our account each month. It’s like the servant woman and the jar of oil she shared with Elisha. The small amount turned into enough to clear her debt and provide a good living for the rest of her and her life (2 Kings chapter 4).

After the service on 12 January we trebled the number of children we support through St Saviour’s partnership with Compassion UK. That’s 16 children who will one day be able to tell someone the story of how their lives were forever changed.

Tanja Patten, office administrator

It’s never too late to sign up. If you’d like to do so, either speak to the office (Clare or myself) or visit www.compassionuk.org.

Nigel Legrand gives us all we need to know about the Prayer Course

‘Lord teach us how to pray.’ Luke 11: 1

Jesus answered this request by teaching the disciples the Lord’s prayer. The Prayer Course is an eight-week course, exploring how we can use the Lord’s prayer to help us improve our prayer life. It examines the importance of prayer, and various aspects of prayer, such as adoration, petition, contemplation, and much more.

Who is The Prayer Course for?

The Prayer Course is for anyone who wants to grow in their relationship with God. Come as an individual, or come with your home group. It’s for everyone, but will particularly benefit those who are new to prayer and those who want to develop a deeper prayer life.

What does a typical session involve?

Each week we will have an introduction, a video teaching session, discussion, and practical prayer activities to help us put theory into practice. The full list of sessions can be found on our website: stsaviours.net/whats-on/courses/. There will be refreshments at some point during each session.

When and where is it running?

Takes place: Monday evenings for eight weeks, from 9 March to 4 May, except on 13 April

Time: Arrive from 7pm, the course starts at 7.15pm, and we’ll be finished by 9.15pm at the latest

Venue: The Link

How do I register?

There’s a sign-up sheet in the Link, so just put your name down to register your place. Alternatively, you can ring or email the church office with your details and we’ll add your name to the list.

The Prayer Course is a gentle and yet very powerful way for everyone to learn and deepen their prayer experiences. We look forward to welcoming you to the Prayer Course.

Nigel Legrand, assistant minister

Getting into the habit of Bible reading

If you have not already made a daily habit of washing, or eating, or feeding your relationship with God by reading the Bible (because you didn’t understand what you read or heard), why not try a Bible reading booklet?!

We have a few current copies of different notes available next to the church library shelves:

Daily Bread (Jan – Mar issue) by several authors, easy-to-read and digest.

Life Every Day (Jan-Feb issue) by Jeff Lucas, with the theme ‘The Apprentice’, looking at Elisha’s life. You can’t not enjoy his insights and sense of humour!

Every Day with Jesus (Jan- Feb issue) entitled ‘My eyes have seen the King’ based on Isaiah’s vision of God. A much-needed call to see God as He is, not perhaps as we might want Him to be!

Bible Reflections for Older People (Jan-Apr issue) with undated thoughts on various themes.

These are FREE copies on a first-come-first-served basis, so why not try them out?!

Peter Gill, church librarian

Sue Ricketts encourages us to bring our 5p’s in a good cause

What do 5p’s and a champagne bottle have to do with each other?

Ordinarily the answer would be nothing! But here at St Saviour’s it means a lot when the champagne bottle, which is positioned on stage on Sunday mornings, is being filled up will donated 5p’s. All the money collected is for our dear sister in Christ, Anja, who works on the Yakar Bible translation project in the north Caucasus region in Russia.

If you were here in church on Sunday 19 January you would have benefited from hearing Julian’s talk on ‘The Great Commission’. Please can I encourage you all to save 5p’s so that the church family can continue to financially support and bless Anja (and also not to forget her husband Jacob who also works on Bible translation). If you are an avid collector of 5p’s, you can pass larger amounts to myself rather than feed them into the bottle (as I usually do the counting and trips to the bank on behalf of the church).

As many of you are already aware of this, the reminder is a gentle prompt. For those who are fairly new to the church here, this may be the first time that you are aware of the reason why we collect 5p’s in a champagne bottle!

Through our support we are joining the Great Commission to ‘go and make disciples in all nations’ (Matthew 28 v 19) by giving to those who God has called into this work.

Sue Ricketts

Daniel Brooks tells us a little bit about himself and some whacky stories!

My name is Daniel Brooks. I am 21 and I head to the country of Croatia on 21 February for an initial 18 months.

Since being at St Saviour’s (about 3 years ago now) I have always had part of my heart left at the church. I can’t wait to be back to meet with you all and hopefully speak on something that will excite you and help you and me to pursue God even more. Many of you support me in different ways, including prayer and finance, as well as awesome friendship! Thank you for that.

In other news, I recently finished my degree at Moorlands college in 2019 and have somehow, through that as well as other ministry and life experience, gained some simply ridiculous stories, most of which I can’t believe actually happened to me or that I was involved in in any way.

jIn February 2019, I was in the US in the state of Ohio for a placement and I was genuinely mistaken for Rory Mcllory, the famous golfer. Hilariously, this was a childhood nickname of mine. I obviously proceeded to hand the couple a signature, as they had just met their dream star and requested a signature off me. I can tell you this – they loved it.

I also once had a phobia of wasps and bees eradicated by my youth worker making me hold a bee that he had shaken up in a jar. I have been to 18 countries in my life (which is probably less than many of you), and also 10 US states this year. I now have four siblings aged 18, 8, 5 and 3. I enjoy running. I support Norwich City Football Club, and recently (finally – after six years) got to see a game at home again. These are random facts and stories, some are funny, others will help you get to know me a little better before I arrive.

More importantly than all of this, I can’t wait to share with you on mission and also my home Croatia and encourage us to seek God and His will for our lives.

Daniel Brooks, former Moorlands student

Steve Evans gives insights into future priorities for the Fairtrade movement

‘And if you sell to your neighbour or buy from your neighbour, you shall not wrong one another.’ Leviticus 25 verse 14 RSV

When I wrote last April I gave a bit of a history of Traidcraft, which was celebrating its 40th year. But what does the future hold for fair trade? Traidcraft has announced several areas that it wants to move further into.

Firstly, quality. Some of you may remember the original Fairtrade coffee – Campaign coffee from Nicaragua. You needed strong principles to be able to drink that, and thankfully things have moved a long way forward since then. In 2019 a number of Traidcraft products were awarded Great Taste awards. These include various teas, honey and coconut milk.

Second, organic food. The Traidcraft CEO Robin Roth has written extensively about the need to preserve the quality of the soil that the fairtrade farmers grow on. One of the best ways to do this is to move to organic production – without good soil they simply won’t be able to supply the goods whatever price is offered. So Traidcraft are actively looking to broaden the organic content of their produce. This consideration of organic production is a part of a wider look at Traidcraft’s place in ethical spending, which also includes reducing plastics and sustainability.

Finally, Traidcraft has acknowledged that fairtrade principles should apply to UK-based producers, and indicated a desire to develop contacts for products here. For most of the history of fairtrade the emphasis has very much been on farmers in what used to be called the Third world/developing countries. But the buying power of the major supermarkets here has meant that dairy farmers in the UK have also had their margins squeezed, almost to the point where they cannot afford to continue. Now that it is certain that we are leaving the EU, we need UK producers to be successful, and it will be interesting to see how things develop on this front.

We can too easily think of fair trade being about helping poor people, but really it is how we should always go about our dealings with everyone.

I will be back at St Saviour’s with my Traidcraft stall on Sunday 2 February. Please do come along, take a look, and feel free to discuss any thoughts that the above article has given you. Also, Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 runs from 24 February to 8 March.

Steve Evans, Traidcraft stall

Christine Moyes reports on floods, field officers, and future plans in Teso

It’s exciting to think that this time next month I shall be back in the Teso region of Uganda with the TDT visiting team. We were last there in October 2018 and I remember being so amazed to see such positive changes in the country and in the attitudes of the people.

Since that time, there have been devastating floods, causing loss of harvests and homes, and bringing many challenges to health, safety, and the livelihood of villagers in so many locations. Animals have been lost to the cold, especially the young ones. One community leader records that around 72 calves, 32 goat kids, and 33 lambs have died.

This is a testing time for many, but, as always, our partners in the Church of Uganda and the Pentecostal Church have risen to the challenge. There are many dedicated field officers who are just that. They work out in the field with the people and have a good understanding of the problems faced. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty and will work tirelessly to bring relief to those who are most vulnerable and who are suffering. What a response to God’s calling. Just seeing the action of these church workers brings not only practical help, but also hope in dark times. Thank you to everyone who has supported the recent TDT Flood Appeal. There is no doubt that every £1 you have given has helped to save lives.

Our annual visits to Teso can be challenging, with long hours of travelling every day, busy programmes of meetings, and report writing. We will be visiting affected villages and fields to see the devastation of the past few months, which will be emotionally draining. We aim to bring encouragement and love to all we meet, as well as gaining an understanding of current needs and future plans of our partners, so that, as a charitable trust, we can be ready to respond appropriately. Please pray that our planning and time in Uganda goes well. As a team, we are looking forward to being reunited with our brothers and sisters, to share time with them, pray together, and give thanks for all that God has done.
Many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’

‘Let the light of your face shine upon us O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord make me dwell in safety.’ Psalm 4, verses 7-8

Christine Moyes, TDT representative