OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
As promised we have the final figures for all the shoe-boxes that were sent to the children in the following countries. Also a small report from one volunteer who decided to go and see for herself some of the children she has been helping over the last eight years.
Samaritans Purse would like to thank the people of the United Kingdom and Ireland for another year of outstanding support for Operation Christmas Child, the special project of Samaritan’s Purse that shares God’s love with hurting children around the world. This past year, you helped us collect more than one million gift-filled shoe boxes.
The first at Imishli the railway carriage refugee village. (where our boxes were sent) The absolute poverty, lack of facilities and bleakness of the railway village really hit me and has stayed with me. There are 5kms of railway goods carriages, each family having half a carriage, with no running water, sewage or electricity. How hard it must be to be a parent here – trying to bring up and care for your children in such circumstances must be so hard. Yet the pride with which the children showed us their homes, and the brightness that the wrapped shoe boxes brought to the dark insides of these homes, and the very real pleasure that such simple gifts gave was very special. And – At a refugee village where we distributed shoe boxes were 400 new simple homes being built by World Vision, and where next May SPI is constructing a Playpark. The children, to start with were only given boxes according to a list that our partners had, although we were pleased and relieved to hear later that day that all children there received a shoe box. Janet and myself were talking with the mother of a little three old girl called Ayesha, ( who had not yet received a box, because her name was not down on the list). The mother appeared quite upset. We found her some bars of chocolate, a drink, some pens, a used scarf and my new blue hat (bought for the trip, but not yet used). The little girl seemed very pleased with such simple gifts. The mother, through the interpreter, said “Thank you so much … these gifts are far better than a shoebox”. This story just emphasised to me the importance of us being there and showing love, and the importance of the opportunities that the shoe box scheme gives. Though it was good to know that this little girl also later received her shoe box. "It was a super experience being able to go on a distribution trip, experiences I'll never forget and which will certainly be used to encourage even more support for OCC. It will also be useful when showing next year's video to be able to say ‘Yes- It really is like that, etc'. It made coming home to our ‘western extravagant Christmas celebrations' somewhat hard!
Report by Eileen Ivermee from Dorset
Number of shoe boxes up to 29/12/03
COUNTRYArmeniaAzerbaijanBelarusBosniaCroatiaHungaryIraq Kosova RomaniaRussiaSerbiaUkraine AMOUNT58,32062,71287,265 45,28965,10158,167 15,5368,520299,170162,091220,320102,989TOTAL 1,185,480
This month we will be holding our Knitting Club again and we have been giving a large amount of wool so thank you very much to the lady who donated it from Slip End. It will be on Wednesday April 14th at 7.30. If you would like to come please do so, you will be warmly welcomed. Ring Teresa on 482681 for the venue.
PARISH NEWS MEETING
From the left:- Brian Church, distributor of Parish News, Sue Horton our valued treasurer and David Kingston (Deputy Editor and roving reporter)
We finally managed to meet for a much needed conference at the Garden Centre in Caddington. Unfortunately the Caf’ in Manor Road has now changed hands and being responsible citizens we thought we ought to be a bit serious and not retreat to the pub!! Accounts look fairly healthy at the moment thanks to various grants, so we are hoping to have more colour issues which always go down well so I hope you enjoy this months issue. We have decided to keep the subs the same for this year and will be collecting those next month so please be ready. We are also able to send out postal copies for £6 per year to cover the postage so please contact Brian at 2 Summer Street if you would like to take the opportunity of having your magazine sent. Useful if you have moved outside the village but still like to follow the news or perhaps you have relatives in Slip End? We are considering having a diary for events from different organisations so that you don’t clash with dates. If you are interested let us know asap. Don’t forget, cubs, beavers, football clubs, cricket club, tennis club, bowls etc – the Parish News is always willing to print details of your events so try and organise someone from your group to contact us.
Editor, Sue Cowell
DANCES HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL,
Music by live groups.
April 3rd
May 8th
October 2nd
October 30th
November 20th
Contact Shirley 01582 412 506
UNLOCK WALK
This year – Sponsored Walk 21 will be covering Alexandra Palace, Broadwater Farm, Tottenham and Finsbury Park – should be interesting! If you would like to come along there is always a group from St Andrew’s going so do contact the Church for more details or Mary from the Mothers Union. Its always a very good day out and you get to appreciate your own village when you see some of the problems in London that the Churches there have to face every day. (24/4/04)
MOTHER’S UNION
Saturday 1st May – Return visit to Kew
The London Walk is on Saturday 24th April this year – details above
The members of St Andrew’s MU extend a warm welcome to anyone who would like to come and join our meetings. Please contact Mary Barker on 738435.
WALKING THE HERTFORDSHIRE WAY
Brian Church and David Kingston are embarking upon their latest walking challenge - the Hertfordshire Way. Earlier walks along the Chiltern Way and John Bunyan Trail were recorded in a personal log book and it has been suggested that, for their latest local ramblings, the log be shared a bit wider. So here’s the first stage, Markyate to Aldbury, to be followed up from time to time as they cover the 160 mile route in Hertfordshire, much of which is nearby to use in deepest sarf Beds.
18th March 2003: During the planning stages of this walk, it became apparent that the lack of watering holes would be a problem. The pub in Jockey End was too close to the outset and there were doubts that it in fact existed. The Great Gaddesden PH had long since deceased; other pubs such as the Rose & Sceptre at Briden’s Camp and the Bridgewater Arms at Little Gaddesden were too far off piste, the walk was long enough already without such diversion. Ken Crossett was invited to come to the rescue, so as to provide pub-like transport at lunch time. His initial enthusiasm to go the whole way was severely dampened on hearing that pubs were problematic. BMC & DGK set off heading initially for Aldbury under leaden skies with real threat of rain. Road blockage at Whipsnade called for diversion via Studham, Ringshall and Dagnall, the most direct route as it turned out and finally to Markyate for the start, stopping briefly near Studham to inspect the unusual Toad Crossing sign: it was here sadly confirmed that whilst driving through the Toad Zone earlier, DGK had been so bemused by the sign that the Toad, about to cross the road in front of him, went unnoticed. The sign is therefore now rendered redundant and available for us in toad areas elsewhere. On arrival at Markyate the usual composite photograph ceremonial were observed before setting out on the walk.
It became apparent that fears about deference to equestrianism in Hertfordshire were well founded, the route summarily closed by horse paddocks particularly in the Jockey End area, inevitable... Rain held off during the morning, although slight precipitation dampened as BMC & DGK loitered in the precincts of St John’s, Great Gaddesden, awaiting the arrival of KC. He decided not to walk in the afternoon as progress with kitchen painting had fallen significantly below expectation, having not yet started the task! However, the trio set off by car for the Rose & Sceptre at Bridens Camp for excellent Abbot and wholesome food, DGK being defeated by a large Cheddar Ploughman. Again, this pub doubled as a kipper smokery as the log fires were lit up, but was to be revisited on the in-run, such was the quality of the Abbot (at £2.50/pint, F&R to note.) After lunch and under much brighter skies, KC ran the others back to Great Gaddesden to resume the walk: KC returning home with intention to start in the kitchen although doubts were expressed! The afternoon was unremarkable, other than the sighting of a large heard of deer, the route taking the walkers to Little Gaddesden, Ashridge House, the Bridgewater Monument before the drop into Aldbury. The damp conditions gradually returned so that on arrival in Aldbury there was a steady drizzle and it was time for home
(from the roving reporter – DGK)
LAUGHTER
Stalking into a police station late one night, a man demands to speak to the burglar who broke into his home. “Sorry, that’s against the rules,” says the desk sergeant. “You don’t understand,” says the man. “I need to know how he got in without waking my wife!”
*************
What do you call a boy on a broomstick, wearing glasses and jotting down train numbers” Answer: Harry Spotter!
SLIP END SCHOOL
Auction of Promises
&
Talent Show
Slip End Lower School
Thursday April 29th
Help make a difference to the school and offer your services for auction:
· Car Washing
· Baby sitting
· Making cakes
· Cleaning
· Gardening
For more details call the school on 720152
For your Diary!
The school has fixed the dates for the Summer and Christmas Fairs. They are Saturday 10th July and Saturday 4th December.FoSELS (Friends of Slip End Lower School) will have adverts nearer the dates.
Be prepared!
Go Slow!!!
Keep to the garden and off the road!
SAFETY FIRST
The police are concerned at the growing number of motorised scooters - Go-Peds - that appear to have been sold, particularly over the Christmas period, and given to children as presents. It will only be a matter of time before one of these is involved in a serious incident, with both the scooter and rider going under a car, or simply crashing into someone else walking along the path. Regardless of what a dealer, poster, or any label on the scooter may say, they are real vehicles. Some are capable of up to 20mph, so they have the potential to be quite dangerous. They certainly are not 'toys', whether fitted with an engine or an electric motor. In fact, as far as the law is concerned, they are real vehicles, much the same as any other 2-wheeler or motorcycle. To ride one, you need a driving license, and if appropriate, 'L' plates. You need insurance, and for your own safety, a crash helmet.
Our concerns are not just for the law, but with the increasing numbers of these about, almost all being used illegally, we fear that a tragedy will happen, even worse, should it involve a child. If you have one of these scooters, regardless of what you may have been told when you purchased it, keep it for your garden, and even then, think safety, supervise children, and always get them to wear a crash helmet.
Slip End Safety Group
EASTER SPECIAL
Did you know that as a nation we eat more than 80 million Easter eggs annually, not to mention the 300 million Cadbury crème Eggs we gobble all year round!
Where does the Easter bunny come from?
Accordingly to mythology, the bunny hasn’t always been a cute bearer of chocolate eggs – it was originally a large sacred bird belonging to the pagan goddess of spring, Eostre (after whom Easter is named). She is said to have turned the bird into a rabbit in a fit of rage, but it seems our familiar friend didn’t lose all his birdlike qualities, as he still makes straw nests full of eggs.
Why do we eat hot cross buns?
As with the custom of giving eggs, it seems the Pagans got there first when it came to eating hot cross buns. Two small loaves, each with a cross on top were discovered under the ruins of Herculaneum, a city covered in volcanic ash in 79AD Legend has it that early Christian missionaries from Rome despaired of the Anglo-Saxon habit of eating cakes to welcome the Spring, so they got around this by blessing the buns, drawing a cross upon them and insisting they be baked on Good Friday.
Why do we give chocolate eggs?
And no, it is nothing to do with the Easter bunny! The exchange of hard-boiled eggs in the springtime was actually a tradition that was already centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians. The egg symbolises rebirth in many cultures, and in several eastern myths the earth itself was hatched from a giant egg.
We’ve never really needed much of an excuse to stuff ourselves silly with chocolate so in early 19th century France, confectioners began to experiment with egg-shaped pastry and marzipan before finally settling on chocolate. By the end of the century, they had mastered the art of producing the perfect cocoa ovals we eat today.
Why are lilies so popular at this time of year?
The white lily is the symbol of the resurrection of Christ, and is often used to decorate church altars.
White Madonna lilies were used for many years, but they often failed to bloom in time for Easter – so the Bermuda, or white trumpet lily became more popular.
What does Maundy mean?
Maundy Thursday is so called because it commemorates the day when Christ washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper, before giving each of them a mandatum, the Latin word for command – from which the word Maundy is derived.
What’s the significance of Simnel cake?
Simnel cake is a very British recipe. It was originally baked by girls in service in the mid-17th century to take home when they visited their mums on mothering Sunday, which also used to be know as Refreshment Sunday because it was a break in the Lenten fasting. Due to the use of rich ingredients, such as almond paste and currants, it became a cake synonymous with special occasions and was made relevant to Easter by placing eleven marzipan balls on top to represent all of the apostles except Judas.
What’s behind the Easter bonnet tradition?
If you are always looking for an excuse to buy new clothes, look no further than easter. It has been traditional since the Middle Ages to go for a long walk after attending church on Easter Sunday – wearing smart, new clothes to symbolise the end of winter and the beginning of spring. This evolved to include an Easter bonnet, which was originally made of straw and decorated with flowers and ribbons.
When exactly is Easter?
Ever wondered who decides when we get to eat our Easter Eggs? Well, it was actually all tied up a very long time ago in 325 AD, when the Roman Emperor Constantine decreed that Easter day should be fixed to the Sunday on or after the first full moon of Spring. It can fall at any time between March 22 and April 25th.
The Garden Tomb, Jerusalem.
Still it stands, that little garden near
the city wall.
Still the olives spread their branches
and the sparrows call.
All may stand where Jesus stood and
all may come to pray –
where He rose in glory on the
Resurrection Day.
The place where Christ was seen of Mary in the morning hour.
The garden of the miracle of Love’s transcendent power.
Patience Strong
PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE
PARISH COUNCIL TAX INCREASE.
Most of you by now will have received your Council Tax Bill for the next year. You will have probably noticed the percentage rise of 41.6% for charge for Slip End Parish. You will recall that at one time we were going to take a levy of £10.00. per household for any possible legal action against Bedfordshire County Council for Timberlands. Originally we were going to have a referendum to see how many people were happy to pay this levy. This would have cost the PC about £2,000.00. to collect little more.
We decided that the fairest way to do it would be to levy £10.00. on a Band D house which means some of you will pay more and some less. Have no fear; this money will only be used for any legal proceedings. If after a period of time the problems with BCC resolve themselves then we will refund this money appropriately.
Actually we have not increased the Parish Rate for the third year in succession, which can't be bad!!! ...
Best regards.
Christine Benson, Chairman.
EDITORS CHOICE
But that was yesterday
The outlook was a gloomy one,
And I had lost my way.
I saw no hope, no sign, no sun,
But that was yesterday!
What could be more lovely than
to wander up and down –
A Street of quaint old houses in a quiet country town,
Where time has stained the mossy roofs to russet gold and brown.
In England when it’s April?
What could be more beautiful than watching sunlight fall –
On little cottage lattices, oak, stone and weathered wall?
There’s a sort of magic in the beauty of it all – in England when it’s April.
Singing through the showers
Sun and rain, they come together
all along the way.
Life with all its tears and joys is like
an April day…
Cloud and shadow, changing with
the changes of the hours.
O for faith with which to go a-singing through the showers!
Knowing that the love of God is
in and over all.
SONGS OF PRAISE REQUEST
Don’t forget - St Andrew’s Church – Sunday April 11th at 6.00p.m.
Please ring Liz on 413108 or complete form and post to 25 St Andrews Close as soon as possible. All are welcome and if you enjoy singing it’s a perfect treat for Easter Sunday.
OPEN GARDENS 2004 – ENTRY FORM
We are still hoping for some more gardens from the Pepperstock area and Woodside area for the Open Gardens so if you would like to join in please let us know. It’s a really great day and a lot of fun. You don’t have to have a ‘masterpiece’ of a garden – its just nice to see all the different gardens and to enjoy visiting all the individual entries.
If you would be prepared to ‘open your garden’ on Saturday, 3rd July, 2004, and/or enter the hanging basket competition, please complete the form and return as soon as possible to: Valerie Church, The Old Bakery, 2 Summer Street, Slip End, or e-mail to
valchurch@slipend.fsworld.co.uk
Name……………………………
Address…………………………
…………………………………
Tel No.
…………………………………
Choice of Hymn………………
……………………………………….
Name……………………………
…………………………………
Address…………………………
……………………………………
Telephone number
…………………………….……
e-mail address
…………………………………
|