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CONTACT

Magazine of Erdington Methodist ChurchStation Road - February 2010

ContentsMinister’s Letter 3In CONTACT this month 5Family News 5The Angel Rap 6Christmas Giving 2009 62010 Handsworth Gang Show 7Palestinian Food Exports 7February Fill Dyke 8One Year Later 10New Contributors to ‘Contact’ 12Britain’s seven most common phobias 13Children’s Pages 14Count Your Blessings 2010 16Count Your Blessings Sheets (to pull out and use) 17Poll shows half of British homes using less energy 25Ex BBC newsreader appointed as 'chaplain to older people' in Alton 26Surprising Angrams 26Work makes you free 27Salt Awareness Week 1st – 7th February 28New website encourages people to think about Human Trafficking 29February New Testament Quiz 30New beginnings 31Students write the funniest things . . . 32Rudolf ’s Nose 34Fair Trade 35New Year Resolutions 36Handwritten on the wall of Mother Theresa's room 37Technogran!! 38Answers to New Testament Quiz 38Answers to Do you know your Green Cross Code? 38February 2010 Regular Meetings 39Weekly Church Activities 40

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Minister’s LetterDear Friends,

How many languages can you speak? For someone who struggled to speak schoolgirl French, (with a broad Lancashire accent according to my teacher) and who manages the bare necessities of simple greetings in Arabic (good morning, how are you? Mint tea please, thank you! God bless you.); who can manage to order cups of English tea in Italian (accompanied by vigorous. arm waving and facial grimacing) and who used to be able to say "I love you" in 14 tongues, languages other than English hold a deep mystery! It is when you go beyond mere smiling acquaintance or social chit chatting and want to talk about ideas, hopes and visions that many conversations falter and flounder.

Listening to a radio programme about "invented " languages it was a revelation that "Esperanto" is still immensely popular. But even more so is that over 300,000 people speak "Klingon" (as in the baddies of Star Trek movies), with a published dictionary, authorized teachers and conferences where only Klingon is spoken (I kid you not!).

February sees the outbreak of red hearts, gushy poetry and the raw sentimentality of Valentine's Day when red roses treble in price, the postman staggers to deliver an abundance of slushy cards, and florists, teddy bear and card manufacturers dance with glee! The language of love is obviously highly profitable!!

At a Golden Wedding celebration, the lady's speech included the words,"I only have to look at him to know what he's thinking and I can finish his sentences for him" to which her husband of 50 years responded,"Well she's been a mystery to me. In all these years I never cease to be surprised by her!!". And other couples often have a "language all their own" with knowing references designed to be understood only by themselves, a shared form of exclusiveness.

 The taxi driver who recently dashed me round London, kept up a stream of colourful remarks peppered with very strong language, insulting almost every

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nationality and race and using words normally reserved for football terraces and late night binge drinking. Swearing is usually the resort of people with little imagination and no control over splendid adjectives which convey fervent emotions. The driver's language was intemperate, intolerant and largely unintelligible.

The King James Bible translation is held in awe and affection by the generation brought up on it, revered for its poetry and majestic phrases.To be truthful, it isn't particularly accurate to the original languages in which the books were written - though that is true of the Good News translation also. However beautiful the language, if it's not accurate, the essential gospel truths may not be understood fully or appreciated (and there are some splendid translations available which are more faithful to the original texts and their nuances and still poetic- see for example the New Revised Standard Version).

The bible has been translated into over 128 different languages and dialects and even today people are busy translating it into languages rarely written down so those who have never heard of Jesus Christ may read and understand for themselves God's remarkable work and love. But the Bible more than any other book offers us a language of hope which sees this world and its peoples as being created, loved and valued by God. From that understanding flows all that builds life in all its richness - compassion, joy, truth, justice, righteousness, forgiveness, faith,reconciliation, grace, redemption, challenge and purpose, comfort, abiding peace and everlasting love. Here is a language worth learning, speaking and living!

Whereas Star Trek aficionados may end with "live long and prosper", Christians will understand better "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you forevermore, Amen" With my prayers Nichola

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In CONTACT this month . . .We meet some Rapping Angels!Ann tells about her experience of floodingWe are introduced to some new contributors to CONTACTWe learn about our fantastic efforts fund raising over ChristmasYou are challenged to ‘Count your blessings’We hear about your New Year ResolutionsBarbara reminds our young people about road safetyPeter gives us some meaty issues to think aboutAnd there’s some light hearted stuff too - as well as a quiz to stir the old grey matter Hope you enjoy it - ed

Family NewsThank YouI was delighted to have the Christmas card with all the signatures on and wish to say thank you to all who did so. It is nice to know that I am not forgotten. I still keep in touch with various people either by a visit or a phone call. How lucky I am to belong to such a Christian congregation.

Again, many thanks

Mary Wood

Another Thank YouI just want to say a big thank you to all those people who braved the weather and turned out to my birthday barn dance on the 9th January. I think it’s fair to say that we all had a great time. My family really enjoyed themselves and I really couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate my 50th.

Extra big thanks to the SOGI team who provided all the refreshments - they were excellent, as was my cake. Thank you to the church for their gift too - you naughty people, I said no gifts! It was very appreciated though and will go towards a gadget - what else? Nick

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The Angel RapI was asked by several people after parade service in December where I managed to find the words for the Cub and Beaver rap, well . . . they wrote it themselves, with some help from Mowgli and Mang. So, by popular request, here are the words: 1 2We are trendy angels We protected baby JesusWe dress really cool And led the shepherds eastOur halos sparkle golden We bring you word of GodAnd our rap really rules We watched the final feast

3We are modern cub scouts/beaversWe hope you liked our rapWe wish you happy New YearAnd that’s the end of that! Elizabeth Baizon

Christmas Giving 2009Many, many thanks for all you who turned out in the cold and also to those who gave so generously over the Christmas period. The total raised, detailed below, is a magnificent sum - well done to you all!

Spafford Centre Christingle Collection £196.46Tesco Carol Singing for Help the Heroes £651.00MRDF Saturday Carols £382.10Carol Service/ Medicines sans Frontiere £200.00Christmas Eve L'Arche Community £210.00Christmas Day (Action for Children) £146.42Christian Aid in Gaza £285.25

Total Raised £2071.23

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2010 Handsworth Gang ShowThis annual event once again includes leaders and members of our uniformed organisations.

You are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

The show runs from Monday 15th February to Saturday 20th February 2010 nightly at 7.15 pm and there is a Saturday Matinee at 2.30 pm.

Tickets are available from the Crescent Theatre or the Gang Show Box Office - Telephone 01543 480668. Alternatively email frank.weetman@virgin.net

More details are available on the website www.handworthgangshow.org.uk

Palestinian food exportsBefore Christmas David Milliband the Foreign Secretary made a surprise announcement. He was giving notice to retailers that produce from Israeli settlements in Palestinian Occupied Territories would no longer be able to hide behind the label Produce of Israel or Produce of the West Bank. From now on he expected that any declaration should be honest. So he said from now on produce must be labelled either ‘Palestinian produce’ or ‘Israeli settlement produce’. It will also be illegal to label produce from Israeli settlements as ‘Produced in Israel’.

Time to take your reading glasses with you on your shopping trips maybe?

Peter Farley

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February Fill DykeThe title flows off the tongue, and it is assumed that the saying came about from the fact that February is a very wet month. Certainly it is dark and grey, usually, although there are exceptions. I recall February 1973 when Norman was recovering from a broken leg, I took him into Sutton Park most days and we sat in the sun. We had no need of coats it being so gloriously warm.

Having recently travelled the roads near Kingsbury, where I spent my childhood, I couldn’t help but notice the flooded fields all around me, and they reminded me of the atmospheric Victorian painting by Benjamin Williams Leader called ‘February Fill Dyke’, an oil painting exhibited in the Birmingham Art Gallery. When first exhibited in 1881, it received lukewarm reviews, but later when shown in Manchester as part of the Royal Jubilee Exhibition, it became very popular.

However, I’ll let you into a secret. The picture was actually painted in November after rain, but the artist took the title from an old country rhyme which goes: February fill the dyke, Be it black or be it white; But if it be white, It’s the better to like. The painting was bequeathed to a Mrs Wilson in memory of her husband, John Edward Wilson in 1914. (Lucky lady).

The River Tame at Kingsbury often flooded during the winter months when I was a child, and many’s the time the school bus had to plough its way through the floods. As children, we thought this very exciting, and we urged the driver to go fast to create a bow wave; it was even more exciting when the water came up the steps inside the bus. That was something to tell Mum & Dad about when we got home.

Growing up in the countryside meant we could tell the seasons by the activities on the farms. Times of ploughing, sowing, reaping, etc., the

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indications were obvious, but also to us was the time of hedging and ditching. The farm labourer, a rare sight these days when everything is done by machine, would be seen around October/November, walking up the lane with his lunch bag over one shoulder, a bottle of cold tea poking out of the top, and over the other shoulder would be slung his bill hook with which he would do hedge trimming and ditch tidying. He might also have a long-handled shovel with which to dig out the summer’s debris from the depths of the ditch.

If fields became flooded, farmers came in for a certain amount of derisory criticism, behind their backs of course, by some locals who thought they knew better: “He hadn’t done his ditching properly”. The labourer also dug channels from the lanes into the ditches to enable water to drain away, because flooded lanes which froze overnight during winter became highly dangerous, so there was quite a lot at stake. These images came ‘flooding’ (forgive the unintended pun) into my mind, all because I saw the flooded fields.

Arriving home and switching on my TV, images were being shown of the devastation created by floods in the various parts of the country, Cockermouth and Workington in particular, and it made me realise that the floods around the Kingsbury area were nothing compared to the ones I was witnessing on the screen. We were all moved and concerned for victims and rescuers alike.

Water, that vital necessity of life, can be stunningly and artistically beautiful, but also an inconvenience, destroyer of property and possessions and a killer, as we heard when PC Bill Barker was tragically washed away with the bridge in Workington.

Perhaps February fill dyke may have to be renamed November. But somehow November fill dyke doesn’t have the same ring to it!

Ann Tomes (written in November after the country’s flooding)

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One Year LaterWritten on 27th December 2009A year ago today, on 27 December 2008, Israel launched a wave of air strikes, bombing targets across Gaza.  Seven days later, Israeli tanks and forces started a ground invasion.  By the time hostilities officially came to an end 22 days later, 1,393 Palestinians, 347 of them children, and thirteen Israelis, including three civilians, had been killed and Gaza’s civilian infrastructure had been devastated.

One year later, little of the extensive damage caused to homes, civilian infrastructure, public services, farms and businesses has been repaired. This is not for a lack of determination by the people of Gaza or of resources committed to do the job. Indeed, over US$4 billion was pledged in March 2009 by the international community to assist reconstruction in Gaza and to support the Palestinian economy.  But little of this committed money has been spent.  Goods and equipment earmarked for rebuilding languish in storage outside Gaza.  And much of Gaza still lies in ruins.

This is not an accident; it is a matter of policy. The Israeli government’s blockade, imposed in 2007, not only forbids most Gazans from leaving or exporting anything to the outside world, but also only permits the import of a narrowly-restricted number of basic humanitarian goods – which does not include desperately-needed reconstruction materials.  So the civilian population, and the United Nations and the aid agencies that aim to help them, are prohibited from importing materials like cement or glass for reconstruction in all but a handful of cases.  Indeed, since the ending of hostilities, only 41 truckloads of construction materials for all purposes have been permitted into Gaza. Thousands of truckloads are required just to rebuild all the houses destroyed and thousands more are desperately needed to put right damage to all the schools, hospitals and other buildings, to the electricity supply and the water and sanitation network, caused not only by the recent war but also by previous military action or serious dilapidation due to a lack of repair materials due to the blockade.

Even before the offensive a year ago, conditions in Gaza were dire.  The blockade had led to the closure of 98% of industrial businesses and had

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damaged the agricultural industry as well.  I recall interviewing a woman from Gaza in early December last year:  she vividly described life in a community on the verge of collapse - electricity for only a few hours a day, water for only 2 or 3 hours every other day, shortage of medicines, no fruit, no bakeries – “there is not even bread for the children.”  Almost unbelievably, things are many times worse now.

A few days ago, 16 international organisations including Amnesty International, Christian Aid and Oxfam jointly published a report: Failing Gaza: No rebuilding, no recovery, no more excuses.  You can read it by going to http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=18552and following the link at the bottom of the page.

Viva Palestina is a UK registered charity that was formed earlier this year to provide humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza.  It organised two convoys, in February and March this year, which entered Gaza via Egypt (through the Rafah crossing) and successfully delivered hundreds of tonnes of desperately needed aid. 

A third convoy left the UK on 6th December, travelling across Europe, through Turkey, Syria to Jordan.  By the time it reached the Rafah crossing, it numbered 210 vehicles and carries more than 400 people from 17 countries.  The plan was that the convoy would enter Gaza today – the first anniversary of the start of the Gaza War.  But it is still in Aqaba – because the Egyptian authorities are refusing it admission.  If you would like to know more then go to the website http://www.vivapalestina.org/  If you visit the above website you will find that the convoy eventually made it through on the 6th January 2010! - ed

Please pray that during 2010 progress will be made towards the ultimate goal of a world in which there is peace and justice for all people everywhere

In peace Liz

Liz Burroughs, who is a friend of Nichola's, is a Methodist Local Preacher and has done several tours as an EAPPI.

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New contributors to ‘Contact’all the way from Dronfield (where?)Those who labour unceasingly on the pages of “Contact” to make it the wonderful publication it is, are always grateful for extra help in the way of articles for publication. In the same way, an equally wonderful publication in Derbyshire known as “Update”, also welcomes extra articles – so with the wonders of the email system, why not share articles and help each other out? That was the reasoning behind the new names that will be appearing on the pages of “Contact” very shortly, starting with this one.

St. Paul’s Methodist Church (www.dronfield-methodist.org.uk) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year. It is a small building, with distinctive pentagon-shaped windows and a copper spire, just over 100 members and a very warm heart. Our minister is Rev. Nigel Bibbings, who is ably supported by his wife Elisabeth, (daughter of Ann Tomes) which is where the link with Erdington arises. Elisabeth grew up at Erdington and was part of the local youth group with Nick – and as Nick has also celebrated his Golden Jubilee, you will realise that was a long time ago.

The people who do most of the writing for our magazine and whose names you will be seeing most often, are as follows. Brian Beeson, a retired headteacher, enjoys countryside, photography, and computing. Peter Lindley (our resident artist) is a retired model-maker for architects, and enjoys playing the trombone in the Dronfield Brass Band, drawing and making all kinds of things. He is particularly involved with the Friday Club that is a craft and games club for Junior School aged children, and sneaks a few Bible stories in when no-one is looking.

Elisabeth Bibbings, Local Preacher and general minister’s assistant, masquerades as the St. Paul’s Bookworm and writes book reviews, as well as more general articles, and we also have Ann Cooper who helps with the physical collating of the magazine and putting articles together.

Other lovely people from St. Paul’s are Alan who is a retired physiotherapist and enjoys many visits from friends and family despite being blind nearly all his life, Beryl who runs the Catering Committee and a lively House Group,

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Syd who despite being 91, makes jam and marmalade to empower our Community Bus project (about which more later), and Paul and Janet who are involved in local amateur dramatics. Then there is Neil who was confined to a wheelchair and blinded in a motorbike accident many years ago, and Glyn the fireman who spends all his free time working with the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children. An ordinary bunch of Christians with extraordinary tales to tell – just like Erdington in many ways.

Do you have a testimony you could share with us? Or maybe a useful idea for reaching out to your local community? Maybe both Contact and Update readers would be interested to hear your special story. In the meantime, we look forward to reading Contact articles on our pages and hope you enjoy material from Update.

Elisabeth Bibbings

Britain’s seven most common phobiasDid you know that the seven most common phobias are:Arachnophobia (fear of spiders) up to 50% of women and 25% of menSocial Phobia 13%Acrophobia (fear of heights) 12%Trypanophobia (fear of injection needles) 8%Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) 6%Emetophobia (fear of vomiting) 4%Coprophobia (fear of toilets) 3%

Others include Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) and Aviophobia (fear of flying)

Do you have a phobia that you would be prepared to share with other Contact readers?

Peter Farley

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Children’s Pages

DO YOU KNOW YOUR GREEN CROSS CODE?What  MUST  you  do  before  crossing  a  road?a)  Listen,  look  and  crossb)  Stop,  look  and  listen  c) Cross  anywhere  you  likeWhat’s  the  most  dangerous  time  of  year  for  road  accidents?a)  Winterb)  Summerc)  Autumn    Where  do  most  child  pedestrian  accidents  happen?a)  Near  schoolb)  Near  the  parkc)  Near  home    When  do  children  have  the  most  road  accidents?a)  Going  to  and  coming  home  from  school  b)  Going  to  get  lunchc)  Late  at  night

Answers  on  page  38

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Match  the  words  at  the  bottom  with  the  letters  in  this  puzzle  to  complete  the  road  safety  word  search

T L S F F E

R I B R T C

A G I C F C

F H K A T I

F T E R F C

I S R O A D

C S A F E R

HERE’S  SOME  GOOD  ADVICE!  

•Never  get  into  a  vehicle  or  go  anywhere  with  someone  you  don’t  know  well  –  even  if  you  do  know  them,  be  very  careful.

•Know  your  name,  address  and  telephone  number  off  by  heart.

•Always  check  first  with  your  parents  or  a  trusted  adult  before  accepting  anything  from  anyone,  even  someone  you  know.

•If  an  adult  or  stranger  does  or  says  anything  that  makes  you  feel  uncomfortable  or  scared,  walk  or  run  away  somewhere  safe  and  tell  your  parents.

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BIKE CAR LIGHTS

ROAD SAFE TRAFFIC

Count your blessings 2010A life-changing experience for LentMake Lent meaningful this year. Instead of giving up wine or chocolate, join us to look again at the good things in your life – and change the lives of others living in poverty across the world.

It’s simple. Pull out and put up the following calendar on your notice board or fridge and let Christian Aid show you the world afresh each day. Then record your responses daily in the boxes as you walk with Christian Aid from Ash Wednesday through to Easter. The daily-giving amounts are suggestions only. Please give what you can.

A Prayerloving Father often we forget your gifts to us, letting them pass unnoticed through each day. Show us how to look again, to see through your eyes and give freely in response to what we see. And often we forget those who struggle – those whose greatest need is lost among our riches. help us to look again, to see through your eyes. You gave so freely. Help us freely give. Amen

You can sign up for emails to help you keep Lent’s journey in mind – and Christian Aid will send you meditations, reflections and powerful stories.

Visit www.christianaid.org.uk/lent

A children’s version of Count Your Blessings also follows for you to pull out and use. Resources for church worship and small study groups and more copies of this calendar are also available online.

from the Christian Aid Website16

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Poll shows half of British homes using less energyOver half of people in Britain have taken steps to reduce the amount of energy they use at home in the last year.

As governments met in Copenhagen to discuss climate change, a new YouGov survey, on behalf of the Methodist Church, found that 55% of people have cut their home energy use by switching to low energy bulbs or switching appliances off rather than using standby, for example. By doing so, they have both saved money and cut their carbon footprint.

The Revd David Gamble, president of the Methodist Conference, said, "These results show that people are already doing things that cut their carbon footprint, whether they know it or not. Helping to save the planet can often also be a way to save money. People might feel powerless in the face of climate change, but there are things we can all do."

David Gamble joined with the leaders of the Baptist and United Reformed Churches calling on the government to put pressure on the world’s richest countries to reach a binding agreement at the recent climate change conference in Copenhagen.

The Churches argue that since developed countries such as the UK and the USA owe their wealth to activities producing high levels of carbon, they also have a moral responsibility to take the lead in setting measures to counter global warming.

from Methodist Church News Website

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Ex BBC newsreader appointed as 'chaplain to older people' in Alton

Broadcaster Debbie Thrower has been appointed by Churches in Alton as the new 'chaplain to older people'. The appointment has been funded by the Simeon Trust through the Greater Alton Project or GAP, a partnership of Anglican and Methodist churches in the town.

Working as Simeon chaplain, Debbie will be concerned for the spiritual welfare of people in residential care and sheltered accommodation in Alton. She is the first Simeon chaplain in the country.

"Hope is what the new job is all about," said Debbie, who is also a lay minister (or reader) in the Church of England." I seek to come alongside not only older people but also their relatives, carers and staff working in residential care. It is the clearest possible message from the churches I'll represent that older people matter."

The Revd Rob Jones, chaplaincies coordinator for the Methodist Church, praised the initiative, "This is a new form of chaplaincy and an excellent expression of community ministry and of ecumenical cooperation. It is part of an enterprising vision of how the local churches can engage with the local community."

from Methodist Church News Website

Surprising AnagramsELECTION RESULTS: SNOOZE ALARMS: When you rearrange the letters:  When you rearrange the letters: LIES - LET'S RECOUNT  ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

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Work makes you freeLike many, I expect, I was astonished when it was announced that the sign over the main gate to the Auschwitz concentration camp had been stolen in the early hours of 18th of December 2009. The fact that later we were told it had been stolen to order, presumably by a memorabilia collector really didn’t reduce my incredulity.

A moment or two on the web made me take notice in quite a different way. The translation of the words in the arch; ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ is ‘Work makes you free’. I wondered what the approximately one million prisoners who were marched into Auschwitz, never to return, thought? They were the victims of the greatest discrimination scandal ever perpetrated by man for certainly however hard they worked they were never again going to be free.

In our modern age where people are defined, as much as they ever were, by what they do, rather than who they are, having a job of some sort is very important. As I survey my retirement, I do though wonder what discrimination awaits me because I no longer have an occupation to put on a form. Will my letters to my MP be read in the same way or more importantly will my GP silently question whether that particular treatment is still cost effective for me?

We belong to a church whose God tells us that we are all uniquely important, each one of us worthy of the same level of respect. Unfortunately as individuals and a church we have a tendency to equate respect with acquisition and possession. St Peter’s Basilica in Rome must be one of the most remarkable example of this tendency with absolutely everything built to a larger then life scale. I am not signed up to the suggestion that everything should be sold and divided amongst the world’s needy because without some wealth there would be no culture. However I am bold enough to suggest that wealth on such an extravagant and lavish scale must be an impediment to anyone climbing though the eye of his or her own particular needle.

Do we think like this because we are brought up to believe that God created man and woman, in his own likeness and then gave us dominium over every

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living thing that moves upon the earth. When you stop and think about this it really is a very selfish approach to nature and in this ecologically challenged era, it is surely time for a reassessment of what we believe.

Interesting that the leaders of Nazi Germany were brought up with those scriptures as well!

Peter Farley

Salt Awareness Week 1st – 7th FebruaryNot heard of this before? Neither had we in the Contact Meeting. Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) was set up in 1996 as a response to the refusal by the Government to endorse the recommendations by the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food (COMA) that the level of salt in our diet should be reduced. Many health related charities contribute to this cause including Asthma UK, Blood Pressure Association, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Diabetes UK, Kidney Research UK, Ménières Society, National Obesity Forum, National Osteoporosis Society and Stroke Association. The aim is to highlight the risks associated with a high salt diet and the importance of reading food labels.

The aim of CASH is to reduce the level of salt in our diet over the next ten years to about six grams daily. Such a level, they claim, would reduce strokes and heart attacks by about 20%. They have a two-pronged plan: Firstly to persuade the suppliers of meals and part meals to gradually reduce the amount of salt included in their recipes; Secondly to improve the labelling on such foods so that we can all understand how much salt has been included in the products that we buy.

Foods that contain lots of salt include, not surprisingly, salted peanuts and crisps but also pizzas, soups, baked beans, biscuits and pork pies.

What can we do to reduce our intake of salt for ourselves? Firstly gradually reduce the salt we add to our cooking and never put the salt cellar on the

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table. Secondly read the labels on the processed food that we buy. Salt often appears as sodium on food labels (6g of salt is equivalent to 2.5g of sodium).

A lot or a little per 100g of food?

A LOT A LITTLE1.25g of salt or more 0.25g of salt0.5g of sodium or more 0.1g of sodium

Or simply aim for food with a green traffic light in the salt/sodium box.

Peter Farley

New website encourages people to think about Human TraffickingThe new Open Horizon Website attempts to extend people's horizons in relation to the trafficking of women and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation, and to look at wider issues associated with this modern day slavery.

With the support of Women's Network, and Formation in World Mission in the Methodist Church, members of the Open Horizon action-research group visited Romania and Sicily, as well as travelling around the UK. They were moved by women willing to share their stories. One woman described how she was offered a "nice job" in Europe and then was forced to go "to the road" in Palermo.

The Revd Stephen Willey, chair of the group said, "Despite recent reports in the press which suggest that human trafficking is an insignificant crime, this global phenomenon affects many, many lives. Imagine your child or sister locked up in a foreign land and being forced to perform sexual acts, including being raped on a daily basis. If this was a British reporter being held hostage overseas, the world would know, but when it is a child or adult coming from a situation of poverty sometimes it seems only God cares."

from the Methodist News Website29

February New Testament Quiz

1. Which Gospel opens with the words, “In the beginning was the Word…?”

2. To which woman did Jesus say, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering”?

3. Only one of Jesus’ miracles is recorded in all four Gospels. Which miracle?

4. After meeting Jesus, who said that he would give away half his possessions to the poor?

5. Where did Jesus attend a wedding reception?

6. Which top Jewish religious leader visited Jesus at night?

7. To whom did Jesus say, “Get up, take your mat and go home”?

8. When Jesus told the professional mourners that the ruler’s daughter was “not dead but asleep” how did they react?

9. What did Jesus promise he would give to the weary and burdened if they came to him?

10.Jesus had four half-brothers, Joseph and James were two of the brothers. Name one of the other two.

Answers on Page 38

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New beginningsMy new beginnings are perhaps a little different from those of the readers.  Let me introduce myself, my name is Polo and I am a guide dog puppy.  I was born on 11th November 2009 so my whole life is very new and very exciting.  As is usual with puppies I left my mother and 7 siblings when I was about 7 weeks old (big ‘Ah’!) and was re-homed with a family in Erdington.  They were very welcoming and I was really happy to join their household and quickly stamp my personality there.  My only problem is the cat.  At nearly 16 years old he obviously thinks he is boss, but just because he has been here forever he doesn't scare me - no matter how much he hisses and growls.

Becci and Richard are great playmates but Lesley is a bit more stern - always pulling me away from the settee and saying 'NO' (whatever that means) when I chew trainers, slippers, newspaper basket, plants and leaves or dirty washing!  Of course, they and Tom Kirk-Shakespeare have supplied some toys to chew, pull and squeeze but frankly, they cannot match footwear and laundry!  However, I must keep on Lesley's best side as I notice she is the one who puts out the food - one of my favourite things in the world.

I was really delighted to see that this home had an indoor toilet for me.  There was a huge tree in the corner of the dining room!  How thoughtful is that?  It is much too cold and snowy to go outside, especially in the early hours of the morning, but they do keep trying that.  The tree also provides a great deal of fun for me and I have already removed 2 large snowflakes, 3 large baubles and the lower strand of lights.  Lesley seems to get a bit agitated by this especially when I creep underneath and she is unable to get hold of me.  You can imagine my disappointment when this tree was taken down and packed away 'till next year'.  Luckily, I found another wire to chew.  Forget Christmas lights - try and chew something really worthwhile - think telephone.  The look on Lesley's face was priceless when, mid conversation, I finally cut though the wire and the line went dead.  Great fun!  I do love life!

Polo (with a little help from Lesley Morgan)

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Students write the funniest things . . .Rather than admit defeat in the face of tricky questions, some students decide to take a more creative approach to their answers.

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Rudolf’s noseLast year children had a range of hi-tech options when it came to following the progress of Santa on Christmas Eve.

Apparently the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been tracking Santa for over 50 years. Children could follow his progress via its website or on Twitter, Facebook or via Google Maps or Google Earth. Tracking Father Christmas's journey started at 11.00GMT on 24th December and his progress could be followed on 24 "Santa cams" around the world. This year they could also check out Santa's village and see how well the elves were getting on with making presents. NORAD volunteers were also on hand on Christmas Eve to answer e-mails about Father Christmas's journey at noradtrackssanta@gmail.com.

NORAD is a military organisation that is responsible for the aerospace and maritime defence of the US and Canada.

The tradition of tracking Father Christmas goes back to a misprint in a Colorado newspaper advertisement in 1955.

The hotline to Santa promised by the paper actually connected to what was known then as the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD). As more phone calls came in, the commander on the other end of the phone chose to play along. The tradition continued in 1958 when CONAD became NORAD. Last year volunteers at the centre received 75,000 phone calls and about 6,000 e-mails from 200 countries.

I was interested to note that the system works, according to NORAD, because Rudolph the reindeer's famous nose gives off an infrared signature similar to a missile launch. Peter Farley

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Fair Trade Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 22nd February to March 7th and this year the focus is tea. The Fairtrade Foundation has been working at the tea problem for 30 years. Their aim is to convince the big 5 tea brands, which represent 72% of the tea drunk in the UK, of the benefits that Fair Trade would bring to the lives of the growers. In the UK we consume 165 million cups of tea a day and over 20 million people living in developing countries tea is their livelihood. Three quarters of 165 million is a lot of cups of tea.

Hopeless I hear you say, but Nestlé, that villain of the baby milk saga, has decided, presumably for the PR value, that later this year the chocolate used in its four finger KitKat will be Fairtrade. So there is always hope.

Estimated UK retail sales by value 1998-2008 (£ million) of Fairtrade products1998 2003 2008

Coffee 13.7 34.3 137.3

Tea 2 9.5 64.8

Chocolate/Cocoa 1 10.9 26.8

Honey products n/a 6.1 5.2

Bananas n/a 24.3 184.6

Flowers n/a 4.3 33.4

Wine n/a n/a 10

Cotton n/a 0.2 77.9

Other n/a 7.2 172.6

Total 16.7 92.3 712.6

Worldwide Fair Trade sales in 2007 amounted to £1.6bn an increase of 47% on the previous year and this directly benefitted 7 million people. As one current advertising slogan says ‘Every little helps’. Peter Farley

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New Year ResolutionsWe asked several people what new Year Resolutions they made - here are their responses

I am responding to Peter's request for new year resolutions for next Contact.  I don't normally make any, thinking that I will forget I have done them!  Such may be the case this time! What I want to do is to master the intricacies of the TV/DVD so that I can be independent and record and playback programmes--and see if I can put my own photos and videos on the TV!!   I don't know if you want frivolous or serious decisions---well I suppose mine is both!  I would like my resolutions to be more meaningful but don't think I would keep them!!!

Hilary Price

In response to Peter's request for our New Year resolutions: Don - lose more weightBarbara - help Don to lose more weight!!  I'm afraid I'm not much good at keeping resolutions so I rarely make them these days.  However, I DO believe I can keep this one!!!

Barbara Rawson

I’d still like to lose some more weight - and to all those who think I’ve lost enough my ‘healthy weight’ is still a couple of stones lighter!

I’ve not really been sticking to my diet of late and managed to gain half a stone - just shows how easy it is. Like most people I’ve found it hard to exercise while the weather has been so bad.

So - New Year Resolution - back on the diet and back to regular walking.

Nick Riley

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These are the only responses I received. Like most of the comments here I guess most people don’t bother making New Year Resolutions any more. Is it because we are more ‘weak-willed’ than we used to be or just that we are tired of breaking our resolutions almost before we have made them?

Remember that one of the traits of being a Christian is perseverance - that when times get tough we hold on to Christ and when times are good it’s easy to let things slide. Maybe a New Year Resolution for us all should be to be more loving and caring as Christ would have us be! - ed

Handwritten on the wall of Mother Theresa's room

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centred:

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of being selfish and with ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will some false friends and some true enemies;

Be successful anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

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Technogran!The computer swallowed Grandma - yes, honestly, it's true!She pressed 'control and enter' and disappeared from view.It completely devoured her, the thought just makes me squirm;She must have caught a virus or been eaten by a worm.I’ve searched through the recycle bin and files of every kind;I've even used the internet, but nothing could I find.In desperation, I asked 'Jeeves': my searches to refine;The reply from him was 'negative', not a thing was found on line.So if inside 'YOUR' inbox my Grandma you should see,Please 'copy', 'scan' and 'paste her' and send her back to me.

        With acknowledgment to 'Grapevine' newsletter for E. Yorkshire.

Answers to New Testament Quiz1. John’s Gospel2. The woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twenty years3. The feeding of the 5,0004. Zacchaeus5. Cana6. Nicodemus7. To the paralysed man who had been let down through the roof to reach

Jesus8. They laughed at Jesus9. Rest10.Judas and Simon

Answers  to  Do  you  know  your  Green  Cross  Code?b)  Stop,  look  and  listen          

c)  Autumn      

c)  Near  home  

a)  Going  to  and  coming  home  from  school

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February 2010 Regular Meetings

Coffee Mornings Each Saturday 10.00 am to 12.00 noon

Women’s Hour Meetings Meetings at 2.00 pm each month

Tuesday Club Every 4th Tuesday in the month at 2.30 pm

Sunday Worship All worship starts at 10.30 am unless stated otherwise below

7th Rev Gillian Le Boutillier-Scott

Circuit Service & Celebration at Kingsbury Methodist Church - 4.00 pm

14th Rev Nichola Jones

21st ALL AGE WORSHIP - Mr J McGinnigle

28th Miss C Scott

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Weekly Church ActivitiesSunday 10.30 am MORNING WORSHIP and

Young Church (with crèche : Margaret Hillman)

7.30 pm House Group : Hilary Price - (3rd Sunday)

Monday 2.00 pm Women’s Hour :

Tuesday 9.30 - 11.30 am9.30 - 12.00 noon2.00 pm

Stay and PlayPre-School : Karen HomerTuesday Afternoon Meeting : Valerie Long (4th)

Wednesday 9.30 - 11.30 am9.30 - 12.00 noon12.30 pm

Stay and PlayPre-School : Karen HomerLuncheon Club - (1st and 3rd)

Thursday 9.30 - 12.00 noon Pre-School : Karen Homer

Friday 5.00 - 6.15 pm6.15 - 7.45 pm7.45 - 9.15 pm7.45 - 9.15 pm5.30 - 6.30 pm5.00 - 6.30 pm7.30 - 9.00 pm

Beavers : Lynn TurnerCubs : Elizabeth BaizonScouts : Lisa PorterExplorers : Caroline JoyceRainbows : Louise RawsonBrownies : Lesley CarterGuides : Helen Rainsford

Saturday 10.00 - 12.00 noon10.30 - 11.30 am

Coffee Morning : Lesley MorganChurch open for prayer : Margaret Curzon

Please hand any items for the March CONTACT to any of the Editorial Team (Elizabeth Baizon, Peter Farley, Nichola Jones, Christine Rankin & Nick Riley) by 15th February 2010 at the latest please or alternatively email me on nickriley@blueyonder.co.uk

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