Christian Aid’s work amongst the world’s poor may have to be curtailed. Daleep Mukarji, Director of Christian Aid writing to supporting churches says “Our income has been seriously affected by the recession and we do not currently have enough funds to support all the people we’d planned to in 2010. I want to reassure you that I have done all I can to avoid the recession impacting on our work with the world’s poorest people…At least 80% of our income, one of the highest percentages of any charity, goes toward our vital work to end poverty. In addition, throughout this year, I have made cutbacks such as limiting all but the most essential travel and, sadly I have also had to make some staff redundancies. All this in a bid to minimise the impact on the world’s poorest people. But, with unfavourable exchange rates and fewer donations, our funds are still falling short.

If things don’t change, we will have to make impossible decisions about who to stop helping. What distresses me most of all is that people are being hit by a recession they didn’t cause and are defenceless to stop. Struggling families that were already living below the poverty line in the world’s poorest communities have been hit by rocketing fuel and food prices, and they have seen the value of their earnings plummet. Though the recession is affecting many individuals and families here and many organisations including Christian Aid, as always the poorest are the hardest hit.”

Christian Aid week relies heavily on funds raised during Christian Aid week which this year is May 9th-15th. During that week all over the country, there is a house-to-house collection. Each year a small number of people from Emmanuel volunteer to collect for Christian Aid. Each year we collect about £2000. If more people could give up just a few hours to collect we could raise more money which is so desperately needed. Please consider helping. Please pray for this year’s collection and for generous giving. Pray for those who work for Christian Aid, for those who have to make difficult decisions about its work and pray especially for those who depend on Christian Aid’s help.

On Saturday 1st May, you are invited to coffee at the Vicarage at 10.30am. This is NOT a fund-raising event, but a chance to be inspired by the work of Christian Aid. Please come if you can. We have raised funds during the year for Christian Aid, more are always welcome! Thank-you to all who came to the Lent lunches. We were able to send £128 to Christian Aid’s workers in Haiti.

As David was saying at the last Parade Service, some of the older Brownies had the chance to go to Butlins at Bognor for a weekend in January. It is the Centenary of the Guide Movement, and this was one of the ways of having fun.

Can you imagine 4800 Brownies and Leaders from the whole of London and the South East in one place? There was just enough space at Butlins for us all.

There were outdoor activities like a bug hunt, ball games, funfair rides, and a beach visit, which nearly blew us away. It was Saturday, the day it rained-it was high tide, and the waves were enormous. Of course we had to play chase the waves, and of course there were some wet shoes, socks and trousers, but it was such fun.

Indoors, there was all sorts of craft, face painting, bowling, and a big play area. And there was a shop… Butlins people didn’t realise the spending habits of small girls with a few pounds in their pockets and a determination to spend it all. The queues were enormous!!

There were shows; a disco, a Redcoat show and a great Centenary show with flashbacks to the very early days. We didn’t tell the parents what time we got to bed, but it wasn’t very early! We had a great game of bowling and the highlight for lots of the Brownies was our time in Splash World the big leisure pool. There were waves, rapids, flumes and a space bowl, (ask the girls about that one).

We had great food, and Melissa had her birthday celebrated with Cindy Centipede and the whole restaurant singing to her at breakfast.

This was the second Centenary event we took part in, back in September the launch party was called Wet ‘n’ Wacky, it was at Imber Court, Molesey, and was great fun. Next month there is a Voyage Round the World event at Charterhouse, celebrating the Guide movement around the world. It certainly is a great year for Guiding.

Some of you may be wondering what has happened to Rupert. First his drums disappear and now he’s nowhere to be seen. Are the two events related? Where is he? Rupert reveals all.

No, I haven’t left Emmanuel, since early January, I have been worshipping at All Saints Church in Onslow Village where I am on placement as part of my course to become a locally ordained minister based at Emmanuel. I will be at All Saints until Easter Sunday, observing what happens at the church and also taking part where possible. We are encouraged to get absorbed as much as possible into the activities of the placement church. I’m already booked to preach on Mother’s Day and again on Good Friday at their devotional service. As I continue to work full time at AQA, I am not able to attend any of their day time activities so I have to focus on those that occur at the week-end or in the evenings during the week. It has already been very interesting getting involved in another church where they do things quite differently from us at Emmanuel. Their usual main service at 10 am is a communion service, although once a month there is an all age service. Vestments are worn by the clergy at the services and there is a fully robed choir. I will need to wear vestments when I preach so that will be quite an experience. There are usually about 70 at their main service and there is a very friendly and informal atmosphere. The vicar, Barbara Messham, who is also Rural Dean, has a very caring and effective ministry, and she has been very supportive of my training. It is very easy not to notice All Saints church as it is situated at the end of a cul de sac (Vicarage Gate). However, it’s only a few minutes walk from the shops and village hall in Wilderness Road. The church itself is quite modern, built in the 1960s. If you want to find out more do visit their website www.allsaintschurchgfd.org.uk. I’m looking forward to returning to Emmanuel in early April. After that I will have two more months of study before my ordination on 4 July at Guildford Cathedral!