Tearfund Update:   Environmental issues

Tearfund is helping to transform the environment of communities around the world, for example, the slums of Pakistan where communities are literally drowning in waste. Uncollected waste is endangering lives as well as the environment.  Pakistan generates around 20 million tonnes of waste every year, of which only half is collected.  In slum communities the waste is dumped into watercourses or burnt when the volumes are overwhelming.  Communities are battling to survive in ever-growing mounds of waste.  When the heavy rains come the rivers rise at an alarming rate and the floods then sweep the rubbish into people’s homes causing the families to leave.  They are in great danger of drowning while they sleep!  Also, the build-up of waste – plastic and organic – allows rats, snakes etc.  to enter their houses, bringing the threat of disease.

But Tearfund is serving these slum communities with the help of their partner, Pak Mission Society.  Newly established recycling hubs have been set up which are supervised by paid ‘guardians of the environment’.  Rubbish is first collected, then sorted and used for compost or the recyclable material sold on.  Each hub provides employment for 25 people.  By doing this, they reduce the amount of plastics in the oceans, prevent the flooding of watercourses blocked by waste and lower greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of waste.

Tearfund is doing so much through its partner, PMS, to improve the environment, health and wellbeing of the slum communities of Pakistan.

If you would like to support this work and many other schemes around the world to prevent many tonnes of waste entering local rivers, to tackle plastic pollution and to improve the health of families head to www.tearfund.org If you donate via Direct Debit before May 17th, all donations received up to the 17th July will be DOUBLED by the UK government up to a staggering £3million.

Are you concerned about the amount of single-use plastic items you are using? Have you been thinking that you ought to do something about it? Why not pop along to our Greengrocers shop in Warren Way and check out the new refill station!

There are lots of good quality products to choose from and the prices are very competitive.

Sue Foster, the shop Manager will be happy to explain how it all works so stop by and take a look.

Sri Lanka Church Bombings.

Over 250 Christians have died as a result of churches being bombed across Sri Lanka!

We earnestly ask for your prayers for the families, friends and communities that have been terrorised by this action.

Should you feel inclined to donate to this cause you may add your contribution to the shop slot at DBC Community Greengrocers in Warren Way. We will ensure that your gift reaches the people who desperately need it.

A large number gathered in the turning circle outside the school gates overlooking Woodingdean for an Easter Sunday reflection led by Pastor Malcolm. Oh the joy of being free to worship in the open air on such a beautiful morning! For the second week running DBC publicly demonstrated and declared its faith in Jesus Christ in the community in which we live.

We reflected on the story of the women who discovered that Jesus was not in the tomb where He had been laid. Sadly the report the women brought back that Jesus was alive was not believed at first. It wasn’t long before they were all overcome with joy when they realised that He had risen just like He said.

To conclude our reflection, as we looked over our community, Malcolm prayed that hearts within our community would respond to the good news that God’s not dead – No! He is alive.

Our reflection was followed by a lovely family communion service in the school hall. It is fitting that we should rejoice and be glad as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. He brings life to those who are dead – life in all its fulness.

Malcolm retold stories about Jesus the Miracle Man to engage the very youngest to the oldest. Jesus performed so many miracles – not to show off or impress people but to point the way to God, to show what He is like and what life with God can be like. But still people did not believe in Him. How could people turn against Him? Jesus came to die that we might have life. Because of Jesus we receive forgiveness for our sins, love, joy, peace and hope. One day we will die but if we trust in Him we will be raised by God to eternal life. What wonderful hope this is!

Malcolm reminded us that we take bread and the fruit of the vine to remember the sacrifice Jesus made. His body was broken for us; His blood was spilt for us and He did it because He loved us so much.

We enjoyed sharing in the love feast and rejoiced in God’s goodness to us. As we took communion, Malcolm spent time with each of the children blessing them and praying over them.

What a blessed day. To God be the glory.

Thursday April 18th at 2.15pm in the Parish Room of the Holy Cross was the gathering of 17 faithful ladies who meet weekly for Thursday Fellowship.

This day was rather special it being Maundy Thursday and we focused our thoughts around the prelude of the events of Good Friday.

5 of our number made contributions in the way of appropriate scripture readings or poems and these were interspersed with hymns. We shared Holy Communion – all put together and ably led by Faith Casse.

The ever welcome cup of tea and hot cross buns concluded the afternoon which had been a very pleasant and personal experience. Thanks be to God.

Special thanks to a member of the Thursday Fellowship for this report.

After a fellowship breakfast of bacon sandwiches and hot cross buns, Gareth Woolcott led our morning’s reflection and communion service. He started by saying that so often Good Friday is seen as a solemn time whereas Easter Sunday, a happy joyous occasion. But both days are celebrations – Easter Sunday a reminder of God’s power and victory over death and Good Friday, a reminder of just how much God loves each one of us.

Gareth read from Matthew 26 v 36 – 45. This atmospheric passage highlights the sorrow, pain and anguish that Jesus suffered. “If it is possible may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus was willing to face an agonising death not out of a sense of duty but out of love. He knew what it would mean for all of humanity. This Easter reflect on the love God has for you and what he did to pay the price for your sin.
Oh amazing love!

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven.”

A good number swelled by visitors joined in our walk of remembrance and witness on a beautiful but chilly Palm Sunday morning.

Once again, Solomon the donkey joined us on our walk and led our procession from the school along the Warren Road towards Warren Hill. The children waved flags and others carried banners. We also took turns in carrying a large wooden cross.

As it was Brighton Marathon day, Woodingdean was extra busy with cars and buses being diverted through the village. Many people waved and tooted their horns at our procession and no doubt some wondered what on earth we were doing!

Before setting out, Malcolm encouraged us whilst on the walk to remember and remind ourselves about the humble king who came to die; to be mindful of His sacrifice and ultimate victory and the hope that He brings and offers to each person. The Bible tells us that Jesus cried over the lost who shunned His offer of love and salvation. We can’t trust in our own strength to save us. It is all about Jesus!

For many on that first Palm Sunday, their “hosannas”, their exclamation of praise and adoration quickly turned to fear and contempt which was eventually replaced less than a week later with “crucify Him.” This Palm Sunday, we cry out – Hosanna! Help us! Save us!

To know God and to make Him known

A WORSHIPPING CHURCH OF PEOPLE WHO PRAY AND FOLLOW THE TEACHING OF THE BIBLE.

Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14 v 6

A WITNESSING CHURCH OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE OUR FAITH IN WORDS AND ACTIONS.

Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” Luke 10 v 27

Good news!

At a recent meeting of the Board of Directors a scheme was drafted and approved to enable Traidcraft to continue selling their goods on a very small scale.  To this end a new catalogue will be sent out at the end of March 2019.  All foodstuffs except Geobars will continue to be traded as well as all drinks.  Some crafts will also be available to buy, but Traidcraft will be selling crafts made by overseas producers that have already been imported into the U.K.  Sadly they will no longer deal directly with their former overseas producers.

Traidcraft Exchange, its sister development charity, is fundraising in order that Traidcraft’s former overseas partners receive some compensation and recoup some of their lost income.

Traidcraft needs your support now even more. Please therefore continue to make every effort to buy their fairly traded foodstuffs and drinks from our DBC Community Greengrocers shop in Woodingdean. Thank you for your support in the past.