The Church Of The Holy Rood -- Wool, Dorset, U.K.

This month's Guest Editorial:

Dear Friends,

I’m writing this letter in April so much may have happened before it comes to print but today’s headlines are that the new Pope seeks a spiritual revival. How we are all praying for that. As he rightly states, too many people in the world are living in deserts; the desert of poverty, hunger, thirst, abandonment, loneliness, of destroyed love. How we pray that people may once again turn to faith and that our churches may be channels for God’s love for all humankind and its support for the “ Make Poverty History” campaign is one way it can show it is serious about seeking God’s will here on earth.

Whilst money and material things tend to govern the thinking of governments, churches and parishes, the Gospel proclaims that it is not major issue in our lives. The major issue is our attitude to life, whether we acknowledge God or not, whether we are grateful for the world God has created for us, whether we acknowledge the work of Christ, whether we glimpse the amazing love God has for us in providing such a wonderful world and in sending Jesus Christ to show a better way of living together in harmony and peace, the way of love.

By the time you read this, Pentecost will have been celebrated, the festival which reminds us that we are totally dependant on God for his help. For it is his Spirit that gives us hope, a living hope for the world, for our tomorrows.

That hope is founded on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, where God demonstrated that his love was stronger than all the forces of this world that crucified him. That love lives on, as Pentecost showed, and seeks to move within our hearts and minds that there may truly be a spiritual revival.

I close by quoting Paul’s letter to the Ephesians Chapter 3 verse 14-21.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Best wishes to you all,

Geoff (Methodist Minister)

Also in June's Parish News:

Home Communion for the sick and housebound

The pastoral Team, LPA’s and Readers, have received some teaching on taking communion to the sick and housebound.

Some of them take the sacrament out into the community after the Communion Service in church, usually on a Wednesday.

If you or anyone you know is unable to come to any of the services, either in Holy Rood, Knowlewood Knap or Hyde Place please let me know, and I will arrange for you to receive communion at home.

Judy Hill 462888

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

Many thanks to all the collectors, and all of you who donated money to Christian Aid.

A total of £757.75 has been sent for the work of Christian Aid.

Paying the Share

For the past few years, in spite of a successful stewardship campaign, we have been unable to pay the ‘Parish Share’ in full, but from January 2005 the ‘Fairer Share’ has been introduced, and as a PCC we have made a commitment to pay this in full.

The ‘Fairer Share’ has seen a reduction in our contribution from £42,000 to £36,000 this year and this will be further reduced over the next few years to approximately £28,000.

This is still a huge commitment for a small congregation. It means we need an income of £3,000 per month just to pay the Share. This does not include any of the running and maintenance costs of the church.

At this moment in time our annual income will not allow us to maintain this commitment beyond June of this year. We need your help.

If there are 100 people on our electoral roll (actual figures 126) this would mean a commitment of £1.00 per day per person just to pay the ‘Fairer Share’,

We recognise that some people already give considerably more on a regular basis, for which we are extremely grateful, and we also recognise that some people are on a restricted income, but we would encourage you all to think and pray about your level of giving and your commitment to the work of God’s church in this parish.

God’s people have always responded to His love and grace by giving back to Him some of what He so generously gives to us.

Our giving to God must never be seen solely in monetary terms, but neither must we shy away from the financial implications of commitment.

"You will be enriched in every -way for your generosity which will produce thanksgiving to God." – 2 Corinthians 9:11

Obviously with regular giving we can plan for the future, and this can be done by a standing order, or through the envelope scheme. If you pay tax and complete a Gift Aid declaration we are able to claim back the tax on your donation.

If you would like to discuss this please talk to Judy or one of the Churchwardens.

Judy Hill 462888

John Williams 462146

Ron Newbury 462134