This year Christian Aid is focusing on the Trade for Life campaign. Christian Aid's trade badge features scales, highlighting the imbalance of global trade. The figure in the middle reminds us that the imbalance is the result of human rules; but it also gives us hope, because people are the solution - we must all take action to help tip the balance of trade in favour of poor people. There is a fast expanding group of organisations who are concerned about the negative impact of international trade rules on the poorest people in the world, on the environment, and on democracy. The movement is calling for fundamental changes to the unjust rules and institutions governing international trade, so that trade is made to work for all. Some of the organisations are: CAFOD, Christian Aid, The Fairtrade Foundation, Friends of the Earth, Methodist Relief and Development Fund, Oxfam, Save the Children, Traidcraft. "Give, Act & Pray". Today's world is out of balance. Current ways of doing trade internationally mean the rich nations are getting richer while the poorest are trapped in a downward spiral of debt and dependency. The 48 poorest countries together account for only 0.4% of international trade; their share has halved in the last 25 years. The kingdom of God offers a different vision - a world where poor people are included. "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another." Zechariah 7: 9-10 Collection for Christian Aid Tracey Dawson has offered to co-ordinate the collection on behalf of our Church. Catherine Green will be helping her. Thank you to both of them. However, they will need as many volunteers as possible to cover our area which is the estates at the top of Derby Hill. We do have a large area but we have the largest congregation! If you can possibly give an hour or two during the week 12th-18th May please put your name on the list in the vestibule. This is a wonderful opportunity to show a Christian presence in the town and to ensure that Christian Aid's work can continue. GIFT DAY - PENTECOST SUNDAY Now that Project 2000 is paid for, we are turning our attention to outreach. We hope to be able to appoint a layworker who will play a role in this, but we also hope to run further Alpha courses which will be well publicised outside the Church. All of this will need financing. At the Gift Day Service on Sunday 19th May we hope to be able to dedicate not only our money but also our talents to be used in God's service here in Ashbourne. |