That was the week that was

It got even busier last week and even more emotional.

Prayers for Lou’s family and friends after a glorious funeral and purvey. She would have loved it!

Prayers for Helen as she prepares to go into hospital. A wonderful warm woman, much loved by all who know her. Let us pray that all shall be well.

The Children’s Mission day on Fair Trade was a resounding success. Not as many kids as we would have hoped for but it all worked out well in the end. The church looks resplendent with palm trees, spices, bananas and chocolate. We even got some folk to dress up on Sunday in costumes from around the world. And you’ll never believe it but I taught and sang the Peruvian Gloria. Yes, I sang!  On my own! And nobody left. A miracle!

Then last night was our Healing Service for St Lukestide. Not a great turn out but the Holy Spirit was there for sure. An emotional evening.

Off now to the Borders for a couple of days R&R.

Synod news

Diocesan Synod today. It is good to meet in a place which allows you to see who is there. Most places you sit in rows and can only see the backs of peoples’ heads, but this place is sort of horseshoe shaped so you can see everyone’s face. Also interesting to see who shows up in the morning, signs in for attendance, and then slips out 15 minutes later, never to be seen again!

If you’re interested we discussed becoming a Fair Trade diocese; where our Quota goes and why we pay so much; the new baptismal rite (which could be revised a million more times by the sound of it so don’t print a lot of copies yet); stewardship and how to stop the Province taking it away from us in Quota; revision of a few Canons and an attempt at getting the 1929 Prayer Book back in vogue (the motion was defeated) and that was about it really.

The afternoon’s comments were more brief but that may have had something to do with the Rugby International.

Nestle dilemma

Oh, what a dilemma! Nestlé is the most boycotted company in this country (and elsewhere) because of their unethical practices in developing countries. As recently as May this year they were sending out calendars to health care workers in the Middle East giving recommendations on when to start babies on solid food (ie Nestlé products). “Is he lifting up his head and neck? Your baby’s ready for his gentle first food.”

So now I hear on the radio today they Nestlé are about to launch a fair trade instant coffee which I think will bear the name of Nescafé. This used to be my preferred brand until I heard, almost 20 years ago, what they were doing in India to encourage women to use formula milk instead of breastfeeding. I boycotted all their products then and have continued to keep up to date via the website http://www.infactcanada.ca/NestleBoycott.htm

And it has not been easy, let me tell you. No Kit Kats and no After Eights and no Smarties (and those tubes were so handy for fundraising purposes). But I have stood firm and encouraged my little flock to do the same.

The FairTrade organisation said this morning that people should know that it is only this new coffee which is fairly traded, and that they hope the company will look at other areas in the near future. And they will monitor it closely. A spokesperson from Nestlé said they would, but in a sort of non-committal way.

So my dilemma is this? Should we buy this coffee to encourage them? Can we eat Kit Kats once more? Can we use Smartie tubes for collecting pound coins at Advent and Lent, or should we continue to stockpile those lovely purple containers from Cadbury mini eggs at Easter? There is nothing on the boycott site about this new development.

Help!