Christian Aid's Urgent Appeal for Donations

Christian Aid's income has been seriously affected by the recession and they do not currently have enough funds to cover all their planned activities in 2010. Unless circumstances change, on 19 February decisions about priorities will have to be made and who to stop helping.
Therefore, they have put out an urgent appeal for donations.

If you can support this and their important work for justice for the world's poorest, please click here.

COP15 - picking up the pieces

The outcome of two years of preparation, and two weeks of negotiation has been a bitter disappointment for all who care about justice in this world and our responsibility to future generations. If we don't sort this mess out we will all be the losers. But it is important not to give up campaigning or hope as Sarah Spinney, Christian Aid's climate change campaigns manager suggests here.
Bishop David's BLOG contains a letter from Elias Crisostomo Abramides, the World Council of Churches' head of delegation to the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen expressing a similar determination.
And in a BBC Radio 4 Thought for Today the Revd. Colin Morris suggests that faith communities have a significant role to play.

We can do better than this! We must do better than this!

Bishop Geoffrey's Christmas Message

Bishop Geoffrey's Christmas Message 2009 posted on the Diocese in Europe website can be accessed here.

Latest news from Bountiful Harvest Rural Development Philippines

One of the mission projects supported by St Thomas Becket is a NGO - Bountiful Harvest Rural Development - dedicated to bettering the lives of the local people on the Island of Palawan, Philippines. Simon Gill, who was a member of St Thomas Becket Church in the early 90's and his wife Jinky, are providing a "holistic ministry" i.e. addressing basic human rights, transferring agricultural skills and combining this with a 'quiet witness to Christ' to the rural community on Palawan. (See 'Mission Projects' page)

Their latest Newsletter can be accessed here. If you think the weather to be challenging here in Hamburg - read the newsletter!

"Act for the sake of love"

"We cannot show the right kind of love for our fellow humans unless we also work at keeping the earth as a place that is a secure home for all people".

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, was invited to preach by the Danish Council of Churches. The service was attended by the Queen of Denmark, by ambassadors and by members of international delegations attending the Copenhagen climate change negotiations, as well as religious leaders.

In his sermon the Archbishop contrasted fear, which can paralyse, with love, which is the liberating and decisive force for change: "In this season of Advent ... We reaffirm our conviction and commitment in the name of love; and we say 'don't be afraid' to all who stand uncertainly on the edge of decision. Don't be afraid; act for the sake of love."

For the full text Click here.

This week 13th-20th December

Choir Practice Tuesday 15th December 18:30 - for the Carol Service.
Monthly Eucharist Thursday 17th December 19:00
Carol Service with Nativity Sunday 20th December 10:30.

Please note the Advent and Christmas appeal for USPG-Anglicans in World Mission and Africa-Action.

Calling all budding journalists!

The next edition of the parish magazine 'Becket News' is under preparation. The editor would be very pleased to receive short articles on topics of interest by 20th December. Please give the editor a chance of a Christmas break, and contribute something - 200-350 words will do! Many thanks.