In the branches are traditional baubles, stars and fairy lights but also shampoo, tampons, and deodorant.Revd Nick Mottershead, Priest in Charge, hopes the unusual display will encourage visitors and congregation to donate hygiene products over the festive season. He has coordinated collections for the Square Mile Hygiene Bank for the past two years, providing supplies to organisations working with a range of people. These include survivors of domestic abuse and modern slavery, refugees, asylum seekers and families who struggle to make ends meet. So far more than 12,000 kgs of items have been donated, through work place collections in the City, drop-off points at local Boots branches and City churches, orders made through online ‘wish lists’ and donations from companies. Hygiene poverty is ‘huge’, he says, affecting people on low incomes who can barely afford basics such as food and heating, and those living in or escaping from crisis. Since he began the work, he has also distributed small items such as nail clippers and hair dye and consignments of bath robes, luxury towels and bed linen donated from top hotels and linen companies in London. A small gift or package of self-care items has a disproportionate effect on well-being and morale, he says. “It is often only a small amount of money and yet it gives somebody the gift of dignity. To me that is the most mind blowing and amazing aspect of this work.”
A group has knitted and crocheted 1,500 squares to make a soft goods Christmas tree for charity.The 6.3m (20ft) tree at St Michael's Church in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, was made by the Green Meal Knit 'n' Natter group, with help from friends and family.They are hoping to raise money for local dementia groups and the Alzheimer's Society. Member Mary Jordan said they were "ecstatic" over how it turned out. She said it took the group about three months to make all the 15cm (6in) squares.The structure to support the squares was built by the local Shed Group, she added.It is hoped visitors to the church to see the tree will make donations to the causes. So far, the group has raised more than £700 for their charities through cash donations and the online Green Meal Giant Christmas Tree fundraising page.We have all been doing it furiously; friends and family, relations, customers and campers, the whole community - we have even had squares come from Australia," Ms Jordan said."I can't tell you how pleased we are with it."The Knit 'n' Natter ladies all went out for their Christmas lunch and the Shed Group put the tree up as a surprise, so we all went back to the church and celebrated."She said the group was checking to see whether it had a record for the tallest knitted and crocheted Christmas tree.
What does the Christ-child have in common with police dramas? What does Jesus, Saviour of the world have to do with The Bill, CSI and – for those of us who remember it – Z Cars? The answer is fingerprints!As I journey through Advent this year, I have been reminded afresh of the fingerprints of God as the Old Testament prophets point us to the coming Messiah. For example, writing 700 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah proclaims: ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, And the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’ (Is 9:6). My research indicates that there are 48 major predictions of Jesus’ coming in the Old Testament. Fingerprints - fingerprints of the Messiah to come, of what it would look like when God came in human form, with a motive of love.So, this Advent, as I prepare to celebrate once again the birth of the Christ-child and reflect on the certainty of his return one day, I am trying to consciously be aware of seeing today’s fingerprints of God. As I live for Jesus everyday wherever I find myself, where do I see God at work, leaving his fingerprints behind? I wonder, will you join me in asking that question this Advent? I pray that as we ask that question, God may reveal his fingerprints, and that we might rejoice and with sincerity of heart respond… ‘O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel’.Archdeacon Martin
Holy Trinity Brompton (known as HTB), the largest church in the Church of England, is to have a new Vicar lead its 4,000-strong congregation.The former curate who pioneered its first ‘plant’ outside of London – the Revd Canon Archie Coates, 51, currently Vicar of St Peter’s Brighton, has been chosen as HTB’s Vicar Designate. It is expected that Canon Coates will become Vicar in September 2022, taking over from the Revd Nicky Gumbel, 66, who has announced his intention to resign his post from July 2022. Mr Gumbel has been Vicar of HTB since 2005 and has overseen considerable growth in that time. His books, which include Why Jesus? and Questions of Life, have been international best-sellers.HTB is located in Knightsbridge, west London, and comprises a large, young and diverse congregation including a significant number of students, youth and children. Eleven services take place each Sunday across six sites in South Kensington, Earl’s Court and on the Dalgarno estate in west London.It is home to the Alpha course, which was founded at HTB and is now running in over 30,000 churches of all denominations – including Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Salvation Army and Pentecostal – in 130 countries around the world.HTB has also pioneered a ministry of ‘church planting’ in partnership with dioceses across the Church of England and the Church in Wales. Scores of churches have been ‘planted’ across London and into other cities such as Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Gateshead, Lincoln, Liverpool, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Rochdale, Southampton and Wrexham. The appointment of Canon Coates as Vicar Designate follows a thorough process of discussion and discernment, which considered a range of candidates for the post, and he was the unanimous choice of those involved in the decision, which included HTB’s Patrons, the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS), Keble College, Oxford, the Bishop of Kensington (representing the Bishop of London), HTB’s two Churchwardens (representing the HTB PCC) as well as trustees representing HTB’s associated charities – Alpha International, the Church Revitalisation Trust and St Paul’s Theological Centre. All have warmly welcomed the appointment.
