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.
Coventry Diocese is to receive £1.25 million in Strategic Development Funding (SDF) for outreach work in parishes serving estates and suburban areas in the city and the Warwickshire town of Bedworth. The projects are part of a plan to create 150 new worshipping communities in the diocese by 2030, reaching children and young people, families, elderly people and other groups such as homeless people. The funding will support activities such as a community choir, holiday and lunch clubs, pastoral support and Christian enquiry courses. In Bedworth, new worshipping communities will meet in venues including a working men’s club and a school.The Bishop of Coventry, Christopher Cocksworth, said: “This is a big moment in the Diocese of Coventry as we venture out on a life-giving work to build up our church communities and reach deeper into some of the most disadvantaged parishes in the diocese.”Separately, a £3.5 million grant has been awarded to Southwell and Nottingham diocese for work to support 40 churches reach children, families and young people over the next five years. The award, also from the Church of England’s Strategic Development Funding, will be used to train and commission leaders and volunteers to build on work already under way to reach children and families with the Christian message. The grants have been awarded as the Church of England outlines priorities in its Vision and Strategy for the future. This includes a goal of doubling the number of children and young people in churches and attracting more diverse congregations.Bishop of Sherwood, Andrew Emerton, said: “This is a vitally important project for us which aligns well with the national Church of England vision and seeks to transform children and families and youth ministry in churches across Southwell & Nottingham. “Investment will be focused on 40 churches, but we hope and pray that, empowered by the Spirit, we’ll see development across the diocese as learning and expertise is shared from these centres of strength”Debbie Clinton, Co-Director for the Church of England’s Vision and Strategy, said: “Becoming a church that is younger and more diverse emerged as a clear priority for the Church of England as part of its Vision and Strategy for the next ten years. “Coventry and Southwell and Nottingham dioceses have been working in this direction for some time and this investment builds on successful work to reach children, young people and young adults with the good news of the Gospel in those dioceses.”
