The Bishop of Hertford writes:It’s amazing to salute all that’s been achieved in the last year of COVID vaccinations in the UK.Yet even as we give thanks for this success, the arrival of Omicron - a variant of the virus that was first identified thousands of miles away, has underlined once again that caring for everyone’s health, wherever they may be, is not just a matter of justice, it’s also in our own self interest.Every time a person is infected with COVID around the world, the probability increases that new mutations of the virus will happen and make it to our shores.Such variants, like Omicron, carry the risk of being able to evade our vaccines or cause serious illness.Vaccinating everyone would act dramatically to reduce this risk. Yet our record to date is lamentable.Despite the fact that by the end of this year 12 billion doses of vaccines will have been produced – enough to vaccinate every adult in the world - 95 per cent of adults in low income countries remain unprotected.We must act now to change this picture and demand vaccine equity across our globe. ‘None of us are safe until we’re all safe’.
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
