Practising generosity!

Steven and I had a fantastic time at our last synod and I would like to share what people -  in the vast diocese of Lichfield -  have been doing and are still doing in order to tackle poverty and practise generosity in their parishes. I have downloaded the video, you can watch it on the page called 'videos', scroll down in the right column. Any problem let me know. Have a blessed week. Nicky

Messy church rocks!

This afternoon, Steven and I went to messy church in Weston.We met up with Phil, the rector, Gill, the messy church team leader and the other members of the team.Once again, the village hall was full of children and parents. On the play list was my favourite song : Who is the king of me? J.E.S.U.S. The kids loved it!

We gave thanks to the Lord for all the good things that He provides us with. The most popular activity was the following, you had to design bracelets or necklaces with food bits, such as grapes, candy floss, sweets, cheerios and  strawberry strings. Have you done messy church before, it's a lot of organisation but good fun!

Pick of the week: Woman wakes from coma, finds out she’s 12 weeks pregnant

Photo credit: Newsy/ITV

A woman awoke from a coma after a horrific crash to find that she was four months pregnant.
Last September, Gemma Holmes was on her moped in Hilperton, England when she crashed into a parked car. Holmes suffered severe head injuries and a broken back. When she arrived to the hospital doctors did not think the 26-year-old would make it.
About three months after the crash Holmes awoke from the coma and was told she was four months pregnant. Holmes suffered amnesia as a result of the accident and she could not remember what had happened going back several years including who the father might be. "I was just in shock," she said of hearing the surprising news.
Doctors advised her that keeping the baby could pose a risk to her health and that the surgery she required to fix her broken back could to be done while she was pregnant. Doctors apparently suggested terminating the pregnancy while Holmes was still unconscious, but her mother, Julie, wanted to wait for her daughter to wake up before making any decisions. Gemma decided that she would carry pregnancy to term, according to the Wiltshire Times "I just thought that if this little baby inside me had managed to survive the awful crash, then he was meant to be," she told ITV.
In May, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Rueben Miracle Holmes via cesarean section.
"I couldn't stop crying when they first showed him to me, because he is my little miracle baby. I was just so happy to see him after everything we've been through," she told SWNS.com.
Holmes is preparing for surgery that will correct her back and hopefully lean to walk again.
"Rueben is the best thing to ever happen to me. I may not remember how he came to me but I've got the rest of our lives to make up for that," Holmes told Reveal.co.uk in May.

I found this story wonderful, Gemma was so brave to take the decision to go ahead with the pregnancy, It is also said that she suffered excruciating pain, since she was unable to take the usual high doses of painkillers. as these might have harmed her baby.  Doctors told Gemma that she couldn’t have a natural birth because it would likely cause her death. Her broken back would not be able to cope with the contractions.
But Gemma’s pain and sacrifice paid off when in May she met Ruben Miracle Holmes for the first time, delivered by caesarian section.
To read more, click here!  

Whoever sows sparingly..

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly whoever sows generously will reap generously. Each man shall give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God LOVES a cheerful giver!Which home charity, church or far away mission do you support? Have a blessed evening!