This year's splendid effort filled 86 shoeboxes with Christmas gifts to be distributed to needy or suffering children in many parts of the world.

SPONSORED WALK

Eric Goodall would like to thank most sincerely everyone who sponsored him for walking the 12 miles of the Michael Sobell House Annual Sponsored Walk. The weather was fine and 320 walkers took part to walk 3, 7 or 12 miles. He raised the sum of £420 and was delighted with the generous support shown for this worthy cause.

THE BIBLE AND THE TV GUIDE.

On the table side by side;
The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.
One is well worn but cherished with pride
(No, not the Bible but the TV Guide)
One is used daily to help folks decide No!
It isn't the Bible
It's the TV Guide.
As pages are turned, what shall we see?
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV.
So they open the book in which they confide
(No, not the Bible, it's the TV Guide)
The Word of God is seldom read,
Maybe a verse ere they fall into bed
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be.
No, not from reading the Bible, but from watching TV.
So, then back to the table side by side
Are the Holy Bible and the TV Guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word.
God's Plan of Salvation is seldom heard.
Forgiveness of Sins so Full and so Free
Is found in the Bible, NOT on the TV.

ST ETHELBURGA'S CENTRE FOR RECONCILIATION AND PEACE

My husband and I were privileged to visit this lovely little church in the busiest part of the City of London. It is one of the oldest medieval churches in the Square Mile, and survived the Great Fire of London as well as the Blitz during WWII. However, in April 1993 it was devastated by an IRA bomb and at first seemed to be beyond repair. After much debate the Bishop of London, the RT. Revd. Richard Chartres decided that the best response would be to restore the building as a centre for reconciliation and peace. It was rebuilt in 2002 and is truly well worth visiting. The nearest Underground Station is Liverpool Street.on the Central Line.
Yvonne Blake

A prayer for an end to violence found in the Ethelburga centre

God of Life. Every act of violence within our world, in our communities and between myself and others, destroys a part of Your creation. Stir within my heart a renewed sense of reverence for all life. Give me the vision to recognize Your Spirit in every human being, however they behave towards me. Make possible the 'impossible' by cultivating in me the fertile seed of your healing love. Amen

PARISH PUMP

Receipt is acknowledged, with grateful thanks, of the following donations towards the cost of I.C.N.: Anonymous from Uxbridge, The Mother's Union (for publicity), Meriel Lawrence from Farnham Common, Anonymous from Clovelly Avenue via Bill Dancer, Anonymous from Court Road via Mrs Farrow-Smith, Anonymous of Milton Court via John Fowling, Anonymous from Gerrards Cross via David Thorpe, Beryl of Swakeleys Drive via Editor.
My thanks are due also to the following people: All distributors. Distribution Secretary - Joyce Hodt. Advertising Secretary - David Keites. Postal Copies - Alan Grove. Webmaster -Alastair Fischbacher; Online Files Assistant - Michael Burton. Proof Reader Sue Crane, and to all those at Stanley L Hunt Printers.
Remember there is no January 2006 edition. Copy for the February 2006 edition should be with me by 13th January 2006. Have organizations sent the Editor a copy of their 2006 schedule for the Forthcoming Events column?