We are so glad to have known him and have been taught by his life. We will continue to support Mother of Peace Community in Zimbabwe.

Please help us and pray for his family.

We wanted to remind the children that the most important thing to remember at Christmas was the coming of Jesus; God’s gift of love to us. In all the giving and receiving of presents, the best gift they can give in return is a loving heart. God wants them just as they are. To create the journey they could enact to witness God’s gift, we needed to make a new kind of crib out of “nothing”-nothing bought, anyway, and to help them make representations of themselves, so they could place themselves at the centre of things instead of being only visitors. The journey happens inside the heart, but it is a powerful experience to physically place something visible in a particular place.
And what does it mean to have a loving heart, if not to be there for each other- to really notice other people? We needed to take other people, too.

Part of really being present is to see other people. We can care about the needs of others, but we can only think of one person at once. We think about the people we see every day or week, but maybe fail to notice. Do we notice who is alongside us at mass in our community.
And how can we care about the world outside our community?
Last year during Advent, we brought the world, continent by continent, into our thoughts, discovering the ways Christmas is celebrated in different countries, praying for peace worldwide- ending with the Holy Land .

Father David Everitt had come to talk to the children on our Africa week, telling them about the lives of AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe who are cared for by the Mother of Peace Community. Father David had summed up God’s message by getting the children to count on the fingers of each hand in turn-‘God loves me very much! I love God very much!’ The children in Zimbabwe always relished the word, ‘MUCH’.
Those children returned to our thoughts as we heard the news of the current terrible situation in Zimbabwe. We told the children about the shortages of basic goods, the way money all but ceased to have value, the cholera epidemic, the closed hospitals in Harare.
We have so much in this country; we throw away so much, without ever noticing. We knew there were people in the world who lived by searching rubbish dumps, children whose only toys were made from scrap. So another way of respecting our world and linking ourselves to the people in it was to recycle the materials we normally discard.
And so we had our project- to make our crib using things we would not usually notice; to see people we sometimes don’t notice and to bring all of these things in our hearts to Bethlehem at Christmas. If we could do all of this and help in some small way by raising money for the children of Zimbabwe, we could give in a practical, tangible way.
We made the stable from old boxes, with bricks from discarded packaging, straw from shredded newspaper.

We asked the people of the parish if they would like to come with us to Bethlehem- we would make them out of plastic bottles, if they gave a donation and they would be able to choose to be represented as themselves or as any character or animal from the Christmas story. If they wanted, they could be named and presented in church. We would give them a card explaining our project, so the journey could be used as a present to others if someone wanted to send a friend to the manger for Christmas.

The people of the parish also helped by bringing in the materials we needed: plastic bottles, empty packets, unwanted material.
The orders began to come in. People we had seen for years began to have names! We had to remember what they looked like in order to make them.

We painted all the bottles using discarded paint. Heads were created out of empty yoghurt pots, though some polystyrene balls were used. The children dressed the figures in scraps of material, with wool hair and details from old costume jewellery, buttons given in three years ago when we made a giant collage for church.
One wonderful way people were made present was by the treasuring of memories sparked by scraps of rubbish. The Wellington boots on the gardening figure, for example, were made from pieces of shoe leather given in three years before. The leather had been kept for a lifetime by someone whose father had been a shoemaker and had made all their shoes for them when they were a child. The gardener’s flowers were a brooch found in a jewel box after someone’s Mum had died. The wool for all the hair had been saved in a bag by an older lady who had always knitted and whose last work of art was a patchwork blanket. All of these things and many, many more are now present at Jesus’s birth in secret ways, all of which are little stories of love in themselves.
There are hidden messages- Mary has a bell, because she stands for someone in the parish who is always ringing one. Someone was sent as an angel by somebody who thinks they really are one, because they are so kind.

Visitors to the parish had novel ideas about their arrival in Bethlehem, asking for an astronaut, a wise woman, a typical man, Cinderella, a shepherdess. So political correctness came to our manger.
And joy. A man recently received into the church was able to take his daughter-in-law to see himself as a shepherd, standing next to Mary in the stable. ‘That’s me!’ he said. Right at the heart of things.
Families have been given the gift of a present to Zimbabwe. Someone chose a gift to Zimbabwe as their own birthday present. And to date we have raised £586 for the Mother of Peace Community. Our children are very proud.

Finally, we now think it might be possible to ship the crib to Zimbabwe for next Christmas so it can be used by the children at Mother of Peace. Little things mean a lot.

St. Joseph's Advent Safari 2010.

In Advent 2008, the children of St. Joseph's Liturgy made a crib from recycled materials, in order to raise money for Mother of Peace Community in Zimbabwe, who care for children orphaned by AIDS. They had learnt about the Community from Father David Everitt, from St. Joseph's parish, who had gone out to spend some time there. He was also one of the greatest supporters of our children's liturgy.
 
The children each made a figure to represent themselves at the manger, then the people of the parish were invited to sponsor additional figures to be present at the stable. They could come as anyone they wanted from the Christmas story, or even the animals; and their order would be made and placed with the holy crowd. (in the event, there were such unlikely arrivals as Cinderella, a space man, a typical man etc.) Father David came as a lion. 
 
Just after Christmas 2008, Father David discovered he had bowel cancer. He died on Easter Sunday 2010. At his funeral, as the model of the Easter garden would still be in front of the altar, it seemed a natural thing to place his Christmas lion looking into the empty tomb. Our children wrote tributes and goodbyes to Father David, which some of them placed upon his coffin, whilst the other cards stood on the altar steps.
 
We had no intention of forgetting about his work. During the Summer, the children began writing to their new friends at Mother of Peace and they held a mass and party to raise funds, on a day when they were visited by members of Mother of Peace Committee.
 
This Advent, we would like to raise funds again, to help our friends and to remember Father David. His lion will  again have a starring part, next to the manger- but Bethlehem this year will be in Zimbabwe- and to reach there, we will all travel on Safari- i.e. from one side of our church to the other, filling the space in between with animals, plants or birds from Zimbabwe, made from recycled cardboard, fabric, beads, ribbons etc. When we reach St. Joseph's chapel, we will see the stable as a traditional, straw-thatched hut, with the holy mountain, Chigona, in the background, in the landscape around Mutoko.
 
We are asking the people of the parish to choose items for us to make, and each child will create their own form of Zimbabwean wildlife, which will be fixed to the altar steps. Additionally, anyone can ask for a loved one to be remembered, by name or photo, as a star in the sky over the stable. The first star to arrive will bring Father David. He once told us that he and his mother shared the thought that whilst he was far away in Africa, they would still both be looking up at the same moon and that would make them feel close.
 
And that is the message of our crib this year. We all share God's love made new again at Christmas. When we love each other, we can be with each other no matter where we are. Bethlehem can be in Zimbabwe, because Jesus brought God's love to the whole world; and once we love, we stay together, even after someone has left us and gone to be with God in heaven.
 
Meanwhile the first orders are for Dr. Peter to come as a very naughty baboon, Mary as a cheeky monkey, Harry to come as a giraffe, bringing Anita as a gazelle, because, he says she has grace,,,,and so on.

We have just received our first batch of letters from the children at Mother of Peace Community in Zimbabwe. Grace told the congregation about how she felt on hearing for the first time from her new friends:
 
Last week, we received our pen pal letters from some of the children at Mother of Peace Community. I would like to tell you about two of the letters, so you could see if you would like to write as well.
 
   The first one is from an orphan called Jennifer, who is thirteen and has a twin brother called John. She says that she wants to be a musician, and, like me, loves dancing and reading books. She told me all about the animals in Zimbabwe, which include elephants, giraffes, lions, horses and many more. It made me laugh when she told me her favourite food was pizza and pork pie!
 
   The second pen pal has the lovely name of Courage, and is also thirteen. She said she is usually tired when she gets back from school, as it is five to ten kilometres away and she has to walk. She is going to send me her photograph in her next letter, and I can’t wait to see what she looks like!
God bless all the children at Mother of Peace and people in difficult situations, such as Libya. Jennifer asked me to praise God; let us praise God for friendship.
Lord hear us.
 
If you would like to write to a child at Mother of Peace, tell a liturgy leader.
Along with the letters came some photographs of Father David's chalice arriving at Mother of Peace.

(Read all about Father David in the Mother of Peace section at the side of this page.)

The FIRST SUNDAY of ADVENT.

Today we want to tell you about our Advent project, which will raise money for Mother of Peace Community in Zimbabwe, who look after children orphaned by AIDS.

You will remember our friend, Father David, went out to be with the children and the lepers living nearby. One of his heroes was John Bradburne, who also cared for the lepers. He was a poet and mystic. Once, when he couldn’t find enough time to be alone with God, he prayed for a swarm of bees to come, to keep people away. The bees came and lived under his table, but did not sting him!

So this Advent, we are making holy bees out of your old socks! Some of them smell gorgeous, of cloves or lavender. We hope they will remind us all to spend time with God this Christmas, and not get carried away with all the shopping and rushing around.

Please give a donation to Mother of Peace and sponsor us to make a bee for you. You can name your bee for someone, as a present, or in memory of a loved one. After Christmas, you will be able to take the bee home. We have been asked to remember James Smith and George Kaspruk and bees have been made for Joseph, Francis and Jo.

You might also like to help us fill our stockings for the children in Zimbabwe by sponsoring us to fill a parcel. We will be filling our presents with prayers or messages for the children. You can join in by writing on a parcel label when you make a donation. What would you wish for the children this Christmas? Helen has sent happiness. We are also selling small knitted bees made by Margaret. Wear your bee with pride this Advent!

So far, we have raised £46.

Please give you orders to Father John, a liturgy leader, or fill in one of the sheets at the back of the church. Harry has already placed his order.

In today's gospel, we are asked to stay awake and wait for Jesus' coming. He comes to us in our brothers and sisters; through our prayers and in the way we live. He comes to us when we are asked to cope with sad times. He comes to us when we feel joy.

Lord Jesus, may we keep on looking for you in all the moments that make up a single day, the sad times which remind us of your suffering and the joyful times which remind us that you were born for us and rose from the dead. Come to us this Advent! Amen.

Lord Jesus, help us to recognise you when you come to us; in the people we meet; the chances we have to hear you speak; the chances to learn your ways; the chances to pass on your love. Amen.

Lord Jesus, may our hearts be the space we keep for you this Advent. Amen.

Prayers for Children’s Mass December 4th 2011.

Sorry Prayers.

Dear Lord, we are sorry for the times we have taken for granted the good things we have in our lives: our parents, family and friends, the food we eat, the schools and church we attend. We will remember people around the world who have to worry about their crops. We will remember our brothers and sisters who have to walk miles to school or can’t get to mass.

Amen.

Lord, most of all we are sorry for not making a place in our lives for you, when you come to us at Christmas as a helpless little baby. Bees came to help John Bradburne find time for you. May we, too, realise how much you love us and rush to hug you. May we fold you in our hearts.

Amen.

Bidding prayers.

This Advent, we are raising money for the children at Mother of Peace Community in Zimbabwe. The children have no parents, because of AIDS.

We are making Holy Bees and filling parcels with our prayers and wishes for the children. You can help by sponsoring us to make a bee as a present or in memory of someone, or by writing on a parcel label in the narthex what you would wish for the children this Christmas.

Marie has filled a parcel with a prayer for good crops. This is in memory of Alec, a farmer.

Lord, may the children in Zimbabwe have good crops in 2012-

Lord in you mercy hear our prayer.

This week we are making bees for Harry, Francis and Michael. We are also making bees in memory of Father David Everitt and Chloe Buckley. Lord God please bless all the people, including the children at Mother of Peace, who will be missing someone this Christmas.

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

We would like to tell you about some of the children at Mother of Peace. Judith was abandoned at Harare hospital. Judith was very thin and had scabies. Agnes had looked after her mother when she was ill and didn’t realise when her mother died, staying by her side for days. She is now a big, happy girl, doing well at school. Sometimes she is taken for holidays, though she has no relatives.

Lord, please take care of people who have had to get over terrible shocks in their lives.

A Prayer for Children.

O Immaculate Heart of Mary,

Mother of Jesus:

Bless my little children,

Make them grow up healthy and strong,

Help them to love Jesus.

Protect and defend them from

Dangers and from sin.

Queen of Heaven, hear

The prayer of a mother.

Amen

Thank you prayers.

Dear God thank you for our parish and the chance to come to mass whenever we want, to share the love you send us.

Amen.

Lord, thank you for the chances to know more about your people, our brothers and sisters all around the world. We have such a big family and it is wonderful.

Amen.