Letter From The Vicarage - December 2011

Dear Friends,

At this time of the year, if you’re anything like me you get all sorts of appeals for charities and special causes.  After all, this is the season of goodwill and we don’t want to be like Scrooge or like the priest and Levite in the Good Samaritan and ignore the cries of those in need.

Some of these good causes are really worthwhile supporting.  However, being realistic, we can’t help every one of them.  We need to be selective.  I have today received two appeals and I feel that we ought to try and assist where we can.

The first is from Practical Action.  It concerns the worst drought in the Horn of Africa for 60 years.  Carcasses of cattle litter the horizon and the wind carries the pungent smell of death.  There has only been one day of rain this year in the Mandera Valley – the so-called Valley of Death.

People often see to the needs of their animals before their own needs and the Vultures are waiting to swoop down.  If you feel that you able to help the  Charity can be contacted at The Schumacher Centre, Bourton on Dunsmore, Rugby, Warwickshire CV23 9QZ. 
Their website is www.practicalaction.org

The other appeal I’ve received is nearer home.  This is not asking for financial support, but to raise awareness of dementia.  The Department of Health supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, has launched a new campaign to raise early signs and symptoms of dementia.  Fewer than 50% of people get diagnosed with dementia at a sufficiently early stage, yet early diagnosis can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life and provide them with better treatment.  I have displayed some posters and there are leaflets available giving further information.

You may have other charities you want to support instead, but whatever we decide to do, we should help someone in need this Christmas.  In a way, that is a far more important way of keeping Christmas than buying each other presents we don’t really need.

Have a good and generous Christmas, Yours faithfully,

Geoffrey

Christenings

Samuel James Barber at Wolverley - 30th October 
Poppy Mae Small at Cookley - 6th November
Joshua Bramwell Pannell at Cookley - 12th November
Lily-Rose Gorman and Czar Frank Collins at Wolverley - 13th November



Confirmation

20th November (Feast of Christ the King) at Saint Mary’s, Kidderminster

                 Gillian Duffy
                   Jean Mander
                Fred Leeson
                   Oliver Milner



Funerals

Susan Jane Moore of Cookley at Stourbridge Crematorium - 14th October
Dorothy Vera Pagett of Wolverley at Stourbridge Crematorium - 20th October
Barry John Hatton of Cookley at Stourbridge Crematorium - 26th October
Don Smith of Franche (formerly of Wolverley) at Wolverley - 26th October
Geoffrey Michael Owers of Cookley at Stourbridge Crematorium - 27th October
Mary Cartwright at Stourbridge and St. John’s, Wolverley - 1st November
Gladys Oakley at Stourbridge and St. Peter’s, Cookley - 3rd November
Geoffrey Francis Bonner of Wolverley at Stourbridge Crematorium - 16th November