Forthcoming diary dates — ALL WELCOME

All are welcome to a Macmillan coffee morning hosted by John and Mary Bowen THIS FRIDAY from 10.00am-1.00pm at 15 Bradstock Road Kings Norton

Join us and bring your friends to our Back To Church, Harvest Festival service at 10.00am THIS SUNDAY

Use the following lists to help you select what foods to donate to the foodbank this week

B30 Foodbank (Update 25^th September 2022)

Baked beans, rice (500g), laundry liquid/powder (not family sized), bar soap,

Urgently Required

Rice (500g), pasta sauce, tinned fish (tuna, mackerel, sardines, salmon), tinned fruit in juice (not prunes or grapefruit); sweet biscuits (not multi-packs), tinned spaghetti, jam/honey, liquid/bar soap, strong carrier bags, nappies sizes 4, 5 & 6, laundry powder/liquid (not family sized)

Low in stock

tinned tomatoes, tinned/packet soup, squash, UHT semi-skimmed milk, dog food, instant hot-chocolate (not cocoa powder), long-life fruit juice (not needing refrigeration), instant coffee (not decaffeinated), porridge (not greater than 500g), ready-made custard (tinned/carton); UHT whole milk, tinned rice pudding, tinned/packet vegetarian meals, tinned meat (ham, corned beef, pork sandwich, pulled pork, chicken), sugar (500g), chocolate and snack bars, gender neutral shower-gel, gender neutral shampoo, toothpaste, single or duo wrapped toothbrushes, toilet rolls, washing up liquid

Well stocked

Pasta shapes, dry spaghetti, tinned potatoes, cereal (not greater than 500g), crisps, baked beans, teabags (40’s or 80’s), tinned vegetables, noodles, nappies size 1-3, baby food and baby care items, gender neutral roll-on deodorants, razors, sanitary pads, baby wipes, cat food

Not needed at all

Decaffeinated drinks or fruit infusions, bottled water, large bottles of lemonade or coke, any food or toiletries containing alcohol, cooking ingredient or sauces, instant potato, tinned macaroni cheese, fresh products (including vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs and bread), non-dairy items, gluten-free items, coffee beans, loose tea, large boxes of teabags (120’s or more), very large bags or boxes of porridge and cereal, cocoa power, tampons, make up hair accessories, perfume or aftershave

In the current climate of anxiety and fear generated by rising prices and limited financial resources it is easy to lose sight of the wonder of creation. However if we pause and ponder anew the miracle of God’s creation; we might more readily respond to the desperate need of those whonfind themselves unexpectedly dependent of foodbanks to feed themselves and their family.

Harvest Reflection(Edward P Echin, author of Earth Spirituality, Jesus at the Centre 1999 cited in Christian Ecological Link Resource available from Germinate)

At harvest we thank and praise God for all his gifts of food and weather, especially his plants which mature in autumn and nourish us all year. Harvest is also an opportunity to give thanks and to praise God for all the creatures which move in the waters, fly in the sky and live on land. Harvest reminds us that all earth creatures are a community created to praise and glorify God. Nature matures in the autumn even without human help. Wild creatures enjoy the fruits of the season. With human cooperation however, nature glorifies God through cultivated fields, including grain and grapes which make bread and wine. Human hands and voices represent the whole earth community, in Christ, to God. The transformation of the earth at harvest is a sign, the beginning of the final transformation of all material creation in the resurrection when God does not make a new thing but rather makes “all things new”.