From the Rectory

October  2001

Dear Friends,

I was preparing to continue some thoughts on the finer points of Christianity from my previous letter when the atrocity in the United States occurred. I obviously do not wish to dwell upon the political side of these dreadful occurrences but as Odell Church has so many friends on the other side of the Atlantic, many of whom visit our web-site regularly, it seems appropriate to convey our support from the Church and I am sure that many in the village would wish to join with us in these sentiments.

In the welter of emotion as I was watching CNN as the situation developed, there were several incidents that struck me most forcibly. The first was one of disbelief to see the airliners crash into the side of the WTC building and literally to disappear in a ball of fire and smoke. I could only watch in disbelief. I am not the world's most confident flyer and always nervous about the possibility of a crash. To see planes with a full complement of crew and passengers being deliberately flown into a building filled me with horror at the thought of those innocent lives being wiped out, as well as the office workers suddenly being caught in a maelstrom of exploding fuel, wreckage and rubble.

The second thought occurred as the television cameras focussed on the building on fire when some office workers scrambled out of the smashed windows and then launched themselves into the space some thousand feet above the ground. The horror in the building must have been of such a magnitude that the fear of falling from such a height overcame their natural reaction of self-preservation.

The third incident is of an entirely different nature. It was the sight of the army at the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. The Guard was drawn up with the Band behind it and the Star Spangled Banner was played. There were obviously many US citizens in the crowd mixed in with the British. This is the first time I understand that such a thing has occurred by order of HM the Queen but for me it expressed a very deep emotion of standing shoulder to shoulder with friends and family over the water.

I was grateful to have had access to CNN because I believe it did a better job of reporting than any of our channels. Words are important as they are windows into our minds. Our reporters used the word tragedy. It was not a tragedy, it was an atrocity, a crime against humanity and an act of undeclared war against the US and the civilised world. Another word being used was vengeance. The correct word is retribution which signifies that the act against the perpetrators of this callous act would be entirely proportionate in punishing those responsible.

One of the British reporters made unpleasant comments about the US President which were entirely inappropriate in the light of the horrendous situation. My thought was that I am grateful that we had a different set of reporters with different values in the Second World War otherwise we would have surrendered to another and earlier attack on civilisation.

Perhaps, the worst element of such an atrocity is its religious foundation. In the history of the world some of the cruellest events have taken place in the name of one religion or another. In the Christian world the Inquisition must rank very highly and Cromwell's destruction of Drogheda cannot be left out. The hijackers were referred to as brave men by one columnist in the Daily Telegraph. They attacked silently and suddenly against unarmed men, women and children. They knew that they were going to die and therefore they would escape an earthly tribunal. If their motivation was the same as the suicide bombers in Israel then they believed themselves to be martyrs and going straight to paradise. That is not bravery. The columnist confused bravery with fanaticism.

For those of us who pray, let us pray for the President of the USA and for his Cabinet. Let us remember those who have been severely injured and many others who have been bereaved, a significant number from our own country. Events of this nature are never neutral. They always have consequences. It may well be in the providence of God that this is a means of waking not only America but its allies as well and there is a turning away from the sleepiness of a wealthy consumer society with a secular outlook to a revival of true values, remembering that ‘righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.’

Yours sincerely in Christ David Streater

Wednesday 3^rd October 10.30am at Catherine Corkery’s, Manor Cottage, High St., Harrold.

Tuesday 16^th October 10.30am at Jill Cheadle’s, Rectory Farm, Odell.

The change of date from April did mean the Pit Run was less well supported than usual but about 60 runners took part in the main race which was run at a cracking pace. So much so, that the dog and I were shamed into running more than we had intended and I suffered aches and pains afterwards. However it was all worth it.

Thank you so much if you supported Aid for Romania with your sponsorship. Seven people ran or walked for us, collecting at least £440, which is split between us and the organisers, Harrold Centre. Lucy and I managed to raise over £250 and we once again won the Rose Bowl. Thank you too to the members of Grace Baptist Church who provided delicious teas, giving the proceeds to Aid for Romania and the Centre. Altogether this means we raised enough to sponsor one of our 28 families for a year, which is wonderful since we now have several families without specific sponsors who are supported from central funds. From us and our friends in Romania, a very big 'Thank You'.     Liz Dodwell

Other Charities: Bethan Lee won the Middle School girls' race and raised £80 for Harrold Pre-School whilst at least two people raised more than £100 on behalf of Odell Scouts. There were three entries for the wheelchair race, and several Odell friends were supporting the efforts of Corner Club and other groups.

The Dodwells are planning their next visit to Romania, for two weeks in October, to hold the AGM of the Romania Foundation and visit all the sponsored families. You may remember that, before last Christmas, we sent more than 100 boxes and items to our 28 families and the school at Suditi. They were delighted with their gifts and we, and the sponsoring families, received many grateful letters and cards. However the transport cost over £1,000 of which £600 was received in special donations. This year the regulations on taking aid into Romania have become much more complicated, and costs have risen again so we have decided there will be no boxes of clothes and other presents for the foreseeable future. We shall still hope to give them all an extra £20+ to spend on food over Christmas, particularly important for those who now are forced to use all their sponsorship as help in paying their domestic bills. Extra help with medical expenses and dental care still continues.

About 30 of our 120+ children with 4 Mums went to the holiday camp at Bisoca organised by the Orthodox Church. We give a donation, paid for transport and sent food and detergents. Our Romanian administrator wasn't so happy with arrangements this year as the age difference was great and even the very young ones spent time at discos, went to bed late and ate too much fruit in the orchards!

While we are in Romania, we shall also go to visit the little school at Suditi, in which the children from Harrold Middle School have always taken a keen interest. Last year we succeeded in working in co-operation with the local council on some very major structural repairs. We paid for the materials and they paid for the labour. Hopefully this co-operation will continue.

Our help in Romania is still certainly needed and we are very grateful for any contributions you are able to send us, especially towards that Christmas gift for the families.

Thank you everyone for your continuing support and prayers.              Liz and Tim Dodwell

Service of Wholeness and Healing with the Laying on of Hands: Felmersham Church, Sunday 7th October at 6pm – everyone welcome.

Forward in Healing course in Bedford

We still hope there will be a Basic Lay Training Course in the Ministry of Healing run over six weeks, early next year, at St Andrew’s Church in Bedford. This will be open to anyone interested from any denomination and deanery. Please contact us if you want to be kept informed or if you can help in any way. Also please tell us what day of the week is best or worst for your church.

Some Enigmas of Healing. Saturday November 3^rd

Talk and Discussion led by the Revd Carl Garner at St Andrew's Church, Kimbolton Road, Bedford, from 10am - 12.30.

Looking Way Ahead:

Please note the date for next year’s service at St. Alban’s: Saturday 9 February, 2002. Celebration of Christian Healing in the context of the Eucharist. Speaker: Dr Gareth Tuckwell, (until recently Medical Director at Burrswood)

Ten members of the Anglican Youth Choir of Uganda came to Odell in September. A five day visit had been planned as an interlude between a tour of England and then of America. Due to circumstances beyond their control the five days became twelve.

A number of local churches and schools were able to enjoy their lively playing and beautiful singing. They wooed all who heard them with their enthusiasm and their love for Christ.

The choir is attached to the Province of the Church of Uganda, which resolved in 1983 that a group should be formed to encourage worship of a more lively nature in the Anglican communion. It began with eleven members and has grown over the years to over thirty five including members who move away and remain as associate members promoting the choir in other parts of the world.

The members of the choir each have their own careers. These include teachers, agriculturalists, personnel officers, accountants, an artist, and even a journalist.

The recent visit was the third the choir has made to this country. A slightly larger number, mostly unmarried, sang to us at the harvest supper of 1993. Now they are all married and all but one with young children. Only two month old Elizabeth refused to be parted from her mother and may well hold the world record as the youngest person to make her stage debut!

Dear Friends

It is a privilege to have completed our first year at St Francis of Assissi. On June 14 we said our farewells to 37 graduating students whom we had come to know and appreciate during the course of the year. The graduation ceremony was a very special moment for them, marking the culmination of 3 or 4 years of study. For some it meant the end of financial hardship, for others the excitement of being reunited with their families. Most of all, it was an awesome moment because it heralded their forthcoming ordination. By the time you read this many will have been ordained and will be starting their new lives in churches spread across Northern Nigeria.

The end of an academic year is a good time for reflection. Here are some of our first impressions.

Spirituality

We have been impressed by the prayerful lives of the students and their devotion to the things of God: all night prayer vigils, frequent days of fasting, numerous early morning praise meetings, enthusiastic singing, clapping and dancing during chapel meetings and an unquenchable desire to preach the Good News at any and every opportunity.

Poverty

At times we have been distressed by the poverty of the students and their families. Many have struggled to feed themselves, yet have always been willing to share with others what little they have.

Some have preferred to use food money to purchase the theological books they will need in their future ministry, trusting God to provide their immediate needs.

Facilities

Lack of water and electricity has been a constant theme throughout the year. In the second semester the supply improved, but the increased output led to the collapse of the transformer supplying Wusasa. We were given a smaller transformer which resulted in power only being available once a week. It was impossible to pump enough water to supply the campus for a week. The students managed to clean the college’s emergency well, but the quantity of available water was still insufficient. We had to put an extra tank on our house to store enough for the week. Other members of staff stored water in as many buckets as they could lay their hands on.

The College has been given two computers. The members of staff have been undergoing training and some are making good progress, despite lack of power and of a printer.

Academics

The generally low educational background with which the students come to the college continues to be a challenge. For historical reasons this has long been a problem in Northern Nigeria. During the last year some measures have been put in place and hopefully will be carried into the new academic year.

Dick is conducting research into theological education in Africa and hopes to tie the training given at St Francis to the mission of the church in Northern Nigeria. Caroline is writing English teaching materials in order to tackle the problem of poor language skills. We would very much like to contribute something to the upgrading of the college.

An additional year has been added to the timetable to give those students who need it a year’s intensive English language training. This will give Caroline six courses to teach and Dick will be taking seven.

Daily Life

The pattern of life is very different. ‘Early to bed and early to rise’ has become our motto. The local mosque can start the early morning prayer call two hours before prayers at 5am!

Cooking has been an interesting challenge. No refrigeration so daily purchasing of foodstuffs is necessary. The simpler lifestyle has nevertheless been a refreshing change.

Communication is another difficulty. Post is notoriously unreliable, phone lines often not working, no external fax machine in Zaria and even email is difficult. When news does get through it is wonderful! As communications are so difficult one always gives and receives a warm welcome to any visitors by day or night.

In addition to the issues already raised we would ask you, please to pray for:

the new students as they start the new enter college year

the new courses we will be running

the Acting Dean who is seeking to further his qualifications

continued peace in Kaduna State, giving thanks for the peace of the past 12 months

that both we and the college will be able to establish an adequate email link

Thank you for your continued prayer and support.              Dick and Caroline Seed

We are stunned in disbelief and horror at the terrible events in America, with such evil motives at work causing so many thousands of lives to be innocently lost. It is impossible to understand how anyone could

contemplate such evil thoughts and actions. I am sure that we have all shed a tear or two knowing that the dead and injured are someone’s loved ones. Not only is the USA in shock but also so many other countries, who share in their sadness and wish to support them, and the families of those British people who have also lost their lives, with any help they can.

What can we do? Pray, and continue to pray and uphold these dear people in our hearts and minds for the months that lie ahead. Not only do we pray for these, but we must pray for the people who instigated this awful devastating event. Neither must we judge but place them into God’s hands – for He will deal with them in the way that He knows best!

We pray that something good will come out of something so bad, for so often this is the way our Lord works. As with all disasters, people look to ‘a higher power’ for their help. Prayer always works – keep praying!

Locally

So we pray:

As a new term is now well under way we put these children and all scholars in your hands. These youngsters are our tomorrow, and may we never forget that.

Please bless our village, and our church members binding us together in your love. We give you glory and praise for every one and we thank you especially for this special haven of your world in which we live.

Please accept and hear this and all our prayers through your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen." Anne Turner

May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus’ 2Timothy 1:16 NLT

Remember ‘the special people’ in your life

And so with fervent heart you cry. "God bless the friend who just stands by".

Don’t just remember the special people in your life today, pray for them and let them know how much you appreciate them. Not only will they feel good, but you’ll feel even better!

Dear Friends,

I would like to thank you all for your kindness, help and especially your prayers before my operation and since. Before my operation it was quite a struggle to get to church but with your help I was able to come until the week before I went into hospital and that meant so much to me.

I am pleased to say that my operation was a great success and I am now free from pain. Unfortunately my walking is still hampered by my ankle but I am hoping to have an operation for that quite soon. However, I hope to come to church before I go back to hospital. Thank you for the many letters of good wishes I received from you.            Love, Eileen Shakespeare.

3^rd 10.30am Meeting Point at Manor Cottage, Harrold.

5^th 7.45pm "Chairman Mao" at Sharnbrook Mill Theatre.

6^th 7.00pm Harvest Supper, Village Hall.

6^th 7.45pm "Chairman Mao" at Sharnbrook Mill Theatre.

9^th 7.30pm W.I. in Village Hall

16^th 10.30am Meeting Point at Rectory Farm, Odell.

20^th 10.30am Coffee Morning at Rectory Farm, Odell.