Dear Friends,

How much did your shopping bill come to this week?

My next job after writing this letter is to do the weekly shop, and like most people, I shall be looking out for where I can save a pound or two by buying 2 for the price of 1, or taking advantage of any other special offers. But I shall also be looking out for products which bear the Fairtrade Mark, and for these I shall be happy to pay extra.

The Fairtrade Foundation is a registered charity set up by Christian Aid, Oxfam, CAFOD, Traidcraft Exchange and the World Development Movement. Buying products which carry the Fairtrade Mark guarantees that the producer gets a better deal – a fair price for the product plus a premium which is invested in the local community. This might be used to set up a community canteen, where local people can get a decent midday meal at a reduced price, or to build new toilets, or pump water to a village whose people currently can only buy water in tanks and bottles when (and if) the water lorry calls. Often the extra money helps to set up and support health and education services.

Buying Fairtrade not only helps to provide for these basic daily needs (which we take for granted), but perhaps even more importantly, helps to redress the imbalance caused by unfair trading rules, so families and communities can become self-sufficient. Cheap imports from the more powerful nations who control world trade flood the market, so local farmers cannot compete. Many give up, perhaps if they’re lucky, finding work smashing stones in a quarry for $1 a day to try and feed their families.

Often when we’re faced with big world issues we feel helpless to respond, but taking a bit more care when we shop is an easy step we can all take. And it does make a huge difference. The Fairtrade movement is growing thanks to the influence of thousands of ordinary shoppers like you and me. The big supermarkets want our money and because people like us have said we want to buy Fairtrade, they are stocking more and more of the products.

We all know about coffee, tea and chocolate (now much better quality) but look out for (and ask for) Fairtrade bananas, pineapples, sugar,

biscuits, nuts, rice, fruit juice, flowers, honey, jams and other spreads.

And why not pop-in to the Rectory on Saturday 3^rd June between 10.00am–12 noon for an excellent cup of coffee and some delicious cookies. Browse the well-stocked stall and find out more about Fairtrade and where to buy the goods.

With love and prayers,

For the Fairtrade Coffee Morning invitation see page 11

The Prayer Chain is there if you need prayer for yourself, for others or for members of your family. Please don’t ask for prayer outside your own family without people’s permission. To have a number of people pray just telephone Christine (720234).

Wednesday 14^th 10.30am at Christine’s, The Rectory, Odell.

Wednesday 28^th 10.30am at Sarah’s, 9 Horsefair Lane, Odell.

Wednesday 19th 10.30am at Jill’s, Rectory Farm, Odell.

There will be a break until September.

4^th J Eshelby

11^th FETE

18^th P Hudson

25^th G Harrison

Saturday 3^rd June

10.00am - 12 noon

at The Rectory,

3, Church Lane, Odell

(Church Pastoral Aid Society).

The work of C.P.A.S. is to give aid to both churches and individuals in such wide-ranging areas as evangelising, training for clergy and laity, youth work, holiday activities for young people, provision of resources (books, courses etc.), working with older people and specialised ministry to both men and women. However, their primary goal is supporting the mission of the local church in taking the gospel to the poor.

Please give generously to this worthwhile charity.

This year the Odell fete will take place on Saturday 10^th June in the Scout Field, Horsefair Lane. The fete will be opened at 2.00pm by the new Minister of All Saints’, Rev. Christine Clark.

There will be all the usual stalls:

Boys Brigade, Jazz Band, Family Dog Show, Tombola, Children’s Sports, Children’s Stalls, Ice Creams, Refreshments, Many Sideshows, Gifts, White Elephant, Bottle Stall, Books, Cakes, Produce.

3^rd 10.00am Fairtrade Coffee Morning, The Rectory.

10^th 2.00pm Odell Village Fete, The Scout Field, Horsefair

Lane.

11^th 10.30am Family Service in Scout Field.

11^th 12.30pm BBQ in Scout Field.

14^th 10.30am Meeting Point at Christine’s, The Rectory, Church

Lane.

16^th 6.30pm Wodehill Jazz Band in garden of The Bell, weather permitting.

28^th 10.30am Meeting point at Sarah’s, 9 Horsefair Lane.

Please send all entries for the joint July/August magazine to Tricia Hudson (mag1@odellbeds.net) or Catherine Corkery by June 12^th 2006 at the latest. May we remind you that the editorial team exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are submitted. Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the contributors and are not the responsibility of the editorial team.